The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,500 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 25 trips to carry that many people.
Shopping in Tokyo
This spring I was fortunate enough to get to visit Tokyo, Japan just at the tail end of the cherry blossom season. The crisp spring air was a refreshing break from Thailand’s thick tropical climate, and more like the weather at home in the Sierra Nevadas with cool drizzles on and off throughout the day. My first view of Tokyo was at sunset, flying into Narita Airport with a breath-taking red skyline and silhouette of Mt. Fuji. Even from a thousand miles away, I could tell that Fuji was immense (the size of a cup sitting in my window sill); I almost felt like I was right next to it and not a 5 hour plus train ride away. In the days after, I realized that Tokyo, even though I visited for what felt like only a brief moment, was my favorite place in all of my travels in Asia (Beijing, China; Siam Reap, Cambodia; Singapore; Laos; and Thailand). My smallest glimpse of Japan gave me a unique appreciation for the variety of differences in Asian culture and how there really are astounding contrasts even in the same regions of the world.
Meiji Shrine
Japanese temples and Shinto shrines, for one, are strikingly different than any of the other Buddhist temples in Asia that I have seen; whereas Thailand is greatly influenced by the vibrant colors of China (reds, turquoise, and golds) and the architectural styles from the Khmer and Indian civilizations (stucco, statues, murals, and other elaborate details on chedis and prangs), Japanese temples are very earthy and simple. And as Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” The Meiji Shinto in Yoyogi Park, for instance was made from dark wood and deep green accents, that seemed to represent more of a connection with nature and a harmony with its surrounding, instead of an expressive display of loud colors that pang against the landscape, demanding to be seen. You could truly sense the “zen” influence the branch of Buddhism practice in Japan. It was one of the most peaceful and spiritual places that I have visited. Click here for the historical significance for the Meiji Shrine. Its worth a trip if you are going to visit Tokyo, and its free! However, the Yoyogi gardens at the south end of the park do require a small fee.
Pop culture is Japan is diverse and unique as well. Places we visited included: Harajuku (the notorious fashion district full of
Harajuku Shop
punk, steam punk, and other fantastical clothing styles), Shinjuku (THE place to eat if you are looking for an incredible atmosphere; this district has themed restaurants from Samurais to Robots and Alice in Wonderland too), and don’t forget the Tokyo Disney Theme parks, including the completely original DisneySea with Poseidon’s castle instead of Cinderella’s. Almost everywhere we went in Tokyo had a Disney original songs, mash-ups, remixes, and covers blaring over the radio, and Disney princess recreations adorned almost every T-shirt (most popular was punk rock Ariel). Not to mention, having grown up in California and going to Disneyland on several occasions, Japan theme parks just CANNOT be topped when it comes to presentation. The animatronics are amazing and you truly feel like you are in A Whole New World. I was more excited than all of the children put together in the whole park.
Alice in Wonderland restaurant entrance
Japanese food was also a new adventure, and sometimes can have a very acquired taste. I think the best way to describe it would be that its very pungent, like how Greek food is compared to other European cuisines. I was personally a very big fan. I love stinky, salty foods like dehydrated squid and seaweed. Trying sushi in Tokyo was a trip too; first of all you can actually get fresh seafood and REAL crab in your rolls, and second, sushi is much more of a meal. There were thick slices that you could barely fit into your mouth and the morsels were incredibly dense. Our favorite place, that was actually pretty cheap and a lot of fun, was a conveyor belt sushi shop with a lot of unique rolls to try. I actually really enjoyed the pickled eggplant one. For other fun foods you can also go to Namja, where they sell funky icecreams like salty but sweet squid ink softserve!
You can also visit the Imperial Palace, the seafood market, and Tokyo Skytree; they are all worth your while! If you have 
more time in Tokyo than I did, I’d recommend getting a Japan Rail Pass for your city excursions, especially if you decide to got to Mt. Fuji, which is completely possible by railway. Japanese rails are very easy to use and can be a really cheap option if used efficiently (definitely cheaper than taxis). I hope that I can return and explore more of the islands and cities myself.
Farewell Dinner with USAC director Jum
Its easy to romanticize Thailand, with its pungent jasmine flowers and incense that waft over the landscape from the decorative and ornate temples; the rich biodiversity in the ever tropical climate; year round exotic fruits and greenery; adventurous encounters with elephants and other creatures; exciting cuisine with a plethora spices; and the cheerful demeanor of the people in the Land of Smiles. There is a lot I am going to miss in this unique country nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia; an innumerable amount of things set it apart from the neighboring countries and cultures. It truly was an honor to “experiences Thainess” and the essence of Thailand. Thank you again to all of the USAC advisors and teachers who enriched this experience with their attentiveness and willingness to share their knowledge about Thai customs and traditions, and to all of the Thai buddies who shared their homes and dedicated their valuable time helping us navigate Chiang Mai and the surrounding cities.
I will truly miss the community I lived in, Penny’s restaurant, the delicacy known as “street food” (Moo Ping and Garbage can chicken); I’ll miss the university and its efficient teachers (Ajarn Keat and Ajarn Fai); the unique handicrafts on the Sunday night walking street and the vibrant city life at Tha Phae Gate. I will miss
the character of Chiang Mai and its mix of modern and historic venues in daily life that connects deeply to Thailand’s past and future. I think it will be strange not to wake up to roosters and monks chanting as they collect their morning alms; and most of all it will be hard to wake up and continue my daily adventures without the other students in the program that I grew so close to in my 4 months abroad. Amy, Andrew, and Jaerette will be missed terribly; the friendship I cultivated on this trip will last a lifetime.
I hope to return to Thailand and continue my education in Thai language and give back to the community that gave so much to me; perhaps even apply for a job at Chiang Mai University once I have completed my BA in Education! Thank you Thailand for sending me off with a newly created idea for my future in academics and my career. This has been the experience of a lifetime and then some.
The USAC staff prepared several opportunities for students to reach out and connect with the community in Chiang Mai. I chose to participate in two of the options: teaching English at the monk school on the university campus every Sunday and restoring play equipment at the Baan Vieng Ping orphanage. Students could also choose to visit the Baan Vieng Ping orphanage (for girls 9-18) on a weekly basis, as well as the Baan King Kaew orphanage (ages 0-5), and play with the children, provide snacks, help maintain the facilities, etc.
Teaching the monks was by far my favorite educational experiences that I have encountered and one of my most treasured
memories in the program. The monks are around the same age as us, 17-21, and there was such an amazing dynamic between the USAC group and the Thai students. We played warm-up games and had add-on stories and spent the most of the hour engaging in natural conversations. It was interesting to be a female teacher in a group of minks, Theravada Buddhists don’t touch women or pass them objects; so if I wanted to pass a pencil I would place it on the desk for them to pick up. But the experience wasn’t awkward at all and nothing was forced; even though some of the monks were shy, they were comfortable. And who knew that The Hobbit would be a common topic of interest!
My other volunteer experience was refurbishing the playground at the orphanage; it was a lot of hard work in the humid and hot climate of Thailand, but it was a great bonding experience for those who gave their time that day. We got to work along side some of the older students for a little bit too, since their program director wanted them to engage in conversation with some native English speakers. The girls were shy, but incredibly sweet; I was said when my partner “Appun” or “Apple”, a Thai nickname, went to lunch and finished out the school day. The play equipment itself was made entirely from metal, some rusted out and incredibly hazardous. So we sanded it all down, trimmed up loose flaps, and repainted it with fun primary colors. Near the end of the day a little girl from Myanmar snuck out and shared some snack with us and helped us put hand prints on the slides.
Donating your time to these amazing and fulfilling causes is enriching and adds on to the study abroad experience, taking it from typical to meaningful and rewarding. I hope that anyone considering studying abroad through USAC will look into the volunteer and internship opportunities each host site has and see not just how the community is a perfect fit for them, but how they are a perfect fit that community and its needs.
Kindergarten Class
The USAC internship program with the Northern School for the Blind in Chiang Mai, Thailand has been a valuable experience in developing my professional and interpersonal skills in the field of education and teaching, especially on the front of Universal Design Learning (UDL) and special education services, for students with impairments, disabilities and English as a second language (ESL). My 45 hours went by incredibly quick, but the experience will last a lifetime. The internship has impacted my future plans and goals and will have lasting effects on my career. The students are amazing (k-12th grade) and the program is free for students with visual impairments in one or both eyes, from all over Thailand. I taught English lessons, did crafts, and recorded educational material for the school, but there is a huge variety of tasks in the school including physical therapy, music, math & sciences, and job training (the school has a restaurant for students to work at as well as a Blind Massage School and Practice).
As a teacher, putting theory into practice in the classroom was difficult to navigate at first; I’ve never taught special education before. There was a language barrier, from my own personal lack of knowledge of the Thai language, as well as the student’s unfamiliarity with my English language pronunciations and accent. But the language exchange itself began to naturally cultivate over the next few visits in a way that reinforced my Thai language learning at the university and supported the language development of the students at the same time. I definitely learned a lot from the students; it wasn’t a one-way transference of information. This aspect made me aware of the importance in classroom culture, environment, and the relationship between, not just the students as peers, but between the teacher and his or her students as well. As I teacher, I think it’s important that you are always willing to continue learning.
Library
I made various lesson plans for 1st-6th grade. The first lesson plan was Body Parts and the 5 Senses; to keep things interesting, interactive, and tactile, we played Simon Says; did a taste test; touched a variety of objects and textures to discuss touch; listened to music and surrounding noises from outside to identify sound; then the teachers help use facilitate a conversation about smell and sight, colors and shapes, and we had a scavenger hunt after. Some problems I ran into were things like not translating enough vocabulary in Thai for effective and clear communication. Then, I had to adjust my teaching style and rethink how to command attention in front of the classroom. I wasn’t used to touching my students to maintain their attention, but it ended up being the most practical approach in this scenario. I also didn’t fully compensate for the different grade levels I was going to teach and needed to improve on adapting activities by age.
Reading in the Library
For the lesson, I chose the topic of Numbers: Counting, Adding, Subtracting, etc.; this time around I set aside a good part of the class time for natural conversation and speaking English out loud. Listening comprehension is difficult for Thai ESL students, especially when pronunciations are often dictated from teachers whose first language is Thai, not English; their English skills were great in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension (from Thai speakers), but when I spoke to them, a lot was lost. I prepared the whole lesson in English and Thai, and only attempted to use Thai when my English wouldn’t get me anywhere at all. And I added extra games and lesson reviews at the end, varying by grade level (the other part of the lessons was reciting vocabulary for fruits and vegetables then keeping phonetics strong by playing a game of Telephone). I used a tactile approach for counting by using props from the schools media room as well as Cookie Crisp Cereal to teach numbers with, and to snack on. This time the atmosphere was more relaxed.
One of my favorite memories was reading to the children in the library and playing games after. One time we did a
Writing essay in Braille (6th grade)
lesson plan on the phonetics of “ball” vs “doll”, then went to the library to read story with the emphasized vocabulary, having the kids say the words with me. Afterword, in the reading pit, we had the kids grab the ball or the doll (in a game with a similar concept to musical chairs). Creating lesson plans with multimedia was a new experience, as well, and left me with a curiosity on how to improve my resources and tactile reinforcements in the classroom. Experiencing educational concepts in a variety of manners, not just by sight or sound, but my touch, taste, and smell was tricky to integrate into all of the lectures; it took extra thought, research, and time browsing the school’s amazing multimedia prop room before I finally decided how to deliver my lesson. And during my breaks between classes I would continue to revisit that room to improve the flow of the lecture materials and concepts, especially when transitioning from one topic to the next. I was also honored and excited to make audio CD’s for all of the English text books. I hope I made an impact on the students, even after I leave.
Before coming and working in Thailand, I had always pictured myself teaching English in Spanish speaking countries like in South America. But after this semester, I’ve considered switching my minor to Asian Studies. I’ve had such a positive experience here and working with the staff at the Northern School for the Blind, I almost couldn’t imagine working or living anywhere else. My attitude about working in special education changed as well; no longer intimidating and seemingly difficult, I have really grown confident and comfortable in my abilities to teach all students, no matter the diversity of the situation.
Songkran is Thailand’s own unique Buddhist holiday that symbolizes a cleansing for the New Year; it occurs April 13th-15th and is a national holiday of great importance. USAC members were lucky to be apart of the spring program in Chiang Mai, because that is where the nation’s largest and most impressive celebrations are held with city wide water fights, especially around the moats at Tha Phae Gate.
Photo Credit: Zoe Genevieve
Day 1, is called Wan Sangkhan Long, the last day of the old year; people light off firecrackers
Photo Credit: Nun Gooner
in the morning on this day to drive away evil spirits, and they clean their homes and Buddha images for a fresh start. During the afternoon, important Buddha images from the surrounding temples are paraded along Tha Phae Road in Chiang Mai to be assembled at Wat Phra Sing (one of Chiang Mai’s most important and influential temples). The USAC staff arranged for our group to walk along Tha Phae road, armed with cartoon-themed water guns and buckets; nobody was safe! It was the worst when you would be stuck walking next to a truck, because of the high volume of traffic, and had buckets upon buckets of ice water dumped on you from the load of children and teens with barrels of ice water in their truck beds! But it was all in good fun and very refreshing; Songkran is celebrated in April because it Thailand’s hottest month in the year, and the dry season.
Sand Suptas
Day 2, I left Chiang Mai for Lampang to get a more traditional experience of
Decorating
Songkran; originally there were no water fights, but gentle water blessings as you strolled down the street. The second day of Songkran is called Wan Nao; its an “inbetween” day, neither the New Year nor the old. On this day especially, it is important not to use unwholesome words or thoughts, unless you wish to bring bad luck upon yourself and your family. This is also the day that Buddhists take sand to the temples, as so much of it is dragged out from the traffic in and out of the temples throughout the year. I visited Wat Koh, with my Thai Buddy from the USAC program, and built Lanna sandcastles in the temple yard, decorated with paper flags from the year of the monkey, the year I was born. It is believed that sand suptas will bring merit to those who build them on this day. We then retired to out host’s home for a family dinner, including extended family, and for the making of decorations and offering to take to temple he next morning.
Day 3, the last day of Songkran, is called Wan Phaya, the most important day, also
Tung Flag merit
called family day. We rose early in the morning for temple, placing a branch pillar outside the wall to show our support of the Buddha (writing our names on the wood for good luck and blessing), then we offered three bouquets of flowers and incense  at the alter (one for the Buddha, one for the Dharma (his teachings), and one for the Sangha (the community)). Next, our host mother wrote the names of all her deceased family members on a sheet of paper and led us to the area of the temple where the monks were giving blessings. Crowds of people around them handed the holy men their lists and waited for the names to be read and blessed, then they offered meals and fruits to the monks. On the way out, we also placed Tung (Lanna banners of the zodiacs) into a giant sand supta for good merit.
Thank You, Sawin!
It was an amazing experience to spend such an important and intimate holiday with my Thai host family, who was welcoming and accommodating on every level. A rich cultural experience that I consider to be one of the highlights of my trip with the USAC spring program that taught me, not just a lot about Thai traditions, but about the traditions of the Lanna people too. Sawin, my Thai Buddy, included in his family dinners and temple time and exposed me to a side of Songkran that I would not have seen if I stayed in Chiang Mai.
Pescatarian Dish
Prep Time: 2-3 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 2 persons
Ingredients: 4 eggs, 1 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tsp ground pepper, 1 tbsp of diced tomato, 1 tbsp of chopped white onion, 2 tbsp of chopped spring onion, 2 tbsp of cooking oil.
Procedure: Beat the eggs in a bowl until fluffy, add all ingredients except the oil; mix well. Heat the oil in a frying pan then add egg mixture. Cook flat, like a pancake, until golden brown. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8McHfDY6fpw for how to cook the omelette).
Coconut rice is a Southern Thai dish, shared with its neighbor Myanmar (Burma), its a staple dish for many dinner sides likes Som Tam, tangy salads, or sweet beef/pork. It is often eaten instead of a plain white rice (khaaw plaaw), but can be altered to be a semi-sweet dessert side to be paired with seasonal fruits, especially mango when its in season (Mango Sticky Rice).
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 persons
100% Vegetarian
Ingredients: 1 cup of jasmine or (gluten rice if you are pairing with dessert), 1 cup of coconut milk, 1 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 tsp of salt, 1 tbsp of sugar (add an extra tbsp for dessert dishes).
Procedure: Pour the coconut milk and water into a bowl with the salt and sugar; stir until dissolved. Put the rice in a pot and cover with coconut milk/water mixture over the rice and cover with lid. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes or until rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.
Spring Break finally sprung, and before I celebrated Songkran in Chiang Mai this coming week, I took the liberty of booking
Phuket, Big Buddha
Day 1: Phuket (Best Beaches)
Patong Beach
Day 2: Koh Phi Phi Islands (Most Beautiful Water)
Maya Bay
Day 3 and 4: Krabi and minor Islands (Most Stunning Landscape)
Rai Ley West Beach
An hour north of modern day Bangkok, connected to the Chao Phraya River, is Ayutthaya, the Invincible City (or Ayothaya Si Raam Thep Nakhon, the Angelic City of Sri Rama) the second capital of Siam and the Thai people that lasted from 1351-1767. It was a thriving city and a hubcap of trade with China, Vietnam, India, Japan, and Persia, and in the 16th century it even conducted foreign affairs with Portugal, Spain, France, and other western European territories. By 1656, under the rule of King Narai, the French traders and missionaries likened Ayutthaya to Paris in size and wealth.
Ayutthaya is said to have risen to power after the fall of Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand that was destroyed by the Burmese, through the Lavo kingdoms (that were still under control from the Khmer) and the Suphannaphoom (Suvarnabhumi) kingdoms, until a plague or sickness struck the people, and King U-Thong lead his people to safety on an island surrounded by streams in the rich floodplains of the Chao Phraya River. The name of the city reflects roots in Hinduism (which is also reflected in the Khmer style temples or prangs that can be found in the Ayutthaya Historical Parks today), and is also associated with the southeastern Hindu epic titled Ramayana (http://hinduism.about.com/od/epics/a/ramayana_story.htm).
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
By the end of the 16th century, Ayutthaya was the strongest power in mainland Southeast Asia; the kingdom’s vassal states included Lanna, Sukhothai, parts of Cambodia (Angkor Wat and Siam Reap), and much of the Malay peninsula. However, the kingdom came to an end; in 1765 the Burmese attacked with an army of 40,000 men, capturing outlying territories quickly, finally taking the capital after 14 months of siege. Ayutthaya fell in April of 1767, the Burmese destroying a majority of the art, literature, and historic archives.
Today, the city of Ayutthaya isn’t far from the old city and new buildings are mingling and intertwining with the crumbled and burnt architecture from the once mighty capital.  You can get to Ayutthaya by bus, train or car from Bangkok for pretty cheap, 20 baht for stand by on the train, and have a tuk-tuk take you around to the most popular Buddha images and temples for about 1,000 baht or lower for 3 hours. Wat Na Phra Men was the only building not destroyed by the Burmese, as it was used as a base camp; Wat Chaiwattanaram is an excellent example of the Hindu and Khmer influence of Ayutthaya; and Phra Sri Samphet is the famous three belled chedis typical  of Thai temple architecture. You can also visit famous sites like Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon,
Prangs and Lotus Chedis at Wat Phra Mahthat
Wat Lokayasutharam (the Reclining Buddha), and Wat Phra Mahthat (where the Buddha’s head is engulfed in a Boddhi tree). A majority of Thai art is expressed through Buddhism, murals in wats, religious statues, stucco and mosaics, etc.; there are hardly any trends of canvas paintings or portraits. So when you are in Ayutthaya, look for the subtle differences in art style of the temples and Buddha images. For example, the Buddhas in Ayutthaya are usually adorned with a crown or jewelry, referencing Siddhartha’s roots of royalty and the spiritual wealth that come from Nirvana; where as Sukhothai has no adornments, but is smooth and delicate in features. These differences seen in the capitals represent differences in time periods of art, lifestyle, livelihood, and culture of the Thai people in each historical time.
Ayutthaya is breathtaking, though much larger and spaced out than Sukhothai, which still has such an impressively
Prang under reconstruction by German gov
manicured and beautiful historical park. I would recommend going in the rainy season when the floodplains are full and the rivers are coursing through the spectacular ruins. My favorite was the Buddha head in the Boddhi tree, where you are asked to sit when taking pictures, to pay respect to the Buddha you should never be sitting or standing above his head, but there are dozens of temples you can visit here (some under reconstruction and some not). I love the vibrant red colors of the stone and brick that the temples are built from, except the prangs which are a steely grey. There are dozens of street vendors along your route through the park as well, selling little bricks of ice cream on a stick that are actually fluffy and marshmallowy in texture that I would recommend trying; the heat and humidity can be unbearable at times.
USAC, Take Me Away to Thailand! 