Sahwahdeekah!

Things have been pretty hectic since I first got to Thailand mid January. CIEE has the 30 of us students jumping from place to place every couple of days. I've already stayed at a hotel in Bangkok, a resort in the Loie province of Northern Thailand, an illegal forest community in a national park, a homestay in Khon Kaen and an apartment at KKU.

To begin, contrary to popular belief, Thailand is not completely void of Jews. The first thing I saw in Bangkok directly across from my apartment was a Chabad house. Apparently there's a pretty large Israeli tourist population buzzing around the city. Not to discount the fact that the Thai's I have met aren't aware there is a Jewish religion. The translation books only account for Muslims, Christians and Buddhists around here.

Bangkok was very very touristy. I went to the National Museum and the Grand Palace, drank the juice straight out of a coconut, danced in the red light district, bought some fisherman pants - standard tourist fare.
After Bangkok we headed up to the Loie province to stay at a fancy schmancy resort. Our bus was decorated entirely in purple, complete with a plush ceiling and a wrap around couch and champagne table in the back. Perfect for an 8 hour bus ride towards the Laos border.

To your left would be the view from my balcony. Not to say we stayed in complete luxury. We definitely furthered the group process sleeping
two per bed. Every day I sat through four hours of Thai and another god knows how many hours of orientation activity and group process.

The good news is I learned my Thai numbers via an ajaan led drinking game. And I won a sweet bag in Bingo that says "Love me, love my buffalo."

The first night at the resort about 9 of us were enjoying some typical Thai luxuries - Leo beer, when we heard music in the distance. It was only natural to pick up, hop a fence and follow the beat. It led us 15 minutes down the road to an outdoor party full of Thai's, karaoke, and unlimited free beer. If there was one word to describe Thai's it would have to be hospitable.

9 farang showed up to what I imaged was a private party that was wrapping up and were straight away given alcohol, a microphone and our choice of American pop music to entertain the whole lot with.
We did karaoke with the Mayor of the Loie province. He knew the Backstreet Boys.

Anyways I will write more later. Tonight a bunch of us are going to see KKU students perform West Side Story in English.