I dont have many responsibilities in Thailand. Well, I do, like represent America well etc., but besides those, I have very few responsibilities. They include...
1. Learn Thai.
2. Learn German.
3. Learn Chinese.
4. Learn how to play the ukulele.
5. Blog.
6. Read more.
7. Keep up with the news (world and US presidential election).
8. Try to make friends.
Obviously this is a very short list. Although, I still manage to procrastinate?!?!?! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!
Well, I'll tell you how it's possible. YouTube, is how it's possible.
I don't use youtube to look up music videos or funny commercials. I actually watch educational videos on youtube. That sounds really lame, but I promise it isn't!
For instance, I watch Hank Green on Scishow. I also watch Crashcourse Biology and History. They're really funny and I actually learn things. (I suggest it to those of you who have forgotten what you have learned in high school and/or college, and they aren't targeted for teens, they are targeted for everyone). I'm also a big fan of HowStuffWork's podcasts.
I'm learning a lot. Just not what I'm supposed to be learning......oh well.
Book: Officially visiting book store on Saturday!
Thai: rain..........................................................phone (it's sorta flat sounding?, not sure how to describe it)
Links!!!
http://www.youtube.com/crashcourse
http://www.youtube.com/scishow
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/hsw-shows/popstuff-podcast.htm
PS- Should I do a post about social media/the internet in Thailand? It's a lot different here! Have any suggestions for blog topics? Let me know in the comments or email me at yellowsplat15@gmail.com
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Read
Today I finished my book. Well, not my book, my friend's book. She lent Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code to me to read, because it's written in English.
It was good. Although I feel like I read it 6 years late. The book is mainly aimed toward humans who are between the ages of 7 to 12. It's about a boy prodigy (who happens to be extremely wealthy) who discovers an underworld fairy land that is super advanced in technology. I don't usually read those kinds of books. Although younger Turi loves those types of books.
When I was younger I wanted to be a prodigy. I would dream of the days where one of my teachers would discover a hidden talent of mine. I wanted to be a child star. Well, obviously that didn't happen.
But, life is still good.
See, my parents raised my sister and I to be sorta good at a lot of things instead of really really good at one thing. Now that sounds terrible, but it's not. They wanted us to be able to fit in with all social groups and be able to choose what we wanted to do in life instead of being forced in one direction.
For a while I was kinda mad at my parents for doing this because all i could think was "SO I WILL NEVER BE A CHILD PRODIGY?"
Now, I'm really happy they raised me that way. Because I'm sorta good at a lot of things. Like I'm sorta good at playing the violin. I'm sorta good at reading music. I'm sorta fast at swimming. I'm sorta good at debating? No, I'm just an ok debater, let's face it. And I like it that way because I am able to do many things instead of just one thing!
Although, I wish I was a nerdier child. For instance, I really like to read. But I couldn't read until I was in first grade. And I mean the first book I could read was One Fish, Two Fish and it was halfway through the year. Now that may be considered normal, but I remember feeling behind in that class. Although, in first grade I already knew about addition and subtraction due to my Besta's awesome teaching skills. And I could identify some plants because of my Grandpa's biology knowledge. But I still felt a tad behind.
I remember I would wake up an hour before school started and climb into my mom's bed so we could read Junie B Jones books together. But when I was reading Junie B. Jones, my classmates were reading the Chronicles of Narnia.
In other words, I was late in catching the reading railroad.
But now it seems like I am the only one on the reading railroad train!
People don't read here. Yes they read signs and students read textbooks but they don't read novels. I asked my host dad if he reads anything and he said that sometimes he reads the newspaper. Ok, good. He also said that he looks up things on the internet. Things?
At this point, I don't care how you read, just that you read.
I've always admired how my parents read. Whether it takes them five years to finish a book or a day. It's a characteristic that I want to have. And as my parents have inspired me, hopefully I can inspire others to start reading.
Book: Hopefully going to the book store on Saturday. In the meantime, listening to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on Audiobook.
Thai: teacher..............................ah-jawhn
It was good. Although I feel like I read it 6 years late. The book is mainly aimed toward humans who are between the ages of 7 to 12. It's about a boy prodigy (who happens to be extremely wealthy) who discovers an underworld fairy land that is super advanced in technology. I don't usually read those kinds of books. Although younger Turi loves those types of books.
When I was younger I wanted to be a prodigy. I would dream of the days where one of my teachers would discover a hidden talent of mine. I wanted to be a child star. Well, obviously that didn't happen.
But, life is still good.
See, my parents raised my sister and I to be sorta good at a lot of things instead of really really good at one thing. Now that sounds terrible, but it's not. They wanted us to be able to fit in with all social groups and be able to choose what we wanted to do in life instead of being forced in one direction.
For a while I was kinda mad at my parents for doing this because all i could think was "SO I WILL NEVER BE A CHILD PRODIGY?"
Now, I'm really happy they raised me that way. Because I'm sorta good at a lot of things. Like I'm sorta good at playing the violin. I'm sorta good at reading music. I'm sorta fast at swimming. I'm sorta good at debating? No, I'm just an ok debater, let's face it. And I like it that way because I am able to do many things instead of just one thing!
Although, I wish I was a nerdier child. For instance, I really like to read. But I couldn't read until I was in first grade. And I mean the first book I could read was One Fish, Two Fish and it was halfway through the year. Now that may be considered normal, but I remember feeling behind in that class. Although, in first grade I already knew about addition and subtraction due to my Besta's awesome teaching skills. And I could identify some plants because of my Grandpa's biology knowledge. But I still felt a tad behind.
I remember I would wake up an hour before school started and climb into my mom's bed so we could read Junie B Jones books together. But when I was reading Junie B. Jones, my classmates were reading the Chronicles of Narnia.
In other words, I was late in catching the reading railroad.
But now it seems like I am the only one on the reading railroad train!
People don't read here. Yes they read signs and students read textbooks but they don't read novels. I asked my host dad if he reads anything and he said that sometimes he reads the newspaper. Ok, good. He also said that he looks up things on the internet. Things?
At this point, I don't care how you read, just that you read.
I've always admired how my parents read. Whether it takes them five years to finish a book or a day. It's a characteristic that I want to have. And as my parents have inspired me, hopefully I can inspire others to start reading.
Book: Hopefully going to the book store on Saturday. In the meantime, listening to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on Audiobook.
Thai: teacher..............................ah-jawhn
Monday, August 27, 2012
PBOT
Ever since middle school, about age 11, I have had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Sometimes there was a change in the menu. For instance, when I was sick I would request for Campbell's Chunky Chicken and Dumplings Soup. Or after the holidays a turkey or ham sandwich would appear in my lunch box. The type of drink and crackers has been noted to modify as well.
Although, my lunch in elementary school was much different. Yes, it consisted of the same substances (sandwich, juice, crackers/chips or some sort of snack, and a cookie). Mainly the type of sandwich changed. I was a fan of pepper ham, black forest ham and turkey. But I especially liked the days when I was gifted a peanut butter sandwich. So I switched full time and devoted myself to the creamy nutty glory of the peanut butter sandwich.
Here, I buy lunch at school.
They don't sell peanut butter sandwiches like the ones my dad made me each morning since I can remember. They don't even sell the chemical filled, artificially flavored Uncrustables!
(I never understood the name Uncrustables. It sounds as though the consumer of the sandwich is supposed to uncrust the sandwich, making the you the uncruster? The should call them Uncrusties or The Decrusted or Center Sandwiches! Center as in like center brownies don't have edges or crusts, because they're from the center of the pan.
Anyway....
The food is much better here than the preserved sodium filled food back home. Although, most of the food is a little "unfamiliar".
"Unfamiliar" is the term Rotary asks us exchange students to use instead of odd or weird. However, I am very familiar to what a liver is and I don't want to eat it. ( I did try liver at this noodle shop once, because I'm trying to try everything, and I think that's enough liver for my exchange).
The cafeteria or canteen as my classmates call it, is arranged the same way a cafeteria in the states is arranged. In which there are food stations that sell different types of food, but each station sells the same thing each day.
I have found my station. My peanut butter sandwich of Thailand.
My lunch consists of jasmine rice, 2 to 3 slices of fresh cucumber, Thai breaded chicken with some sort of thai sauce that tastes like sweet and sour sauce, and a teacup sized bowl of chicken broth soup. This costs me 20 baht or about $0.65.
Today I looked around at the other stations, but found myself back at my PBOT (peanut butter sandwich of Thailand).
I gave the lunch lady my meal card and 20 baht and was about to pick up my PBOT from the array of dishes when the lady reached over and picked it up before I could fully grasp my hand around the plate.
She then went over to where the chicken strips were lying and gently placed 3 extra strips onto my plate and handed it to me.
I said thank you (in Thai) and wondered around until I found the table where my classmates decided to sit.
She made my day.
Also in Middle School, my leadership teacher had this activity where if you saw a person perform a Random Act of Kindness you could write their name on the white board an then they would be called down to her class to receive a prize.
Today, I fully realized how amazing random acts of kindness are. And how amazing people are too. The action of giving me more chicken for lunch may be insignificant to her, but it was significant to me.
Everyone is nice to me in Thailand. Sometimes I think it's because I know English or because I have pale skin and blonde hair. Or that sometimes people only talk to me to practice their English speaking skills. But this lunch lady noticed something about me. Not my appearnce or the way I sounded when I tried to speak Thai, but she noticed a characteristic of mine. She noticed my PBOT.
Book: Still on artemis fowl, same page as where i was last time-telling people the my progress with reading books is sort of peer pressure to read more
Thai: Thank You..............................................Krup koon ka/krup (ka if you're a girl, krup if you're a boy)
Please tell me what's your PBOT! Or maybe an action that you like doing daily. Whether it be reading the newspaper or eating cheerios each morning, like me know in the comments!
For a full history of my lunch menu , you can ask Natasha Paranjapye. She can tell you all about goldfish and butter sandwiches.
Although, my lunch in elementary school was much different. Yes, it consisted of the same substances (sandwich, juice, crackers/chips or some sort of snack, and a cookie). Mainly the type of sandwich changed. I was a fan of pepper ham, black forest ham and turkey. But I especially liked the days when I was gifted a peanut butter sandwich. So I switched full time and devoted myself to the creamy nutty glory of the peanut butter sandwich.
Here, I buy lunch at school.
They don't sell peanut butter sandwiches like the ones my dad made me each morning since I can remember. They don't even sell the chemical filled, artificially flavored Uncrustables!
(I never understood the name Uncrustables. It sounds as though the consumer of the sandwich is supposed to uncrust the sandwich, making the you the uncruster? The should call them Uncrusties or The Decrusted or Center Sandwiches! Center as in like center brownies don't have edges or crusts, because they're from the center of the pan.
Anyway....
The food is much better here than the preserved sodium filled food back home. Although, most of the food is a little "unfamiliar".
"Unfamiliar" is the term Rotary asks us exchange students to use instead of odd or weird. However, I am very familiar to what a liver is and I don't want to eat it. ( I did try liver at this noodle shop once, because I'm trying to try everything, and I think that's enough liver for my exchange).
The cafeteria or canteen as my classmates call it, is arranged the same way a cafeteria in the states is arranged. In which there are food stations that sell different types of food, but each station sells the same thing each day.
I have found my station. My peanut butter sandwich of Thailand.
My lunch consists of jasmine rice, 2 to 3 slices of fresh cucumber, Thai breaded chicken with some sort of thai sauce that tastes like sweet and sour sauce, and a teacup sized bowl of chicken broth soup. This costs me 20 baht or about $0.65.
Today I looked around at the other stations, but found myself back at my PBOT (peanut butter sandwich of Thailand).
I gave the lunch lady my meal card and 20 baht and was about to pick up my PBOT from the array of dishes when the lady reached over and picked it up before I could fully grasp my hand around the plate.
She then went over to where the chicken strips were lying and gently placed 3 extra strips onto my plate and handed it to me.
I said thank you (in Thai) and wondered around until I found the table where my classmates decided to sit.
She made my day.
Also in Middle School, my leadership teacher had this activity where if you saw a person perform a Random Act of Kindness you could write their name on the white board an then they would be called down to her class to receive a prize.
Today, I fully realized how amazing random acts of kindness are. And how amazing people are too. The action of giving me more chicken for lunch may be insignificant to her, but it was significant to me.
Everyone is nice to me in Thailand. Sometimes I think it's because I know English or because I have pale skin and blonde hair. Or that sometimes people only talk to me to practice their English speaking skills. But this lunch lady noticed something about me. Not my appearnce or the way I sounded when I tried to speak Thai, but she noticed a characteristic of mine. She noticed my PBOT.
Book: Still on artemis fowl, same page as where i was last time-telling people the my progress with reading books is sort of peer pressure to read more
Thai: Thank You..............................................Krup koon ka/krup (ka if you're a girl, krup if you're a boy)
Please tell me what's your PBOT! Or maybe an action that you like doing daily. Whether it be reading the newspaper or eating cheerios each morning, like me know in the comments!
For a full history of my lunch menu , you can ask Natasha Paranjapye. She can tell you all about goldfish and butter sandwiches.
Dangerous
Two people have asked me if I am afraid of walking on the streets in Thailand.
Nope. I am not afraid.
I have walked in Paris at night, on the streets of London, with friends in Seattle and figured out the New York Public Subway system in just 3 days.
I am not afraid of walking the two blocks from my house to my school in broad daylight.
However, the things I think about while walking on the streets may be dangerous.
It's just me, the bumpy sidewalk and my thoughts out there, and it's a very scary place.
When alone I think about home. My family, the familiar foods and sights. While thinking about these things makes me really happy, it also makes me a tad depressed for obvious reasons.
And therefore walking on the streets isn't dangerous to my physical being but my mental health.
Yeah, everything is backwards in Thailand.
Book: On page 173 out of 329 of Artemis Fowl
Thai: back home................................................ krup bahn(sorta 'flip' the r in krup)
P.S.- I would really like to elaborate on my thoughts of walking alone but am having terrible writer's block and (let's be honest) procrastination. I promise my next post will be more detailed.
Nope. I am not afraid.
I have walked in Paris at night, on the streets of London, with friends in Seattle and figured out the New York Public Subway system in just 3 days.
I am not afraid of walking the two blocks from my house to my school in broad daylight.
However, the things I think about while walking on the streets may be dangerous.
It's just me, the bumpy sidewalk and my thoughts out there, and it's a very scary place.
When alone I think about home. My family, the familiar foods and sights. While thinking about these things makes me really happy, it also makes me a tad depressed for obvious reasons.
And therefore walking on the streets isn't dangerous to my physical being but my mental health.
Yeah, everything is backwards in Thailand.
Book: On page 173 out of 329 of Artemis Fowl
Thai: back home................................................ krup bahn(sorta 'flip' the r in krup)
P.S.- I would really like to elaborate on my thoughts of walking alone but am having terrible writer's block and (let's be honest) procrastination. I promise my next post will be more detailed.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Speak
You will find that teenagers these days often say I love you to and hug their friends. I am not one of those people. I love my friends, I really do, I just don't say it.
That all changed when I became an exchange student.
And I'm glad it did change.
Being an exchange student is really hard. Really, really hard.
I have to say goodbye to all of my friends and loved ones, spend a year without them, leave during an election year, live with three new families be submerged in a new culture and language, have to learn a new language (in my case three because I'm taking German and Chinese at school) be the new kid in high school, try to make new friends, then have an awesome time to then have to go back home, try to regain one's footing after missing a year of american pop culture, learn who my real friends (aka figure out who actually missed me and what not) and then have to go back to school and try to graduate on time and have to deal with all my new exchange friends being all over the world!
Overall, a lot of emotional things. Which aren't so fun.
Overall, an experience which no one will ever have but me.
Overall, being able to tell a lot of stories with "When I was in Thailand..."
And now for the gushy, lovely, last scene of a disney animated movie part:
I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Thanks so much for following my blog, commenting and giving me support! It's really helped me to get through all of this culture shock and "unfamiliar" customs.
I'm giving you all an imaginary hug right now, thanks for being so awesome!
I'm changing my book recommendation thing to "what book I'm reading right now" so that way I am forced to keep reading.
Book: Artemis Fowl (yeah I realize it's for kids but a friend gave it to me to read because I finished my other book and it's pretty good)
Thai: dream.....................fun
That all changed when I became an exchange student.
And I'm glad it did change.
Being an exchange student is really hard. Really, really hard.
I have to say goodbye to all of my friends and loved ones, spend a year without them, leave during an election year, live with three new families be submerged in a new culture and language, have to learn a new language (in my case three because I'm taking German and Chinese at school) be the new kid in high school, try to make new friends, then have an awesome time to then have to go back home, try to regain one's footing after missing a year of american pop culture, learn who my real friends (aka figure out who actually missed me and what not) and then have to go back to school and try to graduate on time and have to deal with all my new exchange friends being all over the world!
Overall, a lot of emotional things. Which aren't so fun.
Overall, an experience which no one will ever have but me.
Overall, being able to tell a lot of stories with "When I was in Thailand..."
And now for the gushy, lovely, last scene of a disney animated movie part:
I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Thanks so much for following my blog, commenting and giving me support! It's really helped me to get through all of this culture shock and "unfamiliar" customs.
I'm giving you all an imaginary hug right now, thanks for being so awesome!
I'm changing my book recommendation thing to "what book I'm reading right now" so that way I am forced to keep reading.
Book: Artemis Fowl (yeah I realize it's for kids but a friend gave it to me to read because I finished my other book and it's pretty good)
Thai: dream.....................fun
Skype
An open Letter to Skype:
Dear Skype,
Thank you for helping me to see my friends and family. But sometimes you cause me trouble. My webcam is plugged in even if you say it isn't. There is audio card in my computer and a mic on my camera. Your community help website is so beautifully designed, but unfortunately looks deceive. There are no answers or solutions on on these help pages. I oh so hope we get get over this bump in the road.
Really hope I don't have to switch to oovoo,
Turi
Book: Night and The Book Thief (sorry forgot last time)
Thai: pencil....................................................................dim- saw
Dear Skype,
Thank you for helping me to see my friends and family. But sometimes you cause me trouble. My webcam is plugged in even if you say it isn't. There is audio card in my computer and a mic on my camera. Your community help website is so beautifully designed, but unfortunately looks deceive. There are no answers or solutions on on these help pages. I oh so hope we get get over this bump in the road.
Really hope I don't have to switch to oovoo,
Turi
Book: Night and The Book Thief (sorry forgot last time)
Thai: pencil....................................................................dim- saw
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Boring
Part One: A explanation?
When I was little, my mom always reminded me that a bored kid is a boring kid.
The phrase still haunts me today.
I realize that she wanted to warn me that there is always plenty to do in the world and if one is bored, one is basically taking for granite all of the amazing things our world has to offer. Which is in a way, true.
I haven't heard her say the phrase for at least five years but every time I think "I'm bored," I can hear that phrase echo in my mind.
For all of my friends who think I'm way too busy, it's mainly because of the reason that I DON'T WANT TO BE A BORING KID, or bored for that matter.
The first week in Thailand was hard for me, for multiple reasons. Once I had a routine down of going to school and finally got comfortable in my new house, things got better. Things got ordinary. The routine of shower, school, eat, shower, eat, sleep was a little bit too routine for me. Yes, I started to teach myself the ukulele and am attempting to learn Thai, but there is only so many times you can practice the same four chords or stare at a page of squiggly foreign lines on a page. Am I getting bored in Thailand? The truth is......a little. There is so many things I want to see and do in Thailand but unfortunately I have no one to see and do those things with. My host family is so kind and great but making friends is hard as it is and the skill of asking people to hang out in Thai is not one of my fortes.
But the hardest thing about making new friends in Thailand are being reminded of my friends back home. My friends back home are so reliable and awesome at speaking english. I can call Emma at 2:00 in the morning to chat and can always count on having a conversation about Doctor Who with Keyan and Mariah. And probably the best thing is that when I'm with my friends, I'm never bored. Or at least we're bored together.
Part Two: The bloggy part
Went to "The Mall" yesterday with my new acquaintance Tannie. She was an exchange student to Michigan last year? The year before? Not really sure when actually. But I had a really good time. I tried bubble tea. The liquid of the bubble tea was fantastic! But the bubbles were uh, ummm chewy? Don't really know how to explain it.We are planning to see The Bourne Legacy sometime soon together, although I suggested we watch the other Bourne movies first. So I shall let you know how that goes down.
Part Three: Book+ Thai
Book: NEED ONE. FINISHED MINE.
Thai Words: rice/food...........................cow
When I was little, my mom always reminded me that a bored kid is a boring kid.
The phrase still haunts me today.
I realize that she wanted to warn me that there is always plenty to do in the world and if one is bored, one is basically taking for granite all of the amazing things our world has to offer. Which is in a way, true.
I haven't heard her say the phrase for at least five years but every time I think "I'm bored," I can hear that phrase echo in my mind.
For all of my friends who think I'm way too busy, it's mainly because of the reason that I DON'T WANT TO BE A BORING KID, or bored for that matter.
The first week in Thailand was hard for me, for multiple reasons. Once I had a routine down of going to school and finally got comfortable in my new house, things got better. Things got ordinary. The routine of shower, school, eat, shower, eat, sleep was a little bit too routine for me. Yes, I started to teach myself the ukulele and am attempting to learn Thai, but there is only so many times you can practice the same four chords or stare at a page of squiggly foreign lines on a page. Am I getting bored in Thailand? The truth is......a little. There is so many things I want to see and do in Thailand but unfortunately I have no one to see and do those things with. My host family is so kind and great but making friends is hard as it is and the skill of asking people to hang out in Thai is not one of my fortes.
But the hardest thing about making new friends in Thailand are being reminded of my friends back home. My friends back home are so reliable and awesome at speaking english. I can call Emma at 2:00 in the morning to chat and can always count on having a conversation about Doctor Who with Keyan and Mariah. And probably the best thing is that when I'm with my friends, I'm never bored. Or at least we're bored together.
Part Two: The bloggy part
Went to "The Mall" yesterday with my new acquaintance Tannie. She was an exchange student to Michigan last year? The year before? Not really sure when actually. But I had a really good time. I tried bubble tea. The liquid of the bubble tea was fantastic! But the bubbles were uh, ummm chewy? Don't really know how to explain it.We are planning to see The Bourne Legacy sometime soon together, although I suggested we watch the other Bourne movies first. So I shall let you know how that goes down.
Part Three: Book+ Thai
Book: NEED ONE. FINISHED MINE.
Thai Words: rice/food...........................cow
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