"Not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image."

Friday, September 19

Top 10: You know you've adjusted well when

(in no particular order...)
10:
Instead of gawking at the adorable baby elephants walking down the street, you get disgusted at the people using them to make a buck.

9:
You're not from 'the States', not from the 'USA', not even from America....you're from A-mer-ee-cahh!

8:
The occassional splurge on Western food makes you ill

7:
A meal costing over 150 Baht (5 dollars) is reserved for special occasions

6:
You may be an English teacher, but proper English grammar is out and local pidgin is in---with a special focus on tones

5:
You've started applying baby power to your face in hopes that it will make your skin look half as good as the theirs

4:
The workers in the local market not only know you, they know what you want to eat and how you like it cooked/made

3:
You've graduated from 'mai ped' (not spicy) to 'nit-noy' (a little) and are happy your taste buds are adjusting

2:
The Thai kids you teach are amazed by your 2 Thai phrases and automatically think you are fluent...not only in Thai, but also in Chinese...

1:
You've started giving the 'asian peace sign' in pictures...

and one for good measure:
The locals call you up and tell you (in above mentioned pidgin) to come play futsol...and luckily, you've mastered 3 of the most important words in soccer: chi, chi (YES, YES....soccer translation: GIVE ME THE FREAKIN BALL), mai chi (NO...soccer translation: DON'T YOU DARE PLAY ME THAT HOSPITAL BALL), Yiing (SHOOT....soccer translation: FREAKIN SHOOT)

2 comments:

A said...

what is up with the whole peace sign thing?!?!....that was outta control when i was over on the west coast....every picture, every time- i guess they really do want world peace

peace out ;)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you guys are living your dreams!
Think of you and Rachel often. Glad you are having such great times.
Had a really good Summer in New England. Things are great here.
Joe
P.S. Miss Einstein.