Postings from Peru

Just one story from Huanchaco

2009-02-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Where to begin. I have just returned from an incredibly inspiring trip to this little Peruvian surf town called Huanchaco. I was there for two weeks studying spanish and researching volunteer humanitarian programs....what wonderful people I came across. Maria and Jessica are the two women I stayed with. They have this beautiful one story brick house, with open stairs that lead to what could be called either a roof or one day second story. They have 13 chickens on this roof. On this roof Maria showed me how to wash clothes, making sure to ring out that last drip of soapy water before rinsing a first, second, third time. On this roof, along with the roasters her son keeps to fight in front of a crowd of angry men, Maria showed me how to first tie the chicken up in a plastic gunny sack and then with a smooth, laceration slit it's throat. The river of blood, a sacrifice to our hunger. Within a matter of minutes the bird was plucked clean of it's feathers and organs. I left Maria's house, Maria's community, after two weeks and now find myself alone in this excessively large apartment wondering when I became accustomed to showering with hot water, wondering about all the people in this country, in this world who work for so little to allow so few of us a life of frivilous luxery..I come home inspired, embarrassed, humble, lonely.

"Mama la gringa tomo' una photo de mi!"

2009-01-30T21:26:00.000-08:00

Front Yard in Paracus = Sand Box

2009-01-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

Isla de Ballestas: Bahia Paracus

2009-01-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

Each year men from the mountains are hired to remove the bird droppings covering these islands 3 meters deep. Men from the coast have been dubbed to lazy for such strenuous work. The Guano is used as fertilizer. Perhaps you saw this in the news Guano used to conceal cocaine shipments. Check it out below

Peru traffickers hide cocaine in smelly bird dung
December 17, 2008, 4:10 am
LIMA (Reuters) - Traffickers hid 2.8 tonnes of cocaine in thousands of pounds of smelly bird droppings, Peruvian police said on Monday after uncovering the latest ruse to conceal drug shipments.

Cocaine exporters in Peru, the world's No. 2 producer after neighboring Colombia, counted on the stench of the dung, which is sold as a high-end organic fertilizer, tricking dogs trained to find drugs at ports of entry.

Guano, as the dung is known in Spanish, is rich in nitrates and phosphorous and has a strong ammonia smell. The cocaine was hidden in 400 bags of guano that together weighed 20 tonnes and was bound for Europe.

"The organic products camouflaged the cocaine by neutralizing it to avoid detection," police said after a five-month investigation that led to the seizure at a warehouse in Lima about 10 days ago.

Five people were arrested, including a Colombian man, police said.

Guano accumulates as white mounds on the desert islands where birds such as pelicans live along the coasts of Peru and Chile.

It was once one of the world's most valuable commodities, and Bolivia, Peru and Chile fought over its control in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific.

(Reporting by Diego Ore; writing by Terry Wade; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Mom Came to Visit

2009-01-27T08:07:00.000-08:00

We Gathered Sea Shells and Played in the Ocean

Mom Came to Visit

2009-01-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

View from my apartment

New Year's Resolution: A Posting A Day

2008-12-26T19:36:00.000-08:00

Ok here it goes to all you supporters out there giving me a hard time about inadequate postings I'm turning over a new leaf. Yes you read it right in the title, A Posting A Week...hehehe

This week's posting is simply a series of photos from my stay in MN and CO. I am missing a few beautiful scenes if you are out there send me the pics, Molly, Julie, Lisa and Tobechi.

Eat, Surf, Live

2008-09-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

Went to pay my Telphonica bill this week and unexpectedly found myself living in the Peruvian present. In this cash based society I was shocked, well more like pissed off, put out, aggresivo if you will, to find that after getting myself to the main telephone company center, nowhere near my house and with a taxi driver just as confused as I (have you ever tried to tell someone in another language how to go somewhere when you don't even know where you are going) only to find that they do not take plastic, not even my Peruvian debit card. So I stood there and kept asking the same question over and over as though my incessant questioning is going to change the mere fact that this company only accepts cash...are you kidding me. Deep breath, plan B. I get directions to the bank, walk 15 mins. take out dollars. Then I haggle with the money changers on the street for a better exchange. I mean why accept that . 03 difference that the bank is trying to get from me, yes better to gamble on the street especially with blond hair and crap Spanish, however this time the tactic of waiting, questioning, waiting, worked I did get my 2.93 verse 2.90 that was offered at the bank. I am unable to express that amount of joy I feel when changing money on the street, the unknown, the gamble, the haggle, the adrenaline rush the first time you try to spend the bills wondering whether the are counterfeit. Back to Telephonica, the doors are locked NNOOOO was what the two old Peruvian ladies heard as they turned to see a blond women grasping onto the handles of large glass doors, again trying to persuade corporate as two security guards, close enough to touch only 1/2 an inch of glass separating them, point to the store hours. After a strangely rewarding conversation, apparently frustration is an effective tool for releasing inhibitions and letting language flow, I was walking four blocks to find a liquor store across from a casino where guess what, I was able to pay, with plastic, my Telephonica bill.

flowers and surf

2008-08-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie this photo of my surf instructors is RIDICULOUS!

Today I graduated to a slightly smaller board and larger waves, a bit intimidating I got beat up a little. I need to practice a quicker jump up. I catch the wave freak a little due to the speed and then spend too much time calculating my balance when all I should be doing is popping up. Mostly though I was just thinking, my brother would love this! After surf and ceviche I went to the plant market and loaded the cab full, my apartment is starting to feel a bit more like home.

I've also included a photo of the Urban Cafe, it's in this round about very near my apartment. I walk there in the evenings to study spanish. I spend much of the time looking at and listening to peruvians and imagining myself one day communicating easily with them, for know I feel proud when the waiter brings me what I thought I ordered. For those Northfield readers, you'll realize little has changed since el tequila =)

Saturday flowers and surf

Miss you, Love you

Jana

For those of you with babies, keep telling them about me, I can't bare the thought of them not knowing auntie upon my return.

Liquid Shredder

2008-08-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

I took my first surf lesson, it was awesome. The water is warmer than I expected and I got up on most of the waves I tried. Today I only surfed the smaller waves in the last rows,but felt strong and signed up for next saturday morning as well. I'm sore, my lesson was for an hour and a half, about an hour of that was spent paddling. Next week I'll take photos.

My goal is to work my way up to the waves at this beach down south called Ser Azul. Apparently you go out surfing at 6:00am and are joined by dolphins.

Me encanta correr tabla!

dreams become reality

2008-08-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the ledge of the patio I feel alive inside.
Here I am, for years now I've been talking, thinking, dreaming
of a place to learn Spanish, a place to surf, it's here now
I can touch it, hear it
Looking out into the horizon I see 20 maybe 30 surfers riding
I walk down the wrong path with my friends dog and I here a man sternly say
"A donde vas con tu perro" jolted out of my thoughts and not a tune to hearing Spanish
in that split second all I make out is "your dog"
my response
"no se no es mi perro" (I don't know it's not my dog)
I keep walking, playing through in my head what he said
oh I realize, now too far down the path to respond differently,
he said "Where are you going with your dog".

And so it begins...la buena vida.

Unsteady, unsure, slow awakening,

Peace,

Jana

Link to more photos from the weekend

Barranco

2008-07-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29046959@N05/

I'm working on the best way to share photos, my friend Steven uses flicker so I thought I'd check it out. Let me know what you think.

Opting Out of Antibiotics

2008-07-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

In Thailand we called it Thai Tummy, here in Peru we call it Peru Belly and I have it. For those of you who experienced Charlot's shower scene in the Sex and the City movie you know what I'm going through. Yes, it is true life cannot get much worse because I shit myself this year. Within the group of newbies, as we are affectionately referred to by our colleagues, people have started dropping like flies. Yesterday morning at breakfast with a group of four new friends two of the four admitted with hilarity to this experience...who will be next? I do feel better today after sleeping for twelve hours last night. The worst symptoms I have to say are the stabbing pains in my gut that come in unexpected waves. I have been advised to purchase over the counter Cipro, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. As for now I'm standing (cramping) strong and not giving into the frivolous antibiotic popping culture. I am however not opposed to the Gin Martini muscle relaxant approach.

First Morning

2008-07-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up to kids singing the National Anthem outside my bedroom. Check out these photos from my forth floor view

Homecoming

2006-05-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Ko Chang, I had another
incredible dive trip, touched a hawksbill turtle,
kissed an anemone and momentarily morphed into one of
a thousand others in a school of Big Eye Snappers.

Well I'm coming home a little earlier than expected...I'm ready! I miss you all!!! I fly in on July 8th. Rob will pick me up at the airport and then I'll go to Brooten.

You know you've been in Thailand too long when you walk away from a $5 hour long massage complaining that she forgot to do your favorite move, or like last weekend when you are standing in line to use a squatting toilet and you say to the person next to you " ya know I 've got nothing against dudes that want to live like women, but when they are refusing the open urinals and clogging up my toilet lines I've got a problem with it".

A good friend of mine once said "You can't have a cup of coffee with a landscape". I have to say, " I understand". I miss you!!!

Juli Bohmer arrives tomorrow starting off a flurry of three different groups of travelers. She is here two weeks and then G and I are off to Borneo with Misty, Julie Hoffer and Mandi. I get to dive the Sipidan!!!! Finally, Amanda and Anne fly in and the three of us will do one final tour to Thailand. From North, Chiang Mai to the Southern beaches, Phuket, Phi Phi and Ko Lanta for a final dive trip.

I'm jazzed about the grand finale. Looking forward to
seeing this country through the eyes of fresh
visitors. Being here for a year has undoubtedly dulled my senses
to the beauty.

Easter

2006-04-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

I was woken up today at 6:00am by the born again Christians outside my guest house. I got up and went to join them sitting on bamboo woven mats. I was immediately escorted to the lone English speaking Thai woman who handed me an English bible and translated the sermon. After, I was invited for Thai rice porridge with chicken and loads of dried garlic while the kids ran around looking for undyed hard boiled eggs to eat. A nice way to celebrate Easter, but I could have done for some chocolate -at least my brother Jake was finally able to win the Easter Egg hunt without my competition.

Ginger, Steve and I then went to a Thai cooking class, then Thai massages (I'll miss these).

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Love,

Jana

Song Kran

2006-04-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

We are in Chiang Mai for the Thai New Year and water festival. The hot season has come to a head. Koaw said "I hear they play hard in Chiang Mai" and she heard right! What started out as a way to honor the elders by sprinkling their hands with water has turned into three days of hard core nam len (water play). Nobody is safe, not the old Malaysian Muslim who forgot to shut his van window on our tour today and certainly not Farangs (foreigners). Our fingers and toes were wrinkly by the time we made it back to Gaps Guest house.

Traveling Turmoil

2006-04-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

I tried I really really tried…I got
dressed splashed a little water on my face made it to
the living room and actually thought I would make it
to work. It was the last day before vacation and I
hated to bail.

Now I apologize to all readers because this next bit is
going to sound like something my grandmother would say
over dinner turning everyone’s stomachs.

Just when I had my bag slung over my shoulder I had to run back to
the toilet. I spent the day in bed, well between bed
and the toilet that is. I had what my mother warned my
about, what travel doctors advise against this dirty
little illness that all our visitors have been prepped
on, are hyper acute to, and have medicine for. I’ve
lived here for nine months washed my lettuce in the
water, occasionally snuck a cup from the tap when no
one’s looking and our house boy has forgotten to order
more. I thought I had this beat. I now accept that fact that I too am
susceptible. I have succumb to travelers diarrhea
(typed with head hung low).

What is a girl to do? I had a train tkt for 7:00pm to
fulfill a lifelong dream of scuba diving.

Factoring emergency pit stops, I set my roaster
crowing cell alarm for 5:00pm. Packed and out the
door…ooh…back to the toilet now out the door with a feelings of
anxiety and suspense….

At the station I ran into Marc, my raw foodist friend
and co-worker. After explaining my situation to him he
runs off and buys me two Singha (Thai Beers) and
instructs my to slam them…well he is a dietary
connoisseur, I’ve tried everything else..I go for it.
Jump on the train and… I don’t necessarily suggest
this technique, but it did help me relax.

Wake up the next morning at 5:00am in Chumphon…run
to the toilet jump off the train…run to the toilet.
Completely hand my life over to the usual Thai guy
trying to sell his tourist services. “Yeah I want to
dive, Yeah I need a place to stay…Yeah Yeah, hook me
up, ahh excuse me”……..run to the toilet.

Upon explaining to the dude “gin kaoh mai dee, mai saw
bai dee” (ate bad rice, am not good), he hooked me up
with the VIP, aircon, English movie, section of the
boat. As I watched European tourists fry themselves in
and Thai’s hide themselves from the 100 degree sunshine,
only a sheet of plexy glass awayj
I decided that the VIP room saved my
life. Being in a Buddhist country it made me
contemplate my karma.

He brings me to my “free” accommodation, it looks low
end, but all I want to do is try and eat and lay
down…I sip soup…proceed to running up this thorny
overgrown jungle hill to my bungalow…I just made it in
time. I relax look out onto over the beautiful sea and
sandy beach, thoughts of how lucky I am to be here
flood the vision I have of dying emancipated and
dehydrated on the toilet. Relaxed I lay down in my
quaint patio hammock. Ow, a sting? Ouch, two stings? Ouch
Ouch Ouch!!! Rolling Out, Jumping up and down stripping my
pants off. RED ANTS all over me, covering the hammock.
Shower, relax, meditate, knee on bed, hands on bed,
BED FILLED WITH ANTS!!!!!

They have no other rooms and the person at the front
desk will not give my deposit back. Slowly I walk to
the beach sit down and cry.. then laugh at my pitiful
state, hey at least I haven’t had to go to the
bathroom in like 40 mins. OK get up, find dude. He
brings me to bamboo bungalow on stills, with a mosquito
net..…Thank God he left I rush to the toilet. Mom this
is totally going to freak you out. I look up and a RAT
AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH runs across the rafters
overhead. I called Rob when I saw the cockroach in my
bag…..

More to come later, don’t worry the vacation gets
better and I find my new life’s passion.

Sushi, #1 way to beat the heat!

2006-03-27T06:36:00.000-08:00

We had a sushi party at our apartment this weekend. About 10 friends from work showed up. The energy on soi 61 was excellent. After everyone took a turn rolling sushi. We gathered round the table and paid tribute to Matt's tight skinny roll and Laura's fatty. Once our bellies were bloated with wine and fish we moved to the living room aka dance floor.
Martin played guitar and others tipped empty water jugs to play drums....we sang, laughed and danced to everything from Bobby Mcgee to the Brady Bunch theme song. Our poor French friend and our Thai friend just didn't quite enjoy these lyrics as much as the rest of us. Apparently Marsha and Greg haven't gone global. THANKFULLY, we still had the wigs and boas from Halloween! I don't know about any one else, but my calves are sore today from jumping around.

Have you checked out the global weather highs lately?
The forecast for tomorrow at 3:00pm is "94*F Feels like 109*F"...

I now have freckles on my ears
am applying my prickly heat(menthol powder) daily
using my menthol sniffer regularly
and have begun walking
almost as slow as the locals

Happily with the heat comes the
mangoes. There are few things better in life then
luscious yellow, mangoes.

Miss you,
Jana

GoodBye 2200 Harriet Ave S, Minneapolis

2006-03-23T17:57:00.000-08:00

A toast to 2200

May her lawn always be scattered with 20 somethings
May her windows always be easily broken into
May she always hold at least one tennate with b___ loads

One more toast to the barbaques
The friends
The lovers
The slip 'n slide
The house arrest bracelets
The tap shoes
The mail man
The garden
The feather boa
and last but not least to Shnieder aka "Beth Dryden"

G's B-day

2006-03-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

There once was a girl from Wisconsin
Who wanted to get her dance on
She drank too much beer
To her friends delight she had no fear
If only she could keep her shoes on

"It' s Ginger's biirrrrrrthday Let's all get waaaaaaaaaasted da da dadada ddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
-1996 Griggs R

Mae Nam

2006-02-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with her flow
The Rhythm
The Rocking
The Glistening Dancing

She knew me
Watering the yellow taloned bird
That sang my nervous song
Primordial Shimmer

Christmas In Thailand

2006-02-27T07:45:00.000-08:00

Mosquito Nets
Turquoise Water
Hot Sand
Mamma monkeys
Saffron Robes

I'm A Masseuse

2005-11-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I passed my General Thai Message Course! In some ways I was more excited to receive it than I was to receive my university documentation. Perhaps it is due to the new friends I’ve made, the new community I was apart of and the sense of accomplishment I felt after looking around the class and being the only non-Thai person in the room, well there was that non-English speaking Russian guy, but he didn’t pass.

I’ve been traveling to Wat Po, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, for the past four weekends. It’s the most glorious temple in Bangkok built with curvy, spiked, mirrored mosaics. The classes were all day Saturday and Sunday and spent working through communication frustrations, or should I say lack of communication frustrations. It felt really great during my exam as I looked down at the professor, who was obviously thrououghly relaxed, I found myself smiling thinking Yeah I know this and I’m the only white person hear, aside from the non-English speaking Russian but he didn’t pass.

I coolest thing about experiences like these are the moments when you realize that you are successfully communicating with those around you even though fluency in a common verbal language is lacking.

Happy Thanksgiving It Is The Time Of Year When My Thoughts Are Commonly On My Loved Ones Back Home……………I Miss Snow.

By the way Loas was incredible, I cried on the bus trip up North. We drove around a bend in the road stretched out in front and on both sides a foggy lake surrounded by strokes of deep green. I listened to Patty Griffin and lowered my sunglasses to hide the tears.

The Hmong are as beautiful, kind, and interesting as the Mekong.

Back blogging my business

2005-10-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

17 September 2005

Since my last blog I’ve traveled to Hua Hin. Lisa Ginger and I took a train down South. Yes south, but not near enough to the Thai Malaysia border to cause worry. We had an excellent time on the train. Using straws to drink out of plastic bags filled with ice – Thai Style. At one of the stops I was pushed aside by a vendor who said Mai Chop Farong “I hate Foreigners” as she quickly jumped off the train after selling beer she had just purchased for 40 Baht less at a stand next to the train stop.

After splunking in a bat filled limestone cave we were walking down a craggy slope when a troop of monkeys bounced off the tree tops above us. The ran over head across our path. I stood with my eyes and mouth gaping as a dorky laugh came from my belly.. Mad cool!

From there we hiked to the top of a limestone lookout where we could see the meandering river we had ridden a Long tail boat down earlier that day. Suddenly to my right a heard a rustling in the trees and not 20 feet from us were mother and baby monkies (Dusky Langers). We looked around a little more and could see a male to our right stripping leaves from a branch watching us seemingly with the same eyes we watched him.

The resort we stayed at had hooked us up with a driver who brought us around the park. He was quiet and unassuming. Like with most of my cab drivers or tour guides I used the opportunity to practice Thai. Shortly, the three of us burst into nervous laughter as we realized that I had accidentally ordered us a cockfight. The driver became very excited and pulled off the main road into his farm…much to our surprise this guy raised chickens for fighting. We explained that no, we indeed did not want to pay for a fight and in the end he seemed proud to show us his place and the birds that had won two or three fights. After explaining to him that my father is a cowboy, he convinced us to share a cab with him the next day to a local cattle show. I could not believe that here I was in Thailand, a country on the other side of the world from The Bar J, yet somehow I ended up at a cattle show. You can take the girl out of the ranch, but you can’t take the ranch out of the girl.

27 September 2005

A four-day whirlwind visit to Minnesota for my brother’s wedding – the social event of the year. The festivities included pink and blue 1950’s Chevrolets, hay bales covered with quilts, oak trees, a mod bride in antique lace, blue fish net stockings and red boots. My niece looked whimsical in her white wings and red sash…

Go ing to the cha pel and were gonna get ma aa aa rrid. He a really loves me and were gonna get ma aa aa rrid.

Minnesota was filled with great friends, great family and great Mexican food. What a treasure it was to spend only a few days with those I love most. The short visit invoked time only for positive, loving, present thoughts. A treat to my often unsettled mind.
9 September 2005

Phuket vegetarian festival – Imagine the biggest, most creative facial piercing you’ve ever seen or heard of and multiply that by 100. Then witness 40 people having it done at a Thai Chinese Temple. I was one of hundreds of people clothed in a sea of white flowing fabrics. These people were being pierced as a sign of faith that their Gods are with them. Ridding their family of evil spirits.
The faithful had been fasting, meditating and giving offerings for nine days. In return the Gods enter the village and certain chosen people become entranced and feel no pain during the piercing as God is inside them.

The vegetarian festival definitely fits into my top 5 list of surreal encounters. I have intense pictures of the event if you are interested and have a strong stomach send me a line and I’ll email them to you.

17 October 2005

Ginger and I have a trip planned to Laos. We’ll be gone from Oct 21st – 31st. We’ll take an overnight train to the border at Nang Kai and then travel into Vientiane to meet up with Jij and Claire – ARTech friends. Planned stops include: Vang Vien, Luang Prabang and a two day boat trip up the Mekong river to Chang Rai. From Chang Rai, a one way ticket home.

In preparation for the trip I’ve been reading Another Quiet American. It is a novel about an expats experience living in Laos and working for the government. Good book the title is a bit of an oxymoron, but a good book with interesting sociological and historical information.

Brother Jake

2005-09-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..........HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.........................

That's how they sing it in Thailand.

=)

Shirts with Sleeves

2005-09-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've been in Bangkok for 1 1/2 months. I find myself asking what am I doing here how can I make this a meaningful experience? Socializing isn't it, just not the key variable I'm searching for.

Last Sunday I took off for my first solo outing,a day trip to Nonthaburi. As I traveled North on the Choa Phraya river I saw brightly coloured red and yellow tug boats pulling huge shallow black barges full with stripped trees, sand and I guess rice. Looking around I began to realize that all of the other farongs had gotten off and I was the only Westerner on the boat. I alos noticed the clothing of everyone and reached into my bag to pull out the sleeved shirt I was thankful to have along despite the heavy heat and humidity.

As I jumped of the boat and asked the deck boy "Ko Kred Kha" he was not interested in talking to this farong and a young Thai woman grabbed my arm "I go Ko Kred" smiling she pulled me to her mother who smiled back at her daughter with the tall farong. She shuttled me into a mini van that held 15 people. It was after 3 miles that I that I thought damn where am I going all I know is this woman's name is Cha, she knows my name that I'm a teacher. I franticly ducked my head, as I was too tall to see out the window, and started memorizing the streets that blurred past..Is this what my mother warned my about?

Mai Pen Rai Kha (no worries) at her instruction I jumped out of the van and we crammed ourselves into a rickshaw who took us to another ferry and there we were Ko Kred. We waied (bowed) Saw Wad Dee Kha. I was off dripping sweat kneeling at the Buddhist temple looking for water buffalo statues to bring home to my dad.

Beautiful people, banana trees, mango trees, cocoanut trees and snakes in a bucket.

All For now...

Miss You

2005-09-05T05:05:00.000-07:00

Bangkoks piss'n rain... I haven't seen my boy in 15 thousand miles.

Ko Samet

2005-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

I've been to the island! Last Friday Ginger, Lisa, myself and two of our other co-workers left work and in two hours we were catching a speed boat to the most crystal clear aqua blue waters that I've ever seen. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I heart Thailand! We Rented a moped, ate fresh seafood (being from the landlocked Midwest I never truly understood the difference)swam in the salty sea, walked the white sand beach, stayed in a bungalow on stilts (with a Buddhist shrine out the front door), and of course received two...Ok three Thai massages on the beach. At night we danced until we couldn't dance anymore. Chris, my coworker who came with us knows many of the locals which was a nice way to meet people other than farangs (foreigner). I will admit that I'm still not acclimated to using the stand only toilets, without toilet paper and I have not yet used the hose to spray myself off afterwards...call me square, baby steps.

Work is good the students are interested in everything, my room is full of tropical plants and a student is setting up an aquarium. Now I just need to convince my 6th graders that watering the plants is their job and not the maids. Many of our students have maids and drivers that bring them to school. Cleaning up after themselves is not second nature to say the least.

I've heard it is getting cool in MN. I am already lonesome for the smell fall's leaves, the taste of bitter apples and bloody homemade salsa.

Here the weather is humid and hot with the sun always beating down. Everyone is dripping with sweat when they arrive at school. Lately I've found myself stopping by rooms just to feel the aircon on my body for a quick second. The rumor is it only gets hotter.

Today I buy my airline ticket home. I'll arrive around 2100 on the 21st of September.

I miss you all!

Love,

Jana

Week Sarm

2005-08-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Lisa and I went down to this huge market and bought orchids, bryophytes, 4 foot high bamboo and hibiscus plants for our apartment; which by the way has teak floors. We also started a water garden on our balcony with lotus plants and we are in the market for fish. The abundance of plants and flowers at the market was absolutely amazing. It felt like an endless supply of $1 to $2 exotic species. I guess I live in the tropics now, the gecko in my living room should have tipped me off.

I'm doing well the first week of classes has been hectic, I have to beg to get masking tape and fill out an order form for files which I was told not to hold my breath for. The excellent news is my students are fabulous (I'm not yet sure if they measure up to my ARTech students though). They are interesting and diverse. I have students from Korea, Holland, Borneo, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Italy, Japan, I have a lot to learn from them....And hope to teach a thing or two also =)

In my personal life I'm doing ok, well better now. My brother Josh and my close friend Christa decided to get married September 24th. I'm incredibly happy for them but at the same time thinking about missing their union...aaggh, awful. I was feeling sad, disappointed and lonely. I started to rethink my decision to travel so far from home. Why am I doing this, is it selfish, will I gain more than I lose? Then I thought of my dear friend Annie who would ask me to think about what my original intentions were and Rob sent me supportive emails. After a few days of pondering, everything was very clear. I need to be home for Josh and Christa. Individually they are unique, interesting people who have always supported, encouraged and sparked my crazy ideas and together they share a bond that I have looked up to and modeled my own relationships after. So.............I booked a ticket and will be home the 21st of September and fly out the 25th. Christa, what colour dress should I buy? =) I love you guys. See you soon!!!!!

I have attached a few photos the pool is what we see off our living room balcony.

All for now

Jana

Week 2

2005-08-09T07:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here is the situation at work. Similar to Ginger's experience, I have no classroom. In fact, the entire science wing is under construction. It does have walls and today we were notified that it does have a ceiling and desks will be there by Monday when the students arrive???? So what will we do until it is completed, not sure and none of the admin seem to worried about it (Mai Pen Rai). It is very good for me to have helped Ginger live through the same experience a year ago. Because of that I am not feeling as intense as one would guess....well perhaps by the end of the day my intensity level will rise, I'll keep you informed.

Ginger and our other roomie, Lisa arrived at midnight on Sunday. It is great to have them here. I aspire to speak Taxi Thai as well as they do! Ginger and I have not had a dance session for over a year. As some of you may know, when we were all in MPLS together our dancing plans were foiled. DANCE is on our to do list now that we are reunited and living in the same hemisphere.

We have been busy with orientation the last couple of days. Our school is owned by a Thai family who is very well known in the country. We had a two hour presentation on their family history. The power structure of the school is very interesting and quite different from schools back home. Thailand operates on a cast system and it is very apparent among the Thai staff both at work and at my apartment. I will add that the family who owns the school is wonderful and I am lucky to work for them...

Oh...I had mango and sticky rice with coconut milk, Misty is right it is absolutely aroi (delicious)!

One more exciting adventure, I unexpectedly ran into the Sisons. A family from ARTech. How crazy in a city of 10 million to just bump into each other. I was waiting out a down pour and they were fleeing a traffic jam caused by the rain and BAM! There we were. It was wonderful to see Andi and Alyssa. Thank you Siri for the dinner treat and your knowledge of Bangkok, have a safe flight home!

Jana

more pictures coming soon....

Check List/Strange Encounter

2005-08-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

Reflexology and massage CHECK
1 hr 30 min massage for $20 and this was at a posh spa. Ask me about it sometime as it was INCREDIBLE!!!

Menthol Inhaler CHECK
Gives one the illusion of coolness and rids the senses of Bangkok's aroma.

Cafe Yen Check
Iced Thai coffee made with sweetened condensed milk and served in a plastic bag (good call Alyssa).

Sarm Lor CHECK
Sarm (three) Lor (wheel)A great way to get around as long as you are ready to wrinkle up your face and counter there 40 baht with 20 baht (I need to practice this as usually I end up laughing before I get to the wrinkle and just pay whatever they ask).

The most unusual encounter I've had is looking at a bra in a department store and a worker comes up to me, sizes me up and the next thing I know she is putting the bra on me. All this happened right in the middle of the store I was totally stunned and just went with it...What's a girl to do?

China Town

2005-08-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

On my first day in Bangkok the two women I met from my school and I rode the sky train to China town. I'm attaching pictures of gorgeous flowers, scrumptious fruit and the beautiful people who work with them everyday.

Also you'll see a pic taken on a tuk tuk, quite the experience....Imagine hearing screams and nervous laughter as a bus charges toward us at a 45 degree angle. Smell exhaust and damp garbage, then inhale menthol through your nostrils. Don't forget to notice the newly manicured toe nails =)

Lah Kron Kah,

Jana

Teachings From Thailand

2005-08-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Teachings From Thailand

I Heart Thailand

2005-08-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Phrase of the day: Mai Pen Rai (No Worries)

I moved into my new apartment. Chris, my new co-worker and I went for a swim in our pool, a perfect way to cool down after and hot and humid day. The apartment is posh; as soon as I find a place to upload my pics I will attach a few.

I was in a state of euphoria as I walked to work this morning. The 3 doormen doted on us as we left, opening doors and lifting up the car park arm as we walked past, "Saw Wha Dee Kah".."Saw Wha Dee Kup". It seems so strange to have all these people waiting on us. Chris and I walked down our street buying strange looking red, hairy fruit (Ngaa), Thai Coffee out of a plastic bag that you drink with a straw and some interesting hot milky soup with unrecognizable contents.

School is a bit disorganized the science department is completely under construction and without walls. They say it will be completed by the 15th when our students arrive? I have been given last year’s syllabus and a copy of the text books our students will use so I am able to begin planning. I sense that I will have freedom to be creative with my teaching and not tied down to a set curriculum and am happy about that.

Lah Khron Kah,

Jana

All Thai'd Up....

2005-07-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

After 22 hours of travel I was ecstatic to see a Thai woman holding a sign that read "American School of Bangkok Jana Reed". She spoke no English so all we said to each other was hi, how are you and my name is....we smiled at each other alot and waited for the driver. I was rushed, and I do mean rushed, to the Saint James Hotel. After listening to very poor English and speaking even worse Thai, I walked to a 7 Eleven and purchased a phone card that I realized didn't work from the hotel....Sorry I can't call but I'm safe and am feeling somewhat rested after the night's sleep.

I met two women who are also working at my school. We had omlets made for us at our semi-posh hotel and they brought me to the internet cafe I'm writing you all from. We are going to go for a ride on the sky train and check out the river. They have been here for a week so they know the ropes and are happy to help get me aquainted. I will look for a telephone that works with my calling card and call Rob as soon as possible.

Sally the land lady for our apartment is supposed to meet me at my hotel this afternoon and get me set up with keys and everything. If that doesn't work out the school booked my hotel room until the 3rd so I have an excellent backup plan.

So far Bangkok is hot and humid with street vendors, palm trees and short people who seem happy to interpret my sign language.

I am very excited to see what Bangkok has in store for me!!

Lah Kron Kah,

Jana

coming soon...

2005-07-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

See you soon with my Thailand adventures.