Tag: thailand

5 Everyday Parts of Rural Thai Life

June 25, 2013

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.

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Cooking Up Snails in Rural Thailand

June 23, 2013

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!

5 New Personal Toiletries for Life in Thailand

June 21, 2013

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.

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How Buddhism is Practiced in Thailand

June 18, 2013

Thailand is an overwhelmingly Buddhist nation, with 98% of the country claiming it as their religion. But what does that mean? During Pre-Service Training we hear from a well respected monk on the topic of Buddhism in Thailand and after being in the country for five months I have certainly noticed what it means to some of the Thai people I know.

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Wan Wai Kruu: A Day to Honor Teachers

June 16, 2013

Teachers are among the most respected professionals in Thailand. Every school year, there is a day called Wan Wai Kruu, which loosely translates and “Day to Pay Respect to Teachers.” The students spend days practicing, preparing the school grounds and creating the small offerings they give. On Wan Wai Kruu, the students gather in an assembly, and each student, class by class, comes up to the teachers on stage, kneels and wais to the teachers. They give them the flower offerings they prepared and the teachers give them blessings and encouragement for the coming school year. Check out the video to see what Wan Wai Kruu looked like at my school this year.

5 Small Ways My Life Has Changed

June 11, 2013

I have a lot of time to spend thinking and I think about a lot of things: when will I have a meal that doesn’t involve rice, where will I take my vacation to, how many mosquitoes are there in my village, how can I kill all those mosquitoes. But one thing I was thinking about recently was how much my life has changed since this time last year. And there are a lot of big things that are different (I’m not in the U.S.) but I think it’s the little things that are different that make life interesting, to say the least.

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A Video Trip to a Rural Thai Market

June 9, 2013

I live in a pretty rural part of Thailand. While there are some local shops around, most of them only have shelf stable food items. Fresh produce is available at the market, which is only there two days a week. Curious what this market is like and what’s sold? Check out the video!