Welcoming in the New Year Falang-ly

The week of New Years was FULL [like, more than usual]  of new experiences which, although they KIND OF made me realize how dull Lamphun is [it was all in Chiang Mai], they were still incredible and I'm so glad they happened. Last Friday, I went to my exchange friend Carol(from Brazil)'s house because she was making Brazilian food. Pauline (from France) was there as well, and I met Clara (from Germany). It was SO great to see these girls, we immediately pounced into a huge group hug the moment we saw one another. Even though Carol apologized for the food because it she messed it up and it `wasn't Brazilian anymore`, it still tasted amazing (probably because it had potatoes). Then we hung out in the front porch/yard for the rest of the evening and early morning. Exchange students ARE the best. The huge amount of fun we had was also aided by something else, however there are Rotarians who read this blog, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

Sorry Carol, I love this picture too much not to add it.

These girls are absolutely wonderful

but we require lots of sleep

In the morning, we went into Chiangmai, where Clara went back home and the rest of us hung around the mall. Pauline and I practiced our Thai with a saleslady while Carol bought a camera. Then we at at McDonald's. Yes, it was a very falang thing to do, but it's okay because we're all falangs and the first burger after 5 months tastes like heaven, McDonald's or not. However, when they asked "large or small size", we figured they'd be Thai serving sizes, so we said large. And they were large. They were very, very, very American-large. I didn't even think it was possible to make cups and fry packets that large. But guess what? We finished every last bite!!! (but only half the juice). Then we shopped some more and.... guess what I did!! :D You'll have to keep guessing because, once again, Rotarians read this blog. After escorting Pauline to her songtaew home, Carol and I took a different songtaew into the middle of the city. Here we explored parts of the city, visited an old temple, took pictures, admired the Christmas decorations, bought drinks, and then went home.

The original plan was just to stay one night, but I ended up staying three. The next day we slept until early afternoon, and then hung out on the floor of the living room drinking coffee and eating clementines with those weird-but-delicious little brown nuts. In the later afternoon, we walked around her home in the countryside (because SHE'S ALLOWED), and found our way to Ban Tawaii, a woodcarving town. We explored here a while, and then headed back for another movie, food, and bed again.

The next day, we got up around the same time and went with Carol's family for New Years!! We went to the Chiangmai Rotary dinner at someone's cabin the woods. It was beautiful! Before more people arrived, we explored a little bit, around the banana orchard, down the lane, around the yard, and looked at the giant pond. As people started arriving, I recognized a couple as rebounds from RYLA a few months before. Anyways, the night was incredible and so... normal! The other teens were really... unlike my host family/school and a lot more like North America, which could have been either because my brain was being weird or because the Chiangmai Rotary is a lot more involved in youth exchange than Lamphun, and has adopted a lot more foreignness. We had a barbecue (Thai style), some cake, chips, a big sing-along, played limbo, took pictures, talked, set off some paper lanterns, and just had a wonderful time. Before midnight, Carol's family and I left to go to the Chiangmai Royal Gardens for the countdown. The gardens themselves are gorgeous, with shrubs of various colours trimmed and arranged perfectly, a giant green hill out front, and a beautiful, delicate garden with statues and a path down the middle leading straight to one of the most beautiful temples I've ever seen (and in Thailand, that's saying a lot). The temple was mostly dark wood, but had various gold decorations as well, and a giant set of stone steps leading up to it. We walked up to it and took pictures, but as we were walking away, it reached midnight and fireworks started erupting behind it!! They were so big and so bright, they illuminated the temple perfectly. Everyone was cheering and so happy! When the fireworks stopped, and I turned around to see thousands of paper lanterns being released into the sky at the garden entrance behind me. The whole feel of the moment was special and wonderful. While walking back through the garden, we passed a monk offering a prayer and had to duck quietly because everyone else was standing perfectly still and participating in the prayer. Then Carol leaned over and whispered to me "In Thailand, everyone's praying; in Brazil, everyone's dying because it's the third day of partying so hard", after which I had to try REALLY hard to stifle my laughter.

The next day, we woke up at the same time and hung around the house doing the same thing. Later in the evening, when Carol and I were home alone, we sat on the road outside the front gate and watched the land grow darker and darker. It felt so calm and quiet and peaceful. We also talked about travelling after we get back home, and she told me all about how beautiful and entertaining Sao Paulo is. Brazil is going to have to be on the travel list in the future; maybe with a volunteer program or something. My host dad came to pick me up around 8, so we said good-by with a huge hug, because it's still another month before we can see eachother again...

Arriving at home, I discovered Pii Oi had brought her delicious cooking supplies to our home and we were all going to have our New Years dinner that night! As usual, Pii  Oi's food is fun to make and delicious to eat. Better yet, my host grandma looked at me and told me it was okay to get drunk today because I'll just go to bed [rest assured, Rotary, I clearly had permission]. My host grandma, of all people. Ning and her sister came to visit too and we ate, talked, danced to old country music (like OLD old Texas music), took pictures, and just generally had a great time with everyone. Except my host dad, who went back to work pretty early, and my host mom who went to bed, but I think they enjoyed themselves too. It was a really great night. Before they left, Pii Oi gave me a huge hug and said "my daughter!". I love Pii Oi so much.

In the evening a few day later, there was another new experience! Pii Nah, Pii Oi's boyfriend, showed me. It involved learning to drive a moped, but ... without driving... of course.

Oui oui, and that was the wonderful start to the year.

Sawatdee choooooow

Anneke :)