It's time for Church

June 9, 2011 7:53 Thai time

Up and ready for a new day.  I have been up pretty early since there was a dispute between two birds outside my window.  I don’t speak bird but I think it was domestic.  I was glad that I was not the recipient of the vicious squawking.

Today we are off to worship at the mainline protestant denomination in Thailand, Church of Christ.  It is a pretty easy day so I will have more to say later.

Orientation and Dinner

International House at Payap University

Taxi to restaurant

Regina in deep thought

My and my roomie Gail in front of a spirit house

Inside the spirit house

Chiang Mai night life

Food stalls on the street

The gang at dinner

Yum it was so good

Restaurant where we ate

January 8, 2011 21:48 Thai time

What a day!  We have been oriented to the overview of the program.  Our program is jammed packed with lectures, discussions and hands on assignments.  I am so excited about what is about to happen.  Today we meet with Mark Tamthai, John Butt, Pam Akrapsian and Doo Doo Boonkum.  They with our group sponsors have put in so much wonderful work to make sure that this trip is a meaningful experience.  I hope I can convey it all in writing.

Highlight of the day is the discussion on culture and religion from a Thai perspective.  We really hit the ground running laying the ground work of what we will hope to accomplish in the next 18 days.  We all hung in until 3:30 pm in the afternoon with discussions.  Sometimes it is better to work through the jet lag.

One thing I have to say about Thailand is the food is DELICIOUS.  I am eating so well that I hope not to pack on the pounds.   Everything tastes good, even corn flakes.  I have to say that this culture loves to cook.  There are street stalls everywhere with all different kinds of flavors.  We visited two different Saturday markets where all types of food, clothing and other sundries were for sale.  It was amazing that cooked food would be on one end of the counter and the counter next to it would have raw or smoked meats for sale.  It was a sensory overload. 

We visited a restaurant that showcased northern Thai cuisine and Thai cultural.  It was impressive show.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.  Payap University has a beautiful campus.  There are so many beautiful flowering trees that make the area smell so fragrant.  There was one flower that was pink.  If pink had a smell then it would be that flower.  I have also attached pictures of the International House where we are staying.

I am really tired so I don’t have more a reflection to write.   Tomorrow we have more free time for me to write a more comprehensive entry.

Good night.

  

The day has begun

June 7, 2011 8:10 Thai time

I have been up for about 40 minutes.  I have prayed and mediated trying to get ready for this day.  I still am very dizzy.  Gail (my roommate) feels the same.  We think that we have a type motion sickness like you get when you get off a cruise ship.  Our bodies have not adjusted to being on the ground instead of hurling through the air at 500+ miles per hour.

We are off to breakfast then orientation.

Finally in Chiang Mai

June 7, 2011  23:45 Thai time

We are here!  We have made it through customs.  We are waiting on our ride who thought our group was coming in later today.  It is quite warm and muggy.  I have yet to go outside but I am sitting near the door.  I really don’t have a concept for time at the moment since it seems like we have been flying for two days.  I can’t wait to leave the airport and get situated in our rooms.

Updated at 1:05 Thai time

We are at the University and in our rooms.  I have finally got to get some sleep.  We start orientation in 9 hours. Yikes!

Somewhere over China

June 7, 2011 somewhere over China

19:31 Thai time

I am sitting in seat 35C (the aisle) wishing that this 5 hour flight was moving faster.  There is about 3 hours left in this flight.  The flight is looking up because there was a choice of chicken or beef for dinner.  I get the chicken.  There is this soyday side dish that is quite tasty.  It looked like soft tofu and you put this spicy sesame dressing over it.  I would definitely eat that again.

I am working on my personal space issues.  I really like that in this culture there is a lot of affection within the genders.  There were many men with men and women with women walking arm in arm in the airport.  However, if you are stranger please don’t hang on me.  There is a woman sitting next to me on the plane and she is just a little too close for my comfort.  I realize that I am sharing space but my seat should be my area alone.  I just smile because I know that personal space means something totally different in Asia.  Pray for me folks.  I am going to need it.

Laying over in Seoul

Maxine and Emma in airport

Our plane

The gang waiting in Seoul

Greg and Deloris chatting it up

January 7, 2011 17:26 Korea time

We are now in Seoul after that long ride from Atlanta.  The airport is just like any other airport in the world.  One thing I have noticed that if you don’t eat beef in Korea you will be pretty hungry.  I end up getting a chicken sandwich from Burger King (a place I rarely eat at in the States). After eating the only thing I want to do is walk.  My legs a little swollen from sitting so long. We don't start boarding until 18:25 so I have time to walk around a bite more.

I still have not slept much.  I am hoping that on the next plane ride that I will stay awake since will land a midnight in Chiang Mai.  I should sleep soundly once we get to our destination.

I have yet to take any pictures.  I will start that on tomorrow.

We are in the air

January 6, 2011 2:30 EST

We are safely in the air somewhere over Illinois.  It was an adventure to get to this point.

Andrea and Deloris came down from Tennessee yesterday evening to stay with me and Donna.  Donna was so kind to get up and drive us to Hartsfield/Jackson this morning.  That part of the trip is pretty uneventful (which is always a blessing).

It was good to see everyone at the airport.  We were near the last to arrive.   We got through security with no problems.  It is smooth sailing.  I have to say this is in part to the excellent customer service that Korean Airline provides.  The inflight staff are so friendly and helpful.   This is the best customer service that I have EVER experienced from an airline.  Along with the superior customer service they coach seats are well spaced out.  I don’t feel like I am on top of the person in front or beside me. 

We have just been served lunch.  I got the Korean meal.  It was a rice bowl with mushrooms, spinach, bean sprouts and something else that I could not identify so I took it out of the bowl.  It was absolutely delicious. 

So far I have watch one movie, The Social Network.  There are many more to choose from.  According to the map there is about 11 hours and 14 minutes to we reach Seoul, Korea.  I wish I could take a nap.  My mind is racing with all the possibilities of what we are about to experience.   I am hoping my mind will slow down enough so I can take a nap.

Until then….

January 6, 2011 18:25 EST

Well, I am still awake.  I dozed a bit but my mind is still racing.  I put on a slow indie film to see if I could fall asleep on it.  Get Low did not help my quest.  I next try the jazz station.  Nope.  Nada.  I then turn to the classical music station.  Big mistake!  The most aggressive symphonies by Beethoven and Mozart have played thus far.

Even though if you looked at me I have been sitting quietly but in my mind I have been the conductor of these symphonies.  All that aggressive string playing; violins lamenting, horns sending the resound; piccolo’s hitting those needed high notes.  Suffice it to say, I am more awake than ever.  It is my own fault.  I hear music in my head all the time.  Adding more complex music in the mix is a recipe for over active brain.

It looks as if we are getting more snacks.  If I can’t sleep then I might as well eat.

A few moments later…

No snacks for me.  The snack is filled with beef.  It is bread with beef in it.  This is turning into a slow nightmare for me.  I don’t eat beef.  Everything served today had beef in it.  There is no vegetarian option.  Good thing I packed lots of protein bars.