It's crazy to think if some of my friends had decided to celebrate the holiday on the east side of Thailand's trunk, they could have been swept away. It's crazy to think that some of my Thai friends may have lost family members. The media is saying water borne diseases may be overtaking Bangkok, but I'm hoping they're eggagerating a bit a la Hollywood. I'll know in a few days. Jeaners

Throw my clothes in a washer and dryer (I almost packed my entire wardrobe--such that it is--so every article could experience snuggle freshness) Turn on the radio . . . and understand every word! Mexican food, good sandwiches Meat without bones . . . bite into a stir fry with no fear of being stabbed in the mouth Turn on the t.v. . . just for a minute. Cinnamon, Pumpkin, spice... the smells of the holiday season Friendly dogs Driving Independence Hugs! not to mention friends...

I was at a dressmaker's shop the other day and the lady's daughter was watching a "LifeSTYLES of the Rich and Famous" style documentary on the best beaches in the world. Thailand's beaches held a few of the top ten spots. When the camera panned the white sands of Phuket and Pattaya, all I saw was bikini clad foreign girls and guys in Speedos. Thai culture is traditionally modest. The Thai people I've seen swim in shorts and T-shirts. Then, the tourists come and walk around naked on the b...

Debt. Ugh. It's gross even typing that word. Debt. Ugh. The other day a buddy of mine said something that shocked me. She said, "I'll be in debt for the rest of my life." When I think about the posibility that my life might be that way, I feel ike someone has cuffed me to a 9-5 job in the suburbs. I see her perspective, though. If I dug a hole so deep I could no longer see light, wouldn't I just make myself comfortable at the bottom rather than slave everyday to reach an end I couldn...

I'm in no way an expert in Theravada Buddhism, but I have picked up a few things from living in this culture. My stories come via the oral tradition, not long hours of study, so if you want perfection, please check your friendly, local encyclopedia. First , one of the main premises is letting go of desires. (no desires, no pain? The original buddha was searching for a way to eliminate pain). Second , making "merit" is very important. The more one gives, the more one gets. The more on...

Over dinner tonight, some of the ladies and I were chatting about men. It seems that many women here chose work or family. Few that I've seen attempt both. As a result, I think there is a higher percentage of single women over 30 in Thailand compared to Smalltown, USA. Of the five women at the table, only one was dating/married. Khun E. told me about the love of her life, a famous singer. She said he has five wives. Come again? Five wives? Wait, my Thai is horrible. One more t...

Every time I mention the word "Christmas", people respond with, "ooh, Santa Clause." It's as sure as the tide. Out goes "Christmas", in comes "Santa Clause." Maybe I'm a drama queen, but WHEN did Christmas equal Santa Clause?? When did the most valued holiday of the year (according to the public school calendar, anyhoozle) become a celebration of a fat man in a furry suit?? Santa is not all he's cracked up to be. First, he's the creation of Walmart, Tesco Lotus and all the other compani...

For any strangers reading this, I've been looking forward to a Christmas trip home for a few months now. I'm nervous about how things will be. I've adjusted so much to this culture that on one hand, I feel like I've let go of some of the things that made me "American." On the other hand, maybe I'm more "American" than ever because I've seen the culture from another perspective. What do they say? You can't ask a fish to describe water. Hmmm... So, I leave in less than a week and I'm a l...

Here's a gorgeous example of Thailand's cultural greeting--the wai. Not only is Carlos Moya a great player, he's polite. The creator of Precious Moments has his house decorated like a Thai temple. Hmm...where could his inspiration have come from? *buh duh duh* Stay tuned for the next installment of --Foreigners, caught in a wai--- Jeaners

First, I have to explain my sometimes housemate. She's a great lady who speaks English better than I do. When I moved into her house, we agreed she would move out after about a month into the house she was having built. Well, after about 2-months, I discovered the only part of the house that was finished was the outhouse....There was no end in sight. I reminded her of our agreement and after my addressing the issue a few times, she moved to her apartment in the city. This woman is in deb...

Ok, it's bedtime and in my code fumbling, I've left a mess. If you read this and can help, please tell me how I can delete the extra 4 blog entries that are just slightly sub-par. ooey. The world is not big enough for "Dan-STINKIN-gerous" written more than once. It's time for bed and I'm done dealing with it tonight. Would an obvious delete button be too much to ask? Or are you fabulous techno wiz dudes/dudettes above delete buttons? PLEASE, remember the little people. Jeaners