“Same same, but different.”
This is a common phrase in Thailand. And not necessarily from the native English speakers that are here, though it does sneak into our lexicon. It really encompasses so many experiences here. And there wasn’t a whole lot of preparation for this concept. But there isn’t really a way to prepare anyone for this.
A friend of mine made a passing observation on Thai culture that really resonated with me and I felt worth expanding on.
Thai people live in the present. It’s always today you will not teach. Today you will go visit your student’s homes. Never tomorrow, or next week.
Recently, I needed Bangkok and I stayed in a very nice hotel overlooking the Chao Praya river. My room was near the top, and so I had great view out across the city, so I made a sunset time lapse. I hope you enjoy it!
“Hello!”
I hear this word often. Daily. Hourly. I’m called to as I walk the ten meters to the store. As I bike the two kilometers to school. As I bike the three kilometers to the market. As I walk through the market. As I sit at my desk trying to lesson plan. As I ride up to the school. As I walk to lunch. As I return from lunch. As the students leave to go home.
“Hello!”
I’ve pointed out some of the ways that my life has changed in the last year. A friend of mine said that they wanted to know about how morning routine has changed, so I’ll break that down for y’all here.
Just before I left the US, my grandma told me about a movie she saw on TV about Peace Corps volunteers in Thailand. It’s called “Volunteers,” and it stars Tom Hanks, John Candy and Rita Wilson. Obviously, it’s a movie and heavily fictionalized. However, some parts of it ring very true to life and some enterprising volunteer cut together the most relevant clips. Check it out!
*Update: It appears the video has been taken down. I still enjoy the whole film though.
One time I came back from a bpai tiao just as dusk was setting in, and the sun sets really fast here. So on my two kilometer bike ride home I turned on my lights to the flashing setting and made it home just fine. When I told my co-teacher about it the next day, she told me that people probably thought that I was a ghost. Because Thai people believe in ghosts, and there are lots of Thai ghosts and lots of superstitions around them.
When you go to a new country, or even sometimes a new part of the country you live in, and you spend a good amount of time there some parts of life start to become a given. For example, it became a given for me in Portland to look more diligently for bikes when I drove. In Australia and England and New Zealand, looking right and then left when crossing the street is a small adjustment that becomes a given if you come from the States. In cultures and countries where chopsticks are the primary utensil it becomes odd to not see them at the table. Here are some things in Thailand that I’ve become accustomed to as normal, that when I think about, realize just aren’t in the States.
Recently, I came home from a day out at the park and saw my host yaai with a bucket of snails. I asked her what she planned to do with them, and she said she was going to cook them. Nothing like a little escargot! I was intrigued by this, and thought you might be too, so I made a video. She thought it was hilarious that I want to record her. Anyway, check it out!
I knew that when I came to Thailand that some of the toiletries that I use would not be available to me. There are no LUSH stores in Thailand, unfortunately, and I haven’t even bothered looking for some Dr. Bronner’s soap because I don’t want to disappoint myself. But my family is wonderful and every so often asks what I would like in a care package and I know that I can get the things that I know work for me from them.
However, I have added a few things to my dresser top and bag that are pretty exclusively Thai that I, and Thais, use on a regular basis.