too much to blog

sawatdii khaa, arroy mai?, chan pood paasaa thai nit nawy, kha (hello, delicious?, i can speak a little thai ) three of the most commonly used/heard phrases for a farang (foreigner, or guava) here! i am now in khon kaen (university and appartment with thai roomie stations) after having spent orientation in the northern mtns, an exchange with illegal forest dwellers, and a homestay with a verrry loving family in khon kaen. My mom nick-named me something that encompasses: very lucky, very beautiful, very wise. I think the English equivalent must be "female Jesus." People are way too nice sometimes :)

Just a quick forward: I am slowly realizing that it might be very hard to blog. I have so much I could say, but I don't know how I feel about displaying all of that on such a public page. In just a few weeks I have experienced a lot of emotion and non-emotion. I can only imagine what this semester's going to do to me. Please email if you want to know more, and I'll see what I can do!

First, GENERALLY: I love the people in my group. A lot of different personalities, but a common theme is "cool" and "funny." At first I was intimidated by being with 29 others, but we luckily break things up and do a lot of circle discussions. I've found myself tending to take on a quieter role (at least in discussions), sometimes because I'm really tired and other times because I prefer to listen.

I also am amazed by how welcoming (and hilarious) Thais can be. At this last home stay, I have been touched by more old ladies than I think I have in most of my life, being called "suaii!!" (beautiful) or "naa raak!!" (cute). I've also been "kissed" (face on my cheek) by a baby a few times.

Also, it's pretty addictive speaking English the way Thais do. Maybe soon I will be kicked in the butt by that being inappropriate, but so far it's really funny, and hey, if they get to laugh at us all the time b/c we're clueless, I think it's fair to laugh about Thais sometimes, too :) For those of you who understand some Thai or Thai culture, I have a few jokes I've created in my back pocket :)

More SPECIFICALLY:

Nothing too bad health-wise yet, but we have to be "on" so much of the day that I tend to feel off and exhausted easier. Yesterday, for example, I woke up at 6, we had to be at the school by 8, and from then until 9pm we were doing background info, an exchange with HIV/AIDS organization and PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS), and driving back and forth from all these places. We usually get one "personal day" a week, meaning one day where we technically have no obligations to CIEE. It's also hard b/c I want to be social and go out, so, JUST LIKE IN COLLEGE, I'm struggling to balance sleep, work, and play. Good to know it goes on :)

I think waking up early is good for me. I woke up a few times at 5:30 to give alms to the monks with my host mom. Seeing her family/the neighborhood wake up early together to give food and be blessed in Burmese (is that the language?), which they do every day, started me off on a good note. Usually I wake up an hour later or so.

The food is "arroy", and I'm slowly burning my taste buds and getting used to spice. The kao neow (sticky rice) is balled up and used to grab food in Isaan (the region I'm in). I usually find myself hungry for every meal, and I'm pretty sure I will turn into a ball of sticky rice by the time I come back. Don't eat me, even though I will look plump and delicious!

I will be by KKU for the next week (the longest time in one place so far!) so I will have some computer access.

Love you all, and trust me, if you're reading this, I've thought of YOU specifically and have been very happy because of it :)