tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73229500497797819992024-03-12T21:46:53.887-07:00The Liminal Phase: Jessye's Travel BlogJessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-60770403749632751572018-02-04T10:53:00.000-08:002018-02-04T10:53:56.528-08:00What is home? Is travel ethical or unethical? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">What is home? Is travel ethical or unethical? These are the two questions I am asking myself the most. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">I have spent the last four plus months traveling around Asian and African countries. I reunited with over 22 different people in these locations, having first met all of them outside of the United States. Each place I stayed, from hostels to host families to friends houses became a piece of comfort at varying levels. Space to call my own, for a night, a week or a month. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Massachusetts is home. Ghana is home. Thailand is home. Kenya is home. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">The other countries I traveled to, whether for the 1st time or having visited before, were not home - but adventure and experience. Grateful for the experience, but ever pondering my place as a traveler, role as a tourist, ethics of travel and my own whiteness and privilege (especially as it relates to travel) I found myself questioning the entire trip - while also deeply enjoying it. What does it mean that I am able to travel? How can I be an ethical traveler? Is travel ethical? What can I learn? How can I use what I have learned to empower others? Can I empower others? I have many questions and they never stop. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Home, as I’ve decided for myself, is wherever my heart is, wherever I’ve spent significant time and developed relationships. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 13pt;">Yet, I will always understand and feel more comfortable in Massachusetts. Even if I do not want that to be the case. </span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_297_d5d_5952_dd5a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oAiHMpIGs3U/WnSVE7RP1OI/AAAAAAAAAsU/Ga7bV3ohQPssy9vcmPw1IVr5pFvzcuRigCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 361px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">I am writing this from a mentors home in South Florida. Betwixt and between a home I know and don’t know I am reflecting on these four months. What I’ve learned, where I’ve been, where I want to go next. Concord and Somerville feel far away, but being in the United States feels familiar and strange all at once. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Grocery stores and malls loom, and I have not been brave enough to enter one yet. The consumer culture overwhelming, but being observed as the foreigner that I was is no longer my daily experience. I could be from here. I fit in here. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Yet, Ghana feels like home. More so than Thailand or Kenya. It was the first country I experienced outside of the USA. For nearly 6 months, at 18 years old, Ghana became the only other home I knew. It will never be completely comfortable, but I have a deep connection to the Labadi town. The music on the streets, bright colors, spicy food, friendships I’ve built, and the general low-key nature of a culture not so focused on individualism and achievement: I love it all. Ghana was where I learned I could be myself, be accepted and grow. It is where I spent every summer of my college years.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Right after graduation, in 2013, I told my best friend in Ghana, Joeshmail Sowah that I would return to Ghana for her wedding. We were both 22 then, she had been with her boyfriend Fred since she was 16. I planned this trip to be in Ghana for her wedding to Fred. Absolutely beautiful and magical, being a bridesmaid for their wedding is my most treasured memory from this trip. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><img alt="" id="id_ac6c_5bb1_7192_8f80" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fm2gAlVsXII/WnSVFG42ihI/AAAAAAAAAsc/enQQf5yJ9XgzkdF00Ck6lZl1LRQi2YFyQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 312px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><b>Laughter</b>:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13pt;"> was the theme of my 5 weeks in Ghana. Reconnecting with Joeshmail and Fred, and at least a dozen other friends, neighbors and old students. Laughter and dancing. I learn so much from my friendships with people experiencing a different lifestyle and feel grateful for the love and lessons they bring to me. What a gift to maintain these long-distance friendships on such a deep emotional level. Time is an interesting thing. There are the friendships that time transcends, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been the connection stays strong. Those friendships that withstand the test of time are the most special to me. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">My community in Ghana is large and varied. From students I’ve known since they were four years old, who used to climb onto my lap and now are nearly as tall as me, to teachers I’ve shared lessons and meals with, to neighbors near my house, to my closest friends who I stay in close contact with while in the US - there were dozens of people to greet, dance with, and enjoy meals with during my five week visit.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">And so because of all this Ghana is home: because it is where my heart is. Familiar winding roads, old shops, favorite spots and a home with an adopted brother and sister that always welcome me in with open arms. Grateful and lucky</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold;">. It is a home where I will still always question my role there and whether or not I should be there, questioning my position of privilege and impact, but it is a home all the same</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">. I always gain so much more than I am ever able to give. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">I will be in a new home in Florida for the next few weeks while I apply for jobs and spend time with my goddaughter and best friend (her mother). Soon, back to Somerville where I will redefine home for myself. Reconnecting with friends and creating community again. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">I look forward to seeing lots of you again and telling you more stories about the adventures, and of course hearing how you are too. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">With love & gratitude,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Jessye </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<img alt="" id="id_17a2_2376_fd9a_ab0d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rGLxiTnxzGk/WnSVFNsRq2I/AAAAAAAAAsY/Ts4bdv918UMy6-26d0ViiIzRCPxcWBlZgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 595px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Wedding photo shoot </div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<img alt="" id="id_3003_a696_3602_9cfc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W7NY-mNAQi4/WnSVEz--2eI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/VIlnJChzeREXQS0HPrqwVmYwsxYuU71oQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 507px;" title="" tooltip="" />Formal engagement photo shoot<br />
<img alt="" id="id_8697_997_d537_d6a9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TVbLvLCpTkk/WnSVFmhVexI/AAAAAAAAAsk/CGdrA2Abv9AJosdmHdbdFbeQcYjURGKeQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 410px;" title="" tooltip="" />My neighborhood in Ghana<br />
<img alt="" id="id_18c4_b258_2724_2afa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xdoQfSwgLL8/WnSVFswDkLI/AAAAAAAAAsg/yV9gczwT61cf9qJ_vprWWAp_qV9IKbThACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 486px;" title="" tooltip="" />Aburi Gardens<br />
<img alt="" id="id_daa9_9ca5_f554_d83d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zVruhFswNUA/WnSVF-Lr2oI/AAAAAAAAAso/UW7dn-42VNY9j1IGm5UTWVNlfaoBeYBKwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 526px;" title="" tooltip="" />Makola Market<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_43ec_2da_572d_b119" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aQSm1I03uFQ/WnSVGGcd-OI/AAAAAAAAAss/LvGDrn8Q03MCbOxHS45KZ8bQOhR9juxqQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 429px;" title="" tooltip="" />First Dance<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_ba01_34e6_1c33_70b1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2EUsSYdrKlw/WnSVGaozDmI/AAAAAAAAAsw/qvVZNp5NVjkk7KPiUEMmYHvLAFnFYQBAgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 478px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Stunning bridesmaids dresses :) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-69186263873936675112018-01-26T04:43:00.000-08:002018-01-26T04:48:02.772-08:00Acquiesce to Discomfort<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 13pt;">Travel, although glamorous on social media, entails many days and nights of less than sexy scenery, poor hygiene, and general discomfort. Learning to unlearn what I knew about my ‘needs’ became second nature as I learned to adjust to the different cultures and amenities (or lack thereof) I was faced with. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">Acquiesce to discomfort, I would often remind myself. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">From less than ideal “bathrooms” to all sorts of transportation methods that try your patience: you get used to it. You’re sweating profusely with your legs sticking to the seat, or you’re shivering and trying desperately to get warm, or your crammed into seats while your arms stick to the person next to you... Travel discomfort (for me) occurs mostly in the physical aspect of transporting. Whether it is the 12-hour open-window bus through the hot belly of Southern India or the 5-hours of bumper to bumper traffic with no breeze in Sri Lanka or the 16-hour overnight buses with frigid air conditioning and loud snoring - one simply must acquiesce and let it go. Put on a smile (and some headphones) and let the time pass and ignore the physical discomfort. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_a162_f82d_ddd1_1ede" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jtl5MUgsuC0/WmshcibrggI/AAAAAAAAArY/Qctx-sHNvg4sGJ-tlyj8csjC2IpgRlqeACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 223px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">When you lean into it, you can even have fun. While back in India, after a travel snafu of a wrongly booked ticket (through an agent) we ended up 4 hours outside of where we needed to be - after a 10 hour overnight train. It was 6:30am and we needed to make our way then to the local bus station to reach our final destination. Sleepy-eyed and underslept we found our way. Sitting down with our heavy bags, we played Rummy, ate bananas and waited. The bus was hot and uncomfortable and took 5.5 hours. There were rarely any foreigners on this local route and we were the only ones who rode it from Hubbli all the way to Hospette. Because of this, we saw lots of groups on their commute to school and work. School children were fascinated, waving, laughing, and asking us questions. Elders smiled and teenagers asked where we were going. What had begun as a bummer for missing part of a day turned into a fun experience, as well as seeing a part of India we never would have seen otherwise. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">For the last week of Sri Lanka, in early December, after bouncing around for many weeks all over Asia, staying no where for more than a few nights, we decided to settle in Mirissa Beach for a week to soak up some rays and enjoy the beautiful beaches. Having not succumbed to the insane-ness of tourist beaches elsewhere, we were left alone on Mirissa beach. There were few people in the water and no one trying to sell us anything while we lounged. Far less crowded than any beach I’d been to, and absolutely gorgeous. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><img alt="" id="id_32ad_e535_7440_c6e9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UQ1n4fdzGss/WmshbcXjtaI/AAAAAAAAArU/mp_3JEkNQqUik5UPxI280Y_Ay4yeYGTAwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 379px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">For a day trip off the sand, we decided to take a local bus to find a nearby tea plantation. The bus stopped for approximately 30 seconds, and as I was stepping onto the first step the bus took off. Going nearly 70 mph on small streets, Anna and I struggled to stay standing as we held onto the poles above us and braced ourselves for the impact of bumps and halts. Terrifying, and exhilarating, we eventually got seats when the bus emptied out and could feel our heart rate slow down again. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">My final trek from Sri Lanka back to Ghana took a total of 52 hours. It was a true test of my own travel advice to others in acquiescing to the discomfort and exhaustion of the travel time. Arriving in Ghana, my dear friend, and the groom in the wedding, was standing there on the asphalt in his airport security vest. It was a warm welcome home indeed as he skirted me through security and immigration quickly and back into my first alternative home of Accra. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;">My next blog will explore my five weeks in Ghana, in my 7th trip there and return to what will always be another home to me. Blogging has taken a backseat as I explore other avenues of cathartic writing. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_be96_c0ae_58cc_d4a4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5K-0sz3tlQI/WmshiO5mFoI/AAAAAAAAArc/mR4c3NTXOEoGnvvDOFX4Lik9d_jfLr6HgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 359px;" title="" tooltip="" />1. Hampi, India (where we ended up after the travel snafu)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<img alt="" id="id_932a_5e7f_d25a_ef3f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O8WQ5PqPLLk/WmshPYz7TsI/AAAAAAAAArQ/w8lzC-DW3KsQSYRLT4UFkRm6QjlGMmYdQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 419px;" title="" tooltip="" />2. Anna and I, atop Sigiriya Rock in Northern Sri Lanka<br />
<img alt="" id="id_368b_10e3_d075_b1b3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hfifd8r1N5c/WmshmP-0HRI/AAAAAAAAArg/9XcBGDYNUi0qtHXU03wYePPU7FnndI7vgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 439px;" title="" tooltip="" />3. A Day trip to Galle, exploring the old forts and walled in city (Sri Lanka)<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_49ee_eb71_c15b_5c06" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RlpqiDwfPIQ/Wmshncy5vQI/AAAAAAAAArk/GFVPrk1EVRQjXGN_mI6oRu5oVvmR6r-oACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 410px;" title="" tooltip="" />4. Another climb photo from Sigiriya Rock, beautiful views of the vistas </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Until next time,</div>
<div>
Jessye </div>
</div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-88699828509152131692017-11-26T00:18:00.001-08:002017-11-26T00:18:30.450-08:00Community, Forgiveness, and Summits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><b>Community (Thailand</b>)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">When I travel, the heightened sensations, new experiences and adventure are there - but the depth of cultivated community is not. It takes time to nurture community, a luxury most do not usually have when traveling. Though I have a long length of this trip, I have been bouncing around, never somewhere for more than four nights in a new place - this makes it difficult to be a part of a community.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Returning to Thailand was different. After a month in Vietnam with my share of adventure and travel fatigue, stepping off the plane into Bangkok: familiar smells, sounds and language — I felt I was home. I breathed a sigh of relief. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">When we made it to Chiang Mai, my old stomping ground, we (Anna, Alicia and I) spent the majority of our time in Chiang Mai with my community. Kru Toi, my host teacher, welcomed us into her home our first night there and managed to get us tickets to the infamous lantern festival for Loy Krathong at Maejo University.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">As always, pictures do no justice to the feeling of magic as hundreds of lanterns light up the sky in the same moment. The idea behind the holiday is to let go of the bad of the year, and get ready for new and better things. It was perfectly timed as I adjusted to an end to solo travel and travel with friends; with a tough few months behind me and a whole future ahead of me. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_8b9e_205d_e0b_e499" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OOQGEr5LmSg/Whp28e7xJnI/AAAAAAAAAp8/9nTW0qP4ZrMzHCqVPwKadHwvXcMXKO_QACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 368px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">The next portion of my community in Thailand is two young women, Bouquet and Paranee. They were both student teachers alongside me when I taught in Sansai. These two have my heart, and are the main reason I continue to return to Chiang Mai over and over again (although, the food, Kru Patchy & Kru Toi are close seconds). It was an honor to be able to introduce them to Anna and Alicia, who for years had seen pictures and heard stories. We adventured to some of my favorite places, climbing up limestone waterfalls, dancing the night away and walking around Chiang Mai University. (And of course, I took everyone to Pai for a few days, my favorite little town in the world - mostly because I love the feeling of riding the motorbike). </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">I was struck by how easy it was for me to reconnect with Bouquet, Paranee, and Kru Patchy and Kru Toi as well. I have built lasting friendships all over the world, each of varying degrees. We do not talk often throughout the years we are apart, but when we reconnect it as though no time has passed. Being back in Thailand for ten days was a brief, but helpful reminder that home is wherever my relationships are. Though I have no idea when I’ll be back to Thailand, I know that I will connect to my community again when I am there, and hope to someday host them as kindly and open-heartedly as they’ve hosted me for the past four years. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Though I am in no rush to return to Massachusetts, I know that I have also built an incredible community there that I look forward to nurturing and growing when I return. —And Thailand will always remain another home for me. It was a great trip back. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><img alt="" id="id_b3b2_2f4d_897_f436" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EJ2ZGQUKKNY/Whp29vUpECI/AAAAAAAAAqA/6ARVGhSM7YcvKuDiBZnaOVXoNwYh3z7cACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 341px;" title="" tooltip="" /><img alt="" id="id_e205_7c0b_9089_fc25" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6E45T9stITs/Whp290UfZTI/AAAAAAAAAqE/S1XeDXhYZ-0qRiHuqLhcLkIeHh_pjG5lACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 274px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Paranee & Jessye @ Chiang Mai University — and the whole gang before our overnight bus</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">Summits - Real and Imagined (India</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Though my previous experience in Southern India was wrought with illness and a fair amount of harassment, I decided to give India another chance - and I’m very glad that I did. This part of the trip was organized by Anna and Alicia, as they had been wanting to come here for quite some time. We ended up first in the Northern mountains of Dharmsala, toward the bottom of the Himalayan mountains. After one too many overnight busses for my taste, we arrived to the small village of Bhagsu within Dharmsala. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">We arrived at 6am and the sun was no where close to rising. Our taxi dropped us off at the bottom of a hill and gestured in the direction of the dark hill and said he thought our hostel was somewhere up there. Nervous, exhausted and in good spirits, with a phone flashlight in hand the three of us began the trek up the steep incline. We knew the name of the hostel, but beyond that did not have much information. After a few fearful stops due to terrifying street dogs, followed by a few wrong steps, and following a herd of donkeys to protect us from the dogs, we eventually found the hostel. No one was around and a sign told us to sit on the rooftop until reception arrived later in the morning. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">The next day, with a paper map not drawn to scale, we headed out to explore some treks on our own. I had previously done some trekking in Vietnam in the mountains and rice paddies of Sapa, and the three of us had done a tough hike up to Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai, but nothing had prepared me for the Himalayan hikes we did over the past few days. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">The views took my breath away, as did the altitude.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<img alt="" id="id_5a_70bf_d656_fe3e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wUDw8d7aGLU/Whp3AwKcOgI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/IRIagYRx1asVezPPUyB9FPRNhyVsjYArACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 867px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">We climbed up stairs, past rivers, through small towns, and on paths that weren’t really paths but somehow got us close to where we needed to be. The views were mesmerizing and I wish I could transfer what I have seen into photos. My legs ached and I had to take many breaks, but I did not give up. Never in my life did I imagine I would be able to do this. 13 miles of a variety of terrains later, we took a death-defying taxi ride back to our Bhagsu village and devoured a proper Indian meal. </span></span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_2df_641a_5694_bf1e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wPyuwXLKduE/Whp2-etYKcI/AAAAAAAAAqI/wpCBUzbG_8kBY-4E5aN6i43tvXdDUHQSACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 410px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">The next major hike we did was up to a specific summit, Triund, where we had planned on camping out overnight, but the frigid wind and cold temperatures had us decide to brave the steep decline back to our village that same day instead. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Hiking up to Triund was one of the most intense physical challenges (if not the most) I’ve ever put myself through. There was a mix of anger at myself, for how difficult it was, as well as pride when I eventually reached the summit after five miles of steep incline and mostly stairs the entire way. At the top, the snow capped mountains and clouds surrounded me and I let myself cry. Tears, for pride of making it to the top even when I thought my legs would not keep going, and sadness for how little I had believed in my ability to ever reach such summits. But, I did it. I look forward to continual summits in my future, real and imagined. Now, I know that I can, there is no turning back. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">New Group, New Place:</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">After Dharmsala, we went to Kasol, further into the Himalayan mountains. The cold there made Dharmsala seem like a cool fall day in comparison to winters. We hiked alongside snow mountains and even hiked in a little snow ourselves. Looking out your window, walking down the street or hiking, the views were absolutely breathtaking and I continued to challenge myself to new summits. Without heat in most places, it was a constant struggle to find somewhere warm to sit, and we took many trips to the local sulfur hot baths to warm up. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<img alt="" id="id_d034_cb9e_e251_f4bd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BuwQSPe0YtA/Whp3Athw7kI/AAAAAAAAAqM/Us5i9Owrh-oTqjlEvxWszch5kfgn43WcwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 422px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Forgiveness</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">One of the mornings in Bhagsu, Anna and I trekked to an early morning meditation class in the village of Dharmkot. I was prepared for an hour of silence in which I would try to harness the power to control a stream of my thoughts, or at the very least try to just focus on my breathing. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">We sat in a room full of mostly foreigners, with some Indian locals, on cushions. Silence was the law once stepping onto the grounds. After awhile in silence, a women came to the front to guide the meditation. She explained that today’s meditation would be themed, and she would guide us through. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">The topic of today’s meditation was “forgiveness”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">More tears. Not entirely sadness, but a deep gratefulness for the opportunity to be here and to focus on a topic that was so poignant to what I was internally working on. Forgiveness of myself, and forgiveness of those who have hurt me as well. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">As we were guided through a powerful meditation on forgiveness - of ourselves and others - I found myself letting go of anger, and checking in with myself in a deeper way than journaling or self-meditative thought usually gives me. Forgive yourself, she said, as you have suffered enough already. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">That same day, we visited the temple of the Dalai Lama, where he was exiled to out of Tibet. Though he is currently traveling around, Dharmsala is his home and it was fascinating to enter the temple where he worships and is home. The Dalai Lama’s words around opening our hearts to forgiveness and using compassion echoed throughout my head over the next few days. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">May we all reduce suffering by practicing radical forgiveness. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<img alt="" id="id_6f38_2eda_28cf_4cf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fFbmtxuOeKM/Whp3BDSajvI/AAAAAAAAAqU/o0cls_G2ipkA2LbhPVe50z8AjWqaUHaBQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 453px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Kasol</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">I hope that everyone who celebrates had a lovely Thanksgiving. I missed my family dearly and wished to be home, but did have a veggie pizza and some Oreos, while sitting by a heater up in the Himalayas so...I celebrated. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Yesterday, Anna and I said goodbye to Alicia (who headed stateside) and flew to Bangalore, where I am currently writing this blog. Tonight we take an overnight train to Hampi - then back to Bangalore to fly to a new country on the 30th! Sri Lanka! :-) </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Thank you for reading, thankful for all of you - near and far! </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><br /></span><img alt="" id="id_34cb_9216_8fbf_67c9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pzGszu_Z1A4/Whp3BT9cvII/AAAAAAAAAqY/qNppyh8HhSc74HB5Wb25VR8Kkgk86O0OgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 400px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Bouquet & Jessye - silly as always </span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_c353_ec88_45af_1a25" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2gq0iqnWlyM/Whp3DcQJgjI/AAAAAAAAAqc/G9KrN6FC6Ygbyf6HpGCfs3oUfGJKmMn-wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 312px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Dharmsala hikes</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" id="id_e961_9159_5096_6707" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d7P3KFGO_Go/Whp3Dqc4YMI/AAAAAAAAAqg/MPqSKu2FPHEt45rdUAEljZZjA48KMY5zgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 536px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">Kasol - Tosh point</span></span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_45d9_97b9_5208_46d4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y4z7GIkPjCk/Whp3EbMxPwI/AAAAAAAAAqo/DJu4yRsdluYhFKjC_Gj7BxhBYT0270-DACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 556px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Climbing around Kasol</span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_d45d_7a1a_5440_5f4e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GXdrcjqCpfo/Whp3EDNVh7I/AAAAAAAAAqk/ZXhJUbB04YUnkQj4RsCHBqHCt904X6bGgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 595px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Top of Triund</div>
</span><img alt="" id="id_5858_b942_5c6_6263" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vZA8xwmRjeo/Whp3FV_34oI/AAAAAAAAAqs/PCHpIDtq0-4Z_O_Cer4ucwFLABwcni15ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 585px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Being grateful for every moment of this journey - even when I want to give up. Thank you for reading. </div>
</div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-49415453855167411672017-10-27T01:10:00.000-07:002017-10-29T19:56:55.856-07:00A glimpse of Vietnam: another young (yht & privileged) woman travel blogs<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Many travel blogs focus on what the person did: Where they went, what they saw, and tips and tricks. I have not been in Vietnam long enough to tell you what the country is like, or how the people are - and without speaking Vietnamese, I really have no way of knowing. My experiences have all been positive with the Vietnamese people I’ve met. The places I’ve seen so far have been beautiful, bustling, and confusing. Similar to Thailand, the locals who work in tourist zones speak some English and the Vietnamese people I’d really like to talk to, don’t speak much (or any) English. The cities are similar to cities back home, but with a more rustic feel and more pop-up shops. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Some memorable experiences have been with Vietnamese university students who’ve stopped me on the street to ask me questions and practice their English (often recording it to show their teachers). Their most common questions are “Have you tried Vietnamese food?” and “How do you like Vietnam?” They are a bit flustered when I ask them questions back in response. One evening I spent over an hour sitting on the pavement in a circle, with a group of 10 students who asked me to practice English. They took turns referring to their print out sheets of paper and asking me questions, sometimes answering mine. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Getting lost, taking risks, frightening and/or frustrating experiences that turn into great stories later on - these are the things I think of when I am reflecting on these past few weeks in Vietnam. Many times when I’ve been lost, without data on my phone, I’ve pointed aimlessly at my phone maps in the hopes someone will point me in the right direction. It takes several people before someone even understands what I’m asking (and then I feel guilty for not speaking Vietnamese). Some days I set out purposely to get lost, believing I’ll find my way back. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Pictures do no justice to the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes I’ve seen, (Sapa, Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island) nor do they capture the adrenaline rush of crossing insanely busy streets with motorbikes and cars that don’t stop for you, but move around you in some sort of traffic dance. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span id="goog_904173378"></span><span id="goog_904173379"></span> <img alt="" id="id_6099_4223_5991_a749" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JD5Yw5RsnQ4/WfLngP_ffLI/AAAAAAAAAos/rmWGK7rBMVgec8vzbKCzi5-cl19ymDd4QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 586px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt;">I have spent most of my time here in Vietnam walking the streets, from busy cities like Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) & Hanoi to the smaller (more scenic?) places like Cat Ba Island and Sapa. I have written every single day. I challenged myself to hikes I did not think I could do, only to succeed. I swam on monkey island and watched cautiously from the blue waters as the monkeys appeared to be planning an attack on our stuff ashore. Halong Bay, one of the natural wonders of the world, was simply inexplicable. My favorite experience there was kayaking in the bay with towering rock islands above me and blue green water below. There is something about realizing how small you are in comparison to great world wonders, that somehow makes me feel full. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-weight: bold;">Mama Mao’s Homestay in the</span><b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia";"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hâu Tháo Village</span></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">By far my most memorable experience was a three day trek into a Hmong village in the mountains of Sapa in Northern Vietnam.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">As I stumbled off the overnight bus at 6am, Mama Mao greeted me and asked if I had already booked a tour. Having done some research, I had discovered that booking through a hostel meant they paid the local people minimally. The best way to do a home stay was to meet someone like Mama Mao when you got off the bus. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Mama Mao showed me the trail we would go on to her village, to waterfalls and rice paddies. We agreed to meet the next morning at 9am so that I could have a day to explore Sapa’s little town. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Mama Mao picked me up the next day as agreed and with my small day pack, we headed out. The first day was mostly uphill, muddy and slippery. At one point the downhill parts were so steep and slippery that Mama Mao and Mama Mae were both holding my hands preventing what they told me was “death time” if I were to slip down the steep hills with drop offs on either side. They also requested we take a selfie together. (#globalization?)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><img alt="" id="id_7451_eac6_69c4_fae5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xho4BluLE50/WfLngOU5ddI/AAAAAAAAAow/FyO1zUTazLElolnPiskm9J78YRw7SzlSgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 441px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> (Mama Mae on the left, Mama Mao on the right) </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Mama Mae appeared out of nowhere when I was about to fall, gripping my hand and guiding me through rocky, muddy downhill paths. Though I later found out that really she just wanted me to buy something from her, (and after saving my life on the nearly vertical hills I obliged). She followed us for a few hours of the trek back to Mama Mao’s home. Though foggy and the rice had been recently cut, the views were still beautiful and I know it is a place I will to come back to. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Mama Mao is 30 years old. She has 4 children and married her husband when she was 15 years old, having her first child at 17. Her husband doesn’t work, and their families income is dependent on her doing these tours. She was kind and patient as I stopped to take pictures or catch my breath. We hiked many miles that first day and then arrived back at her home. I could only see two or three other houses nearby. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Her home was two large adjoining rooms with cement floors and walls. There were several beds with mosquito nets, a room with a plastic table and then the kitchen - which had a small cement cut out in the ground where a fireplace was that cooked the rice, spring rolls and tea. There was a small hot plate in the corner where the rest of the cooking was done. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">With the trekking over, as the only person joining her that night, I read and wrote. I played tag with her four year old son and helped shuck corn to feed the pigs. The next day we trekked again from 11am to 5pm. The day after that, from noon until 4pm. My legs ached but I valued the solo meditative walking time to be in my own head. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<img alt="" id="id_7309_956_e056_a3e5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5qUzbgH6mWQ/WfLngROhC0I/AAAAAAAAAo0/iRhIQXkCIv8shsgWXlpDI3yhBvHMz17RgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 244px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">In the evenings we would sit around the fireplace and her family would all speak Hmong while pausing to tell me to eat more, eat more - in between lively conversations. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I loved seeing the way Mama Mao and her family lived, and I was welcomed into her home as she does to everyone she brings there. New foods, such as fried maggots, also added to my interesting experience. A homestay is a must do! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grateful</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">When I’ve tried to start this blog entry several times, this is the sentiment I keep coming back to.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Grateful for the privilege to be able to travel to Vietnam. The United States passport privilege, English speaking privilege, can quit my job and spend my savings privilege, sublet my room privilege — Privilege coats my experience in daily life back in the states too, but here it’s a different awareness. As I navigate a relatively homogenous country with rich history and a new culture, I am aware of my otherness and the privilege I have to be here - when many of the Vietnamese people I meet have never left their cities, towns or villages. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I am grateful for my two feet and able-bodied self.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">These feet have traversed the globe. Walking up mountains I didn’t think I could summit, but listening to me when I say “I am going to try this.” These feet of mine help me see new sights. They help me take in breathtaking beauty in nature and bustling cities. From the rolling hills and rice paddies of Sapa to Halong Bay, one of the natural wonders of the world.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I am grateful for the kind, warm hearted Vietnamese people I have met who have brightened my days. Grateful for the delicious Vietnamese street food that fills my belly after easy days and tough ones alike. Grateful for the few fellow travellers who’ve made lonely evenings more fun. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I am grateful for this experience. Though I want to say it is “once in a lifetime” - the more I travel, the more I know this is going to be something I do for my entire life. As long as I can, I never want to stop exploring. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<img alt="" id="id_3b88_dfa6_7e85_69d1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IaG2ue3iW9U/WfLnfwbgCEI/AAAAAAAAAoo/4LkwWbTSH2AlFkJvs3GYXCih4sQtDRQGwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 296px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Solo Travel: Lonely & Empowering </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Most of the experiences I’ve had thus far, from trekking for many miles in the mountains of Sapa, to walking around West Lake, to swimming on Monkey Island, to just daily adventures around the cities, museum trips — etc - I have been solo. Solo travel to this extent is new to me. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Though I spent a year alone in Thailand, and many evenings in solitude, I had my Fulbright and Sansai community and a home to come back to - and I could speak a bit of the language - and I had purpose and a job to do. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Now, each day is up to me. It is a daunting task sometimes to figure out what it is I want to do, how I want to do it, for how long. Free of responsibilities and lost in my overactive mind, I find myself thinking constantly about the world, politics, travel...I write stories in my head, analyze my life, make plans for the future, recall memories — all while taking in the vastness of the new place I’ve put myself in. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Some days are lonelier than others. There are other travelers I’ve spent evenings and days with, no one consistently but someone here and there. While it fills the void for a day or several evenings, it lacks the depth and vulnerability of a friendship in which you know someone deeply. This I miss. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">However, I have enjoyed these lonely days in a new way. Pushing through them is a triumph. I am learning to enjoy those times when pleasant aloneness transcends into loneliness and back into pleasant. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">I am the only person I have to spend the rest of my life with, so I must learn to love my own company and depend completely and solely on myself</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">. This is my ultimate goal - to be able to battle everything on my own, hold my hand, be my own best friend. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Of course, FaceTime and some texting here and there keeps me afloat sometimes, but it’s briefly in the morning or at night - the days are just me - while my friends and parents sleep. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">So each day, I adventure, learn, grow, write, read, drink coffee, eat, walk, bike, jog, swim, kayak, hike and more. I do it by myself 90% of the time. It’s invigorating. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">This weekend my friends Anna and Alicia will join me as we head to a beach in Southern Vietnam, followed by Thailand next. Stay tuned! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<img alt="" id="id_c931_535_8e5e_d19a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JbDZzsdquaY/WfLniIFt8aI/AAAAAAAAAo4/1mnf4RgBWUU5IL9837j9GsPJxeN-seWIwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 533px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.5px;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="" id="id_a76b_36ea_a2a1_5d5c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BzKksbCH8Gg/WfLniE8Q-BI/AAAAAAAAAo8/NnCf0Qh4WyM5ynDWjiII06pzf9TfaGPoACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 508px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<img alt="" id="id_170a_2_b88b_f6a0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WhdgZDnTGd8/WfLniuJdH8I/AAAAAAAAApE/T9fg56B3Hw0k4jexBt3K9C6HLulRgTdCgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 409px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_a185_3256_611e_b2ff" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9CH23SxIjqo/WfLninJ0IJI/AAAAAAAAApA/J1Qwdlb_ubwJsg5YRD6NwfG1H-qyLWjWACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 702px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_c9b5_a9ed_221b_1099" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_VLlPNQmM0E/WfQ0pSTwq4I/AAAAAAAAApg/qnd1RguuGzscfHXX2OT6F1c3vPSi1YHuwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 297px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br />Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-4601522196401805802017-09-18T16:21:00.004-07:002017-09-18T16:29:36.193-07:00Quit job, will travel: my next liminal phasePain has a way of causing us to re-evaluate what we want from life - and where we are headed. The recent ending of a long-term relationship and the realization that I was also unhappy at work, led me to feel I needed to get away for a little while, to reclaim myself as Jessye, just Jessye.<br />
<br />
Against social norms, or rather against the so-called "responsible" route, I decided to take a leap of faith, quit my job and travel around the world. It is something I have been wanting to do for a long time - and finally have the means, the freedom and the privilege to do so. Emphasis on privilege, I am very lucky.<br />
<br />
Since January of 2015, I was dating someone I loved deeply. When our relationship came to a close, my patience was waning at work and my boredom level was growing. Eager for a new challenge and adventure, I realized the time was now. I have been working for this agency for 2 years, 9 months - in two different positions, with a supervisory role as my most recent. Ever the wanderluster, NEW felt important and so...<br />
<br />
With those realizations, I gave notice to my job. Put my own mental health first. My last day is September 29th.<br />
<br />
I bought a one-way ticket to <b>Vietnam</b>, leaving October 10th.<br />
Two friends join me at the end of October then we go to: <b>Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. </b><br />
Dec 13th I fly to my first alternative home, <b>Ghana</b>, for my dearest friend's wedding.<br />
<br />
I don't have a return ticket yet. I'm not sure of my plan.<br />
<br />
So, here I go. Enjoy the updates.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNZYsQEBFiSF8uvi_lULDFUc0Ybgw8lRvYp2p9m2D10-MPojb3_f_TsohyBe3-jw7TtZTQ6zyxfbPmGgq6dIgp_tOBS4WkS-PLZRqzc1DVbZ1C-8nLJeJjJpdRQdVVfdEXzv-MRIXuig/s1600/19598921_3359610669108_8490001207140727008_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNZYsQEBFiSF8uvi_lULDFUc0Ybgw8lRvYp2p9m2D10-MPojb3_f_TsohyBe3-jw7TtZTQ6zyxfbPmGgq6dIgp_tOBS4WkS-PLZRqzc1DVbZ1C-8nLJeJjJpdRQdVVfdEXzv-MRIXuig/s320/19598921_3359610669108_8490001207140727008_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Picture from my last adventure - Colombia - July 2017Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-74214170918565752212015-03-03T11:26:00.001-08:002015-03-03T11:54:43.761-08:00From Teaching in Thailand to Case Management in Cambridge<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>*Was Thailand a dream?* </b>My mind seems to revert to this question often. Despite abundant memories, photographs and lasting friendships, it feels as though Thailand did not happen. As though it just a dream or a very distant memory. It was a shock to the system when I returned home, where I was once again in a <i>liminal, </i>unstable phase. My heart felt divided between Thailand, Ghana, Kenya and the USA, between the dozens of friendships I've made that have manifested in a variety of flavors, abilities and intensities all over the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After Thailand and saying goodbye to my Fulbright gang, I backpacked through Thai beaches, ancient kingdoms and genocide memorials in Cambodia, flew to my friends Peace Corps village in Indonesia, and gallivanted around Zhubei, Taiwan with another friend. It was another time of exciting travel and backpacker privilege. Then Boston welcomed me home with the frigid hug of a very snowy winter, complete with one too many snow days and public transportation crises.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It has been nearly 5 months since I left Sansai and almost 4 months that I've been back in America. My new and current adventure does not have the same exotic appeal as motorbiking through the mountains of Thailand, but it is its own kind of adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After the holidays, in early January, I moved into an apartment in Davis Square with a childhood friend, her college friend and a British guy (we found him on Craigslist).<b> The day after I moved in, I got a job offer. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Everything was falling into place</u>. After turning down several job offers for teaching in November and December, I was determined to have a job by February. Mid-January, I was offered a job as a <u><b>Client Advocate / Case Manager with AIDS Action Committee</b></u> (AAC) at their Central Square office. (Essentially a coach/advocate/social worker for HIV+ clients in the Greater Boston area)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The job:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The past month has been the intense learning curve I was craving. Thrown directly into the chaos of human services, my caseload grew quickly and I began to find my groove as a case manager. Serving as a case manager (client advocate) for AAC means coordinating care for HIV+ clients, everything from referrals for different programs, to housing, to insurance, to food, clothing, jobs, education and everything in between (plus emotional support). The work is fast-paced, engaging (and sometimes enRaging), and interesting. Though sometimes the intensity of the stories/pain are heartbreaking and stay with you past the 9-5 office hours, I feel fulfilled at work. It's a perfect fit for me for now. It is an action-based work environment, while it simultaneously utilizes my inherent counseling skills gleaned from years of spending time with my family as well. Self-care is my biggest obstacle right now, in separating myself from the difficulties of working in direct service positions and all the challenges it brings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Co-workers:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My co-workers (and clients) make me excited to come to work every day. I look forward to work and feel motivated by their wonderfulness. They are exactly the type of energetic, sarcastic, humorous co-workers I was looking for. There is a liveliness to the office that is unparalleled in other communities I've been a part of and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this community. My sassy nature easily slipped into their already goofy, teasing vibe. I look forward to getting to more adjusted to my work life here and building up my case load even more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">24</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4559993743896px; line-height: 23.1839981079102px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week I turned 24 and celebrated with my family and the most amazing of friends. I cannot express how much gratitude and love I felt. I feel incredibly lucky to have so many connections around the world and to be so loved. I miss traveling often, but am very happy with my new job. It was about time the US got some of my humanitarian energies. :-) I am enjoying this new adventure, but I'm sure the cabin fever will kick in soon and I'll need to have an international endeavor...or go into a Phd program...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until that next trip,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for reading.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Jessye</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIW-KYQ3AS4zSKvu64ToDbX8jSz3r_0te4kdH3twU8PBA-NG6xCG3Y3jRO0pOb_z1R-5XpmvVqcavne_375i3UzzYvanWJvojnUFWYyQ5D663bu3CnGsAFNoMtyuYDsfe721u9Nhjh4g/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIW-KYQ3AS4zSKvu64ToDbX8jSz3r_0te4kdH3twU8PBA-NG6xCG3Y3jRO0pOb_z1R-5XpmvVqcavne_375i3UzzYvanWJvojnUFWYyQ5D663bu3CnGsAFNoMtyuYDsfe721u9Nhjh4g/s1600/image1.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angkor Wat in Cambodia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lCqdKS2L2HkJEgUmWY5pUcO3yoUsiLpN1pDIRWHUSwB1uwiGOLQrvYoCZtNLZ2O0JPpQuJ3HHcrXZ31sbkIEdjUNM2Ymo2TUlIuQtkoq_Cnx7FWDrvlqmUchcAla88JXJdWFQvFhU_U/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lCqdKS2L2HkJEgUmWY5pUcO3yoUsiLpN1pDIRWHUSwB1uwiGOLQrvYoCZtNLZ2O0JPpQuJ3HHcrXZ31sbkIEdjUNM2Ymo2TUlIuQtkoq_Cnx7FWDrvlqmUchcAla88JXJdWFQvFhU_U/s1600/image2.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomb raider temple!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhONo17axQHWL4KptiTr_ROrb-Hqn9gjbVvVKoMX0GzcO9jujYaLXt0XiZD9-N7GlU9Q-RIEb2uypum__oDXvEEPzlvlFnpDReawqwD7kknbizRq2Gdd86r2_1pWvAk_PL4d8ETo4OnI/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhONo17axQHWL4KptiTr_ROrb-Hqn9gjbVvVKoMX0GzcO9jujYaLXt0XiZD9-N7GlU9Q-RIEb2uypum__oDXvEEPzlvlFnpDReawqwD7kknbizRq2Gdd86r2_1pWvAk_PL4d8ETo4OnI/s1600/image3.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out in Indonesia!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY58JzsOj39YQ9Ry0v-baSJF4YhO7mxTspW6-T_XSuT9_YENitrh5lFoDbKaj7uwHYG-1JJSXm7lA6-hfol4QGQqr-bR9lJz4UjEa_rXPCwPUOX6I8vde-qqy-UWFVxSnfRfIlNJ7Fu0/s1600/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY58JzsOj39YQ9Ry0v-baSJF4YhO7mxTspW6-T_XSuT9_YENitrh5lFoDbKaj7uwHYG-1JJSXm7lA6-hfol4QGQqr-bR9lJz4UjEa_rXPCwPUOX6I8vde-qqy-UWFVxSnfRfIlNJ7Fu0/s1600/image4.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taiwan!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbejYVYJaf9MUCgPs5ssLssSOuPJ-PfR6ZnrcuFacT3C6HVsnJuL4DslyWkZyJ0iqa33FtaAkfQZtRsCqWetDSlIfYcesy9brmeH6lpgXkkhSHYMFxSPV6vfwe10dcEci_NvaPb3jWys/s1600/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbejYVYJaf9MUCgPs5ssLssSOuPJ-PfR6ZnrcuFacT3C6HVsnJuL4DslyWkZyJ0iqa33FtaAkfQZtRsCqWetDSlIfYcesy9brmeH6lpgXkkhSHYMFxSPV6vfwe10dcEci_NvaPb3jWys/s1600/image5.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seattle Glass Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn045mkogqFjIFua9iAdf3qgKIBWVkqnyvwechI5cLYBCMIaESP0hvgkm5UKD62i8K7EARhPHsVuiGbPxtWsGl1fiZxasbcaw1JcDk_MYH0EsNdOJsULQec8y27y5DUozFBv7QnWkbIUc/s1600/image6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn045mkogqFjIFua9iAdf3qgKIBWVkqnyvwechI5cLYBCMIaESP0hvgkm5UKD62i8K7EARhPHsVuiGbPxtWsGl1fiZxasbcaw1JcDk_MYH0EsNdOJsULQec8y27y5DUozFBv7QnWkbIUc/s1600/image6.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam, Charlie, Ruthie, Anja, Jessye and Anna - Friendly Toast brunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp6o-9LTq4-gXkJIx-FgnZhXJFFix96ApBsuk0qb3ultx06GZGhjaaMNltfpoZF0ihbTYMMgjT4zPdZy7s5sBVPs08-Q1iu0HDhnC-iGRKmaDYqSLRzl33heGZRRlO4j3dFXSZY8XoBM/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp6o-9LTq4-gXkJIx-FgnZhXJFFix96ApBsuk0qb3ultx06GZGhjaaMNltfpoZF0ihbTYMMgjT4zPdZy7s5sBVPs08-Q1iu0HDhnC-iGRKmaDYqSLRzl33heGZRRlO4j3dFXSZY8XoBM/s1600/image3.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anja, Molly & Jessye in Seattle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3o8i-8W6EE_28saEyBfVUVyndwL0RYgeC2GNFUD09wjqpiPqzu642vEn_B4YCOHOW1QaPsbzHZx88VmuBLBzxNn2Vv7oyF1Cr_EoxkWiDncp8YoNGOarIPR7HnDKa2_1tug94AZr0Ek/s1600/image9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3o8i-8W6EE_28saEyBfVUVyndwL0RYgeC2GNFUD09wjqpiPqzu642vEn_B4YCOHOW1QaPsbzHZx88VmuBLBzxNn2Vv7oyF1Cr_EoxkWiDncp8YoNGOarIPR7HnDKa2_1tug94AZr0Ek/s1600/image9.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My bestest roommate Anna and friend since 2000</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-38421386511742706232014-09-26T09:09:00.002-07:002014-09-26T09:17:55.144-07:00It's a lizard, not a gecko: 9 appreciations of Thailand <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I express my emotions best through the catharsis of
writing, I decided to post this collection of reflections on what is special about Thailand. Thank you for following my blog over the past year plus. Thailand
has been quite the adventure, now it’s time to travel and then return to the
US. I have two days left in Chiang Mai, then Bangkok for a week (Fulbright disorientation) and then some country-hopping in Asia with friends - November 6th I fly to Amurika. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In honor of my departure from Sansai, and completing this Fulbright grant, here is a collection of the unique aspects of Thai culture
that I will miss and have appreciated. If you don’t have time to read them all, read the last one <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thanksgiving for
all meals: </i>Communal eating brings a community together. My often
experiences with it in Thailand will be greatly missed as it is very common in
Thailand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imagine about 7 different dishes or assortments on a table.
Instead of filling your plate to the brink, you take a few bites at a time,
mixing with rice or sauce or curry. Eating is a slow, social activity. Many
times I enjoyed these communal meals over an evening of karaoke in Thai and
English or with high-spirited conversation in the English office. Along the
lines of families who eat together, stay together – eating together not just in
the same room, but eating the same food in a shared style allowing us to try
many dishes and flavors, brought me closer to my Thai community. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Social Experiments
through Nationalism: </i>Imagine thousands of people walking up and down a few
streets (that are usually busy with cars but shut down every Sunday night) with
vendors selling everything from pad thai to wooden elephants to clothing to
lanterns and every other kind of food and souvenir possible. Imagine most of
these people are tourists with (often) little to no knowledge of Thai culture.
Now, picture the loud speaker beginning to play the National Anthem. Suddenly
50% of the people stop dead in their tracks and stand still. The other 50% keep
walking for a moment until they whisper to each other noticing people freezing
and then they also stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly
only 5% is still moving and they eventually stop too. Everyone is silent and
frozen for a moment as they respect Thailand, the King and the National Anthem.
The music stops and everyone continues walking as normal. It is one of my
favorite parts of the famous Sunday Walking Street in Thailand. Every day at
6pm the anthem is played, but here on walking street it is the most dramatic to
observe how people react to something new and foreign. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You mustn’t watch a
movie without respecting the King: </i>Similar to observing walking street,
directly prior to a movie beginning in a movie theatre, everyone must stand up
for the King’s ceremonial song. To be played before every movie in every movie
theatre in Thailand and when the King is around/entering somewhere. Watching
people new to Thailand observe this and eventually stand up is always amusing. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
It’s these little things about Thailand that I’ll miss most. These type of
unexplainable ‘quirks’ that have become so familiar. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unpacking the
Foreigner-Abroad Privilege Backpack: </i>There are many complicated aspects to
being a foreigner abroad, and imposing the hegemony of the English language on
a school, or just my general status as a foreigner in general. However, through
this, I have found ways to make it count through mutual understanding,
reciprocal learning and kindness. I will miss being a ‘regular’ at certain
places. Sitting down at a tiny shop in my town where I don’t even have to order
because as soon as they see me, my same-as-always order is being prepared. I will
miss being able to wave and smile to anyone wherever I go, something that if I
did in America would be seen as strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are privileges that are complicated but that I’ve come to cherish
in their sweetness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be outside: </i>Life
in Thailand is outside or with open windows and doors. Yes, there are many
times where I wanted to retreat behind closed air-conditioned walls when I had
the ability too (which wasn’t often), but more often than not the rain and
sunshine were just steps away from me. The air circulating in the room came
from the windows and I could see mountains from my classroom window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked everywhere. I walked into
town. I walked to the 7-Eleven to get phone credit or snacks. I walked to get
food or go to the market or go to school. And everyone was outside. I was able
to meet people in my community in Thailand because people weren’t inside their
stores or restaurants, the restaurants were tables outside and the shop fronts
were huge open walls where store owners hung out on the front steps enjoying
the fresh air. There was a beauty in this I will miss living in the Northeast
of the US – a friendliness and openness to living. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Convenience: </i>24-hour
7-Eleven shops with snacks, phone credit, ice cream, frozen meals, beer and
strong air conditioning. Concord certainly doesn’t have a 7-Eleven within
walking distance, and in Thailand there is a 7-Eleven almost every kilometer in
my town and in the cities. Also, the affordability of eating deliciously and
freshly prepared Thai food will never be readily available. I will miss $1.00
USD plates of piping hot pad thai, stir-fries, fried rices and a million other
dishes I’ve tried and loved. As well as the 15 cent bags of sticky rice, a
delicious addition to any meal that is time-consuming to make and will be
greatly missed by my stomach. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disconnect to
Reconnect: </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Thailand has
been introduced to Facebook and Instagram and I’ve never taken so many selfies
in my life, there is also an aspect of presence I was forced to have here. I
did not have a smart phone with 3G here and there were many times the wifi was
out and I had no credit on my little Nokia phone. There were nights when I
would sit in my room and be reading or writing and thinking about nice it felt
to sometimes be completely disconnected from the world, from other people, and
be only focused on being alone and by myself. It was a unique aspect to this
year in Thailand, my excess of alone time and time without connecting to people
– but it was oh so wonderful. It’s indescribable the amount of self-growth I had
to go through during the long alone nights or times where I didn’t speak Thai,
but was with Thai people and didn’t have my phone as a distraction. I just had
to sit and be present. Observe. Engage when I could. Mindfulness was certainly
practiced to it’s fullest extent here. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prickly Heat
Powder: </i>Take tiger balm and baby powder, then mix it together (mentally) –
this is the effect of ‘prickly heat powder’ one of my new favorite aspects of
Thailand. Covering my body in this baby powder substance, but feeling the
cooling burn similar to tiger balm kept me cool (or at least distracted) on
those 100+ degree days. Oh how I’ll miss this strange powder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and last but certainly not least: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s a lizard, not
a gecko. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lizards in Thailand
are small, harmless little creatures whom I shared my bedroom with. Geckos are
over a foot big, are territorial, frightening and they bite. Luckily none lived
in my house, though there was one who occasionally knocked it’s head against my
window trying to get it. I used this phrase “It’s a lizard, not a gecko” to
elucidate this connection to Thai culture. When I first arrived, Kru Dang said
to me when I was freaked out by the lizards, “don’t worry, lizard, not
gecko!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the ultimate
philosophy needed for this year. Along the lines of the American common phrases
“it could be worse” and “it’s not so serious” – I used the mindset of ‘it’s a
lizard, not a gecko’ to get me through failed lesson plans, broken printers,
rainstorms that flooded my house, wifi out for days at a time, ant farms
setting up base in my house, cockroaches invading my house by the dozens,
disruptive classes, lonely nights, fears of my future, no food or water in the
house and dozens of other relatively small inconveniences or concerns. I hope
if nothing else from this year I can take the ‘sabai sabai” (laid back/ relax /
it’s okay) attitude back to my hectic lifestyle in the United States. It isn’t
to be used in an invalidating way, but a way to remind you that it’s okay – and
it doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These beautiful unique aspects to Thailand are what I will
cherish most in my departure, although obviously it is the relationships and
little moments of love that are held high above everything else. I know I’ll be
back to visit someday, for now I have five homes. Concord, Brandeis, Ghana,
Kenya and now Thailand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you Thailand. Thank you for everything. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my students, community, and dear friends: ja kitung tuk
kon mak mak & ja mai luum khun tuk kon!! I will miss you and will never
forget you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PS See all you East Coasters in early November! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hugs,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Jessye <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-26521559704645848392014-08-19T00:23:00.003-07:002014-08-19T18:28:47.822-07:00Remembering the little things: Why it wasn't about the teaching. Wind blowing around me, whizzing down the road, re-writing the lyrics to songs and singing them to my friend and co-worker, Bouquet who was driving the motorbike we were whizzing by on - it was a moment. One of many. A fleeting, yet warm and fuzzy moment of pure happiness. No cares in the world and <i>presence. </i>I was there, present and connected in that moment. On the bike with Bouquet, singing, laughing and ignoring our hungry bellies as we soared down the road in search of a Monday market - I remembered why I was here.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did not come to Thailand to change the educational systems and change English in Thailand. I did not come to Thailand to revitalize English in my school and impart English knowledge on my students (although I may have at first thought that was my goal). I did not come to Thailand to become fluent in Thai, to run away from something at home or to be a representation of Americans. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I came to Thailand to experience and be involved in a new community. To invest myself in a new culture by making new friends and participating in reciprocal learning. To observe a new culture. I came to Thailand to engage in cross-cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding. To use teaching English as a way to connect to students and learn myself. As always, I have learned and gained more than I could ever hope to serve my host community and I am forever grateful for being hosted here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I realized riding the motorbike with Bouquet that I have accomplished these goals. Fulbright goals and personal goals. In teaching English it became quickly apparent I would not be able to in the same way I hoped. I adapted and realized my goals had to be different. Accepting differences did not mean defeat, but it did mean changing my outlook. For every moment of frustration or loneliness or fear (of which there were many) there have been equally amazing moments of inspiration, beauty and simplicity. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>There have been a thousand moments like this one</u></span>. Sitting on the pavement playing duck, duck, goose with students, cooking an elaborate Annie's Mac n Cheese meal with my Thai friends and watching a movie together, playing ping pong with my host teacher, eating lunch with my students, laughing hysterically, blasting music in my home and dancing around my empty house, visiting beautiful temples and candle sculptures, riding my own motorbike along windy roads, learning Thai with friends, exploring new areas and growing - always growing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is easy to forget in the times of Syria, Israel & Palestine, Ferguson & systematic racism, (and the multitude of other issues not cluttering our social media today but just as critical) that these little moments exist - that people are doing beautiful things and that little moments of happiness are okay to accept and appreciate. With my Facebook newsfeed being overrun with the drama that is our chaotic, broken world today, I remind myself of these small things that make my life, my time in Thailand, so incredibly special and one of a kind.<u> I am lucky to have such privilege that allows me to be here and I can not take it for granted.</u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Today marks day 326. </b>I've now lived in Thailand for nearly a year. Nearly a year of memories. Though for some fleeting moments I wish I had taken more pictures, learned more Thai, spent more time with xyz or done xyz - I have no regrets. I lived fully, I grew, I learned, I laughed and I was here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Though I am eager to return home to the US and begin my next adventure, here are some of experiences I've had that I will miss. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>I will miss:</i></b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i><b>my incredible student teachers/co-workers, Bouquet and Paranee who have given me friendship, love, knowledge and so much laughter -</b> </i>these moments I can not begin to explain, but will stay with me always. From cooking together, to riding bikes, to movie nights, to endless meals together, to deep conversations and beyond, they have undoubtedly been my rock this semester and have made my experience so wonderful</li>
<li><b><i>delicious $1 plates of Pad Thai and $7 massages </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>a variety of flavorful foods easily and affordably accessible </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>duck, duck goose and indian chief with groups of students</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Pa'Tong, a woman of incredible strength who works as a janitor at our school, who speaks no English - our communication is limited to Thai and body language</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>copious amounts of alone time to reflect, read, write and relax</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>hearing another language / learning & speaking another language </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>riding a motorbike along windy, mountainous roads in Pai - free of traffic </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>having an office with open doors and fresh air</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>being</i></b><b><i> a 'regular' and being served before I order because they know what I want</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>connections made with students and teachers </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>an excessive amount weekend trips with Fulbright friends in which we could debrief about our placements and grow closer as friends</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Thailand. </i></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This semester, though still teaching, my main job was learning and laughing. My students are wonderful and teaching is challenging and exhausting. Some days were harder than others. Currently, my students are creating their own countries and will present them at the end of the semester. What a whirlwind of a year it has been. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Time is going by quickly but I still have 5 weeks left of teaching and 1 week of saying goodbye. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On September 26th 2013, I left the USA and I will return in early November. Sep 29th 2014 I will depart Sansai for Bangkok, say goodbye to my Fulbright family and meet the incoming Fulbrighters, travel with friends in Thailand and Cambodia, visit a Brandeis friend in Indonesia and return home. Only to be greeted with yet a new challenge and exciting adventure: getting a job.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you to everyone for your never-ending support and love. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With love and hugs,</div>
<div>
Jessye</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>For the visually inclined * None of these pictures are my own & all are from Facebook * </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbTYk2L8Mn7j5Z8qJvpuk05lE0FIwFQORvmLABFpWaXkG5hSGpDxnENhfnhhXw780Vy3nG8BIV5rbpBed3ELJKEymhibhb0PIYFbhABg_n3A-FsxKu4tJd_iLhjk1m6dxKKgR4w73vGo/s1600/603709_10152678918493799_8694024389586011612_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbTYk2L8Mn7j5Z8qJvpuk05lE0FIwFQORvmLABFpWaXkG5hSGpDxnENhfnhhXw780Vy3nG8BIV5rbpBed3ELJKEymhibhb0PIYFbhABg_n3A-FsxKu4tJd_iLhjk1m6dxKKgR4w73vGo/s1600/603709_10152678918493799_8694024389586011612_n.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fulbright Love with Anja Leene, my neighbor and friend!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcPkT5Gz9_ajRg2PfeCUFti19zYFQJiEdM4GGYHvE5IxGoiCAIM5qFsGgUPonzFFfwMBkUv-XCL0rhrZtwPT1kPFqrYPLp-x8ZpRNCOt2BLGLIut5GCFPCdvmLd_CS4jKipQfU4NTWNc/s1600/1610792_10202724983586092_3521247974518958544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcPkT5Gz9_ajRg2PfeCUFti19zYFQJiEdM4GGYHvE5IxGoiCAIM5qFsGgUPonzFFfwMBkUv-XCL0rhrZtwPT1kPFqrYPLp-x8ZpRNCOt2BLGLIut5GCFPCdvmLd_CS4jKipQfU4NTWNc/s1600/1610792_10202724983586092_3521247974518958544_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding that motorbike!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPSVPkTMkIKw8LnW67RZCFCoiUE7rjb7S3j5L6kETtu5OFyiR1BO_N9sOiS27qnyH9JMhmQxklOhggu2gP7Ae3wIoZISl-OFmf9r9v6bJ73TrMQMUGhRPb7BbPAZjuGrRNTlzCBSh-p4/s1600/10333643_10202183161808474_5148782022647759291_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPSVPkTMkIKw8LnW67RZCFCoiUE7rjb7S3j5L6kETtu5OFyiR1BO_N9sOiS27qnyH9JMhmQxklOhggu2gP7Ae3wIoZISl-OFmf9r9v6bJ73TrMQMUGhRPb7BbPAZjuGrRNTlzCBSh-p4/s1600/10333643_10202183161808474_5148782022647759291_o.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting Bouquet's Grandmother and Cousin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfweMv6-ZfNk_W5iroua29iYrdi_vbuAPuzCMMaeO-Dv7hkap19gS12g6EUadaM_7Be_oKTL76IXLvzXUkw1q4ZsOS2xRjdaRu7QrZux8_5OEKiFX3Pc_XIcb4vJkzLTOw5sGYGQAV90/s1600/10406787_584595584992445_5623019802135385545_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfweMv6-ZfNk_W5iroua29iYrdi_vbuAPuzCMMaeO-Dv7hkap19gS12g6EUadaM_7Be_oKTL76IXLvzXUkw1q4ZsOS2xRjdaRu7QrZux8_5OEKiFX3Pc_XIcb4vJkzLTOw5sGYGQAV90/s1600/10406787_584595584992445_5623019802135385545_n.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting another school! :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACiyvJqTQY-kXJNzHdtsPLX5XQ_ko0U1NP1SFnnbfcv6nxLEfEZHU2P6oT92VIlEszbieXLWZee2uq8zY-Dkw7nkj4QX4QcEvDxZuTQTCJHg2M9UC4SNqSzQ6Nfjmw5xEVnuHWK-8FB4/s1600/10478718_603922956393041_2507747775147718777_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACiyvJqTQY-kXJNzHdtsPLX5XQ_ko0U1NP1SFnnbfcv6nxLEfEZHU2P6oT92VIlEszbieXLWZee2uq8zY-Dkw7nkj4QX4QcEvDxZuTQTCJHg2M9UC4SNqSzQ6Nfjmw5xEVnuHWK-8FB4/s1600/10478718_603922956393041_2507747775147718777_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anja and her neighbor, Kru Patchy! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8ieZEwt30g_67ihUjSRaeeztCJGfx9dPO8M66St9Zzbd4X3BpeTwSR3r-RHhJv8GUHHv1VmVhyeyhPHus7kHQu_uk3dpdU8nMW3d0QNDG7OGmnChVMEh8Anvv_XaVrSJsBNz2yBqL_s/s1600/10514596_1453497658243411_8280567833310998322_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8ieZEwt30g_67ihUjSRaeeztCJGfx9dPO8M66St9Zzbd4X3BpeTwSR3r-RHhJv8GUHHv1VmVhyeyhPHus7kHQu_uk3dpdU8nMW3d0QNDG7OGmnChVMEh8Anvv_XaVrSJsBNz2yBqL_s/s1600/10514596_1453497658243411_8280567833310998322_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before a fun night of dinner and shopping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrkrJ5IMA9x64VTdkB-MXPw1No7EuInS3QKF7jr2-8OgL4yPTrc-MUxNhUpy342YqukjdATRGOXuGwHvaSlzT8H0tIZgLI4MPdYlcAPHsIP_b0N-Q8fyBfMCZhNeQ21p2Aqf1FyaASMs/s1600/10556213_10152678918428799_5651242551774324624_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrkrJ5IMA9x64VTdkB-MXPw1No7EuInS3QKF7jr2-8OgL4yPTrc-MUxNhUpy342YqukjdATRGOXuGwHvaSlzT8H0tIZgLI4MPdYlcAPHsIP_b0N-Q8fyBfMCZhNeQ21p2Aqf1FyaASMs/s1600/10556213_10152678918428799_5651242551774324624_n.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of our Fulbright group in our classic awkward ways</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-39086527943453817272014-06-01T03:22:00.000-07:002014-06-01T03:34:47.461-07:00White Tourist Privilege and Other Thoughts on my Vacation to India & BaliHere are some thoughts on backpacking! I am back teaching in Sansai and will write more on that later! Much love and apologies for the long hiatus in blog writing!<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Privilege and Reciprocity:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
It seemed ideal: travel through India for 2.3 weeks and Bali for 1 week - it was a dream life. Yet, I found myself thinking "do I even enjoy traveling?" more than once during my trip. Now, I do not mean to discredit the privilege of being able to travel for an extended period of time, as I know that puts me in an extremely privileged category - nor will I discount the amazing experiences. However, I found that I much prefer living abroad than just passing through<i>. For me, connections made and relationships built make traveling (or living) abroad meaningful, exciting and interesting.</i> As a backpacker, those interactions are limited and instead I am just the tourist, seen for what I am: a white privileged female who can afford to traverse around a foreign country on a vacation. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br />
Although aware of my privilege back in the states as well, it does not hold as stark a role as my skin color, citizenship and privilege do in my experiences abroad. No matter how 'ethical' or conscientious I attempt to be, these aspects will always play a significant role while I'm abroad (as they should). </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Wherever I was in India or Bali (just as I am in Thailand), I stuck out like a sore thumb, radiating privilege. With fleeting time in each place, connections made were minimal and my abroad skills of building relationships were nearly useless. Keenly aware at every corner of all the other tourists and how we (and I) were being perceived and observed, I wondered what it meant to be a sustainable tourist. Seeing another culture and world was thrilling and wonderful, but comes with a great deal of baggage - all too often ignored I think. What is the value in a few weeks in India or Bali? How could I be an ethical consumer while in these tourist locations? Is the only value in tourism an economic gain for the host country? Is there any way for reciprocal tourism? What is the value of travel? Questions I do not have full answers for, but am certainly wondering about - among others. <i>Any thoughts appreciated. </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
And I did, of course, have a wonderful time and am truly blessed to have been able to see both Southern India and Bali! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>India:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Upon first arrival, into the small south eastern city of Chennai, I was a bit overwhelmed. Though the city reminded me of Accra, Ghana - the attitude of hospitality, speed, smells, and exhaustion caused me to be tense and nervous, as they were unfamiliar. After a nights sleep we were on our way to the next city, with not much to do in Chennai. Unsure where we were staying night to night or what our exact itinerary was, my friend and I were able to change original outlines of plans and do what we wanted to. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We were in Southern India - Kerala (Munnar, Kollam, Kochin) and Goa (Anjuna, Baga). The south is much slower than the north, which was a good introduction as it was not quite as overwhelming to the senses (I believe, based on hearsay). Honestly most of my thoughts on India, the things that stuck in my mind, are the people I met. That is what matters to me. Food was tasty, places visited were beautiful, site seeing was site seeing...and then there were the brief encounters in which I shared moments with people and stories and that is what made these trips more powerful.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Highlights from the trip (<i>pictures at the bottom for the lazy or time-crunch readers)</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b>Kollam:</b> Riding in a houseboat in Kollam for 24 hours, with a 2 hour canoe ride in a river village. This came with a delicious meal and a hilarious cultural encounters.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Trying out all kinds of transportations was a fun, exhausting aspect - we saw much of the countryside this way. From taxi rides, to trains, to buses and planes - we covered a lot of miles across southern India. Though buses with open windows up windy roads were not my preferred choice of transport. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Munnar:</b> Probably the most beautiful place I've ever been in my life. Munnar was rolling hills of incredible mountains and tea plantations. Pictures do not even do it close to justice. We happened to be stuck in Munnar an extra day because there was a strike and no buses were running back to the city that night. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Kochin: My favorite part of Kochin was <b>Tia!</b> Tia was the 9 year old girl who lived in the house we stayed in. When we booked our sleeping place, we didn't realize it was a homestay, but I was so glad for that experience. Immanuel's Homestay, was Immanuel's house, and downstairs lived him, his wife, his mother and father, three children and an aunt. Tia, the middle child, was bright and full of energy. Her English was fantastic and she would always follow me and my friend after we left calling out to us "Goodbye!" or "Ohh have a good day!". One morning we had breakfast with her and she told us her favorite subject was "English, of course!" Her energy was infectious and getting to know someone was great.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Goa: Twice in Goa in found myself paying for a service (nails and henna) that ultimately was not great quality - yet, each was performed by a young woman who shared her story with me and that made it much more worth the cost. These are two of my favorite experiences from Goa because they allowed me to understand more about the culture and connect with someone.</li>
<ul>
<li><b>Lolita</b>, a 19 year old young woman on the beach, approached me and asked if she could paint my nails. After deciding to go ahead and do it, she sauntered off to get her 'supplies'. A plastic shopping bag with a few nail polish shades. Filling my water bottle with ocean water, she washed sand off my feet and painted some haphazard polish on my toes and then convinced me to do my fingernails as well. During this encounter, I asked Lolita about her life. She revealed to me that she was married and six months pregnant. We spoke about what her husband did for work, if she was happy and if she was excited to have a baby. It was minimal, but made me so grateful for sharing stories, giving voice and connecting to people. I wished her luck when she left and enjoyed a great red colored manicure and pedicure for a day or so.</li>
<li><b>Sar</b>, a 24 year old young woman who worked at the market, was trying to get me to look at her clothes. Most market hagglers were pushing me to look and she was no different. I said, "I'm just looking for henna". "I do henna!" she exclaimed excitedly. After agreeing on a price, she did a beautiful henna job on my hand and foot. Her younger sister threaded my eyebrows after they convinced me it absolutely had to be done. As I sat with Sar and her sister for over an hour during the henna and threading process I came to know more about her life. She shared with me that she married at 14 years old, had 3 kids, a 10 year old, 7 year old and 4 year old back, with a husband whom she was ambivalent about. "He drinks too much and then is not nice," she told me and then asked about my husband. I told her I didn't have one and she said I better get on it because I was getting old. These are the experiences that make me desire to travel and connect to people. Sar explained to me that she lived 26 hours north of Goa but traveled for market season and stayed 45 minutes away. She and 7 others rent a small cement room in a large compound of many market sellers. Her smile was warm and the henna art was absolutely beautiful. I felt blessed to meet her, if only for an hour. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
Both Sar and Lolita re-affirmed my desires to helping give voice to those not often heard. Where ultimately I wanted to instill a love of learning in as many people as possible, giving voice is part of that process. The reciprocity in telling each others stories back and forth was so important to me. </div>
<div>
When I am back in Sansai, Thailand and enjoy a meal with <b>P'Oh</b>, the woman at the ice cream store, even though her English and my Thai are very limited, we find common ground in discussing heartbreak, love, relationships, body stigma - a lot of times its through a few words in each language and the rest is done by body language and gestures. All of these make me so glad for connections and so passionate about continuing to connect to so many different people around the world. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Bali:</b></div>
<div>
Bali was a bit too touristy for me, but I filled my belly with delicious food and my time with dear friends, laughter and conversation. My favorite day was a trip we took to a beautiful rock temple and coffee plantation. The coffee place has civic cats that eat the coffee beans and poops them out - that coffee is some of the most expensive in the world! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And now for some pictures!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbbE5eu7fR8BmvThDmIj7cIASziVR2Sf5zfmRoRiPYCBTPOqBUMBqnyi2Zf2kamxO57awBQauW4ND4a3a1QdZHzTI1AeGo5w0OH7MvMfYWhBXC7QZvOA5MBIsaLJtaLWrA7zqkz0Ii7U/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbbE5eu7fR8BmvThDmIj7cIASziVR2Sf5zfmRoRiPYCBTPOqBUMBqnyi2Zf2kamxO57awBQauW4ND4a3a1QdZHzTI1AeGo5w0OH7MvMfYWhBXC7QZvOA5MBIsaLJtaLWrA7zqkz0Ii7U/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh ya, and my parents visited and that was AWESOME! :) Matching shirts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTJwiZCPeU_Pep7FxH3qFppm3K-ZZ93nJoHFyujUWdRLYsrRhjFL0vPZTpSUT9_MXwmRjK5Xuk33vYIMlBhltVFoT_t2j9s3XgoMf9z56iw4IGn4qxC7BiMmJ5csaZ9-uU_Y8Yv1JFSA/s1600/DSC_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTJwiZCPeU_Pep7FxH3qFppm3K-ZZ93nJoHFyujUWdRLYsrRhjFL0vPZTpSUT9_MXwmRjK5Xuk33vYIMlBhltVFoT_t2j9s3XgoMf9z56iw4IGn4qxC7BiMmJ5csaZ9-uU_Y8Yv1JFSA/s1600/DSC_0361.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-f-BYct6YeoT4DFTNWAcYB4pkKMiehbOWz3NxA-Ns1lDWUX4X7P2Oqwt6JzjDZg3M6IPajF1NbDIcFWpYKKf5MtSORQ-ci3XsIlFkWX5JGeKDhc6ydwKRUc1WLzT9Hrul9nd68DXiz0/s1600/DSC_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-f-BYct6YeoT4DFTNWAcYB4pkKMiehbOWz3NxA-Ns1lDWUX4X7P2Oqwt6JzjDZg3M6IPajF1NbDIcFWpYKKf5MtSORQ-ci3XsIlFkWX5JGeKDhc6ydwKRUc1WLzT9Hrul9nd68DXiz0/s1600/DSC_0493.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Southern Indian Meal! :) Much different than Butter chicken!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D02R0mpp-ANQ6lppbTeDj3zZ9u4W7xIRryvt9o7iLXUGPtb3T4_dpycbJIr-0R4_mpIPZ6BhAOIedJBCr_VFcWRKQP2E-0p2LTZUVsq9THyr_cfHjpSzVlyajnIeYWp5Gqe7JJFMy4c/s1600/DSC_0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D02R0mpp-ANQ6lppbTeDj3zZ9u4W7xIRryvt9o7iLXUGPtb3T4_dpycbJIr-0R4_mpIPZ6BhAOIedJBCr_VFcWRKQP2E-0p2LTZUVsq9THyr_cfHjpSzVlyajnIeYWp5Gqe7JJFMy4c/s1600/DSC_0566.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Munnar, India </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FOGhigIFczhkhNdgNsokKtpRKoW6xJAimXOSJcU9VfZe5tHcjVJlf5H9fGJpVDS_jCprkMc88YlMvRFWyHJrxl-l7rli2cciNHfbmzqrczJXu1af8vTbzL4gq8_d1O-SsJunuYllJVc/s1600/DSC_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FOGhigIFczhkhNdgNsokKtpRKoW6xJAimXOSJcU9VfZe5tHcjVJlf5H9fGJpVDS_jCprkMc88YlMvRFWyHJrxl-l7rli2cciNHfbmzqrczJXu1af8vTbzL4gq8_d1O-SsJunuYllJVc/s1600/DSC_0570.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Munnar - with friend, Cody Gohl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nQl8c5C5aY6V4VkRXm7S30DR0KxZ8F76GxhWQwulPP1TrauiFZiOhFTDiaXKf4XgbIUnE2Fo6YCCLTZsR4JA_mcElbGic8TVnTLgOJEshAhiEdNRWLXs4ypkyvAFXyCIz6oDDF06F3Y/s1600/DSC_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nQl8c5C5aY6V4VkRXm7S30DR0KxZ8F76GxhWQwulPP1TrauiFZiOhFTDiaXKf4XgbIUnE2Fo6YCCLTZsR4JA_mcElbGic8TVnTLgOJEshAhiEdNRWLXs4ypkyvAFXyCIz6oDDF06F3Y/s1600/DSC_0595.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Munnar, India</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnaC9R28gho_M0k_teu-gvfrN_7F7jmDIMKBFenNMY43Wz38aygERMsSYf7p0JTKBQR29MVhxX3We48GwjY51DEIaeK15HhQXa2EvFzJDrX_Pkum7Y-kXkTOI-r5up1GDg7CPxNx4a_s/s1600/DSC_0620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnaC9R28gho_M0k_teu-gvfrN_7F7jmDIMKBFenNMY43Wz38aygERMsSYf7p0JTKBQR29MVhxX3We48GwjY51DEIaeK15HhQXa2EvFzJDrX_Pkum7Y-kXkTOI-r5up1GDg7CPxNx4a_s/s1600/DSC_0620.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea Plantations are what make these bushes so cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL64VOfjw81-jTvq0YBbzdDyl6H0hGgM68yYLt0rJtZh8voZRnDWvD_SWc_apX5d6fiWte2lHJ-oBLcyf_V2SXT5waA4BTiUWXeQCQvui9Fk_Q_bYEdaT3UUI4XQFUXyPQzUFomQDZX30/s1600/DSC_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL64VOfjw81-jTvq0YBbzdDyl6H0hGgM68yYLt0rJtZh8voZRnDWvD_SWc_apX5d6fiWte2lHJ-oBLcyf_V2SXT5waA4BTiUWXeQCQvui9Fk_Q_bYEdaT3UUI4XQFUXyPQzUFomQDZX30/s1600/DSC_0638.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more tea plantations!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKkX3uh2Mrm3t6hSHBPz6xUXpVWG66IGpV-vTXGnRKLlXlGw4Nw_ko0I4aGNglR3w21p6U4ZvTdizj8QM06ikbjJJuTtj1mb4rYALET6If_QJLJhnyPlzv8pZohLvJHEUP6cByZlL5MU/s1600/DSC_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKkX3uh2Mrm3t6hSHBPz6xUXpVWG66IGpV-vTXGnRKLlXlGw4Nw_ko0I4aGNglR3w21p6U4ZvTdizj8QM06ikbjJJuTtj1mb4rYALET6If_QJLJhnyPlzv8pZohLvJHEUP6cByZlL5MU/s1600/DSC_0670.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Temple in Bali!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCiuaIWI-v3D9A1W4jxUG9ftBl9YQrDBDCm324Kegrd130nsdecmD1DtuBFeEgCscriGcuNstI6OqvmtGGdWvszsrOZt1knRA-APtZIosJFbJ7JGLcuarOb7jWPyalXcFh79c7sQvjKs/s1600/DSC_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCiuaIWI-v3D9A1W4jxUG9ftBl9YQrDBDCm324Kegrd130nsdecmD1DtuBFeEgCscriGcuNstI6OqvmtGGdWvszsrOZt1knRA-APtZIosJFbJ7JGLcuarOb7jWPyalXcFh79c7sQvjKs/s1600/DSC_0697.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewpoint in Bali</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx2lxD6NqHsPYYiysPQ7-onKpPnOJhvWxrUadq_FLDMIwFiAF-ThfyK10OJvLeLhns4YmIv0XZ0pQ-xz2TWrz2cuNEn8jtIvlR1o87cZVWQbveg8u9u0ZIVpB47-e0tU948-kfM1ZCFw/s1600/DSC_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx2lxD6NqHsPYYiysPQ7-onKpPnOJhvWxrUadq_FLDMIwFiAF-ThfyK10OJvLeLhns4YmIv0XZ0pQ-xz2TWrz2cuNEn8jtIvlR1o87cZVWQbveg8u9u0ZIVpB47-e0tU948-kfM1ZCFw/s1600/DSC_0698.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful day in bali!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBCOSlUtpmTfZDJ-k0QoCwixKyDPJ9Nyq0C_fy-SZBLzJHRmilt6mMtL_Wh0MGg6wXsDiZUG6gcotOiRI1JVKdwdO4mfwGKlPnI62k6ISy4cEbWHJ5iz_agNf7DMmqgLmf8dcCeNHbfM/s1600/DSC_0703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBCOSlUtpmTfZDJ-k0QoCwixKyDPJ9Nyq0C_fy-SZBLzJHRmilt6mMtL_Wh0MGg6wXsDiZUG6gcotOiRI1JVKdwdO4mfwGKlPnI62k6ISy4cEbWHJ5iz_agNf7DMmqgLmf8dcCeNHbfM/s1600/DSC_0703.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bali with Molly!<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Seeing my parents was absolutely amazing. As you can see these places were absolutely stunningly gorgeous. My happiness is very clear in all the photos!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Much love to everyone. Will write more on getting back into teaching and last semester goals. Started back at work two weeks ago. </div>
<div>
Jessye</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-776919425351648322014-03-26T20:37:00.000-07:002014-03-26T20:37:14.674-07:00The 6-month mark: a reflection of 1st semester teaching & my internship
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Today, Thursday the 27<sup>th</sup>, marks the
6-month halfway mark through the 12-month Fulbright program. I write to you
from a coffee shop in Chiang Mai city, the smog from burning ash hangs low in
the sky and the traffic is heavy; I am enjoying a fruit smoothie in all its ‘Western’
food glory. In these past 6 months, I have finished orientation in Bangkok, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">successfully completed my first semester of
teaching</i>, and lived and worked for a month inside Chiang Mai city with a
plethora of Fulbright friends, while interning for Urban Light. Wow. What a
whirlwind of adventures. Throughout incredible moments of immersing myself in
Thailand, there have been equally wonderful moments with my fellow Fulbrighters
as I have deepened relationships with them and opened myself to new
experiences. As always, thinking (okay, worrying) about the future is a
constant for me; but I am eager and excited to be living this year in Thailand
with less responsibilities and more free time than I will ever be able to
indulge in again. Self-growth and learning about myself has been a daily aspect
of my time in Thailand, as for once I am not the busy-bee I was in high school
and college. I have given myself time to breathe (or at least I try to). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">(I did get bitten by a dog and had to get a lot of
rabies shots, but that holds little importance to my experience here </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Times; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Now for some thoughts on my semester of teaching and
my internship with Urban Light: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Reflections
on a semester of teaching at Sansai Wittayakom School<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Teaching here has confirmed my desire to work in
education, in many different facets (direct service, policy/politics,
internationally, philosophically). My students are a source of joy, frustration
and laughter. Though teaching ESL is not a discipline I see myself pursuing
long-term, the relationships I was able to build with the students, the (albeit
minimal) progress I saw, the shared laughter, and the lesson planning all
provided me with insight into why I love teaching and education, and for what
more I need to do next semester and in future teaching jobs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In November and December, my teaching was still
timid. Though enjoying it, I did not have a ton of faith in my ability to
connect to the students. By January, I felt very differently. At least with the
three classes of students that I saw twice a week (where as other classes were
once every 3 weeks) I had established a rapport; enough that kept them quiet
when I needed them quiet and had them participate in activities when the lesson
called for it. Though the English level is low, I was able to cover a fair
amount of topics, but most importantly there was laughter every class as I
encouraged students to not worry too much about their ability and to just give
it a try. Often just being able to convince my Thai students to attempt
speaking English aloud is hard enough, let alone in full sentences or in
response to a topic. January and February flew by, with teaching and weekend
adventures combined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Though some days were harder than others, and there
were definitely days where I wished I could explain a game without flapping my
arms around and translating into Thai or getting help from a teacher, my experience
was overwhelming positive. The bad days gave me time to reflect on what could
have gone better or in what was getting in the way of it being a good day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Cheater,
Cheater, Pumpkin Eater? Or Communal Learning?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Toward the end of February it was time to give
exams. I decided upon giving oral exams, since my job description is
technically listening and speaking, and because most of my teaching is auditory
and spoken. To keep the students busy who were waiting for their orals, I
provided them with a written final exam, that ultimately only counted as a
worksheet. Though I had been warned about cheating, the written exam was the
first piece of work I gave that there could have been any cheating on. Despite
explanations of what I would do if I saw cheating, there was still, a great
deal in all my classes. Balancing calling up students one by one to do the oral
and supervising the exam at the same time was a challenge. I was frustrated and
wished they were listening to my instructions (though there were many who did
not cheat, and who did great on the exams).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I wondered if it was my US education perspective
that was frustrating me in their cheating (or maybe the rise in temperatures
and the heat settling in much heavier?). US students are (stereotypically) very
individual and self-focused. You do your best, for you. Thai schools appear to
have a different approach, one that revolves much more around helping one
another. After the first exam my frustration turned more into a teaching
moment. Perhaps students were not going to show me what they knew in the way I
expected, but instead were going to share their knowledge. Students with much
higher ability passed notes and whispered to their lesser ability friends
nearby, or even several desks over. Not giving them full answers, but hints, or
key verbs – or translating the questions. It was communal. They all wanted to
do well and wanted their friends to do well too. Of course this was not
universal, nor is it necessarily in every Thai classroom, but it opened my eyes
to yet again more cultural relativism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Though yes, important to assess a student’s ability,
the communal ‘cheating’ culture in my classroom that I experienced may not be
so bad after all. They still needed to do the oral exam, in which I assessed
their individual ability in speaking. Though the written work was hard to grade
– not knowing what was copied and what was remembered – in the end – of my 89
students that I see twice a week for their full elective class, only one
student failed and he had come to only one class the whole semester. Cheating
seems to be more of a US concept in these schools and in some ways it can be
detrimental to a students learning, for sure – but I think the community
ideology behind it is sort of beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Urban
Light: Interning with Boys in Chiang Mai <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I am unsure how to summarize, explain or explore my
month long internship with Urban Light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A reoccurring topic of conversation amongst my close friends here, this
internship has been rewarding, troubling, frustrating and inspiring. As
perhaps, maybe it should be. It begged me to ask ethical questions, reconsider
the non-profit world as a career, redefine my own personal ideology and worldview,
and allowed me some wonderful experiences as well. I have yet again (as I always
should) struggled with my ‘role’ as a white woman not fluent in the local
language, trying to ‘make a difference’ in the lives of marginalized
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose the problem is
maybe in ‘wanting’ to ‘make a difference’ because at the end of the day what
does that even mean? Additionally, as always with these short-term projects,
consistency is an issue I worry about greatly. Though eager for the
opportunity, one month making connections with these boys is simply not enough.
More is needed, especially long-term volunteers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Do not get me wrong, the work I have done has been
heartwarming. The relationships I’ve built with the boys at the center, albeit
short-lived, has been inspiring. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days are filled with interactions with the boys and
other days revolve more around various tasks, attempting to push Urban Light
forward toward their mission. Some days are filled with activities, like baking
or museum trips or pool days; others are filled with laughter on the 2<sup>nd</sup>
floor as we make up new rules to the classic UNO game. I have never played so
much UNO in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys,
staff and volunteers come together for a hot meal at 1pm every day. Holding
hands and giving thanks before every meal, I am always reminded that I am
thankful to have this experience, despite the challenges. Hearing the boys
laugh is my favorite part of the day. Whether it is from a slip up in an UNO
game, or finding out a volunteer is ticklish, or just generally teasing each
other, when the boys laugh – the frustration I feel of being useless and out of
place falls away and I’m just purely happy to be connecting with these young
boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Despite my own internal questioning, the work Urban
Light is doing provides a safe space for boys who are being trafficked,
subjected to exploitation, living on the streets, and others in need. Beyond a
safe space, Urban Light aims to empower and rebuild the lives of these boys –
and they take many steps toward these goals with education, health services,
housing and beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">An additional, really wonderful part of my
experience thus far has been sharing it with a group of students at Concord
Carlisle High School. Through connecting with my long term mentor and high
school teacher, Johanna Glazer, I have been assisting a group of CC junior and
seniors in an ‘internship’ type experience labeled ‘Outreach to Thailand.’ On
the ground at CCHS, the students have raised awareness about Urban Light
through posters, and are working to create fundraisers and raise even more
awareness. Interacting with them has again reminded me of my desire to raise
global awareness amongst the youth of the USA through the education system.
Their surprise, eagerness, passion and excitement about this project has been
so rewarding – and reminds me how important it is for young minds to open
themselves up to issues worldwide at a young age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I am very thankful for the internship experience
and as always opens my mind and heart to many more questions. As it well
should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This
whole month has been a social overload as I’ve been living in close quarters
with Fulbright friends, as well as sharing meals with friends almost every
single night. Though enjoying the stock up on social time, it was a strange
transition from so much alone time to massive amounts of social time. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In
just one week from today my mother and father will be visiting. We will travel
together for 8 days. Then, I will celebrate Songkran, the Thai new year with a
massive 3-day water fight. I’m a little scared. On April 16<sup>th</sup>, my
friend and I will depart for India. Backpacking for 2 weeks there, followed by
a week in Bali – then Bangkok for 5 days. On May 19<sup>th</sup> I will return
to Sansai Wittayakom to teach for my final semester. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Talk
to you all in mid-May! </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Times; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> Sorry for no pictures...<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">LOVE,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jessye<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-70354597047501787272014-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:002014-02-04T00:01:56.671-08:00Still bloggin': little things and adventures<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I've avoided writing. Partially for personal reasons, and partially because sometimes I am at a loss for words at how to describe the little things in Thailand that make life here so extraordinary. Let's go with mostly the latter. :) I've managed to barely take any photographs in the last 40+ days since I last wrote. But I have filled an entire journal of thoughts for my future & current state of mind, and I've read 10 books in the past month. Losing myself in the intricate pages of the stories crafted by an artist has become my favorite past time. Though I always loved reading, here it has become a 2-4 hour routine of my daily life. When will I have that freedom again? Retirement? So, I am living it up. :-) As well as enjoying Thailand! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The semester is nearly over. Just a month more and then I will be living the city with friends on an internship! I am over the moon excited for my internship. I will be working with <a href="http://www.urbanlight.org/">Urban Light</a> an organization that is dedicated to prevention, education about and direct service regarding sex trafficking and sex workers in Chiang Mai. However, unlike most organizations, Urban Light focuses on only <b>boys</b> who are affected. The plans of what I will be doing are still in the works, but I am thrilled to be assisting which such a phenomenal NGO that is doing such important work. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
In the beginning of April my mom and dad will visit, which I am equally thrilled about! Then I will travel with some friends for a few weeks (INDIA AND BALI!) until a mid-term meeting and back to teaching for mid-May through the end of September. Technically I am finished with my Fulbright on Oct 3rd...but as of now I think I am going to stay. Who knows. At first I was scared to leave for a year, and now I want to stay!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>The Beauty of Little Things</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The little moments and beautiful friendships that have developed have been my favorite. From P'Oh, the woman who owns the ice cream store, has dinner with me, lets me watch her sing in shows, and drives me home late at night to P'Uh, the sweet single woman with a 6 month old baby who runs a beauty shop and teaches me Thai through trying to tell me her story to the P'An who is homeless, and from Burma, and lives in the marketplace, and always smiles at me and says hello to P'Ja who knows my order of 'Shrimp Pad Thai, very spicy' at the stall downtown - all of these people are so kind, generous and warm. These are just a few of the budding relationships I've started to build here that mean so much to me. Then there are the teachers at my school who go out of their way to help me, teach me, engage me, and understand me. Then my students, who greet me on campus and off campus, who call my name out in the courtyard and ask to be Facebook friends. There is so much beauty in the relationships here that I am developing. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the kindness of these relative strangers. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Outside of human contact, there is also the beauty of the commons. The common spaces used by community members. I like sitting outside on a bench or ledge and just watching people. Or watching people on a bus. Thinking of their stories. Their lives. For all the pain, horror and hate in this world, there is so much beauty, love and kindness too. I am so blessed to be living in this community and I am eager to continue to spread my wings to many more places in the future. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ry6MCIfyrs84Qq6OD6v7OXLSljlhSiTKcagd6OhSnn6HymAxEAvB_X94KQsloD6JtLcFzQotsLRiZUJFIpx1Sc8AtnWb3Nx8l25-5KT7fYMI-v8GrP7CvDHFpY7trdfsUF51RVD3rak/s1600/1514994_2209967608750_66388590_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ry6MCIfyrs84Qq6OD6v7OXLSljlhSiTKcagd6OhSnn6HymAxEAvB_X94KQsloD6JtLcFzQotsLRiZUJFIpx1Sc8AtnWb3Nx8l25-5KT7fYMI-v8GrP7CvDHFpY7trdfsUF51RVD3rak/s1600/1514994_2209967608750_66388590_n.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Nong Poo, P'Uh's son!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Here are some <i>event </i>highlights from the past 5 weeks:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b>Visiting Pai</b>, a Northern town that is encased in the most splendidly stunning mountains, waterfalls and canyons. I rode on the back of a friend's motorbike around this beautiful scenery. We explored stunning landscapes on foot and on bike, and indulged in delicious foods. It was a spiritually wonderful weekend of good friendship and beauty. (Dec 20-22)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Som Tum Making While Dancing Contest...</b>ANew Years Party at my school with all the teachers! At one point there was a spicy papaya salad making contest in which I had to make the papaya salad (som tum) <i>while</i> dancing. I was holding a large wooden mortar and pestle and trying to understand the instructions being yelled at me. Ultimately mine was mashed instead of stirred, and I did not win the contest. But how many people can say they've been on stage in front of 70 teachers making papaya salad (when they don't know how) and DANCING during it? I considered it a win! (Dec 27)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Church with a student and friend.</b> Somehow every country (except Denmark) that I have been to, I have found my way to a church. Which I suppose is odd for the cultural Jew and spiritually unsure nature of my faith. Anyways, one of my students had been asking me since November to go to church with her, but I was always busy and did not have the time. Finally on the Sunday after New Years Day I had time! We planned to meet in front of the University in our town at 8:30am. I waited there and then a short man came over to me and said "Come with me!" At first I just looked confused, but they he said, "Bookky (my students name) Dad! I Bookky Dad!" I suppose that was enough information for me and I got into his car. Luckily, I was right to trust him and we ended up at his house where I found myself having breakfast with him and my student's step mother while she put on make up in her bedroom. My Thai is not so great, but we managed to have a classically Thanglish conversation. Then we headed to church. First, I attended bible study (in Thai). I read my English copy of the bible and took notes in my notebook as I listened to these students talk about God. Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist, but there are some people who are Christian (and I'm sure other followings as well). The missionaries have mostly seen to this. Though I am not a Christian (but was baptized in Ghana if you remember!) I really enjoyed the FULL DAY event, I just watched and listened to the Thai prayers and songs. Bookky was very appreciative that I was there and I loved being a part of something important for her. (Jan 5th)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>White Water Rafting!</b> What a splendid adventure and it was not on a huge tourist organization! We went through my host teacher's husband's small organization that supports and helps sustain a hill tribe in Nan, a hilly, beautiful province to the Northeast of where I live. There were 10 of us total, and it was a group that can't really get together on the weekends usually so it was really wonderful. Not only was the white water rafting an exciting adventure (albeit terrifying) but we stayed in a beautiful wooden home up in the mountains and spent electronic free time just bonding with one another. There was even a campfire! (Jan 10th) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Horse Carriage on a Highway? No problem! </b>This past weekend, Anja and I, the volunteer who lives close to me in Chiang Mai, decided to head down to Lampang, a 1.5 hour journey, to visit two other Fulbrighters who live there. We had a relaxing friendship filled weekend, but we also tried out the typical Lampang adventure of a two hour horse carriage ride around the city seeing different temples! It was a quite a blast, and hilarious to watch cars on a busy street avoid the slow walking horse carriages. Reminded me of snowy Boston carriage rides, except really hot and in Thailand and to see temples and much cheaper...so really not the same. (Jan 17th)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Don't miss your bus stop. </b>Engrossed in a novel, (and so excited to be able to ride on a bus and not get too sick) I missed my bus stop. I looked up and realized I had no idea where we were. It turned out I was about 5-6 miles from my house. No problem, just cross the street and get the bus in the opposite direction. BUT WAIT! It was 6:00pm and the buses had stopped running in the opposite direction, and it was starting to get dark. I figured I would walk the direction I thought I was supposed to go. Cows, mountains and fields surrounding me. But then I got nervous. What if it took a few hours to get back? And it got really dark? There were no street lights. So, in desperation I called a student teacher at my school and she rescued me on a motorbike (after talking on the phone to someone in Thai to figure out where I actually was...). (Jan 28th) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>I can't do aerobics or dance. </b>Friday night, the 31st of January, I made my way to my friend Anja's house. After a tour of her house, a photoshoot with her next door neighbor who loves photos, and some delicious cucumber spicy salad, we headed to group aerobics at the police station. If you know me well, you know I am possibly the least coordinated person ever in existence. Imagine me, with twenty 40-60 year old Thai women, trying to do a speedy aerobics Zumba-esque class outside. It was quite the experience, but very amusing and worth the sore body and laughs (at me). (Jan 31st)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C3kr6cxb5sVFD5dG4j719aPMHh-6kOQx-UTKd60vtVWrZ4zkKsafTuD8a-SuI-iBpI0t1gPaYSQXC3NcwcUd2zD9WwZsSYrCsK0mLTQpyRAg-7YbHQdxlwigL9A5KTuGSlFgkulI9Xg/s1600/1620442_515529915232346_1088715890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C3kr6cxb5sVFD5dG4j719aPMHh-6kOQx-UTKd60vtVWrZ4zkKsafTuD8a-SuI-iBpI0t1gPaYSQXC3NcwcUd2zD9WwZsSYrCsK0mLTQpyRAg-7YbHQdxlwigL9A5KTuGSlFgkulI9Xg/s1600/1620442_515529915232346_1088715890_n.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Anja - Her host teacher made me a welcome sign!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gkQ9dCMHdatMPV1lQJRTQTiz99UECtGdw0wVucIAZuB0f7DBbU7A04_xv8u0yXzN2RSbexeM2_TI_pD7MYfedB9DupfkSdqerDatix_wm4aHHRrmPrlt1_hOh2YY2Tn7bCe82JswCyg/s1600/1661049_515529751899029_2123882459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gkQ9dCMHdatMPV1lQJRTQTiz99UECtGdw0wVucIAZuB0f7DBbU7A04_xv8u0yXzN2RSbexeM2_TI_pD7MYfedB9DupfkSdqerDatix_wm4aHHRrmPrlt1_hOh2YY2Tn7bCe82JswCyg/s1600/1661049_515529751899029_2123882459_n.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing for the photoshoot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEQNwkNkXLWpHUux142ug5KjIBsU-b94LkJhq1wT1EYyUiMtvDUw5GaD5UGd7EUU2ffaF77PzBaicmN2GT2GfsyjZqxCKyXs0yNVX3sr03i0B3SnUrTRalaM0xaIr1Llu9l2SE_lHDuo/s1600/1504025_2195324722687_1564242741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEQNwkNkXLWpHUux142ug5KjIBsU-b94LkJhq1wT1EYyUiMtvDUw5GaD5UGd7EUU2ffaF77PzBaicmN2GT2GfsyjZqxCKyXs0yNVX3sr03i0B3SnUrTRalaM0xaIr1Llu9l2SE_lHDuo/s1600/1504025_2195324722687_1564242741_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pai - Damn it was beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRlCkQS4B1nt_yXBFFR2kZVcZC_rpN5HH4q6zNvq2DSKodmhaXRM_MeweDEOheOx7r8s7IP-Hj-dUbHkqyA0_yF3zARnE0gc-eIxKEmhNdk0BVriIXbXWmB_vq-9JdYEoMGQRqav5QyE/s1600/1499569_514208828697788_288367682_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRlCkQS4B1nt_yXBFFR2kZVcZC_rpN5HH4q6zNvq2DSKodmhaXRM_MeweDEOheOx7r8s7IP-Hj-dUbHkqyA0_yF3zARnE0gc-eIxKEmhNdk0BVriIXbXWmB_vq-9JdYEoMGQRqav5QyE/s1600/1499569_514208828697788_288367682_n.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probs my fav picture of the year - Aerobics!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlnHtyW2xQXDgY4yY_56ddHJRkFB7WPCc8E6Fq3NTPfNazeXoT2mVINr5ir-QmyXF6QxHyOTgRhGWSVaFhR5aLhoS7K2TqQo7gEVEwhPDSbPQEd9tbx8IHMc2DtecrVz4qJjPdOh8dww/s1600/1512359_10201305714465218_154627695_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlnHtyW2xQXDgY4yY_56ddHJRkFB7WPCc8E6Fq3NTPfNazeXoT2mVINr5ir-QmyXF6QxHyOTgRhGWSVaFhR5aLhoS7K2TqQo7gEVEwhPDSbPQEd9tbx8IHMc2DtecrVz4qJjPdOh8dww/s1600/1512359_10201305714465218_154627695_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Water Rafting! SO FUN! <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CxAKjHVvmFyKCWC_PNhziHv6FEi5W1M5_RGE0KnyexCkpmkS83g9tSw3zkJzhFXa6oxRvMcefTso6Ds2I3AIOjfib12PTPvJu6qaBUloyGmAdlBez9FgnTSJAVhdDlprvcLh_u5M83U/s1600/1795665_514208695364468_230405421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CxAKjHVvmFyKCWC_PNhziHv6FEi5W1M5_RGE0KnyexCkpmkS83g9tSw3zkJzhFXa6oxRvMcefTso6Ds2I3AIOjfib12PTPvJu6qaBUloyGmAdlBez9FgnTSJAVhdDlprvcLh_u5M83U/s1600/1795665_514208695364468_230405421_n.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can tell I don't know what I'm doing right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>With all the free time I've had, I've spent a lot of time thinking about my future and next steps for where I want to go. It's been quite a process. I've spoken to a few people about my dreams, goals and fears, which has been helpful and grounding for me. This is quite an adventure - this thing we call life. :) </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I miss you all - be in touch!</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Rak khun! (Love you!)</i></div>
<div>
<i>J</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-52938983709477860632013-12-16T18:53:00.001-08:002013-12-16T18:59:39.587-08:00But I don't dance!<div class="MsoNormal">
As I wrote this, the long table in the Foreign Language
office, with it’s plastic flowery table cloth, was splattered with a feast of
spicy papaya salad (Som Tum), sticky rice (Kao Nee-ow), fried chicken, curries,
coconut milk treats and other delicious Thai foods. Usually once or twice a
week there is some large shared feast between the 8-10 English teachers that
populate this office. My belly was full and my mouth was on fire from the spicy
chilies as I began to write this post.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today is Day 81. Eighty-one days ago, on an early Thursday morning
I finished packing my bags and headed out on this journey, mom & dad in
tow, giving me big hugs in the Logan airport. Anxious, but excited I arrived
with an open heart ready to take this adventure by the horns and learn as much
as I could throughout this amazing opportunity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happiness is a choice, but it also comes from accepting love
and acceptance for oneself and the rest of the world. This is something I have
finally come to accept and realize as I grow more into myself and discover new
aspects of my identity; and additionally recognize that I am always growing and
learning. I am eager to live. Really live. Live each day to the absolute
fullest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Never in all my life have I felt happier and more of a
purpose than I do now. Each day is an adventure that I am open to, each evening
as I lay my back against my brick mattress I am reeling with new Thai vocab,
new ideas, for classes, my future, life, philosophies, beliefs – new findings
of my day or week run through my head as I try to relax and sleep. My days and
evenings have left me with ample time for self-reflection, philosophical
musings and goal setting. Though, despite the amount of ‘free time’ I still
manage to have a lengthy to-do list that is ever-growing and is never complete.
My days are different; yet follow a semi-distinct routine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAO7A_2YEz37bAyg53kOGi-ZIjGU01qeWlGSpTGrtrLq0TUE4iOrv27PMwtnIKosdcj_Bz0IGtXc81eo3REKJvBhyEBQkdudE06sVDRqGB8hXwEcZkmyucu2raweWY_RKz18b-1YIVwY/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAO7A_2YEz37bAyg53kOGi-ZIjGU01qeWlGSpTGrtrLq0TUE4iOrv27PMwtnIKosdcj_Bz0IGtXc81eo3REKJvBhyEBQkdudE06sVDRqGB8hXwEcZkmyucu2raweWY_RKz18b-1YIVwY/s320/image_2.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm on a staff board!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">An Average (Week) Day
of Jessye in Thailand<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6:03am: The loud rooster fights outside my window awaken me
as they squawk their morning </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>tunes. This also occurs at 1:00am & 4:00am approximately. I doze
back to sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7:15am: My favorite Ghanaian hiplife songs rudely awakens me
from my sleep in the post-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>rooster rouse mood. Wake-up routine begins. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7:50am: Walk the 2 minutes from my house in the back of
campus to the English office, drop off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>school bag and go downstairs to the morning assembly, until 8:30am. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8:30am: Teach first class. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9:30am: Teach second class.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10:30am: Read book/write in journal/lesson plan/talk with
Thai teachers/practice Thai</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11:30am: Lunch time! Sometimes complete with coconut ice
cream with black beans. A time of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>great fun and laughter. My favorite time of day to get to know the other
teachers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12:30pm: Teach third class.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1:30pm: Shadow other classes/edit worksheets/lesson plan/talk
with Thai teachers/edit friends </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>essays back home/read books/online class work/philosophize with another
Westerner</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3:30pm: Teach 4<sup>th</sup> class! TEACHER CLASS (Tutoring
5-6 Thai teachers)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4:30pm: Drop off bag at home, change out of work clothes and
into exercise clothes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4:45pm: Play badminton/volleyball with my host teacher or
students </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5:30pm: Either catch bus (sorngtaew) or a ride 3 miles into
Maejo area (a university near me).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk around, interact with
my local friends & make new local friends</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6:15pm: Decide on something to eat, pay about $1.50 for a
full meal, sometimes only $1.00. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6:35pm: Catch a bus back to my house </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6:43pm: Confront the guard dogs that guard me from entering
my own house.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6:49pm: Safely in the house, lock the door, turn off the
lights downstairs, grab a bottle of water </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and head upstairs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7:00pm:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shower</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7:30pm: Get in bed, read/surf internet/talk to
friends/online school work/research Phd </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>programs.../watch a movie (rarely)/meditate</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9:30-10pm: Asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life is pretty wonderful. Though through this ‘average’ day
schedule, it is important to recognize that Thailand is anything but average.
There have been days that finished with impromptu trips to the city to see a
friend, or markets or parades or festivals or dinner parties at friends houses
or being ‘thai-napped’ to rooftop restaurants and other such crazy adventures. Each
day something new happens. Each day I challenge myself to further analyze the
world in its’ complexity and discover my purpose, goals and desires. Each day I
learn something new. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But, I don’t
dance...I don’t even KNOW the dance!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCuUJwFic_o4ys2YUt8uxhQhlZs9c8_Cnt4j470c4vVV6Cy5xON7n8NW9REvneiZWVI6-57qA5jSoXgSzIE0_k0UO782hCo6wFXoJsC5RySTFEqK9ezVINP4lnOzAVfYWXdW7vj8j-Gg/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCuUJwFic_o4ys2YUt8uxhQhlZs9c8_Cnt4j470c4vVV6Cy5xON7n8NW9REvneiZWVI6-57qA5jSoXgSzIE0_k0UO782hCo6wFXoJsC5RySTFEqK9ezVINP4lnOzAVfYWXdW7vj8j-Gg/s320/image_4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the day before I flew to Bangkok,
I had the afternoon free and was fully planning on relaxing, packing and
getting myself ready for the Thanksgiving adventure with Fulbright friends.
Around 2pm, my friend P’Jan told me “Jessye, dance rehearsal at 3pm.” Thinking
we would rehearse the dance we had minimally learned the week before at an hour
long rehearsal, I happily brought my school bag to the dance room to rehearse
for an hour and calculated I would be in my room by 4pm, happily eating peanut
butter sandwiches for dinner. P’Jan was a bit late, having to attend a teacher
meeting, so I practiced once with the dance teacher and then read my book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Jessye!!
We put on your make-up and costume!! Okay???” The dance teacher, Kru Jum
announced to me around 3:45pm, when I was ready to go home and shower &
pack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Huh?”
was my tactful response.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
perform the dance tonight!! It is the Assistant Director’s going away party! So
we dress up and put make up and then perform the dance, okay?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart rate quickened instantly and my palms became
sweaty. I like dancing in front of the mirror and occasionally at a party/bar,
but dancing in front of a crowd, on a stage? Not my thing. Not to mention, I
DID NOT KNOW THE DANCE. I had practiced all of three times and am possibly the
most uncoordinated person alive. I panicked. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I scolded myself internally: Jessye, you are here to
experience new things and go outside your comfort zone! With a deep breath,
drying my palms on my skirt, I smiled at Kru Jum and said “Great, what time do
we perform and what am I wearing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the following three hours I had: two fake eyelashes,
three inches of make-up, flowers in my hair, a traditional Thai costume,
borrowed jewelry, and done three dance run throughs. I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i> but ready, but that did not matter as I was escorted to
the large assembly hall where all the teachers were seated around large white
circle tables feasting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh Jesssyeeeee!!! So beautiful today!” the teachers oohed
and ahhed, several taking selfies with me or pictures of me. I nervously picked
at some som-tum (spicy papaya salad) and drank a bottle of water before P’Jan
tapped me and said, “it’s time!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Waiting behind the stage, I could hear the beginning of our
song playing. Mind over matter, I told myself and willed myself to remember the
moves. Six teachers in matching costumes, myself included, stepped carefully
onto the stage in line with our formation. Quietly moving our hands and fingers
to the allotted dance routine. When I began to forget a move, I would quickly
glance to my left at what the others were doing and copy with a semi-seamless
transition. In the back of the large hall I could see my host teacher, Kru Toi,
smiling and dancing along to the dance. I willed my nervous heartbeat to slow
as I looked around the familiar and unfamiliar faces around the room and
silently prayed that the dozens of clicks of the camera in front of me would
not end up on Facebook (they did, of course). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within a few minutes, our dance was done and I sashayed off
the stage (on the wrong side I might add) and breathed a sigh of relief. Yet,
at the same time I was happy and grinning. I cheered with my group of dancers
and we all took a group picture once outside. I did it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, you just have to do it and the result will be
better than you hoped. This dance story is how much of my life here in Thailand
is, taking chances and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. I am not
always in charge of the plans, I might get to bed to late or miss a Skype date
or have a class canceled that I’ve been laboring over a lesson plan for, but in
return there is excitement, culture and experiences that are unforgettable. Let
your guard down and live a little. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynA3Fl57JlSBdMC1xDOmchj3s49I41cIfm63uac-eQ3k4niu5q2ctZoTo143xMVa2et8-WAAS1bmHqTIevAJoG-R96OCA2r1vt2zQrKUBUJQvXt7NT0LbRa91feMzSJrOnp1NPwqAQL8/s1600/image_5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynA3Fl57JlSBdMC1xDOmchj3s49I41cIfm63uac-eQ3k4niu5q2ctZoTo143xMVa2et8-WAAS1bmHqTIevAJoG-R96OCA2r1vt2zQrKUBUJQvXt7NT0LbRa91feMzSJrOnp1NPwqAQL8/s320/image_5.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a student dancer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LEwBudrIA9jWxHe-UmrrG2KRswfSccAXJX0ySssRJKFMXVamoU1STQY5dd0ZyqvpN8mTV1lTpLxhVPnkViZnHwEV5KHitfiBf9agpUSfopuoXkReZXy19PO5TY-GdeTUuCmWEssF-M4/s1600/image_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LEwBudrIA9jWxHe-UmrrG2KRswfSccAXJX0ySssRJKFMXVamoU1STQY5dd0ZyqvpN8mTV1lTpLxhVPnkViZnHwEV5KHitfiBf9agpUSfopuoXkReZXy19PO5TY-GdeTUuCmWEssF-M4/s320/image_6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With P'Jan, my girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teaching Teachers and Big Changes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most recently I started a teacher’s class where I teach Thai
teachers who have signed up for my course for an hour a week, (I teach three sections).
I quite enjoy the different pace of adult learners and small circle style
learning. The class period goes by quickly and I enjoy it immensely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My partner, Ryan has just arrived to Thailand and this will
definitely change the alone time I’ve happily breezed through in the past 80
days, but I look forward to the new change and challenges that will arise as a
result. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanksgiving in Bangkok was a blast and two weekends ago I went to Chiang Rai to see my friend Francesca and we visited this strange Narnia-esque Temple with underworld undertones... very strange.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpt2VdSPUCDpRyKlAD5KYD2EK9RtoXAaoPUnDZvKDzMoPlvga859_BYU5S7a-hxipoAyKzfy8VLekmBHFCe9Gxyf5Ea8YAktBvw6KdiwGyfNgioyrHCwAEfpVla6OGniLzsU8jwvewig/s1600/image_8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpt2VdSPUCDpRyKlAD5KYD2EK9RtoXAaoPUnDZvKDzMoPlvga859_BYU5S7a-hxipoAyKzfy8VLekmBHFCe9Gxyf5Ea8YAktBvw6KdiwGyfNgioyrHCwAEfpVla6OGniLzsU8jwvewig/s640/image_8.jpeg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narnia aka White Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNRWkpp3tWcJo4BZ8zb0HqqRxYZJhO1tIus_un7WeLn7Ru1rPG9aIzCEA0ehbO7r4Qug2_aVCbQhvQmZUejKRVxwaZC3DmlWLR0PlM9NSU4qIX9LLZ6wVkKy8AfHzitj8k0b_poWy7j0/s1600/image_9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNRWkpp3tWcJo4BZ8zb0HqqRxYZJhO1tIus_un7WeLn7Ru1rPG9aIzCEA0ehbO7r4Qug2_aVCbQhvQmZUejKRVxwaZC3DmlWLR0PlM9NSU4qIX9LLZ6wVkKy8AfHzitj8k0b_poWy7j0/s320/image_9.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strange hell images?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbirIcdFwfxIAppkA7TpnfHT9TdaEZxmed3aqK2SSUVUOIRvqF2ogw7X_Aea3LSlhxcz0eeTCFtz-tNTT26iE0YnQz5TigfCLQNAF367cgmr_Yk4orB6HmteorjWOLX7CrgDOGFEUcfr8/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbirIcdFwfxIAppkA7TpnfHT9TdaEZxmed3aqK2SSUVUOIRvqF2ogw7X_Aea3LSlhxcz0eeTCFtz-tNTT26iE0YnQz5TigfCLQNAF367cgmr_Yk4orB6HmteorjWOLX7CrgDOGFEUcfr8/s640/image_3.jpeg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real sweet turkey </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm9WTBLBNyAwgT_Jw80VAExXw_xkLkRguVs6DFGYV29Jk6iCRkI6fTG5pPRkpo84GjiyQ3-KDE6_1NpqsPlozHypH_FerGbWzPf2tQEmKr5H8UGlKYsvUSo-lgJF5FxlTYItLGb15w_0/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm9WTBLBNyAwgT_Jw80VAExXw_xkLkRguVs6DFGYV29Jk6iCRkI6fTG5pPRkpo84GjiyQ3-KDE6_1NpqsPlozHypH_FerGbWzPf2tQEmKr5H8UGlKYsvUSo-lgJF5FxlTYItLGb15w_0/s320/image_7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & the Exec Director of Fulbright @ Thanksgiving in BKK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><br /></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Hope everyone has a very happy holiday season and is booking their tickets to Thailand as soon as possible! :)</b></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-28894239398462453112013-11-19T17:25:00.003-08:002013-11-19T17:25:42.085-08:00Learning how to walk again: Sansai, Chiang Mai<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Existing in Sansai, Chiang Mai <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
840+ nametags made. 21 introduction lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12 additional lessons. 200 Hand turkeys
made with “I’m thankful for” written neatly. 40 hours of teaching. 4 lessons
with the Director of the school. What is it? The first 2.5 weeks of teaching at
Sansai Wittaykom school. This, coupled with numerous dinner parties, mistakes,
laughter, bugs, games of badminton, volleyball and ping pong, trips to Chiang
Mai city, festivals, parades, several Skype dates, informal Thai lessons, new friends, fabulous
students, minor frustrations and way too much food, has been my life these past
two weeks. This has been my life. Sometimes as I start to fall asleep, while the little
beetles are crawling on me, I have these
strange moments of confusion and then clarity. The first of confusion: am I
really here? In Thailand? For a year? The second, that follows is a moment of
clarity: yes, I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> not only that,
I am meant to be here. It feels right. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Humans are complex. We contemplate our existence. As a fellow
foreign teacher reminded me the other day, this fact sets us apart from other
species. We contemplate our existence. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
is my purpose for living? </i>Is it to learn? To get rich? To have babies? To
get to heaven? To achieve enlightenment? For me, my purpose is to serve &
help others primarily. Secondly, to grow and learn continuously until the day I
depart from what I know as earth, and third to make meaningful, lastingly
relationships and share my existence with people. Our lives are often a series
of decisions, some that take longer than others, some that are a split second.
One decision can change the course of someone’s life for a lifetime. One
application. One plane ticket. One summer. Singular actions, days, even minutes
– can change the course of someone’s life forever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first trip to Africa was life changing, the others that
followed life-changing in different ways. Thailand too, although perhaps not in the same way, definitely has its life
changing ways. I’ve already noticed my ability to laugh more at my mistakes, take
my time doing things, not rush, try foods I do not want to try, and generally
become comfortable with being constantly uncomfortable – both physically (heat,
bugs etc) and culturally. My teaching schedule changes? No problem. Bugs in my
bed? No problem. Dogs chasing me? No problem. Printer broken? No problem. This
is Thailand, as we were told, and as ethnocentric as I first thought that was,
the phrase helps me remember to remove my American perspective and to be as
open, adaptable and loving as possible. Sometimes I don’t have to remind myself
to do this, and other times I notice frustration bubbling and I need to remind
myself to be calm. Be calm. Jai yen yen. Keep a cool heart. <br />
<br />
I am slowly learning how to walk again. It is a slow dance of mistakes and learning experiences and keeping a smile on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To Teach, My new
favorite sport<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The classroom has always been a place of comfort for me. The
classroom has varied from a place to expand my own mind and feed my love for
learning, to my minimal experiences in teaching non-formally and semi-formally
in Ghana and the US, to now my first formal teaching job (although still quite
different than what a US teaching job would entail). I have a set schedule, a
roster of students, grades to assign and a curriculum to design. Exciting,
overwhelming and exceedingly rewarding (though exhausting & challenging at
times) teaching these two-plus weeks has been the highlight of life in Sansai for
me. My class size varies from 30-42 students. I teach grades 7-12, some once every two weeks for an hour and others twice a week (3 classes). I question my curriculum, my teaching style and am constantly
trying to perfect, a non-perfectable technique. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hand turkeys I had my students create really put a smile on my face and teaching about Thanksgiving was wonderful; it remains my favorite holiday. Not because of the history, but because of family, love and thankfulness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-JroPZvEO2XboSGE9uPoJEf3YBlBSZijMk9wOQgo3Itx3krO2wc-7JCqz-fPbED8zPDdPaqAcb_hzxduKO_5Xv4D-duvdqmZQDvqhFuMEzyTNPkHgvUdzXmXEzyg6Q3LZcBLmK2Nq1o/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-JroPZvEO2XboSGE9uPoJEf3YBlBSZijMk9wOQgo3Itx3krO2wc-7JCqz-fPbED8zPDdPaqAcb_hzxduKO_5Xv4D-duvdqmZQDvqhFuMEzyTNPkHgvUdzXmXEzyg6Q3LZcBLmK2Nq1o/s320/image_7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those moments of pure joy with students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The English Office</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The English office is a place of comfort, where I sit at a desk of my own, write in my notebook, read, lesson plan, make posters/teaching aids and most importantly practice Thai with the teachers / they practice their English. The relationships I've been creating here are, as always, the most important to me. There are those I connected with immediately and others whom I'm getting to know. All in all, a wonderful experience day to day - very festive. I've yet to buy lunch for myself, because someone always wants me to try something they've gotten!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_py3Ykw2NfKG7eVMdVrs93vsTwUAcGGRaBq5oExhZ4mxPU7MFHNiw-4naAnmpe1G7swX4ZvqsGw2YAK63dwNu49VVE5mYsF8NbJmXXTzw2LGx1QHkNfkzM16SnKMksyeQoDLRDhA7nE/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_py3Ykw2NfKG7eVMdVrs93vsTwUAcGGRaBq5oExhZ4mxPU7MFHNiw-4naAnmpe1G7swX4ZvqsGw2YAK63dwNu49VVE5mYsF8NbJmXXTzw2LGx1QHkNfkzM16SnKMksyeQoDLRDhA7nE/s400/image.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kru Toi, my host teacher/mom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd5-mD0TU5A2_xWxVO8paDHIhCNbEwxLO59aSFrgEPa6LNwS-ZVHafLl61vyxiWqIlyqdku8KIFUQXATH1bCU8VwTU2P_9CS3cyaT3anGETX0lJO0YycdpHpVTLSHRp3RzqqqRYprp_0/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd5-mD0TU5A2_xWxVO8paDHIhCNbEwxLO59aSFrgEPa6LNwS-ZVHafLl61vyxiWqIlyqdku8KIFUQXATH1bCU8VwTU2P_9CS3cyaT3anGETX0lJO0YycdpHpVTLSHRp3RzqqqRYprp_0/s400/image_3.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P'Jan! Also an English Teacher, we get along great! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let’s light 1,000s of
flaming lanterns and set them into the sky! It will be the most beautiful thing
in the world, really!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Loy Loy Krathong was this past weekend. Words and pictures
cannot truly capture the essence of this stunningly spiritual and beautiful
celebration. Camping out on mats for several hours, thousands of people crowded
onto a large field. We sat on our mats and waited for darkness to fall. We
listened to Buddhist prayers and eventually, after much waiting, we set ablaze
a tissue paper and wire lantern (in the right place, on the fuse) and watched
as they filled with hot air and rose hundreds of feet in the air. The night was
magical, ablaze with lanterns, the sight truly unreal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Escaping the madness of crowds post the lantern take off was
nearly impossible. We climbed through fences, jumped over barbed wire and were
stuck not moving in the midst of sweaty people pushing and shoving. Eventually,
with the help of my host teacher we made it through and got home safely. It was
a truly fantastic evening. (By we, I mean a few other Fulbrighters who came
together for the event). <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCqVRDRwIiUCkfNLu9SnPOrUWK6mn6hbFHt1yrqzdTsWEXT0eC8ZmHcYEWWojuqdKtt3bbB_xZkedboJsv1x07VwlUJmbcvzTvHt6IcfETTordFzl6FFRpGkDO_1ERoWsFGeF6Jwfs6Y/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCqVRDRwIiUCkfNLu9SnPOrUWK6mn6hbFHt1yrqzdTsWEXT0eC8ZmHcYEWWojuqdKtt3bbB_xZkedboJsv1x07VwlUJmbcvzTvHt6IcfETTordFzl6FFRpGkDO_1ERoWsFGeF6Jwfs6Y/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lighter Ablaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7oBqinamEu-DJnXE0EKwrr7SmIgVHdlrhvWClJbS91TGDR2Rvg_IbYxp4FH7IRjGLC_x54SNU402z91mRSQTIuYbG-0Wpd3bOtHgnGYuGbKurXUnJFZquL6DBwQOXq-UC99vqmPhEUg/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7oBqinamEu-DJnXE0EKwrr7SmIgVHdlrhvWClJbS91TGDR2Rvg_IbYxp4FH7IRjGLC_x54SNU402z91mRSQTIuYbG-0Wpd3bOtHgnGYuGbKurXUnJFZquL6DBwQOXq-UC99vqmPhEUg/s640/DSC_0116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Words cannot describe how incredible this was to see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k3GBcnvxI78BneT_V1CKHUzXn27c7QGArCGQGfRxj-KuTSjvsfaCxyDy-fl5Uo1lJ-PtSB2sZXv-YflonXvej-s3H8xkdIPnDgyy8O9OjLcuclvptXD2eFCG-PCuQEfAoI9J-OfJAEA/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k3GBcnvxI78BneT_V1CKHUzXn27c7QGArCGQGfRxj-KuTSjvsfaCxyDy-fl5Uo1lJ-PtSB2sZXv-YflonXvej-s3H8xkdIPnDgyy8O9OjLcuclvptXD2eFCG-PCuQEfAoI9J-OfJAEA/s640/DSC_0122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwog4rNV3xoTXJuBsOX3G2v8a_PaxLAXsLbVhsOciYiEMiaqurWd7HF9al2oMRstC0UZnR-xmZJ2zijfYdtNK55pcIaQo6rUfDiQkJBSmS5MXR45GiO3DcWSRejpPzRwyIxvhzRdI9JEU/s1600/DSC_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwog4rNV3xoTXJuBsOX3G2v8a_PaxLAXsLbVhsOciYiEMiaqurWd7HF9al2oMRstC0UZnR-xmZJ2zijfYdtNK55pcIaQo6rUfDiQkJBSmS5MXR45GiO3DcWSRejpPzRwyIxvhzRdI9JEU/s640/DSC_0149.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting it off!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgim4qQhSgPoNSir8xC1yxIrMEBJnxuDI9V7zHWvMVCEIetGmijPfFX_QqwUVqrHc80iFqo8Tcer9ABIS3V7rN4gRxjGWgL94dhFY85MH-sW5Zi7ntib5CkvFEBpZ5b770hEbHB5VKUgGA/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgim4qQhSgPoNSir8xC1yxIrMEBJnxuDI9V7zHWvMVCEIetGmijPfFX_QqwUVqrHc80iFqo8Tcer9ABIS3V7rN4gRxjGWgL94dhFY85MH-sW5Zi7ntib5CkvFEBpZ5b770hEbHB5VKUgGA/s640/DSC_0157.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post Take off in the field.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And with that,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some more pictures of my various experiences thus far.
This is my life here. Life is
beautiful. As I posted recently on Facebook, life is too short to not find
happiness in your life. Enjoy things. Positivity will bring about more change
than negativity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-QnyBH-Q5tx7bQshaorq3Wlgy3bNWnnlXBHFIczDEaSf5Qha2hcbeFvoJ3fAkmuv7tEmjUqlrJC7-Bvvw0FmS3zQGdASE4kP-sfFjZhUHLPsm7i_7HRa5qflG7y97bsTp-hPCWaBZxs/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-QnyBH-Q5tx7bQshaorq3Wlgy3bNWnnlXBHFIczDEaSf5Qha2hcbeFvoJ3fAkmuv7tEmjUqlrJC7-Bvvw0FmS3zQGdASE4kP-sfFjZhUHLPsm7i_7HRa5qflG7y97bsTp-hPCWaBZxs/s400/image_2.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Student Smoke Lanterns for Loy Krathong</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbrXvFKAdKaDNK3xqwnp2FS16lmMGM91FBmEMcjiHmLaEi4LpuIjbR16v_jjW7OGCR0SdYhyW9kPxgiafx2SjbUFOkZDPFOG3ZQQeiC2bhy663akEQ5pCDfRhSuJjc9NgPCpv9QCYKfU/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbrXvFKAdKaDNK3xqwnp2FS16lmMGM91FBmEMcjiHmLaEi4LpuIjbR16v_jjW7OGCR0SdYhyW9kPxgiafx2SjbUFOkZDPFOG3ZQQeiC2bhy663akEQ5pCDfRhSuJjc9NgPCpv9QCYKfU/s320/image_4.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Bird FISH CAKES</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyJeU9p1jtoSym2PLbcPqHUk7FmRfal0KMdwR_tX4o-3tXlVZclWEaO3TTmq2E0DXjR0iwyYW0-3S49gasuqq2nLIq0lMQXXFCBhIfQ3Jk5r-Tym972X_xtdS_4plY5t8zo89sxwbN1c/s1600/image_5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyJeU9p1jtoSym2PLbcPqHUk7FmRfal0KMdwR_tX4o-3tXlVZclWEaO3TTmq2E0DXjR0iwyYW0-3S49gasuqq2nLIq0lMQXXFCBhIfQ3Jk5r-Tym972X_xtdS_4plY5t8zo89sxwbN1c/s640/image_5.jpeg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wat Phra Singh - Stunning!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dyDQLZNLOI-xkido8A9NFsDSOqJYDPGnIyikGNPzfNBOyXRpgTz11v1-Wt_StXD8xCiMESozLdrx1VSdxoXB1VXw9cz4-Em5ucSwQkPW7lYnplVBH6oYfRS4uo0nYOwuvQekhMCQRf0/s1600/image_8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dyDQLZNLOI-xkido8A9NFsDSOqJYDPGnIyikGNPzfNBOyXRpgTz11v1-Wt_StXD8xCiMESozLdrx1VSdxoXB1VXw9cz4-Em5ucSwQkPW7lYnplVBH6oYfRS4uo0nYOwuvQekhMCQRf0/s400/image_8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loy Krathong Parade!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpmlQqsVYTGbsGoHNJJm3CjryyIi_-d7z9vX4kYDLFOqyV8AC7haVJPzZXLB70HtiCfI4x_Il-sWNDrHPB6Jloh6HZx5tcI2VFQh8X939QnuP7IC3nX-lYJgEGxRpkStY8QuNk0hyWYk/s1600/image_9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpmlQqsVYTGbsGoHNJJm3CjryyIi_-d7z9vX4kYDLFOqyV8AC7haVJPzZXLB70HtiCfI4x_Il-sWNDrHPB6Jloh6HZx5tcI2VFQh8X939QnuP7IC3nX-lYJgEGxRpkStY8QuNk0hyWYk/s400/image_9.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adorable Child Photographer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdetMGC1wXtyzg19gZxVwH0uhVJKZZVZuI-JsrBTrgjK2Pnt-V5yKLFVbOxpWRBmrZLr-czIRvqaMX9mheU9D2CoM6Hyrf0Jvp9DKTETtFedsF9wqN7ofGjHgVBGwMtMQ8oAAIn7X_cYI/s1600/image_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdetMGC1wXtyzg19gZxVwH0uhVJKZZVZuI-JsrBTrgjK2Pnt-V5yKLFVbOxpWRBmrZLr-czIRvqaMX9mheU9D2CoM6Hyrf0Jvp9DKTETtFedsF9wqN7ofGjHgVBGwMtMQ8oAAIn7X_cYI/s320/image_6.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessye Kass in Thai! Written at the Temple !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jessye Kass<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-55780415364166199992013-11-01T07:51:00.002-07:002013-11-01T07:51:32.761-07:00Sabai Sabai: It will all be fine...Despite my general enjoyment of writing, the daunting task
of writing this next blog post has had my stomach in knots for over a week. I
began writing the night before my departure into the unknown, but with last
minute packing and an early wake up, the blog describing the last two weeks in
Bangkok did not happen. On Wednesday morning at 4:15am (Tuesday 5pm EST) I departed my beloved Krit Thai
Mansion in Bangkok for the airport with the two other Chiang Mai Fulbrighters.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bangkok, though not my favorite city, will definitely be
missed in these few weeks of adjustment to my new home at Sansai Wittayakom
School. The past two weeks included meeting my host teachers at a dinner, a dance performance with elaborate, sparkling costumes and hard to follow stories, massages, a brief Shabbos dinner at the Chabad in Bangkok (yes, there are
Orthodox Israeli Jews in Bangkok...I guess I missed Brandeis) a
week of practice teaching with 'volunteer' students, and lots of Western food to fill
our bellies in preparation for the unknown access in Chiang Mai (I will
sometimes refer to this as CM). Now I am in Sansai, slowly acclimating to my new surroundings and home for the next eleven months. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Trekking into the Unknown</b><br />
Just a few days ago I was sitting in my hiso (high society) hotel room with AC and hot water. In preparation for the unknown lands of Sansai. I tried to remind myself: be patient, be adaptable, keep smiling - I told myself I would be fine and could handle anything. PTip, the executive director of Fulbright Thailand had told us to accept that with our expectations we should expect to be disappointed. Bangkok did not bombard me with too much culture shock, in fact it did not feel so different to other cities I've inhabited. I was surrounded by 19 other Americans, speaking my language and understanding my cultural references. Now...for something entirely different...<br />
<br />
<b>Arrival to Sansai Wittayakom School</b><br />
Sansai Wittayakom lies on a busy road. My little two-story white house is in the back next to the rice paddy fields. Which apparently I am helping harvest when the time comes. School grounds are fairly large for a high school, but smaller than my university. Not the dirt roads I imagined in my mind, but busy streets that terrify me when crossing. Despite busy roads, there is not a great deal of shops or food around. Though a 25-30 minute walk gets to me to a populated area with open-air food places, street vendors and various shops. Yet, on Thursdays there is a sprawling market place across the road from my home/the school, laden with dozens of delicious looking treats and other slightly less appetizing items that I'm sure I will be talked into testing at some point. I've already been forced to eat <i>fish stomach</i> and <i>congealed pig's blood. </i>I suppose I'm not the intrepid adventurer I thought I was for these foods had me desperately wishing for Annie's Mac N' Cheese.<br />
<br />
Kru Toi, my host teacher and Kru Dang, the head of the foreign language department, and truly a second host teacher, picked me up from the airport. P'Noi, a Fulbright staff, came with me the first day and took me around to different shops to get the various things I needed for my house. Though the entry was overwhelming, I'm excited to be here, excited to explore and am slowly acclimating to life in the province (or highway school near a small town?).<br />
<br />
<b>Thai Kindness</b><br />
Already I've been given several free meals, been invited to dinners at teachers homes (and attended one already), been to an English competition at another school, and been checked in on constantly. My host teacher(s) are kind, wonderful women and treat me as their daughter - helping me with every question, qualm and issue to the best of their ability.<br />
<br />
<b>Lizards, Flying Ants and Construction</b><br />
Stepping into my new home on Wednesday I was greeted by several men inside my home as nails hammered and drills drilled. It was not quite the peaceful entry I had hoped for, but I supposed better that they were still renovating the house than giving up on screen doors and such. The house has four rooms - two downstairs & two upstairs. One room upstairs is empty except for a dresser and my room has a twin bed, two desks, a dresser and a mirror table. It is the largest room I have ever lived in and the largest living space I have ever lived in - alone or with 7 other people.<br />
<br />
At night, lizards roam my ceiling and keep me company in the eerie quiet with the songs of bugs outside my window wanting to join the lizard party on my ceiling. Small bugs flood to my fluorescent light & small flying ants and beetles share my bed with me, as well as making their way onto my arms and legs, and even in my hair. Some may say, how are you living there? Well, sabai sabai - just go with it, as they say here in Thailand. This is an adventure. Though hard the first day, I am getting used to my amenities (or lack there of). My blue fan sits close to my face and the cold water showers wake me up! Put a smile on - and fake it 'til you make it.<br />
<br />
<b>Oh Thailand</b><br />
There may be language barriers, I may be overwhelmed and my house may not be the house I imagined. But at the end of the day, I have 17 hours of teaching a week, lesson plans to write, free online courses to take, places around the country to explore, friends near and far, in Thailand and abroad, growing and learning to do, a new language to learn and a smile on my face - life is wonderful and I am excited to take each day one day at a time - facing new challenges each day.<br />
<br />
Maybe I will even like sleeping with ants by the end of the year. Who knows. Anything could happen. :)<br />
More on teaching Thai students next time.<br />
<br />
Sabai Sabai - just go with it, it's fine. :)<br />
<br />
Jessye<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-26133359387406797382013-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:002013-10-15T08:58:38.281-07:00Bangkok: Language, Waterfalls, Pad Thai, Goals and of course Hospitals. My year in Thailand has officially begun...<br />
After 32 hours of painful plane travel I finally arrived in hot, sweaty Bangkok around midnight on Friday, September 27th. It's been a spectacular 18 days thus far.<br />
<br />
Currently, I am betwixt and between my intrepid adventure time in the Northern province of Thailand - as I'm currently staying in a Motel 66 type location, ironically called the Krit Thai <i>Mansion,</i> (it's really perfectly nice, just doesn't live up to the name). This month (I leave Oct. 30th for Chiang Mai, San Sai District) is an 'intensive' orientation that includes safety lessons, cross-cultural training, Thai language classes (my favorite!) and practice teaching. Though some days are ridiculously repetitive or common sense, others have provided me with some useful knowledge or a lens I had not yet acquired. Meeting the old batch of ETAs (English Teaching Assistants) who are outgoing has been the most useful thus far, as seeing their journey completed gave me both hope and excitement to get my own year really started. Additionally, it provided very useful information and was perhaps the most realistic toward preparing us - as best prepared as we can be. <i>Truly, there is no way to prepare for the adventures, trials and challenges this year will bring, but each day I become more excited to truly dive into this adventure, more than I already have. </i><br />
<br />
Weekdays are 9am-4pm orientation activities and weekends are up to our leisure. Which I've spent a balance of cultural activities with new friends and 'Jessye time' where I read, write, draw, walk and get foot massages for $4. Also a bit of weekend traveling most recently (which was awesome). As per usual, I found myself in the <i><span style="color: blue;">hospital</span></i> already - but I'll explain later.<br />
<br />
Consistently I find myself comparing things to Ghana. Which, although useful for me, is frustratingly obnoxious for my peers. This is Thailand and I need to learn it outside the perimeters of Ghana. Let Ghana be Ghana, but be in Thailand and learn it - as best I can. I will do my best. Though comparisons can help when it comes to cultural differences/frustrations, overall I need to let go of preconceived understandings of similarities across 'developing' places and let myself learn a new place and be open to its newness.<br />
<br />
Finding my footing in this new place has been challenging, though despite my need to not compare I believe the experiences in Ghana (and Kenya) have helped me adjust. I have not struggled nearly as much as I did on my first trip to Ghana. My cultural relativism skills are fine-tuned and I am able to have a bit of <i style="font-weight: bold;">mai pen rai</i> (don't worry/it's okay) about most things that occur in this bustling city.<br />
<br />
So...Thailand...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tkMXQomz_jM3fPe0yePhRpRt8DYaJfZiAo8wiN7U9ZA7sdZ1m9qpnUBMOD9Cp5eG7PSXGOXJBOfmJJIIdQtzRsPMOvzOi8rhQswjP7EHJGR4xWLBeYLMJEFr-hvPWLmnUfk8xGFOb-c/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tkMXQomz_jM3fPe0yePhRpRt8DYaJfZiAo8wiN7U9ZA7sdZ1m9qpnUBMOD9Cp5eG7PSXGOXJBOfmJJIIdQtzRsPMOvzOi8rhQswjP7EHJGR4xWLBeYLMJEFr-hvPWLmnUfk8xGFOb-c/s1600/image.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coconut Ice Cream with Corn & Peanuts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>My first 18 days in Thailand: </u></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Bangkok in 13 semi-coherent thoughts...</u></b></div>
</b></h3>
<br />
1. <b>Bangkok: The City of...: </b>It's difficult to describe Bangkok. At first glance, it looks almost like parts of NYC with a hint of Ghana. When you look deeper, and go to SkyTrain (subway) stops off the main areas you can find less NYC type places, with more culture embedded. Whether it be a sprawling market place, a water taxi, the Grand Palace or other landmarks in Thailand, Bangkok has differences, culture and things to observe, but if you just watch the surface you might be simply overwhelmed by the busy atmosphere and rush hour at all hours.<br />
<br />
2. <b>Thai Massages: </b>Painful - and somewhat similar to partner yoga. Have not decided if I will get another full body one. Last time I felt slightly better and slightly in pain. My masseur kept slapping me and saying "relax!" and when she danced across my back holding onto the pole on the ceiling I felt faintly as though a small wheelbarrow was going across my back.<br />
<br />
3. <b>Learning Thai: </b>There is a reason I was never in an a cappella group in college - I'm tone deaf. Therefore, attempting to learn a tonal language has thus far proved to be very difficult. However, I will continue to practice. The dips in tone, both high and low, are confusing and I find myself often hearing the same word when in a different tone the words mean something different. I'm looking forward to getting some flashcards and really digging into the language. Language is such a critical aspect of communication, culture and understanding. Without learning enough Thai, this year will be much less enriching and I will not be able to contribute as much.<br />
This is what Thai looks like: ภาษาไทย -- that means the language of Thai I think...<br />
Most recently I learned how to say (not write): "my parents are psychologists" I think that about says it all, ;-)<br />
<br />
4. <b>Lack of English: </b>Having spent much of my undergraduate career and nearly all of my traveling in Ghana and Kenya, I naively (and perhaps ethnocentrically?) assumed that Thai English would be at the level that Ghanaian and Kenyan English was. I was wrong. Though I do not believe that English NEEDS to be spoken by everyone, I understand that it does assist in offering opportunities. Despite the industrialized city of Bangkok, complete with subways and Starbucks, English speaking and comprehension ability even in the capital city with tons of 'farang' (foreign) the English is often limited to saying the price in Roman numerals and not a whole lot else. Though I had not expected this, it makes it that much more important for me to master Thai in order to be able to communicate with my community. The level of English spoken by my students will also be significantly lower than I expected, but that is why it is important for me to let go of my expectations and just let come what may!<br />
<br />
5. <b>Hospitals! Duh. </b>It would not be my blog without a mention of some sticky situation regarding my health. On Oct 2nd, after being here less than a week I had to go to the hospital. I was well taken care of, but it was painful ear problem (I won't go into details, it's rather disturbing). Luckily I got lots of heavy painkillers and got to have stuff removed from my ears while watching it on the television screen above me that was connected to the microscope! Fevers and three times to the hospital put a damper on my first week, but my fellow Fulbrighters were very kind - especially my roommate who accompanied me twice. Doing much better now but still not supposed to get my ears wet...<br />
<br />
6. <b>Thai Food is My Food: </b>The food here is incredible. Lots of times I do not know what I am eating. From fried coconut milk balls with corn in them to grilled squid balls stuffed in bean paste cakes...it all varies. I try most things. Some unidentifiable items leave me feeling ill, but I try it anyways. Though already missing cheese, hummus and fresh veggies, I am immensely enjoying the Thai staples (as well as learning how to order them... <i>in Thai!) </i><br />
<i> Things I've tried: fried orchids, green tea brownies, jellied bean candies, pork buns, fried balls of octopus, sticky rice with mango, fried rose petals, litchi, jackfruit, fish cakes, pad thai for real!! ... and so much more! </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4llNaKaOJ74yootDpmUhjqAkPqCv1RgFPVmsW8Lz6N_g7Zzitf39Bq1qhAmuzf5-HigxQSpQeJ2NGOq2vxAdvR11aVZdcx9w2ZDo7WX_8E_ejX7sPaOJLi1pEhtpXX8gO1KC9amRreQ/s1600/1376462_2128894421971_1883789089_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4llNaKaOJ74yootDpmUhjqAkPqCv1RgFPVmsW8Lz6N_g7Zzitf39Bq1qhAmuzf5-HigxQSpQeJ2NGOq2vxAdvR11aVZdcx9w2ZDo7WX_8E_ejX7sPaOJLi1pEhtpXX8gO1KC9amRreQ/s320/1376462_2128894421971_1883789089_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetarian Festival in Chinatown!! Fried Orchid on left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>7. <b>Temples & Grand Palaces!: </b>I legitimately can not describe the beauty, serenity or detail in the temples and the Grand Palace that I have visited. It was a surreal (and hot & sweaty) experience as we walked around the grounds of Wat Pho temple and Grand Palace on my second weekend here. Truly incredibly. Here are some pictures, but it only scratches the surface at the beauty. I plan to learn more about Buddhism and architecture before my year has ended here.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVC91fFSRmKD-9s_uOjWIk0_kqVVR7vT7HyNgp0FBrl8t8RkTm1L0giNbwEP3SmC9oUDJPlNevD8LlgmiMhk3Grh4Z6rDn5KnZeznVblYUoq6ugn4rojzP3s0gE8l8B7mW8tajZVJyT8/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVC91fFSRmKD-9s_uOjWIk0_kqVVR7vT7HyNgp0FBrl8t8RkTm1L0giNbwEP3SmC9oUDJPlNevD8LlgmiMhk3Grh4Z6rDn5KnZeznVblYUoq6ugn4rojzP3s0gE8l8B7mW8tajZVJyT8/s1600/image_2.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVHdZU47yefcrqsltMWvCh0w2SqCR881M0tzwc4wfZKetUPg8SgrNADci1Ei2rqfu64xoo0jSA8ZaDFsA87NJHlOfgeZTgir6YGhW8hmMzE870H1Hbw99O5sWroZIpNkSa52vRxD8xXs/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVHdZU47yefcrqsltMWvCh0w2SqCR881M0tzwc4wfZKetUPg8SgrNADci1Ei2rqfu64xoo0jSA8ZaDFsA87NJHlOfgeZTgir6YGhW8hmMzE870H1Hbw99O5sWroZIpNkSa52vRxD8xXs/s1600/image_3.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wat Pho Temple & Buddha from Grand Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaBpbpHzAiAHvj7C_sZfjamRHAGxcHUzm9eXt_mNbLRA_UvnQnAt2yhuTsbxYRNx6FRrZ2lLL-fH9WoxsBtydP8h1p3WYeFPRYyOF8R4tWAYQ-L4rFeFCe1QQboow9OFb6bdb-XCxMCM/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaBpbpHzAiAHvj7C_sZfjamRHAGxcHUzm9eXt_mNbLRA_UvnQnAt2yhuTsbxYRNx6FRrZ2lLL-fH9WoxsBtydP8h1p3WYeFPRYyOF8R4tWAYQ-L4rFeFCe1QQboow9OFb6bdb-XCxMCM/s1600/image_4.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Palace & Wat Pho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
8. <b>Lessons from old ETAS: </b>As I mentioned, seeing the old ETAs was the best part of orientation. It was exciting to see them at the end, some excited to go home and others moving to Thailand and others traveling around for awhile. I enjoyed watching them interact and hearing their stories. It made me incredibly excited for the year ahead. Right now I feel so eager for the year to begin and feel as though the adventure has only just barely begun.<br />
<br />
9. <b>16 people in a 12 person mini-bus that is breaking down: </b>So...we had a three day weekend and took a little trip to Kanchanaburi!! It was 15 of us, which was overwhelming for me size-wise, but still exciting. On the way to the waterfalls (see number 12) we took a mini-bus. With broken AC and two people sitting on top of feet on the floor, as well as slipping down hills with the rusty stick shift van... it was certainly cause for an adventure. But, it got us to the falls and back in one piece, so I really can't complain. It was definitely humorous and cause for some laughs...and screams of terror too.<br />
<b><br /></b>
10. <b>World War II in Thailand - The Bridge over River Kwai: </b>This is a picture on the beautiful bridge over the river Kwai. The bridge/railway track was constructed during WWII and was built by prisoners of war of the Japanese. Though beautiful, the history was a bit horrific and we learned about it more in the Thai-Burma Railway museum later on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0bSdudC7ozFuP4KjCj3wsS0pOBmW8p83MvNIe61_Dt0a44CSjFf9Bwa7a5yXt0GIvzQrQi-lkemTuvrn-FaKPx6LGYL9kmhUkTwkuVN7vh0YsbQkODx4DHRv7pF2kyoq7ArUkSA-cW0/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0bSdudC7ozFuP4KjCj3wsS0pOBmW8p83MvNIe61_Dt0a44CSjFf9Bwa7a5yXt0GIvzQrQi-lkemTuvrn-FaKPx6LGYL9kmhUkTwkuVN7vh0YsbQkODx4DHRv7pF2kyoq7ArUkSA-cW0/s1600/image_7.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
11. <b>WWII Museum: </b>Perhaps the strangest museum I've ever entered ... - though that may not be culturally relative of me, it was hard to follow the winding paths and dripping locations, as well as an organization model that was hard to process. The museum itself was about as run-down as the artifacts themselves, yet this gave it a rather 'real' feeling, yet a slightly creepy one at that. It documented the Japanese-Thai relationship during WWII (among other things).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40dA15s3Racupq-7LD9NH8CX576GBFJY4xPvh6CBX6X6Ua-mAbkCYBw4PUlmgZjIdAbwN_c7bJvgPN3IJlQ3jWQeIIfJEd4Lj2FinzC3wTxUmBW57bC6UjbmQ40grOOYRRuzYVhB_-Fg/s1600/image_9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40dA15s3Racupq-7LD9NH8CX576GBFJY4xPvh6CBX6X6Ua-mAbkCYBw4PUlmgZjIdAbwN_c7bJvgPN3IJlQ3jWQeIIfJEd4Lj2FinzC3wTxUmBW57bC6UjbmQ40grOOYRRuzYVhB_-Fg/s1600/image_9.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a showing of the PoWs working on the Thai-Burma railway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NGATYlS67ugNF3WRDVs2KpXHHNGMcvUbIjHfepDvzyntb3NxcxOXAPklRMPgyHoQiKh6Phgf60b-A6kNvivxwQyskaJ2dRMSwf35xx4v4hztbOTHLpA2QVb5RkzagoZ6S7Urq_UsP00/s1600/image_10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NGATYlS67ugNF3WRDVs2KpXHHNGMcvUbIjHfepDvzyntb3NxcxOXAPklRMPgyHoQiKh6Phgf60b-A6kNvivxwQyskaJ2dRMSwf35xx4v4hztbOTHLpA2QVb5RkzagoZ6S7Urq_UsP00/s1600/image_10.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgND3_1cod_qj0NYeywwepr31fTB0RxabsnRvDCOjEOYzEkpf0mcYCnJPR7qNveUYEpkMftb0xng7Qcf9EROdBp9zzwMBm8UZVMVTKqH7MEUTNYkNwfxlZv0Wb6LUPydJJ92xfYsAFSr8/s1600/image_11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgND3_1cod_qj0NYeywwepr31fTB0RxabsnRvDCOjEOYzEkpf0mcYCnJPR7qNveUYEpkMftb0xng7Qcf9EROdBp9zzwMBm8UZVMVTKqH7MEUTNYkNwfxlZv0Wb6LUPydJJ92xfYsAFSr8/s1600/image_11.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some interesting buildings in this museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
12. <b>WATERFALLS!: </b>On our little trip to Kanchanaburi, after our amazing mini-bus ride, we hiked a (small) but beautiful mountain and saw the most incredible waterfalls. Seven tiers of waterfalls, with the 7th being the most breathtaking by far. From the 5th-7th it was a bit more challenging (and much more slippery) as we walked through water and up slanted, slippery steps or climbed up some rocks. Pictures nor words do it justice - but here are a few!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3LE3V4gyusypa-SWJfZlACb5Djqx1rmrGZFpXXfLNQc5Mkdm6ZOZemQSQz7DuAdq_2TjhJToJqPAiwPWy4QI46BLQC_pu5KHSQjzN3_-Yvl2sj_EZ1ZG1tXvh-dwnO3fvfYdSKt23Lc/s1600/image_13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3LE3V4gyusypa-SWJfZlACb5Djqx1rmrGZFpXXfLNQc5Mkdm6ZOZemQSQz7DuAdq_2TjhJToJqPAiwPWy4QI46BLQC_pu5KHSQjzN3_-Yvl2sj_EZ1ZG1tXvh-dwnO3fvfYdSKt23Lc/s1600/image_13.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain View Point - 4th fall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzQEZIbZyQ-8LgWFIM39u6ORW2m_bxtsbtcm8YJPrYgWqHnKINV1Ui1WA2jIDSRM8Hi-rpYw08oyrrE3jtrTz_zKgrNr9dLvrzmJSzrf7pbPaLOVfXcFMr71s4RGn6t1byQL-A7HYlzg/s1600/image_12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzQEZIbZyQ-8LgWFIM39u6ORW2m_bxtsbtcm8YJPrYgWqHnKINV1Ui1WA2jIDSRM8Hi-rpYw08oyrrE3jtrTz_zKgrNr9dLvrzmJSzrf7pbPaLOVfXcFMr71s4RGn6t1byQL-A7HYlzg/s1600/image_12.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 7th waterfall. Stunning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc9uvjcG-wZ1WDgd37s9qglT41iJXdAyDzZNLKRA3f977Jegifa2dmjOHO9IeFkOmn_FmfKoVWoC_bjo-yWlca4JyJsz6t-8932DXMhRFpKhOxoY51R4_c7MX8OmZ2LpA79yPTSRBg-c/s1600/965216_2127986559275_200732436_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc9uvjcG-wZ1WDgd37s9qglT41iJXdAyDzZNLKRA3f977Jegifa2dmjOHO9IeFkOmn_FmfKoVWoC_bjo-yWlca4JyJsz6t-8932DXMhRFpKhOxoY51R4_c7MX8OmZ2LpA79yPTSRBg-c/s640/965216_2127986559275_200732436_o.jpg" height="240" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7th, 2nd and 5th</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
13. <b>Projects & I</b><b>nternships & Career Paths & </b><b>Goals: </b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throughout the past few weeks, as I have
attempted to develop friendships with other Fulbrighters, learn Thai, think
about lesson plan ideas and ultimately decide what I want to get out of this
year - I have made many lists. Monthly goals, yearly goals, letters to myself,
internship ideas, career ideas for the future, potential projects to accomplish
at my school - and several more. This year is more than teaching English or
learning Thai, more than learning a new culture or teaching about my own -
though these are the things outlined by my cultural ambassador position, it is
more than simply that (of course!). This year is about exploration beyond these
things, (though those goals are important, critical even) it is time for me to
let myself relax and accept that I do not have my entire life figured out, that
I am young and have many passions and intellectual threads that can take me
anywhere. This is my time to shine and to develop ideas for my future, to think
critically, open up my mind and somehow keep my brain active. It is the time to
learn about a new culture with new lens is a way I have not yet done. My main
goal this year is to grow as much as possible emotionally, intellectually and
beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank you all for supporting me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">J<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-23824606330059401022013-08-21T23:19:00.002-07:002013-08-21T23:19:33.635-07:00Kenya: Re-learning, re-living, re-loving.Three years ago I arrived in Kenya, fresh-faced, overly talkative and unsure of myself or of the complications of voluntourism as a whole. I arrived in the small town of Kitengela, Kenya, having traveled several times already to Ghana - but this time instead of teaching I was placed in a clinic where I worked as medical assistant...Now, in so many ways this goes against everything I believe in. Being a fake nurse with no credentials - yet I was trained to give injections, take blood pressure, do HIV testing and counseling and so much more. Now, I have arrived back to visit for 12 days. It has been truly incredible. (Though, I forgot how cold August was. Especially in comparison to Ghana. I have a thin sweater and some leggings...but I could easily wear a fleece and jeans and boots.) We shall see how I manage...enjoy reading! :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUP0qN-n3RJWlQ5m1D8bMEAjGYK7FKg0kJN-jhwUOMm6IDAcnrvpRDT0-a0UWgU23IFwzVP_hNrRbEPA7Wo-RPInowLzXamvnOJ7ZGTYzrp4b3smmagUQSxoaHLlrJqGL-uDgKxy5cc8/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUP0qN-n3RJWlQ5m1D8bMEAjGYK7FKg0kJN-jhwUOMm6IDAcnrvpRDT0-a0UWgU23IFwzVP_hNrRbEPA7Wo-RPInowLzXamvnOJ7ZGTYzrp4b3smmagUQSxoaHLlrJqGL-uDgKxy5cc8/s400/image_1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Veggie Market near work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Fire in the Airport</b> <br />
Due to the fire in the Nairobi International airport, when we arrived we walked through tents to customs and for visas. Our baggage was outside in a line and we had to walk around to find it. Then we walked to find the people waiting for us. Mama Lucy, who is 23 years old, my host mother and dear friend, was there waiting for me at the airport. It's been 3 years but she is still the same sweet, goofy woman. I spent that first day re-adjusting and doing errands. <br />
<br />
<b>Ghana v. Kenya</b><br />
On the ride home to Kitengela (also referred to as Kitengesh) I was reminded of the familiarity yet differences between Ghana and Kenya. Kenyans drive on the opposite side of the road as US and Ghana, which surprises me every time. ( I often think a car is driving with no driver and then I realize I'm looking at the wrong side). I watched the sprawling market places whiz by as there was a grey-ness to the morning from smog and dust. Colorful, yet falling apart in places, the motor bikes zooming in and out of traffic - it is quite an experience to visit Kenya - or Ghana.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Though in many ways the two sub-Saharan countries are similar there are distinctive differences between the two countries (at least in what I have observed and in places I have been). Where Ghana has a handle on 'pure' water sachets (clean drinking water), they have mostly open gutters, public toilets and going to the toilet in public is acceptable (not to say this is wrong, just different) - Kenyan's mostly drink tap water, though there is bottled water for <i>mzungus </i>(whites/foreigners) and others who choose to drink it, but essentially have a good sewer system and I have yet to see an open gutter anywhere in Kenya. (Though I've heard that in the Kibera slums it is present in some forms/ mounds of feces everywhere). Additionally, going to the bathroom in public is not done that I have seen here.<br />
<br />
Both countries have many areas with colored shops that stick out against the grey or red-copper dirt roads. The little shops selling various items look very similar and the areas are similarly crowded in the market places. Open produce markets, like a Farmers Market, dominate both Ghana and Kenya in where people buy all of their food.<br />
<br />
In Kenya there are dozens of butcheries around with <b>skinned cows</b> (full sized, but missing the head) hanging in the glass windows. It is quite a jarring site at first. <b> </b> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR-0xIw3cCGIQGMlmwgYxL1z_tOQIApHThEJysNF58f_pm3uYzZF3i3vHujG8DshQpRDLt1HoWCT6NKuynymoUwrorT3KDJk-6HYbyk4z8ZM-JAMDteogDhM2ftukpTo7FPig5JwKl_0/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR-0xIw3cCGIQGMlmwgYxL1z_tOQIApHThEJysNF58f_pm3uYzZF3i3vHujG8DshQpRDLt1HoWCT6NKuynymoUwrorT3KDJk-6HYbyk4z8ZM-JAMDteogDhM2ftukpTo7FPig5JwKl_0/s400/image_7.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cow corpse hanging in the window</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Faux Nurse Jessye at St. Therese Dispensary</b><br />
After a wonderfully warm welcome by the staff at St. Therese Dispensary, especially those who knew me 3 years ago, I was immediately back in the baby clinic (which has now been separated from the maternal clinic because of high demand) and I was working alongside Faith, my previous supervisor once again.<br />
<br />
In breaks, we would chat about our lives, me about my love life, school and Thailand, her about her husband, her new son and her daughter. I showed her pictures from Ghana and Brandeis, and she showed me pictures of her kids.<br />
<br />
Within a day we had a routine. I did the charting, weighing, nutrition counseling, birth polio droplets, vitamin A doses, and collected money. She did the injections for the babies. On days when we were really busy, I was left alone and would call her when she had to do an injection. Though seemingly mundane work, the days go by quickly. I'm exhausted by the end of them, but here, more than even in Ghana, I feel useful. I help lessen Faith's load. When it's very slow, I fill prescriptions in the pharmacy or tidy up offices. <br />
<br />
After a few days, Faith and I were practically inseparable. Though divided by different worlds, her a mother of two, a wife and a nurse (she's 30) and me a 22 year old recent post-grad with an interest in learning and observing things (and a baby lover) - yet we get along perfectly, our conversations flow - there is little to no gap between our socioeconomic and cultural differences that impair our friendship.We spend the quiet moments trading stories or teaching each other different words in our respected languages.<br />
<br />
The other staff, besides Faith are also extremely warm hearted and welcoming and during Tea Time (a mandatory 10am-ish break of tea and mandazi (boiled/fried bread) and lunch I interact with all the other staff. St. Therese is run by Catholic Sisters, the head sister is from South Korea. Since last time I was here they have built a new building and expanded many of their services.<br />
<br />
Working as a fake nurse really makes me interested in medicine and nursing. Every time I leave work I want to be a doctor and a nurse. I even found myself researching post-bacc degrees in order to train to be able to do this work all over the world. Would love to open a clinic or a school in Kenya or Ghana some day.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8SGG4sbusL_isbX6XGoeJdjsR7iRuyqjX2p4r9BnvBTCPO4wIvhjg3AcoCwmfg4doJSMx1a_Zz7bLcU_zL4ewzDih9JGpVG2pqbnm6iQRiX7siz-dGpKD3ek4-nCGxpKDfmkc4yxATI/s1600/image_9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8SGG4sbusL_isbX6XGoeJdjsR7iRuyqjX2p4r9BnvBTCPO4wIvhjg3AcoCwmfg4doJSMx1a_Zz7bLcU_zL4ewzDih9JGpVG2pqbnm6iQRiX7siz-dGpKD3ek4-nCGxpKDfmkc4yxATI/s400/image_9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My office station - immunizations book and weighing table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>WARNING - not for the faint of heart</b><br />
<b> </b>Sometimes Faith and I are called to the injections and dressings room. The last time I was in the dressings room was three years ago when a young lady's heel had been cut off in a motor bike accident and with no anestheia they were trying to stitch it back together. I was tasked with keeping the young girl talking and holding her hand, but when I looked at the heel hanging off her foot... I promptly fainted and woke up 10 minutes later on a hospital bed. Oops.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Though I haven't fainted this time, we've had some very difficult wounds to deal with.<br />
We had a 4 year old girl who was so badly burned a year ago that she still couldn't walk and from her hip to her knee on the side was ripe and bloody still. Pulling off the dressing was the most horrific part, I had to hold her as she screamed and flailed, while Faith cleaned the wound. She had been sleeping in her bed when it caught fire. She has a twin who was unharmed. The smell of burnt flesh and antiseptics left me wriggling my nose for quite some time. <br />
<br />
Another day there was a woman with a wound on her ankle that was three inches by three inches circle and nearly a third of an inch deep. It looked like someone had taken a knife, cut a poorly done circle fairly deep and ripped it off. She was hit by a motorbike two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
There have been others, but those two stuck out to me the most.<br />
<br />
<b>Welcomed into Faith's Home</b><br />
This past weekend I went to Faith's house in Mlongo, about 30 minutes from Kitengela. Unlike Kitengela, which is a short 10 minute walk from the matatu (bus) station, Faith's home is a good 30 minute walk from the matatu station and parts of it are terrifying slippery and steep. It was like a small mountain at points/climbing a rock wall with mud, water and rocks. Faith went slowly to keep her energy, but I raced to the top. Eventually we got to her house, placed in the middle of nowhere, with only a few cement huts nearby. Faith has a 4.5 year old girl named Joyce and a 18 month old boy named Pius. I was immediately welcomed into the family. Joyce warmed up to me right away.<br />
<br />
<i>Communication</i> - Joyce began speaking to me in Kiswahili very quickly, and assumed I understood. I often had to ask Faith to translate, but I found that despite her not knowing more than a few words of English and me no more than a 10-12 phrases in Kiswahili, we were able to communicate very well. We used sign language, pointing, gesturing - and were able to communicate. When it was time to sleep on Saturday night, Joyce refused to sleep in her bed (the bunk bed next to where I would sleep) and instead, I again, shared my bed with a 5 year old. Only this time <b>I was urinated on</b> in the middle of the night. But, worse things have happened. :) The best part was having to sleep in the same peed on bed the next night. When in Mlongo... :)<br />
Joyce is an energetic, friendly young girl and as always I quickly opened my heart to her - despite her peeing on me. <br />
<b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KGg3wer713jQLWMZifkArCdP_WVn8mgcJ2XO25uMbAv5WqzBjklJI6wCyQAqT5HtGNc2-nQDbADKkPSdSfXjtrzzdPX7m8PeaK39-JAwQadIPdmcqIyvSVoeXeSv7hbUBDJazv_GD7o/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KGg3wer713jQLWMZifkArCdP_WVn8mgcJ2XO25uMbAv5WqzBjklJI6wCyQAqT5HtGNc2-nQDbADKkPSdSfXjtrzzdPX7m8PeaK39-JAwQadIPdmcqIyvSVoeXeSv7hbUBDJazv_GD7o/s320/image_2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Faith, Pius and Joyce using the crayons I gave them</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVj0g06XL_fqDVy2vIrTHIRKQ2G0E5U5lBxG6jOKAIFoGBsKzfTJq_Fg9lM7aY2cOJ-gnOVjWmiHxNi41jKkEhfVWvbYmYpOQlMRYp0kLhyphenhyphen6Mc9afPrk-bRIxjctVez-8r4o5nhzmQt8/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVj0g06XL_fqDVy2vIrTHIRKQ2G0E5U5lBxG6jOKAIFoGBsKzfTJq_Fg9lM7aY2cOJ-gnOVjWmiHxNi41jKkEhfVWvbYmYpOQlMRYp0kLhyphenhyphen6Mc9afPrk-bRIxjctVez-8r4o5nhzmQt8/s320/image_3.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Joyce & Pius posing on the floor</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGiwYHZvk-9TYAo7UNmT9DWPwYKHR5sx1DwjHKUsF4Pea7RTagRG8bI30M2oNB7Cco6f7G-o9DKBj_Tuo_ZFHnhY-eD3wplzOhVCYlYoZjlsTyMSo4N3HAw27eu3AAOlyN6Bo6Qfc4qg/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGiwYHZvk-9TYAo7UNmT9DWPwYKHR5sx1DwjHKUsF4Pea7RTagRG8bI30M2oNB7Cco6f7G-o9DKBj_Tuo_ZFHnhY-eD3wplzOhVCYlYoZjlsTyMSo4N3HAw27eu3AAOlyN6Bo6Qfc4qg/s320/image_4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Before church in the morning</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Virginiah Muthoni - My sweet sister</b><br />
Outside of my 8:30am-4:30pm work day at St. Therese, I spend my remaining waking hours, from 4:30pm-9pm most often with Virginiah. Virginiah is now thirteen years old, but was ten when we met. Three years ago, we would also spend most afternoons together. Talking, teaching each other things, buying food, cooking, and watching badly dubbed Spanish soaps on the television. Now, we've gotten back into our routine.<br />
<br />
<b>Sadly</b>, Virginiah's mother has been evicted from her home. Virginiah now stays with her aunt (her estranged father's sister) in a one room apartment with her aunt and two cousins. It's cramped and Virginiah's things hang in two plastic bags near the front door. She's miserable there, as her aunt does not treat her well. It's painful to see and the hours we spend talking about it cause me to cry later because I wish there was more I could do. Yet, I know that someday when I have money, I will be able to help her. She wants to be a journalist or a neurosurgeon and suggested recently she might want to be a psychologist because she said that <b>talking to me made her feel better (</b>that bold is for you mom & dad).<br />
<br />
She is such a giving person. When I took her to lunch during the school day one day, we came back to eat at school. Several of her acquaintances did not have money for lunch or any lunch, and she gladly shared the lunch I bought her with all of them. Giving them sips of coke, bites of her food and plenty french fries. It made me grin to ear to ear to see how much she reminded me of myself in her selfless ways that I try to also have. <br />
<br />
I will miss her very much when I leave, but I've realized that all of these goodbyes are not goodbyes forever, because I know I will find a way to return to these people and places that I love.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhjoz4iqL03U9-pQYOIvY-2bdkktX5n57hbnE4cfbowTjQocQG4e8gfMykbfKozac2WhpCfr6c8DMqB7fHL_loGc7KWdg0V_elcztw3d6FigI9bVdtiskXHit3mUgf4ckNldx-cw3BuY/s1600/virginiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhjoz4iqL03U9-pQYOIvY-2bdkktX5n57hbnE4cfbowTjQocQG4e8gfMykbfKozac2WhpCfr6c8DMqB7fHL_loGc7KWdg0V_elcztw3d6FigI9bVdtiskXHit3mUgf4ckNldx-cw3BuY/s320/virginiah.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Virginiah at a fundraiser for St. Therese</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Thoughts about Voluntourism - My Oxymoron Self </b><br />
<b> </b>I've been struggling to separate my negative thoughts on the impact of neo-colonialism, paternalism and a lack of understanding of reciprocity in these volunteer programs. In my senior honors thesis I found that medical placements were often the most problematic, but that was mostly due to feelings of entitlement on behalf of the volunteers. I know there is no way I should be doing the injections, yet when given the opportunity to learn how to do so safely and inject the pregnant mothers with tetanus shots, I enjoyed the experience of learning. Where at first I was feeling like I was contradicting some of the work I spent the past 1.5 researching and writing, to avoid problematic problems, I think it is all about the attitude you put into it. Most days all I do is paperwork, weighing and giving vitamins or birth polio droplets to babies. For Faith, I know it lessens her load (besides from just her telling me it does) especially when we are short staffed and she is working other rooms as well. I think the most important thing about voluntourism is understanding there should be no entitlement and a clear understanding of reciprocity on both sides. <br />
<br />
<b>Last few days</b><br />
These last few days I will be busy at work, going back to Faith's on Friday night and headed to Nairobi on Saturday. On Saturday I will meet up with Cynthia, a friend from Brandeis who is native to Kenya and Ruth Okello, a co-worker from St. Therese from 2010 who moved. Then on Sunday I'll return to Kitengela and Monday I fly to JFK! Just 4 weeks until Thailand. Thanks so much for reading! Hope to see lots of you in Boston when I return!<br />
<br />
<b>More Pictures for the Visually Inclined:</b><br />
<b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEEu73X-DhSXCja8IbTUx444rIMDLdqtcfpQSsAKLL3xAdpYR_gJP3MqbL9UxDiGwuxzIgcsoLILYCwi1pypanUO7ILUnnjUTPxfeMmbklHpmNh4I5Pgd0pVKe7GNkpH3Nx87zvwj_bI/s1600/image_8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEEu73X-DhSXCja8IbTUx444rIMDLdqtcfpQSsAKLL3xAdpYR_gJP3MqbL9UxDiGwuxzIgcsoLILYCwi1pypanUO7ILUnnjUTPxfeMmbklHpmNh4I5Pgd0pVKe7GNkpH3Nx87zvwj_bI/s320/image_8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kids playing rope in the morning </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hgjE1khuD78M-KrBQEIBQkMw24qLwnKL3QNfMrA5zgTzqSU9XzmpGwFJvhWTRMYqqL7NOKJLaBFwA6ORX2CpQ0ReDRIYfIMmhdmLzc-ksiTgF-dj56cbQUjndR4rg8t7kVOScvYfPZc/s1600/image_5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hgjE1khuD78M-KrBQEIBQkMw24qLwnKL3QNfMrA5zgTzqSU9XzmpGwFJvhWTRMYqqL7NOKJLaBFwA6ORX2CpQ0ReDRIYfIMmhdmLzc-ksiTgF-dj56cbQUjndR4rg8t7kVOScvYfPZc/s400/image_5.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Walk to work in the morning</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLlN5MQmohO1W8BwzvoQKcj4G5FDBcfL1b13zKSyPanPrmZUVxiBBYilubRRasmXlg2YvrowpPbEx6I2-CivWHu61yGzUFYIKdTL0w9g2NA0cgi7mpC6zU61Tg-zRk8mAz03uirrvzs0/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLlN5MQmohO1W8BwzvoQKcj4G5FDBcfL1b13zKSyPanPrmZUVxiBBYilubRRasmXlg2YvrowpPbEx6I2-CivWHu61yGzUFYIKdTL0w9g2NA0cgi7mpC6zU61Tg-zRk8mAz03uirrvzs0/s320/image.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The neighbor who visits lucy's shop</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
<b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRWaNYnR24WD3LhjvDm7mej3i65GbtajoO1sEIVm3tV2Friyh9CUd6XmTz_r4VudX6AbjodFSoFK66UUJGOT4YlZqgS4y1tUi5afUu4yx9vLV00ZNCW56pnzR-zGi8wFFuleZt6eS9DM/s1600/image_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRWaNYnR24WD3LhjvDm7mej3i65GbtajoO1sEIVm3tV2Friyh9CUd6XmTz_r4VudX6AbjodFSoFK66UUJGOT4YlZqgS4y1tUi5afUu4yx9vLV00ZNCW56pnzR-zGi8wFFuleZt6eS9DM/s400/image_6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Pancakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
XOXO</b><br />
<b>J</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-6478242317409417832013-08-05T09:21:00.001-07:002013-08-05T09:21:27.087-07:006th Trip to Ghana: Making the Familiar StrangeGhana is such a familiar location to me now that I do not know how to create a cohesive picture of it for those who have not been here. How do I explain the colorful life of Accra, mixed with poverty, disparities, joy, music, color, food, people, familiar faces and places - and so much more? More than descriptions I am unclear as how to portray my extreme love for this country and the people I know here - though perhaps it being my 6th trip here in 4 years sort of...explains that. When I am here, I am so blissfully stuck in my own head, observing and thinking - weaving together descriptions of the life here - that I forget the majority of people reading this blog have never been to Ghana. I hope in this portraiture piece of my three week return here, you are all able to get a glimpse of the chaos, color, beauty, pain and wonder that I too see in Ghana.<br />
<br />
Ghana is fantastically colorful, friendly and musically inclined. There is so much laughter and smiling, and general fascination with the world. There is pain and extreme poverty - and culturally things that make me feel uncomfortable - but it is such a beautiful, inviting country that I still find myself feeling at peace here. I do not know how to begin to explain the love I have for this country, nor the daily experiences I am having. From the food, to the children, to the traveling, to daily conversations - all of it is so fantastically wonderful and intensely difficult at times. It's exhausting daily.<br />
<br />
As I walk along the reddish-brown dirt roads that weave in between small shacks and cement compounds, my mind strings together colorful sentences to attempt to describe what I am experiencing here in Ghana. My mind is constantly in motion thinking of a hundred different things at once. Processing my surroundings, as well as considering things outside the daily and bold motions of everyday Ghanaian life.<br />
<br />
This trip is my last for a long time - though I hardly think I can stay away forever - I don't think I'll be back soon. But I am okay with this. I feel ready - ready for new adventures. Time to wrap up the NGO, say see you later and enjoy my time in this beautiful place.<br />
<br />
<b>Ghana: Forever a Second Home - How to Process </b><br />
Walking through the familiar customs area of the Kotoka International Airport, I weave through the crowds, eager to find Joeshmail, my closest friend in Ghana (a 21 year old preschool teacher at a school I work at). Entering the main room, Joeshmail appeared with a big smile, waving at me -- and holding her hand was none other than HOUDA! Houda, last summer was one of our (me & my friends) favorite babies, (now she is two years old!). At school, Houda was always on our laps, (especially me or Emma's). She was a bit confused to see me, but at school the next day she came running up to me and even said my name (which she had not done last year). It was a very sweet surprise.<br />
<br />
Driving back from the airport, the familiar sites and smells of Accra greet me. The stiffly hot air, the smells of trash, feces, mixed with fruits and meat, create a familiar smell that no longer phases me.Many people are walking around with baskets, buckets, bowls on their heads - filled with various items for sale. Everything from dish rags to super glue to plantain chips and tigernuts. Joeshmail escorts me to my new place, where we are staying in the back of a large family house (a friend of her boyfriends). The walls are pink, with large purple diamonds - there is a large ceiling fan, a table, a queen mattress, a toilet and an area to bath. We do not have running water, so we fetch water down the road every day to bath and to flush the toilet. It is comfortable (ghana comfortable) and I love living with Joeshmail. We spend a lot of time together, but I also have my own independence here and can go off on my own often.<br />
<br />
And so I'm back and the adventures begin.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3cWQonfWHIcwxp6ZizjlYH6AVB9nlFavyqeAATHIHQNfGL7ia1NxCrcBr-vY0MimLZIlfG6M4R4-Lu8iSvH3uB03ZHUjp2FsnFcdQTL3MvjpIDtnH-JZMiopU5SeCruuHnO91LKbdhE/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3cWQonfWHIcwxp6ZizjlYH6AVB9nlFavyqeAATHIHQNfGL7ia1NxCrcBr-vY0MimLZIlfG6M4R4-Lu8iSvH3uB03ZHUjp2FsnFcdQTL3MvjpIDtnH-JZMiopU5SeCruuHnO91LKbdhE/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houda in my glasses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Water</b><br />
In the US - and most other 'western' places we take water for granted. Drinking and bathing. Here it is not the same. Water is drunk from plastic bags called pure water sachets - you bite the corners off and drink. Water for bathing varies. Last year, we had running water and a trickle shower. Other years, I've done bucket showers but had a tap flowing nearby. This time, no running water nearby - we travel half a mile to get buckets of water and drag them back to our house.<br />
<br />
<b>for three days there has been no tap running. </b> This has resorted to some expensive and time consuming showers. As I have taken a bucket and filled it with water sachets. Each one is about 500 ml of water. I use about 20 for a shower. Thank GOODNESS I cut my hair so short recently. I'm getting use to the hour long bucket showers that include biting 20 sachet and squeezing them into the bucket. It's almost like I EARNED my shower at the end of it. :)<br />
<br />
So - be grateful everybody - for the things you have that you think of as necessities - because so often they are not things that other people around the world can count on, on a daily basis or even at all sometimes. This is just one example.<br />
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Watching Children Grow: Vision Seed & Home visits</b><br />
Over the past four years, there is one school I have worked at for all
four years: Vision Seed Academy. There I have had the pleasure of
watching many children grow up. This has been such a highlight for me,
seeing students whom when I first met them were barely talking, be going
into Class 3 in September, now 8 years old! Isha Beauty and Naa Dromo
have both consistently been special to me since 2009, the two of them
have each called me when I am in the United States, (both of them are
now 8 years and were 4 years when I met them) and I always end up spending the most time with them.<br />
<br />
As I walk into the familiar grounds of Vision Seed I am greeted by the
laughter and hugs of over 40 children as they all sing song my name and
pull on my arms. It's a warm, yet exhausting welcome. Isha and Dromo are
by the door, 'make way' Isha calls and runs into my arms, Dromo
following behind her. Teachers welcome me back and ask what I've been up
to the past year. I feel at home.<br />
<br />
One of the days during this trip I took Isha and Dromo out for ice cream to celebrate and say farewell. Who knows if I will see them again? Traveling on a tro, small, clammy palms clasped in my own, Isha and Dromo chatter to one another in English (instead of Ga) about how I will take one of them to America - they are arguing over which one. I quiet them down by telling them I'm not even going to be in America next year. Wide-eyed they look at me - confused as I explain I'll be somewhere else.<br />
<br />
After the field trip I escort the two children back home, through winding roads and many greetings along the way. Everyone wants to talk to the white girl with two small Ghanaian children holding her hands. After bringing Isha home, Dromo's mother wants to cook something for me. So I am escorted into her living quarters. A small dark blue room, with a tv and wardrobe. I don't notice it until later, but there is a small bucket in the corner. I later learn this small bucket, the same kind I use for bathing, is their toilet. I notice this as Dromo hops over there and pees and then comes back to sit on my lap. <b>I try not to squirm. </b>This is Ghana.<br />
<br />
Though I could take a moment here to talk about the poverty in Ghana - the way most people live on less than a dollar a day - I think it takes away from understanding what I love about this country. Often times I will take about my sicknesses or having no water or other things that would drive a million people crazy I'm sure - and they tell me 'Jessye, you are not selling Ghana very well' - Well, I'm not trying to sell it exactly, but I do want people to see the kindness. Here was someone who can barely afford to take care of her own three children, cooking my dinner - and she even paid for my cab home. Thanking me profusely for helping her daughter with English and for loving her.<br />
<br />
I thank Dromo's mother extensively for the meal and then head home. Another one of those long days.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbCPVGwsuWZBJ9QyvIvIWQ-n26Pn70v0m4mvY5zGCWADiRcgZvWdeGkMJOjGg3u6UTtgddGbjOKxOC5FKFcogLT9MPpAgiy_cz_RWqMN1bpFQR49N4D0l3bYawv01f0bxpLH0hdlwfbM/s1600/image_11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbCPVGwsuWZBJ9QyvIvIWQ-n26Pn70v0m4mvY5zGCWADiRcgZvWdeGkMJOjGg3u6UTtgddGbjOKxOC5FKFcogLT9MPpAgiy_cz_RWqMN1bpFQR49N4D0l3bYawv01f0bxpLH0hdlwfbM/s1600/image_11.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isha (left) Dromo (right) and I at ice cream parlor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Sticky Fingers, Pounding Fufu and MASH: The Coming King</b><br />
At The Coming King, another school I work at, I receive perhaps the warmest welcome - staff and kids alike screaming ' Auntie Jessye!!!' and hugging me into extinction. At first it used to frighten me and I felt liked simply because I was white and therefore different, but through time I have come to accept and understand the boundaries and welcomes. I love the kids and staff at this school, and likewise I am also deeply cared about. There is a system of reciprocity we have established, both from my returns and interns and art classes - as well as from general kindness toward one another. Bouncing from classroom to classroom, everyone is asking if I will come to their class. I promise to visit everyone. I teach short lessons, explain to the teachers what is happening with the NGO and enjoy the delicious rice with tomato stew that is my favorite food in Labadi. (Seriously, last summer we made the Auntie write us a recipe we loved it so much).<br />
<br />
Working with the babies, rice slips between my fingers with an orange oily stew staining my pale hands as I fed babies with my finger tips - the rice that does not want to ball up easily. Diapers to be changed, methodically throwing diapers away and putting new ones on, kissing cheeks and tickling bellies for the all too cute smiles. It's a routine I know.<br />
<br />
Later, I move to my upper level classroom and we do some writing exercises. Followed by a series of MASH games (an old school matchmaker game) and several different cootie catchers. The kids greatly appreciate the game MASH and when I return a few days later, they are still playing it in their notebooks.<br />
<br />
One of the days I was there, it was their last day before vacation so they were pounding fufu. A playdough like consistency that is sticky, and must be pounded for quite a long time until it is finished. It is made from plantain and cassava. It's one of my favorite Ghanaian foods. Uncle Nat, the headmaster, snaps a picture of me attempting to pound the fufu. Everyone is laughing.<br />
<br />
The Coming King will forever be a special place for me. It was the place last year - where a bunch of students trampled me and broke my foot. But it is also such a special place, with wonderful teachers and students. The cement compound, across from the beach, with its falling apart walls and chipping paint, will forever be a place of warm comfort - with its loud singing and delicious rice with tomato stew.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-By3jOocKFRb7DBZm2ybfoPxXcfkXwhyh80VkNB2P3AsF_o7FyFb1-cCfFTlXFaE2k1KV_zvf-K53f9yi6Ca7uBof8WDMR5FEeDH3V36WzWFhp6kccebYIMKhJG6iQsc8RK8xOsN0m5Q/s1600/image_5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-By3jOocKFRb7DBZm2ybfoPxXcfkXwhyh80VkNB2P3AsF_o7FyFb1-cCfFTlXFaE2k1KV_zvf-K53f9yi6Ca7uBof8WDMR5FEeDH3V36WzWFhp6kccebYIMKhJG6iQsc8RK8xOsN0m5Q/s1600/image_5.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the fufu process!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Playing Mom</b><br />
Adelaide is 5 years old, with a bright smile, great hair and a desire to play and laugh. Her mom does not like having her around the house - apparently her mom is often sick and so Joeshmail often has Adelaide sleep at her place for a night. For two nights of my visit I played mom to Adelaide. She came home with us after a long day at her school, I would bath her and feed her dinner, read her books (I had brought two kids books for some friends who had small kids) and draw pictures with her. Around 8, I would place her in the middle of our bed and kiss her goodnight. Joeshmail and I would sit at the end of the bed talking or reading, and then would slip next to her. One time she woke up and wasn't feeling well so I held her in my arms, and we fell asleep like that entangled limbs and all.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow morning Joeshmail, Adelaide and I are going to Kumasi (another city) for four days. Then Joeshmail, Fred (her bf) and I will go to Kokrobite (a beach town) for the weekend - then I'm off to Kenya.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizot88PkvbCPVbva73Qg3HW8i4rvvKAsjMcVhqFZ4KH5HtZJ0Ph84t8PkKSFPRSUwcl2jWzmkW-H1GeLMKm97Toc3CNPXeZF73tpA_Fle0-VXoXnhF07ERsZ-IKbOn3ZAg8D0rVp-yJkc/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizot88PkvbCPVbva73Qg3HW8i4rvvKAsjMcVhqFZ4KH5HtZJ0Ph84t8PkKSFPRSUwcl2jWzmkW-H1GeLMKm97Toc3CNPXeZF73tpA_Fle0-VXoXnhF07ERsZ-IKbOn3ZAg8D0rVp-yJkc/s1600/image_7.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Adelaide on her ice cream trip. She was very excited.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Highlights and Lowlights</b><br />
<b>In the intrest of the skimmer reader -- here are some highlights and lowlights </b><br />
<b><i>high</i></b><br />
<ul>
<li><b> </b>delicious Ghanaian food - from fresh pineapple and mangos, to indomie, fufu, omotuo and more!</li>
<ul>
<li>omotuo = balls of rice served in soup</li>
<li>indomie = kinda like ramen but served just the noodles and with eggs and vegetables</li>
<li>fufu = mashed plantain and cassava, takes a long time to make - served with soups</li>
</ul>
<li>Houda surprising me at the airport (thanks to Joeshmail)</li>
<li>warm welcomes at all the schools and being reunited with students and friends</li>
<li> traveling to Pokuase for Joeshmail's cousins graduation ceremony and seeing a new area in Ghana</li>
<li>Taking Joeshmail shopping in the central of Accra with markets piled high with everything from clothes to pots to pig hooves and live snails!</li>
<li> having a 5 year old student sleepover for two nights (and getting to play mom) (Adelaide)</li>
<li>new hiplife music to learn and dance to!</li>
<li>dozens of babies laughing and smiling </li>
<li>hundreds of photos taken</li>
<li>successful last lesson plans in schools I've been teaching at forever</li>
<li>good transitional conversations about the NGO</li>
<li>familiar faces and places </li>
</ul>
<i><b>low</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li>three days of sickness (two times) both required a trip to the pharmacy<i><b>, </b></i>one day I couldn't even get out of bed.<i><b> </b></i></li>
<li>finger slammed in a tro-tro door</li>
<li>not enough hours in the day to see everyone I want to see - not enough time to see everyone I want to see</li>
<li>not enough fufu or omutuo for my liking!! </li>
<li>never enough time with Joeshmail, going to miss my sis so much!</li>
<li>the no water to bath was kinda a drag, but what can you do! This is Ghana. :)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are some more pictures for the visually inclined:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz9SHjODwfrmRXANEtjus4aDDuotKcb5tHVLlnc6S92VpaIPaT5qdBtmIotnpxeUuCaxPyGTpKS-DTyDoZMvMeSGMx6GzK01ZUBK_fZFCdIy4ZowEi07gMQs8-EmAzWoyMv_UqRcnn84/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz9SHjODwfrmRXANEtjus4aDDuotKcb5tHVLlnc6S92VpaIPaT5qdBtmIotnpxeUuCaxPyGTpKS-DTyDoZMvMeSGMx6GzK01ZUBK_fZFCdIy4ZowEi07gMQs8-EmAzWoyMv_UqRcnn84/s1600/image_1.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philia classroom - exams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH_6Hpr7VGrAw-XGksZdZ3LElQ9oT8mq2ni9j5UYAVedX8EJp7Go7ZSHl22zcxEn6tmHQusN3ROfDOT8l7UAHLwH6ylT-aIAJk9JcoFRrFws-pRe3phBfZwZCVHfEW5QwuB82EWCwpmY/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH_6Hpr7VGrAw-XGksZdZ3LElQ9oT8mq2ni9j5UYAVedX8EJp7Go7ZSHl22zcxEn6tmHQusN3ROfDOT8l7UAHLwH6ylT-aIAJk9JcoFRrFws-pRe3phBfZwZCVHfEW5QwuB82EWCwpmY/s1600/image_2.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vision Seed Girls (Jess, Isha, Vicki and Dromo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtuMrdg7U7oj-2nv100vfQ4E4ssrOrgSfEgDCr0bmzuD1_3XiY-iYILAwz06H8obhI3fHoszWKGTbPfBhEjlqmaJHLmyP_-b1FsDWBMnOP0T2Mg4EaivkQaGsKKc1-oc0owtAIIiAiRc/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtuMrdg7U7oj-2nv100vfQ4E4ssrOrgSfEgDCr0bmzuD1_3XiY-iYILAwz06H8obhI3fHoszWKGTbPfBhEjlqmaJHLmyP_-b1FsDWBMnOP0T2Mg4EaivkQaGsKKc1-oc0owtAIIiAiRc/s1600/image_3.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCGbKfsW53gfr9WzTZBLFkzDPDEkRockmvH-mOrybcHEkOcvTg6OvmghAdFMTQSY-0zJzhpvym8FeuDWYuSuQ_keKpOS6UYuRgrcitWpd8VPoxMQ7m6TLrvQb9LR9Z7FyixS_mEts-hQ/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCGbKfsW53gfr9WzTZBLFkzDPDEkRockmvH-mOrybcHEkOcvTg6OvmghAdFMTQSY-0zJzhpvym8FeuDWYuSuQ_keKpOS6UYuRgrcitWpd8VPoxMQ7m6TLrvQb9LR9Z7FyixS_mEts-hQ/s1600/image_4.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isha loves to dance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUH5Bb0bmwdR6yx4GR3QfR997pS491AXGGKe6Mly3QfX7ow92R6FJfGUharC1q5q8jDywqxlXKeqkLS9HG_ijqZl5T1Ck39H4nALW0aw0KE44wCCD0k9rokWCWuT55QJqElZDIt9E1As/s1600/image_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUH5Bb0bmwdR6yx4GR3QfR997pS491AXGGKe6Mly3QfX7ow92R6FJfGUharC1q5q8jDywqxlXKeqkLS9HG_ijqZl5T1Ck39H4nALW0aw0KE44wCCD0k9rokWCWuT55QJqElZDIt9E1As/s1600/image_6.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houda being a goof</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTuwRDSGDUD691cCj889XvWUMRWajlsFD2q7mWVdXEy8OCuNfJQ82ZiO7bkUoQZkB67YDYqQj87C4kTOgdwH8435FonGj8yjRN7D8ddvxSZX8QR8maVyVkvch9dymPvr6G3iOFjm_i7E/s1600/image_8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTuwRDSGDUD691cCj889XvWUMRWajlsFD2q7mWVdXEy8OCuNfJQ82ZiO7bkUoQZkB67YDYqQj87C4kTOgdwH8435FonGj8yjRN7D8ddvxSZX8QR8maVyVkvch9dymPvr6G3iOFjm_i7E/s1600/image_8.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle goofing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b></b><br />
<b>So now Kenya </b><br />
Leaving Ghana one week from today, I'll be traveling all this week and won't have much access to email and what not - plus I wanted to get this done. :) I'm sure I'll update you in the Kenya blog about the trip to Kumasi and Kokrobite if anything eventful should happen.<br />
<br />
Next Monday, I head back to Kenya for two weeks - haven't been back for three years. Am very excited to see my family and friends there! <b> </b><br />
<br />
THANK YOU FOR READING! :-D<br />
Hope to see some of you in September.Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-31531411494368350412013-07-08T17:36:00.002-07:002013-07-08T17:36:31.414-07:00Northampton: The City of Gluten-Free, Bike Paths and Froyo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Post-Graduation (& Copenhagen) and Pre-Africa.... I spent the past 5 weeks living with my aunt Lida and uncle Billy in Northampton, MA.<br />
<br />
Being my normal self, I kept very busy. I had an internship 4 days a week, made new friends, babysat a whole bunch, saw old friends, hiked, swam, biked, read many books and generally kept myself occupied - yet all the while teaching myself to love alone time and free time. I spent many days just reading, biking, cooking - just with me. Free time and alone time are not luxuries I have been accustomed to - yet I learned to love and embrace both aspects during the past 5 weeks.<br />
<br />
I leave for Ghana on Saturday the 20th of July. I'm anxious about this trip, yet very excited.<br />
<br />
<i>(by the way - the title of this blog refers to noho being veryyy gluten-free fad friendly, wonderful bike paths and really good frozen yoghurt that I am going to miss)</i><br />
<br />
<b>The Internship: Northampton Survival Center - http://www.northamptonsurvival.org/</b><br />
<b>*</b><i>Visit the website for a cool video about the center*</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
My internship has been an absolute highlight of my trip. The center, which serves as an emergency food pantry for 18 communities in the Hampshire County, is a phenomenal place to volunteer. It serves more than 20 clients daily for monthly packages and sometimes as many as 70 clients a day in November during Thanksgiving time. It is run on both grants and donations - and purchases are usually done at the Food Bank for reduced prices. (Donating money gets a lot more food than donating food - though donating food is always appreciated!) It's a fantastic organization - if you live in the area or are ever here for awhile I highly recommend volunteering for a 2 hour shift per week. I did double shifts four times a week and it was incredible.<br />
<br />
Immediately, I was welcomed into the NSC family. Mostly I worked at the Produce Counter, where I served 20-50 clients a day (depending on how busy we were) several lbs of produce. It was all dependent on what we had in stock and what was donated. So some days I was pushing everyone to take squash, kale, tomatoes and carrots and other days I was having to limit everyone to one cucumber, one loose green etc - It all depends. Once you get in the routine it is easy, rewarding work.<br />
<br />
There is also a grocery counter which provides canned veggies, canned fruits, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned soups, fresh breads, fresh sweets, pastas/rices, cereal, dairy and meats. It's pretty incredible honestly the amount of support we can provide. Other days I worked in quality control, checking the expiration dates and categorizing things.<br />
<br />
Some days are easier than others - there are many wonderful, thankful clients. To make a client happy just makes your day so much better. Sometimes there are long hard days, but a few clients always make it so much better!<br />
<br />
I am really going to miss the center - but I know that I will find a way to come back to it at some point.<br />
<br />
(Also, now I have learned how to decipher if a produce is organic or not. If it has a 9 it is organic, if it has a 4 it is not organic - a client taught me that!)<br />
<br />
Here are two pictures that are not mine - but are from the NSC website.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepHCz01wrqHy4F2rtzYWNCfxcDPULV38ow7ejCmyXbV8RoXNGNq0Qfw7K_bNNhSDD3rhSp06MajAsRe7I6yGcG8N-SNsIcIe1gcqfV_M5WJfh91abARGFpP4opoOmrN3NkZ6khXSGyFo/s1600/distribution-shelves-994x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepHCz01wrqHy4F2rtzYWNCfxcDPULV38ow7ejCmyXbV8RoXNGNq0Qfw7K_bNNhSDD3rhSp06MajAsRe7I6yGcG8N-SNsIcIe1gcqfV_M5WJfh91abARGFpP4opoOmrN3NkZ6khXSGyFo/s1600/distribution-shelves-994x1024.jpg" height="400" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT MY PHOTO : taken from NSC.ORG - Distribution Shelves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1kdYHuHXSQaAWnFrS4oQJzi9MYNu4bLWWeP9UGZE8y5506eDC2lPCg4jBny98DSFd8SvPrAOzzsnmRQZrOmTvhPl25hNdauRrPbtDb4Q2S5SeVbuw3agkX09XfkR3_5NIGXl-E4vjsU/s1600/Lynne-and-Kathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1kdYHuHXSQaAWnFrS4oQJzi9MYNu4bLWWeP9UGZE8y5506eDC2lPCg4jBny98DSFd8SvPrAOzzsnmRQZrOmTvhPl25hNdauRrPbtDb4Q2S5SeVbuw3agkX09XfkR3_5NIGXl-E4vjsU/s1600/Lynne-and-Kathy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(not my photo) Produce Counter with two volunteers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>New Friends: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Maria</span></i></b><br />
The receptionist, Maria, has quickly become a fast friend. She has been working at the center for 22 years. Born in Puerto Rico, but moved here soon after her marriage at 16, Maria has a spunk for life. Kind, funny and sassy - we got along very well. Maria has certainly been one of the many pleasures of working at the center. Every morning I come in and greet her in Spanish, always asking her in Spanish how to explain something I have forgotten (or never knew) how to say. I managed to say short sentences like "I have pain in my throat" on the day I had a sore throat or "I need to go babysit now." It was good practice - and also made me regret not taking Spanish more seriously in school and learning more of it. No time like the future - minus the fact that I have to learn THAI.<br />
<br />
<b>Fiesta: </b>Last Saturday, Maria invited me to come over her house for a party! I joined her and 20 other family members at her house. It was 90 degrees out. Lots of screaming little children outside. There were inflatable pools. Maria, (who is around 70) sat with her feet in the pool and told me her life story. We talked for several hours about family, cancer, language, jobs, poverty, love and loss - it was beautiful. Then we played Jenga together for a few hours, while eating BBQ ribs. Afterward I hung out with Maria's granddaughter Jasmine who is 16 and her great niece Adriana who was 22. They helped me with my Spanish and we talked about casual things. After 5 hours I was exhausted but the party was still going! I thanked everyone for the food and fun and headed on my bike back home.<br />
<br />
It was so beautiful to see such a large extended family come together - apparently they do so every week. It was wonderful to be a part of it and to be welcomed into Maria's life.<br />
<br />
<i>These are those beautiful moments in life. </i>These friends you make. The stories you collect. When someone tells you their story, and you just listen, it is the most wonderful experience. Maria, whenever I leave the center for the day says,<b> "thank you for your hardwork and thank you for your friendship." </b>It always strikes me as the most beautiful thing. I say the same back to her and then I jump on my bike and ride home. I will miss her.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Extended Family</b></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Living with my aunt & uncle was truly wonderful. Becoming closer to the aunt & uncle I lived with, while also seeing my other aunt & uncle who live nearby was just fabulous!</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b></b></div>
<div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>My uncle is the (elected) City Council President and is very popular in town, so when we go out - we have to go several towns away otherwise everyone will recognize him and want to talk to him. Anyone I tell that I live with Bill Dwight, immediately knows who he is. </b></div>
<b><div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</b><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b></b></div>
<div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
While with Lida & Billy - (and my other aunt & uncle & cousins) I went to movies, for long walks, long swims, swam laps, talked, read, cooked meals, went out to meals - it was all just fantastic. As much as I love traveling, it was really lovely to spend time with my extended family for a few weeks - all the while having many other experience</div>
<div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
s</div>
<div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
. </div>
<div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Getting to know both sets of aunts & uncles better was really wonderful - and equally letting myself be known. </div>
<br />
<b><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Domesticated Jessye & City Biking Jessye</b><br />
If you know me well, you know I generally preach that I am a terrible cook. One of the things I managed to do in these past 5 weeks was teach myself to cook a few key dishes, throw together some killer salads, and generally feed myself delicious, healthy food. No more Annie's Mac n' Cheese 7 days a week! My favorite thing I made was a laughing cow cheese, sriracha, jalapeno hummus, avocado, tomato sandwich. It tastes a lot better than it sounds, I swear.<br />
<br />
I have also decided I LOVE biking. I bike to work, to my babysitting jobs, for errands, grocery shopping & around the neighborhood just for fun. It's so convenient. I love the wind in my hair and face. Sometimes its too hot - but there are some beautiful places on the bike paths. Biking everywhere has been so wonderful.<br />
<br />
Thus far - this has been a most wonderful summer. I could not be happier in the post-grad liminal phase. Yes, I will miss Brandeis - but I'm happy with what I'm doing and excited for new adventures!<br />
<br />
A bit less than a week in Northampton, then bouncing around for a week+ and then off to Ghana in less than 2 weeks - more adventure blogs to come, stay tuned.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7322950049779781999.post-4455108955641654702013-06-13T01:00:00.000-07:002013-06-12T22:14:27.353-07:00Graduated...now what? Denmark & so much more.So... I am now a Brandeis graduate (what?!?!?!$*#*^*) and I shall do some traveling - with musings - putting my introspection into some form of blog (with photos I promise). With that...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to the Liminal Phase Blog! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My attempt to keep in touch, record my thoughts, and update loved ones on my travel and life adventures in post-grad life: aka my liminal phase between college and adulthood. [[See: Victor Turner for great rhetoric on liminal phase in rites of passage]] The blogs will follow my five trips in the upcoming months (Denmark has ended). Denmark, Northampton, Ghana & Kenya - and then Thailand for a year. Big travels. Big adventures. </div>
<br />
Happy Blog Reading & Following! Now here are my thoughts on København - which was my first trip of the post-grad life.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">It's so GREEN:</span> and other important observations on DENMARK </b><br />
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA5pc2N9fSIg0BUP0b3aBwm4O8_szBQuTIJu0EYGrwB1mTN6HFs_MwD1mQn2vH3iLYAgkX6nHTffqKmP8mNOMjpNRjrVE7hJlA7IT5SB1VP7cNrhzEmOK83RkBF3o6GpgrM8OpIkOr5I/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA5pc2N9fSIg0BUP0b3aBwm4O8_szBQuTIJu0EYGrwB1mTN6HFs_MwD1mQn2vH3iLYAgkX6nHTffqKmP8mNOMjpNRjrVE7hJlA7IT5SB1VP7cNrhzEmOK83RkBF3o6GpgrM8OpIkOr5I/s1600/image_2.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canal Tour </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
2 days after graduation (May 21st), I packed an overly large suitcase and flew to Denmark for 9 days to see my dear friend Anna Trier Bjerring; a friend I met in Ghana on my first trip in 2009. Since she came to see me in the US a few years ago, it was definitely my turn.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWfQqhykJ0usk-kAeDLmy228B45lttsCd5hAzSbdWsuqE5kOqD845uTlol6oHjime60ZS79vnl0yEj2z06LPkB6DRvw6GPCK_fLvzL5RKLK51KZJdYkVTP6zR-R3dYNtIYBspLdlOG9A/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWfQqhykJ0usk-kAeDLmy228B45lttsCd5hAzSbdWsuqE5kOqD845uTlol6oHjime60ZS79vnl0yEj2z06LPkB6DRvw6GPCK_fLvzL5RKLK51KZJdYkVTP6zR-R3dYNtIYBspLdlOG9A/s1600/image_1.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me and the vikings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nOBVVa2EkjrtU4EDQODwGzv69BOGwJgCGB9BT7BImmOdITwZKGQ-zriEcFb5yKzXTpPLZ_Hgkj1eilFAHgqT-HhhstfIYanava1iLL_8eS-8R7FhcM9OVpw7kQnA5LeK4ySvr98kty8/s1600/DSC_0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nOBVVa2EkjrtU4EDQODwGzv69BOGwJgCGB9BT7BImmOdITwZKGQ-zriEcFb5yKzXTpPLZ_Hgkj1eilFAHgqT-HhhstfIYanava1iLL_8eS-8R7FhcM9OVpw7kQnA5LeK4ySvr98kty8/s1600/DSC_0537.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me & anna outside Christiania</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Things I <u>noticed</u>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It was SO green. Everything was beautifully in bloom and green and fresh. The air was fresh. Trees, bushes, grass - everything - GREEN. </li>
<li>Europe does things better. Well, at least Denmark does. It is cleaner. People are less invasive. Kinder. So many nifty inventions to keep things running smoothly. Recycling is in check. There are taxes on food that is bad for you. Everyone is healthier. College is free! It's SOCIALIST - (what could be better?).</li>
<li>The architecture was <b><i>stunning</i> </b>- I took hundreds of pictures of statues and buildings and other gorgeous areas that I could not get enough of - especially near the water. I wanted to move there. Instantly. Minus the fact that I would be broke in days and jobless. </li>
<li>Bottle & can collecting is a legitimate (small) source of income (you could make 30-50$ a day) in Denmark.</li>
<li>Culture shock does not just happen in Africa.</li>
<li>Two odd tattoo shops: <b>Pure Pain Tattoo Shop and the Meatshop Tattoo Parlor </b>- really not sure why they were named that way...why why WHY. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzVMBILAxo85i2dfSvLpNM8BZn1FWprRab0gk0q82poMu3vzh3YkAOwg8nc4Vg7f8UIG8pt4yWJlhzvBWtndGaz5FXeG7pS_pEHEBGZaMT_FVqSZWmovS90W5p_5A8wexUqPt0FLdhyphenhyphenM/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzVMBILAxo85i2dfSvLpNM8BZn1FWprRab0gk0q82poMu3vzh3YkAOwg8nc4Vg7f8UIG8pt4yWJlhzvBWtndGaz5FXeG7pS_pEHEBGZaMT_FVqSZWmovS90W5p_5A8wexUqPt0FLdhyphenhyphenM/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">canal tour </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-jGn4OmZFpx51eKhe46AOO2YBaE02kvzQBPKh9s4sAhrxMwZukLNIiJvkJdNUTLaKDu5siUefkADbJ-AS2S4xFghQyl68UrN9_3-rQO1Vkt06R1h1D4TuYTA4OgcTENwBqPFsCn1TeE/s1600/DSC_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-jGn4OmZFpx51eKhe46AOO2YBaE02kvzQBPKh9s4sAhrxMwZukLNIiJvkJdNUTLaKDu5siUefkADbJ-AS2S4xFghQyl68UrN9_3-rQO1Vkt06R1h1D4TuYTA4OgcTENwBqPFsCn1TeE/s1600/DSC_0452.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">canal tour as well...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRvBQ1uc-32dyV9hvf6EcR7_fv31diknHFYC8Ek4fTUHnOJPFltRPcMxG7qIastJrJC0I6VMrMPb0gskBIFGGzAt56JQUD7BzA6_cpMEifqh8spnMPYsXfZhx_o2WwBlyLgRcJRqrxi4/s1600/DSC_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRvBQ1uc-32dyV9hvf6EcR7_fv31diknHFYC8Ek4fTUHnOJPFltRPcMxG7qIastJrJC0I6VMrMPb0gskBIFGGzAt56JQUD7BzA6_cpMEifqh8spnMPYsXfZhx_o2WwBlyLgRcJRqrxi4/s1600/DSC_0516.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? GREEN!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
Some highlights of the glorious trip:<br />
<ul>
<li>Walking Anna's <u>miniature ponies</u> in the forest in the Danish countryside</li>
<li>Getting lost on an afternoon adventure on my own & then reading in the hammock while drinking German wine</li>
<li>Riding on a bike around København, pretending to fit into the City of Bikes</li>
<li>Visiting Christiania - a small anarchist society, known particularly for cannabis sale and usage - but was really just a fascinating little society of its own. There was so much art and beauty. There were three rules in the green light district: have fun, no photos and don't run, it causes panic. I liked the last rule best. Great vegetarian cafe in Christiania if you get a chance to visit. </li>
<li>Danish pastries</li>
<li>When someone asked if I was Swedish</li>
<li>Tivoli - the second oldest theme park in the world & where Walt Disney got his inspiration. (Rides were fun, but it was honestly just mesmerizing how gorgeous it was!)</li>
<li>Swedish Anna! My roommate from Kenya, who is Swedish, flew down to see me. :) Such a treat. We had an awesome time together.</li>
<li>Distortion street festival :) </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgGvJGCs4xLeCcUgM6mzfIa8XrIb-KwiPSaQCi4zDnKtB0IbZtokb9FO9T2cWkvlox0VnBbrrEefqw75C10xIm0zDLA-iSnn9I5qvjqg106aKfGtpZmyi0u5Kat5SumVtbk1cLONTZO4/s1600/DSC_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgGvJGCs4xLeCcUgM6mzfIa8XrIb-KwiPSaQCi4zDnKtB0IbZtokb9FO9T2cWkvlox0VnBbrrEefqw75C10xIm0zDLA-iSnn9I5qvjqg106aKfGtpZmyi0u5Kat5SumVtbk1cLONTZO4/s1600/DSC_0556.JPG" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rules </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Low lights:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>a) Anna's evil cat</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>b) jet lag</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>c) salty licorice</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(this is what annas cat did to my hand - I am now afraid of cats..)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwRv7th0hlMOrV-3gu209IjO4mr_8dBr-mkvcPPfcH-7ibuPm6hf0BfKdldfg7rTQAGTggpOprITqPFyWJXDOstNtS1Aaa1wvpXjdSEgYFWM9O13DBIlj7HYh6vqf2ZJ1rd6H_E2e2jo/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwRv7th0hlMOrV-3gu209IjO4mr_8dBr-mkvcPPfcH-7ibuPm6hf0BfKdldfg7rTQAGTggpOprITqPFyWJXDOstNtS1Aaa1wvpXjdSEgYFWM9O13DBIlj7HYh6vqf2ZJ1rd6H_E2e2jo/s1600/image.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Good friends. Good food. Good fun. All around Denmark was exactly what I needed. It was wonderful to catch up with Danish Anna & Swedish Anna. I had missed them both so much! I needed to get out of the country to calm down from graduation. It was a perfect get away. </div>
<div>
Stay tuned for more blogs. :-) </div>
</div>
Jessye Writes.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02254880082668311187noreply@blogger.com0