Monkeying around

Ok so for all you that have traveled to a zoo with me know my love for all living things and my wish to pet everything in the world. Well today this has changed. I used think Monkey's oh how cute they are and that I would love to play with a monkey. There are monkey's in Thailand, many are in public places like Temples and Palaces. Places a lot of toursits visit. Anyways, super cute the first time I saw one, I even have 10 pictures of one monkey playing on the temples statues. Anyways like any animal does the monkeys have figured out what human food is and how to get it..grabbing it from you hand. Today walking near a palace I had to walk near some monkeys...they started showing their teeth and making the most awful hissing noises. I could see myself in the hospital getting a rabies shot. Then the boldest monkey jumped up and tried to grab my bag I was carrying....what a wise guy. I also need to mention this bag was my purse....money, passport, visa and all. That would have been a good story for the embassay...a monkey took my passport! Not cool monkey and for now you are off my cute animals of the world list!

Dancing in the dark

As we were taught at orientation, things just happen in Thailand. Things that in the United States a person would be given ample time to plan for, such as speeches, teaching a class etc. The third night I was at my school I was told Liz there is a dinner for you tonight (meanwhile it is 4...I am tired and not looking so great). What time do you want to go? I say 6:30...at 5 its apparently dinner time! So I head over unshowered unprepared. After a quick meal the karoke party starts. They LOVE Karoke here. Also let me make this clear this is not 1 am karoke at the bar, there is no alcohol at these events and it is 6:00 pm. After much singing and joking in Thai (I laugh along polietly like I understand) I find myself in the middle of a circle of Thai's and am told to dance. so I do. The laughing and straight out partying continues for about another hour.
This is when I learn that embarrasment does not exist in this country...a pretty cool concept since I have done a multitude of things that I would normally consider embarassing. So it really does not exist and here in Thailand there is no such thing...so all you back in America do something embarassing for me becuase I cannot for the next 5 months! I am beginning to love this place.

Thailand!

Sawatdeeka!

Hello from Thailand. I arrived safely in Bangkok and am ready to attack my busy schedule of orientation. On the menu this week, besides yummy Thai food is: Learning to speak Thai, Learning to Teach English, a crash guide to Thai Culture and of course meeting other Americans crazy enough to do this too. Yay week 1!