In recent news, Monsoon became a temple cat and technology continues to fail us here at the Big Tree.

Rewind…now to explain the vague complex sentence.

The Friday leading into our fall break a small kitten came in with the rains. (Hence the name Monsoon for the rains here in the BKK aren’t gentle afternoon showers). She was/is a scrawny little thing with dirty ears and she curled around my heart instantly. It’s the cat lady in me and I couldn’t resist (not like I would try).

A Small Monsoon.

I wasn’t the only one who found myself in love with the scrawny patchwork printed ball of purr. The Big Tree guards and our sweet housekeeping staff were wrapped around Monsoon’s little paw too. Monsoon took up residence in one of the guard chairs just outside the Big Tree front door and once she got more comfortable she was prowling the grounds in between down pours. I learned quickly how to ask for “meow” meaning cat in Thai as soon as I approached the entrance. I found any excuse to go downstairs and sit with the sweet kitten.

I was once a jungle gym for my niece and nephews and now small kittens. Oh, how life goes full circle.

My kitten excuse led me to interact with our guards and housekeeping a bit more in my barely legal Thai and their passionate efforts at English. I learned that to say mosquito in Thai escapes me until one lands on me, which makes me say it more as an accusation. I learned that the drivers who drop off the rich benefactors of the Big Tree construction company think of the United States as “Amary-ca Eagle.” I learned that to sleep like Monsoon in a guard chair is called “noon” and can be said very easily in a coo-ing voice. I learned that Thai people are even more wonderful than I thought. My heart grew 3 sizes that day and each day that followed as I interacted more with Big Tree personnel as Monsoon slept away in my lap.

How can a heart grow? How can you feel it swell and melt at the sweet smiles from guards and staff as they help you learn bits of Thai that are easy to swallow and the meows of an innocent creature entice you to keep going back for more? How can this be?

Lord, I am awed by you.

Then as soon as she came she was gone.

As the more aggressive downpours left so did Monsoon to a Wat in our neighborhood. She is now a temple cat, living with monks and meditating over milk. As much as I want to make this sound cool my heart kinda hurts. Yeah, I ever so slightly made Monsoon a replacement for my sweet Ru who is back in the states. Yeah, I shouldn’t have done that but I did and the pain still wouldn’t make me change what I did if I could go back. The fact is animals are the best way to bond if I may say so myself and I thank Monsoon to infinity and beyond for the ability to now be able to say “Sa-wah-dee-ka” to the workers of Big Tree with a knowing smile. We have a bond that is sacred and Monsoon gave us that. Where ever you are thank you dear little Monsoon. You are a monk cat now but you are missed here at Big Tree.

As for technology fails I feel our troubles here at the Big Tree aren’t really worth a blog post but alas I need to vent a bit. I am learning a bit of patience as our internet continues to lag, drag, cut-off and die-off entirely. A word to the wise, when you pray to God for patience he gives it and perhaps you should think twice about praying for patience. Funny, funny jokes on me!

It helps when you get completely frustrated with the internet situation that you turn to books (imagine that for an English major), crafting, cleaning, adventuring with your husband and just getting out of the apartment to avoid ripping the router out of the wall. Fun times in the Carlin household.

Thailand you are teaching me so much and I don’t know if I can really contain it all but I promise I will try. I will try with all my might.

This past weekend Jay and I went to the beautiful island of Koh Samet off the eastern coast of Thailand. My rough draft of this blog consisted of me listing each detail of our weekend. I found this quite boring and it lacked luster until I got to the part about toilets. I began to write avidly about the toilets we met along the roadway to and from Koh Samet so, I kept that bit and flushed the rest. (GET IT?!? Oh, how I love potty humour.)

When I think of a toilet I think of this:

He is so happy that he is giving you the thumbs up. Aggies do that when they are happy, too.

I always took the porcelain throne for granted but I no longer do.

At our first of many roadway pit stops I nonchalantly walked towards the restrooms. The gas station was a newly constructed western style looking gas station that would of course have western style restroom facilities, of course. Silly farang thoughts.

I was instead met with this sign:

A bit of foreshadowing with signs demonstrating proper toilet usage.

“Whatever did they mean not to stand on regular toilets?” I thought innocently.

A longer line was forming at one set of stalls so I took the shorter line (because why would you not in the ladies restroom?!?). I looked around for a minute at the other ladies I was in line with wondering if they took note of the strange sign. No one seemed phased so, I waited with my personal package of toilet paper (many rest stops along Thai motorways did not provide you with any). I was thinking ahead with my personal toilet tissues and I was proud of myself.

Finally, a stall was made available and I ventured in. I was met with this:

Of course I took a photo. No need to use your foot to flush girls! Instead use the little bucket to the left to scoop up water and manually flush. Now, imagine how many other hands touch that little scoops handle. BWAHAHAHAHAHA etc. etc. etc!

I laughed and looked around my stall for another way. I had prepared for bringing my own toilet paper but I wasn’t prepared for this. WHY?!? Silly farang thoughts again.

I was left with two choices: exit stall, wait in the long line for what I can only assume now are “regular” toilets or just go for it.

So, I went for it and I was oddly proud of myself.

I left my stall cursing Eve and using all my hand sanitizer since soap is also not provided at rest stops along Thai motorways. My clean freak self was quietly having a melt down and wishing for even more hand sanitizer to shower in.

I could not have said it better myself.

Looking back, I feel like I broke down a small barrier between westerner and Thai culture. It’s not the language barrier but at least it’s something we all do.

Now, I also have a rad conversation starter when I want to illustrate how utterly worldly I am.

Example of said conversation starter by backpacker Beth:

“Dude, in Thailand there are toilets that are built into the ground with grooves on each side of the hole for your feet. When you get down to business you have to pray the entire time that you don’t accidently hit your shoes. HA! Isn’t that rad? It’s super interesting and I felt really Thai, yeah man, super Thai. I mean, like, I was using the restroom Thai style. You even have to bring your own tissues and soap. Yeah, man it’s super earthy. I felt like I was one with the earth.”

….not really but you see how it could be an interesting conversation from there on out. Squatting is also supposedly better for you.

Almost too much information. What is that pink rubberband thing?!?

I guess I am for the “chokes the rectum” position.

The potty drama made the trip to and from Koh Samet that much more educational and interesting. I can’t wait to bring any visitors we have down to the beautiful island and allow you to experience first hand the call of nature Thai style along the way. Well, except for men.

Curse you Eve.

I couldn’t have said it better myself, Eve. BUY THIS SHIRT: http://www.randomshirts.com/products/my-bad-eve

We ventured out to a roof top bar called, Vertigo, in what could be referred to as the middle of Bangkok if Bangkok had a center. It was a fun little adventure that I look forward to doing again. Drinks were higher in price but the view made it worth a few.

Onward, to the 59th floor! (It wasn’t fun thinking about the size of the elevator shaft going up.)

The view from Vertigo and the impending storm.

It may not be that Bangkok doesn’t have a center but more so that you need to retreat to a high spot on the far reaches of the Bangkok sprawl to get an idea of Bangkok’s center and skyline. Then you may see some landmarks but in the midst of old and new, wealth and poverty you lose all sense of relative direction.

Don’t mind the nice condo’s in back.

A landmark tried but not true is the river that twists and turns through the west portion of the city. This ribbon that runs past Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and the hospital that now houses the King himself does little to help one’s sense of direction but more to help disorientate you further.

Where you going river? For all who are curious, we live in the Bangna Trad area. Woo! Rural/suburbia!

So, far the only thing that has helped us is GPS via smart phones. Thank you Android and Apple. Till I get better acquainted with Bangkok I will shamelessly be gazing at maps, pointing about myself and feigning I understand direction anywhere other than within a mall (oops, my suburbia is showing).

When I had hair and Ru had shorter whiskers.

If you have known me for more than an hour you know I have a cat. His name is Rufus and he has a plethora of nicknames to allow for proper cooing. (Ru, Rufacus Spartacus Maximus, Rufakisses, Little Ru, Cat-Dog, Ru-poo-poo-pee-doo-woo, Rufie, Ru-fers etc. etc. etc…I have no shame.)

Rufacus Spartacus Maximus

The fierce roar of Ru.

Jay has adopted him as his own and helped me seek out a little Thai Ru that would not replace Rufus but act as a tangible comfort until we got the true Ru to Bangkok.

Little Thai Ru the Tangible.

In the meantime, my sweet Momma (who has graciously been caring for him state side) has been consistently uploading photos of Rufus to facebook for me in his own special album named appropriately and simply, “Rufus.” This album has made my day as much as it has made me miss the little fur ball. It has acted as a motivator more than anything else (sad but true) for me to get a job so, that money can be saved up to bring Ru to Bangkok.

Whiskered Glory.

Now, this is not to say that if Ru did not exist I would have no motivation to get a job. HA! I am itching to get a job. I have had my mini-meltdowns as my life at the moment is marked by washing machine cycles, cleaning our apartment and re-reading while I await my teacher certification to arrive in the mail.

I loathe snail mail. Haven’t we ventured beyond this? Why do I romanticize postcards and vintage stamps…they literally suck…the life out of me. I have no patience for such things that could be done within five minutes on the Internet. Ridiculous.

Though not as ridiculous as this. Future Christmas card prepare yourself Jay!

I am stir crazy yet all I can do is wait. I am in a waiting place and it is not quite what I thought it would be. I feel unfulfilled and I feel useless.

The lone sock.

When I worked (seems so long ago yet it’s only been 2 months) and took vacations it was a comfort to know that once I was done relaxing I would have a place to go to for eight hours a day once more. Not having that place after a two-month break means there is no comfort to the monotonous joblessness I find myself in. I find no purpose. I have held some kind of job since I was 10 years old be it babysitting or working in customer service. The lack of productivity in my day-to-day life at the moment is eating away at my brain and it’s starting to eat at my heart.

When you can feel yourself sinking into a slump and/or a depression of sorts you know it’s a good thing. To feel yourself sinking means you can still feel and that you are not numb.

I still care enough to try to get out of this slump/depression. I still want to fight the urge to curl up in a mass (I cannot curl up into a ball) and mentally die from lack of productivity. I was not made to be still except for small intervals (meaning a day). Even my vacations were punctuated with activities that kept me busy but here I am in my waiting place. All I can do is wait and trust that God (thank God) has a plan. He knows my heart that longs for work beyond the confines of the apartment. He knows this and so, I wait. My hands seemly tied because I have submitted every form needed thus far and made every contact that I could, thus far.

Now, I wait.

I wait…

…and I wait…

…and I wait some more.

It is not a lovely experience and it is not an enjoyable experience.

It is an experience that has made me understand unemployment to be hell on earth. (I could be more dramatic. Tis possible I promise.)

I do believe unemployment is right there with traitors beyond the Giant’s Well in the very depths of the inferno.

So, my motivation to get a job (outside of pining for Ru) is to get out of hell. A hell that is made mentally and thus begins to consume you wholly. (Proven…even more dramatic.)

So, I wait and I fight and I pray.

There goes another day. (HA! I am a poet and I didn’t even know it!)

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE (I did just yell at you via caps lock)…here is another adorable picture of Ru my sweet orange tabby.

First day home. First photo at home. Le bebe Ru.

I have been a slacker in the sense of blogging. In the sense of living though I have been mildly productive if you don’t count not having a job.

Jay and I visited Wat Arun in the heart of Bangkok. We used eight modes of transportation (Sung Towah, bus, BTS air train, Ferry, Water Taxi, Tuk Tuk, walking and then a Taxi) to see it and then journey back home. It was a fun little adventure as we climbed the steep steps that symbolized human suffering (woe to us beings) and then climbed back down them (going down was far scarier). The temple itself is made up of porcelain plates that were incorporated whole or in bits to form flowers or act as jewels. Recycling at it’s finest. It is a gorgeous sight.

The first of many steps equally human suffering. (Photo credit to Therese)

Porcelain whole and in pieces.

Backing that thing down some steps of human suffering.

On the way back Jay, Keeley (a lovely fellow TCIS teacher) and I decided to take a Tuk Tuk to China town that was near by. We spent the next few hours walking through China town and towards the nearest BTS stop to take us home. We made a pit stop at Sunrise Tacos which has become a Sunday tradition of sorts. The neatest Mexican food you may find ever.

Working our way through the allies of China town.

Jay and his very neat burrito.

I found that Bangkok’s China town simply means there will be more street vendors that will be selling Chinese things (as for the difference between Chinese and Thai things I have not found a difference other than writing). Bangkok is supposedly the number one place in the world for street vendors. I believe it even more each night as our soi somehow expands to fit more street vendors than it had previously held during the day. How it happens I do not know. Tis magic I suppose.

After out trek it Wat Arun Jay had his first full week of school. The past few weeks had been four days long with the beginning of school being a short week and then the Queen’s birthday giving everyone a three day weekend the following week (thanks Queenie).

So, he ventured off on Monday to school and I stayed home as usual. I have been itching to find another good read (along with a job) after I finished The Sparrow (thank you Brandi Hyde…it was an amazing read that I will have to read it again as so much seems to be connected). I found our shared Nook and tried reading Freakonomics. It wasn’t hitting the spot. So, I searched through it once more and came across the Harry Potter series. Long time no see, ‘arry.

Excited children. We are pretty much one and the same.

So, my journey with Harry Potter has once again commenced. I have devoted a days reading each to the first four books but the fifth book contains over 600 pages thus a second day just may be in store for it.

I never went to any mid-night release nights for any of the books within the Harry Potter series but I seemly grew up with him as each book was released.

This is what mid-night release partys are supposedly like. You can not find me in this picture because I was never there.

I never did this. The kid on the left is by far scarier even though they have no wand. I SEE THROUGH YOU FAKER!

I never did this either. People are so creepy.

When Harry entered Hogwarts at age eleven my eleven-year-old self was reading about him doing so. When twelve-year-old Harry was figuring out his way through the chamber of secrets twelve year old Beth was reading about him doing so. Thirteen year old Beth was so happy to find that Harry had a godfather and fourteen year old Beth felt the gut wrenching sting of death as JK Rowling killed off a character for the first time in The Goblet of Fire. Not to be the last either as the three later novels became darker. A more mature audience was reading Harry Potter at this point. Fifteen, sixteen and seventeen year-olds who grew up with Harry were now able to pair the novels with film and compare the two media’s along with the awaited following books.

I remember all this and am re-reading the books for memories sake. I still remember my Dad showing up with the second Harry Potter book after he had come off a night shift (Thanks Dad). I immediately ran off to my room with the book. I didn’t emerge till I had finished it (I believe there is a photo of me camped out on my bed reading with an expression of, “why are you here” being given to the camera). I left my room in the after glow of finishing a wonderful tale. It’s feelings like that at the age of twelve which bring me back to the series ten years later.

Judge me as you will for reading what some Christians would call a heathen text but it is a wonderful story. It capitalizes on the magic but not in teaching children how to use it. Rather on the bravery it still takes to face life each day with a higher power in the trenches with you.  If you read it as such you will see it. If you read it as evil I am sure you will see it as so.

So, I am once again caught up in the tale of Harry Potter. I still got excited when Harry had the sorting hat placed upon his head. I still got excited when I discovered he was a parselmouth. I still got excited when Harry met his godfather for the first time and a new hope was still able to rise (even though I knew the outcome) that Harry would finally be free of the Dursleys. I still got even more excited with each of the Triwizard Tournament tasks. Now I find I am dreading the end of the series…yet again. The idea of it ending once more makes my heartache. I hate how attached I get to mere characters but it is an epic journey nonetheless.

Onward, to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

Dumbledore’s words for thought (followed by Beth’s swoon):

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to become.”

Oh, Dumbledore how insightful you are.

Dumbledore.

What I am trying not to channel.

I am a creeper. I watch without an ounce of shame the family across the khlong (English: canal) from our apartment building.

Behind our building there runs a khlong with a little sidewalk along one side that mopeds fly down and pedestrians walk along. This activity alone is fascinating.

Like neighborhoods in the states the sidewalks are in front of little houses and buildings surrounded by lush vegetation (what is lush vegetation Americans might ask…think SUPER green not from sprinklers). The major differences from the states are the level of activity in the front yards and the trash in the water below the khlong sidewalks. (Neighborhood committees in the states would have heads on spikes for the trash in the water.)

Take that neighborhood committee!

While, in the states most activity is in the backyard behind high fences this family carries out most of their daily living in the front yard. They wash dishes, clothes, eat and lounge about in their front yard.

Jay and I have an apartment on the fourth floor of our building. So, our apartment provides a birds eye view into the front yard of this family’s home. This is how I get to observe their daily comings and goings.

(Initiate Beth’s creeper mode)

Haaaaaaaw.

The monks come early in the morning for offerings, the little girl goes off to school in her uniform, the grandmother comes out to wash dishes in their water barrel, the little girl returns home from school with a gaggle of girls and the father returns home on his moped which he pulls directly into the house. The father then comes back outside with the baby that he walks along the khlong sidewalk with sweetly kissing and caressing all the while.

Meanwhile, I am in awe four floors up watching them. Beth, thy name is Creeper.

Derp.

I love watching this family.  It’s creepy and kind of rude of me but they are just so sweet. I am comforting myself with the idea that I am learning more about Thai culture just by observing their daily life in the front yard of their small house. I am not simply creeping. I am learning.

I tried not watching one day but my desk is so perfectly situated by the window and so perfectly situated to observe them I couldn’t help it. It also didn’t help that this particular day the grandmother decided to put on a kind of fashion show. At one point she was wearing a skirt and a blouse. She then went inside and came out wearing the long skirt as a full-length dress. She brought clothes to a little basin where she allowed them to soak, scrubbed them and then took the wrung out clothes back into the house. Each time she came back outside in a new outfit. Fascinating and she has a really nice sense of fashion if I do say so myself. You go, Grandma!

All in all, I am sure by Thai standards this family is doing nothing unusal but by my Texan (no use saying, American…see previous blog) standards they are better than television. In respect, to the family I am not going to post a picture of their front yard as tempting as it may be. No need to make you all creepers, too. Tis for your own sake. You’re welcome.

So, this post proves how much I need a job. I never thought I’d say it but I miss Starbucks. WAIT, I TAKE THAT BACK! I miss my friends from Starbucks, of course. What I miss is not Starbucks though. I miss having a job to go to every day. Without a job I become a creep. How unflattering.

So after 2 days at the Avana Hotel, our apartments at Big Tree were finally ready.  They had taken us by yesterday to look at our apartments, and they were distinctly not-done-looking.  The construction crew assured us that our floors would be ready to move into by today, though, and sure enough, our rooms are finished today.  I think a construction crew of like 50 people worked through the night to assure that they were done on time.  It looks like we’ll be living in a construction zone for a few weeks (or months) to come, though.

Since this is Beth and my first place together, we had to take a moment to make it special:

Carrying Beth over the Threshold of our New Apartment!

Our apartment has been mostly great so far.  We have a two-bedroom, two-bath unit that is about 75 square meters big.  We have a basic sink, microfridge, microwave, and magnetic hot plate in our kitchen.

After move-in, we went to the big mall nearest to our new apartments, called Mega Bangna ( http://www.mega-bangna.com/th/about-megabangna ).  We went to the Big C store (like of like a small Wal Mart) for some basic grocery and cleaning needs.  We walked around and looked at the different options we had in the mall, had some great smoothies, and ate at a McDonald’s there (we spent so much time just looking around, we were crunched for time!)

It is nice to be in our new apartment, where we will be spending our next year!  So exciting — we LIVE in Thailand!  Wow.

Our first day in Thailand!

First things first: We went to a nearby health clinic to have some basic physicals administered.  It turned into a good opportunity to bond with the new teachers over our mutual dislike for needles.  Everyone was fine, and I was amazed by the organization and efficiency of the hospital.

Jackie, Me, David, and Beth shortly after our physical exams
( Photo Lovingly Stolen from Ellen Visscher: http://www.flickr.com/photos/southeastellen/ )

After the trip to the doctor, we went to Central Plaza Mall.  First we stopped to get something to eat, and a number of us decided to go for the Thai food for our first big meal.  I made my first major Faux Pas of my new Thai Life (the first of many, I’m sure) when we ordered food.  I got chicken and rice, and the staff pointed to the chili sauce on a table nearby.  I see a ladle, and so I just start pouring it all over my chicken and rice.  Everyone starts laughing and going “nooo no!”  Apparently I didn’t see the little sauce cups next to the chili sauce.  My lunch was unbelievably spicy, but good 🙂

After lunch, we went upstairs and got cell phones.  I was able to unlock my Samsung Inspire and got a Thai Cell phone plan, while we purchased a new phone for Beth and signed her up for a data plan, too.  The 3G hasn’t yet worked on my phone, but it turns out I need to go back and get a 3G Sim Card.

After a very rushed 30-minute layover in Seoul, we finally arrived in Bangkok on Friday, July 20th.  It was late in the evening, maybe about 10:30pm.  Some of the TCIS staff had arranged to meet us at the airport, complete with printed out pages with our pictures on them, and helped us move all our bags to the brand-new TCIS Buses.

(Photo Courtsey of Ellen Visscher: http://www.flickr.com/photos/southeastellen/)

Everyone from the airport was super helpful, and it was our first opportunity to meet all of the other new teachers.  We all seemed quite excited, but tired.  Since our apartments at Big Tree weren’t quite ready, we went straight from the airport to the Avana Hotel (http://www.avanahotel.com/language/english.php).

Our rooms were quite nice, and despite the time difference, I would say Beth and I slept pretty well that first night since we didn’t sleep much on the flight over.  The hotel had a nice coffee shop downstairs with WiFi access, a large buffet breakfast, and a swimming pool that most of the new teachers enjoyed.

The TCIS staff also gave us 4500 Baht, and told us to meet the next morning downstairs at 10am, ready to start our orientation…