I really wasn't expecting to write so soon after my last entry so how about a condensed version?  Someone told me that they "want MORE bullet points." Ok, if that is what you really want.... nah just kidding. No one said that for reals. I am just saying that because I like BPs. They are so much easier and nicer for me and you guys won't have to hear about how "this was the moment I felt I belonged" or "I came out of that situation a better person." I am emotionally stagnant at this point but I promise you I will get to that point in the future. I realize there is a time for that type of self reflection and if I feel the need to share then I will gladly do so. As for now, I was just knee-deep in water so learn to deal. (please?) And on to why I was just knee-deep in water...

(also I mean for my sarcastic humor to have a hilarious twinge to it. Please don't take anything I say literally. I'm from the Pacific NW and that's how we do.)

I've been at site for 2 days.

It's Saturday.

It's 11:14pm. 

I just got home. 

I just got home from visiting my tambon (Namaipai) with my amazing field counterpart who I work with at the office. What were we doing visiting everyone so late? Well, about 7 of my 14 villages have flooded. Mine being one of them. Not all of the areas are completely underwater but it is getting close in most of the rest. If I step 5 feet from my room I will be swimming. 

Here are a few interesting questions I thought about:

1. Weren't we supposed to have a lull in activity our first month? (not complaining; just find it funny)

2. Can't frogs and snakes find a better place to congregate than the road during a flood?

3. Why aren't any of the labels in the emergency response vehicle (like radio and emergency lights) changed to Thai?

The last one is pretty coincidental because of my degree and the fact that I speak English. Sounds like a Win-Win Situation to me. If was an odd feeling to be in a emergency response vehicle in a foreign land for once but I did feel like I had a purpose. Even though my technical Thai vocabulary is still in the toddler stage, everyone knows I have the mind of an adult with a background related to rural development and emergency management. If you are wondering, nobody was hurt. We just made a point to visit all of the villages and warn them of the dangers of the increase of rain, where the floods would hit, and who they could go to for help. For the houses that were already hit by the floods, we checked to make sure everyone was ok and had supplies. It seems that most people are pretty comfortable with where they are at even if they are standing in 1 foot of water. Being more family and community orientated does have its perks.

Other main points of interest: 

• I, and 65 amazing people became Official Peace Corps Volunteers on March 21, 2011
• Sarcasm does not exist here
• I found this out after I told my counterpart (in Thai) that "I do not like fun"; when in fact I do like fun; very much in fact
• I have the unique ability to sleep soundly on a bus or in a pickup for more than 10 hours but still be able to wake for peeing and eating stops

And speaking of sleep I am off to bed and getting ready to see the damage in the light (both literally and figuratively). And please think about those who have been impacted by negative events this past month. If there is anything that I've learned since my short time of being here it is that language and distance mean little when it comes to compassion for humanity.

Site Placement and Sugar

Permanent site is going to be in Amphur Tung Song, Jangwat Nakohnsrithammarat. It is a province on the east coast in the southern region of Thailand. And I leave in about 6 days. I could try to do a detailed version of everything I have done in the past month but, to be honest, I just don't feel like I could do it justice. I am feeling very "bullet-pointy" today so you all can enjoy the rest of the post via list format.

Stuff I've Done:

• Got my site placement and visited my supervisor and potential host family
• Found out a member of my graduate committee at UAF has been to my site
• Visited a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) who is getting ready to finish up her two year term and gave the whole PC experience to me without the sugar coating
• Been to 3 weddings/ reception dinners
• Had my language proficiency test (I passed)

Stuff I HaveYet to Do:

• Say goodbye to my host family in Ayutthaya
• Learn to keep my face in check and not show negative emotion
• Understand the difference between a "good" car honk and a "bad" car honk; I'm not even sure there is a "bad" car honk
• Learn to cook like a Thai

Stuff I Still Need to Get Used to Here:

• Waking up early
• Eating rice for every meal
• Eating more than three meals in a day
• Sugar is practically used in everything
• Riding my bike on a busy street
• Coffee- 3 in 1 (instant coffee, sugar, and creamer)
• Having Thais come up to me and compare skin color

Stuff I Love About This Country:

• Taking 2 showers a day is acceptable and highly recommended
• Taking the time to complete takes
• Seafood
• Fruit seasons (right now it is mango)
• Everyone here smiles (regardless of how many teeth they are missing; which I think is from all the sugar they eat)

Thank you to everyone for all the support these past months. It means a tremendous amount to me when I receive an email, text or simple wall post. I will have a new address soon so keep your eyes out for that as well. 

Extra!!!: If you can tell me how many times I mentioned the word "sugar" in this post I will send you a genuine postcard and canome (Thai dessert with sugar).

Four weeks in. This last weekend was a crash course in Thai culture for me. Saturday, our Peace Corps group engaged in a Thai Day extravaganza which inlcuded Thai food, dance and music. After that, the group living in Tambon Uthai was invited to the Nayoke's house for lunch and entertainment (she would be considered the mayor). Then my family took me into town for some shopping at the Tesco Lotus. Just wow. It was a bit overwhelming but I did manage to find some things. Think of it like a classy Wal-mart (if there is such a thing). Sunday, we went to see some history and visited Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, dancing elephants and Wat (I can't remember the name but it was long) which has a floating market with food vendors. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon was absolutely stunning and huge! It was a great view from the top and it was amazing on the inside as well. Then we went to see dancing elephants and I have to say I was impressed. I got to feed them and pet them and watch them hula hoop. There were 2 toddlers which were 2 years old and so cute. I saw that they also had elephant rides which was wonderful. It would be great to go on one at some point in the future but I have two years to go and why not space out the fun?

Along with that, I also received my nickname from my family. Everyone has a nickname here and I think it is because their birth names are generally long and because they have some significance to the individual. My nickname is "Maylee" which is a white flower that is fragrant. I have to say that I agree with the white part but I can't smell that great given it is so humid and I'm always on my bike. Then finally, we had a cross culture experience when I made my family dinner. One the menu was spaghetti. I was really worried that my family wouldn't like it; especially the kids. But it turned out great and I was soooo relieved when the kids went back for seconds. We even had a neighbor that came over and finished up the leftovers straight from the pot. That made me feel like I have some culinary skills. Horray.... Still working on pics so I just need to gain motivation and time. 

It seems there is some confusion as to who, what, where, when, why and how my role is going to be played out in the next couple years. To tell the truth I do not fully understand the extent myself but I will try to shine some light.

Right now, there are 66 trainees which have been divided into 6 sub-districts (Tambon) inside of the district (Amphur) Uthai. I am living in Tambon Uthai, Amphur Uthai, Jangwot Ayutthaya.We live with individual host families in the first 2 months of training which consists of cross cultural learning, safety and security, health, and language. It is full on immersion. After a week of orientation/staging we were placed in our host family without any knowledge of the language. I take that back... we knew how to say "Hello. My name is-----." And that was it. I didn't know what to think at first. I wasn't nervous until about the time I was getting in the car with my new family and they were asking me all sorts of questions that I couldn't answer. Since then we have been attending class from 8 AM until 5 PM which consists of language and assignment specifications. There are two groups: Community-Based Organizational Development (CBOD) and Teacher Collaboration and Community Outreach (TCCO). I am in the training class for CBOD and we are currently learning about the stakeholders and citizen communication strategies to reach the Thai Government. It begins at the individual level, then comes Mooban (village), Tambon (sub-district or cluster of villages), Amphur (district), Jangwat (province), then finally Thailand (which includes the Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy). More to come on that.

My host family is amazing! My mom is such a wonderful cook and see is always asking me if I am hungry. I learned the word for full right away. I figured since I can't handle spicy food that I would have a hard time. I have since learned I love it and surprised myself by how much I can handle. At dinner one night my mom actually said "pet! pet! (hot)" and reached over to grab the pepper off my spoon. Then I tried to explain the more spice I have the more accustomed I will get and I actually like it. Another night, I was putting this spicy oil on my rice and and my dad said "noy (little)." Yep, he was right on that one. Another thing that makes my family laugh is my inability to say the Thai word for '8.' No matter how hard I try I can't seem to get it. It sounds like a sheep's baa but with a 'p' at the beginning and your mouth is supposed to be in a huge grin. Oh well. As long as my family and I can laugh at it, that is what counts :) I have two older brothers and 2 older sisters who are all wonderful teachers. They are always telling me new words, very patient, and taking me to cultural events throughout the area. My younger sister and brother are so much fun too. The first night we had a ton of their friends over to hula hoop. I even got to show them how to play memory with some children's cards I brought from home. Everyone in this area is friendly and welcoming. If there is ever an awkward situation all one has to do is smile. It truly owns up to it's chuu-len (nickname) and I consider myself extremely lucky to be where I am and surrounded by such wonderful people.

Arriving in Thailand

It's warm. A lot warmer than I expected for 11:00pm. But we are all finally here. We ran into some snags at JFK when our airline didn't reconnect us all after our initial flight was delayed. Then we landed in Japan and had to stay the night at a hotel near Tokyo. Then we ran into more snags at Japan's airport when some members of our group (including myself) were "confirmed" for the flight and others weren't; meaning we had to split up and take a few different airlines. After a few days of travel we have all made it safely and in good shape. And I think it's safe to say we are happy to be rid of our airport squatter lifestyle.

Now here it is about 5:45am Bangkok time (73 degrees F)and we have our first all-day session in about 2 hours. We are staying at a hotel until January 15th after which we will be relocating to our host families in the tambon (or sub-districts) we are assigned. Tomorrow is orientation on ...well, everything, including health and safety, language, and bike riding in rural Thailand. It is also the start of our first set of immunizations :D

It's the Final Countdown DOO DOO DOO DOOOOO!!!

Wow. My blog really needs to get decorated and not look so naked. At this point, I have 2 days until I leave for Spokane and then off to Pennsylvania. For those who came across here and are wondering 'what's going on?!'or my friends who got an email saying 'Lacey's Got Blog Fever!', let me fill you in.

About 25 years ago, the world was blessed with an individual of cosmic proportions who will make the world a more positive place by her presence. As a mere babe, it was obvious she would do everything in her power to get her way. And those around her were grateful; for her Screams of Want were likened to that of the hymns sung by angels. But enough about the Laceolithic era and into the present.

Two years ago I applied to Peace Corps and the University of Alaska Fairbanks as part of the Master's International program which combines to form an academic/volunteer based means to obtain a degree. The application process doesn't last that long for most volunteer applicants but there were (as most of you remember) many hoops for me to jump through. I'm a pretty short person so it wasn't easy to jump through them all. But I did. And after a year of coursework at UAF I am getting ready to spend 2 years using what I have learned and am ready to learn more skills from my host country. 

I will be pretty busy in the next couple of weeks but I hope to post again soon. Got questions or recommendations? Let me know.