So much to talk about!

Things here on the other side of the world have been crazy fun to say the least.  I have been doing the most crazy things and have literally no time to post anything.  I don't even know where to start.

Friday, a week ago, Kristin and I came down to Chiang Mai really earlier, like around 10.  We hung out and went and saw Despicable Me 2, which was quite funny.  But Saturday was the crazy day! We got to PTee's (a place we meet) around 7 where we met the 8 students who are interning in Cambodia.  We worked it out that they could come to Thailand and then go to Laos with us.  So all 22 of us got in to some red trucks and rode out to the boonies. We were dropped off at this really nice temple where a monk taught us about meditation.  Meditation is really hard if you have never tried it.  You pretty much have to focus on what is going on inside yourself.  "You must become aware of yourself and the confusion and problems will slowly disappear."  I am not entirely convinced but that could just possibly be because I lack the patience needed to even sit for just a few minutes.  But it was really interesting.  The temple was on these huge grounds with trees and fields and caves and streams.  It was beautiful and we had to be real quiet to keep from disturbing the other meditators.  After that we walked to a waterfall.  It was absolutely beautiful and refreshing, and something we all needed.  There were tall rocks around the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall that was perfect for swimming. So we all stripped down into our swimming suits and jumped in.  There was also a great place to cliff jump from. Everyone was doing it but Lisel, one of the interns, had some problems.  She got to the very top rock and was about to jump when she hesitated, which caused her to slip off the ledge.  She tumbled down the side of the cliff.  It was so scary and she almost hit her head on the rock but she missed it by about and inch I swear and landed in the water.  It was only about 15 feet so it wasn't too high but it was still very scary and we are very happy she is safe.  After hanging out and the waterfall and eating some crappy fried rice (something I didn't know was possible.. how could fried rice be crappy?) we set off to do some more adventuring.

We drove to an elephant and rafting place.  We got to ride the rafts first. Okay this was something that I have never done before.  And when I say rafting I hope you are not thinking white water rapids with a big boat full of air and paddles and life-jackets.  No no no, this is Thailand and in Thailand you have to do it the Thai way.  The Thai way is about 6 really really really long and thick bamboo shoots (probably about 20-30 feet long) strapped together and more bamboo shoots as the poles as paddles.  The river was not very fast and the rapids were about a .25 on the rapid scale.  It was just awesome because we were usually standing on these rafts and we kept running into rocks and the side and each other.  It was really fun and so unique.  There were times when we would run into something and our raft would be pushed sideways blocking the entire river, creating a traffic jam with the rafts and friend behind us.  It was awesome, people were constantly falling off, submerging their rafts and taking over other peoples rafts.  I loved it.  After that we got to do one of the trademarks in Thailand: ride the elephants.  Honestly that was awesome but the best part was after we got off because we got to help bathe them in the river.  That was the coolest part by far.  Here I am in the river with a 2 ton animal.  I think there was three of them in the river all laying down in the shallow water.  We were climbing over them trying to get all there bodies wet and scrubbed down.  Sometimes they would start to stand up and we would tumble off their backs into the water below, that happened to me a few times and it was awesome.  So Saturday was a very exciting and full day.

Sunday the fun continued as we left Chiang Mai and travelled north about 6 or 7 hours to a city (I can't remember the name) on the border of Thailand and Laos.  On the way we stopped at this beautiful white temple in Chiang Rai which was incredible and dumb all at the same time.  In this temple there were pictures of weird things.  Like superheroes, the twin tours, Michael Jackson, Hello Kitty and so much more.  I was so confused as to why they would have those pictures but the outside of the temple was really beautiful. Here are some pictures.

After the temple we continued on the buses until we got to the border city.  We spent the night there exploring the small city, eating a delicious buffet of Thai food and going swimming in the tiny, but cool pool.  I want to explain what the rooms were like but I cannot figure out how.  The best way I can think is that they were like bungalows. It was really cool. In the morning we got up and went to the border, got our departure cards turned in and headed into Laos by boat.  They were these long speed boats made out of wood.  We jetted over to the other side and got all our entrance stuff taken care of.  Then we got on a tuk tuk to get to our long boat.  We were on the long boat for 2 days and it was beautiful and relaxing. Once we got to Luang Phra Bong we stayed in a beautiful hotel, with air-conditioning and a nice western shower! It was amazing.  While we were there we saw these two waterfalls that were beyond gorgeous.  Looking at them you wonder if they are actually real.  We got to swim in both of them and explore the area around them. It was great.

So things have been good here. I have been so busy which is why I haven't posted in a month almost! Crazy. I don't have time to put any pictures up but hopefully I will later.

Tomorrow I go to Cambodia by the way! Sweet :)

Their Futures are Brighter

It's raining really hard right now, keeping us in our room.  There are moments like this that I almost wish I could be home just for the evening with my family having a really nice meal.  A meal where I know everything on my plate and everyone around the table.  I sometime miss my bed too, not that this bed isn't great because it is pretty good.  Sometimes I miss air-conditioning and never having to feel damp.  Sometimes I miss people that can speak my language, people that I don't have to guess to know what they are saying.  But definitely what I miss most is my family.  Last night I was skyping with my parents and it was so nice.  I was crying at some parts because I was laughing so hard.

But I am grateful to be here in Thailand.  Not only because I am having these once-in-a-lifetime experiences but also because I am reminded just how great a life I have back home.  It is eye opening honestly. This weekend has been a bit hard for me just because I have run into a few problems.  I was mopping the tile in the big hut on Thursday and slipped and split my chin open a little bit.  It wasn't that bad but my jaw is really sore now.  And then on Saturday I had an allergic reaction to something that I ate.  So things haven't really been the best.  And there were totally moments when I wanted to go home and lay in my bed.  Watch some TV, eat REAL food, american food, the good stuff.  But I am so not ready to go home yet.  There are these two English girls at the orphanage volunteering and they are only here for a week.  I feel bad because they will never get to know these kids like I have or have these amazing experiences that I am having.

Friday there was a camp that came to the Shelter.  All these kids from an international school in Bangkok were spending a few days at the farm.  It was fun because there were actually things that we had to do.  But the best was when all 50 of us sat in a circle and introduced ourselves.  We had been practicing with the kids all week, helping them to know how to introduce themselves in a proper way.  I was so proud of them when it came time.  They all did a fantastic job! I felt like I was their mom because I was just so proud of them. I can see the potential in all of them, it is amazing.  Saturday our BYU group was privileged to be able to talk to a Monk for an hour.  And during that hour we got to see pictures of some villages in Burma.  They were so run down the people were living in these tiny huts made out of banana leaves and tall grass.  The kids wore dirty, torn clothes if they wore any at all.  It hurt me to see this because Burma is where most of the kids from the Shelter are from. One of the teachers at the farm was telling me about when the kids first get here.  They don't even know how to take a shower or even a bath really.  They don't know how to brush their teeth or clean their clothes.  It is crazy.  But that's how they are when they show up.  It is so sad.  Many of the kids when introducing themselves said that they were grateful for the Shelter because it gave them a future.  I am grateful for the Shelter too.

"Sir, I really want to study..."

This weekend was exciting, relaxing and fun all at the same time.  We got into Chiang Mai around 2 on Friday although we had a little trouble while getting there.  We got dropped off at Kad Luong (which means big market which is exactly what it is) and were looking at a few shops before we got on another truck to go deeper into the city.  I bought a shirt for 35 Bhat which is about $1.10, great price.  Once we were finished we found a red truck and were off.  The ride was only about ten minutes but right as we were pulling up to the hotel Kristin couldn't find her wallet.  We searched the truck before getting off and then her backpack but came up empty.  We decided to go back to the market to see if it was in the shop.  The entire ride back I am thinking there is no way it will be there but Kristin was decided, it would be there.  She didn't even look worried.  It had everything in it, money, credit cards, license, even her beloved library card.  When we got to the shop it wasn't there and we were about to leave when the shop owner called to us, holding up the wallet.  Kristin looked in the wallet and everything was there.  That shop owner could have had all that money in it but she was honest and so kind.  I love these people.  So besides that, Friday was pretty normal.  We hung out in the hotel for a few hours enjoying the air-conditioning, watching Alias and drawing.  We met Spencer for dinner at our favorite restaurant and then went to the mall to see Man of Steel with some of the other interns.

Saturday morning Kristin and I went to the zoo.  It was pretty cool, I got to feed an elephant which was awesome.  They are so much bigger than you would think they are.  In a few weekends we are going to be riding them and it makes me kinda nervous but it will be an adventure so bring it on.  We went to the mall again Saturday afternoon for lunch with Cody and Chloe.  We stopped at a music shop and I got my hands on a Ukulele.  I missed playing it so much.  I tuned it by ear (I still got it haha.) and played a few songs.  The workers in the store were looking at me weird but I didn't care.  For lunch I had mango sticky rice, which is my absolute favorite thing here in Thailand (though Pad Thai is a close second).  Mango sticky rice is just that mangoes, sticky rice and this coconut milk on top, so good.  After lunch we went indoor rock climbing.  I am hooked guys, that was the second time in one week that I have gone.  I even have a blister!  It is only about 5 bucks all together to climb which is so cheap.

Sunday we went to church and then came back to the shelter a little early.  Though Kristin and I have a problem when it comes to traveling this route: we always do something wrong.  So apparently there are two kinds of yellow trucks and the go in different directions.  Yeah you guessed it we got on the wrong one.  But Kristin and I are smart, after about 15 minutes we knew we were going the wrong way, so we got off and went back the the market.  Once we got on the right one things went better all the way until we got to our village.  The yellow trucks drop us off at the police station which is just off the highway.  From the highway the shelter is about 3 KM (about 1.8 miles) which is a long walk in this heat while carrying 40 pound backpacks.  Chey or someone from the shelter usually picks us up at the police station but no one was answering their phones so we started walking.  We walked about 5 minutes when I decided to be daring.  I flagged down a truck.  There was this nice family in it and they took us deeper into the city.  It was so excited and now I can officially say that I hitch-hiked all by myself.  We walked some more and then Chey called us so they came to pick us up.  It was a cool adventure though.

Thursday will be my halfway point.  It will have been 6 weeks.  Crazy.  It makes me happy and sad and grateful that I still have a lot of time.  These kids will never stop amazing me and I am not ready to say goodbye. Though I don't think I will ever be.  Here are a few things that I want to share about them.

• Yesterday when we got home Li-Bee, Me-Kin, and Bee-Mi all came running up to me and hugged me in this big group hug.  I could have stayed there forever. 
• Before dinner I taught the kids what Wedgies, Wet Willies and Credit Cards were.  Not that I did any to them but it was funny because Philipp and I would chase the kids around the kitchen asking them if they wanted a Wedgie.  They would just scream no! We would try to give them one but they would always escape.  It was so fun until Philipp and Ca-phil came for me! I had to fight them off but they were close.
• Gam had to write an introduction about herself for the camp in Friday.  Laoni and Philipp helped her write it but then Kristin and I helped her memorize it.  She is so smart, literally she memorized a whole page which is not in her native language in about 10 minutes.  This got me thinking.  I feel like a lot of the time people get this idea in their mind that if someone is poor or does not have the best life it means that they are stupid.  And I don't think that we think that on purpose but it definitely happens.
• I want to tell you about Satin.  He is from Burma and had to leave because he was going to be drafted into the army.  He had to leave his life, his country, his language and his family behind so that he could be protected.  Yet he is the happiest kid that I know.  His English is incredible and he is learning German right now too.  I have talked about Satin before in earlier posts.  He is the kid that wants to be a tour guide because that is all he knows how to be.  Anyways I heard a story about him today that made me happy.  Apparently when he got here last year he had to have an interview with the principal in order to go to the school in the village.  Because of Satin's age (14) the principle told him it would probably be better for him to not go to school and to try to find a job but Satin wouldn't have it that way.  He looked the principal in the eyes and said, "Sir, I really want to study..."  So he is in school, in second grade.  He is incredible and is going to do great things for this world.
• Today Chey, Kristin and I were having a meeting and Chey turned to us and asked, "what kind of man do you think I am?"  Kristin and I looked at each other, confused by the question.  He then proceeds to tell us that he is gay.  We had no idea but now that I know I can kinda see it.  It was just so random it took me off guard.  But that's cool.

Last thing, Sunday this guy in the ward, his name is Brother Wiwat was talking to us.  He works at a university here in Chiang Mai and writes articles in the Thailand magazine.  This magazine is as big in Thailand as the Times is in the United States and he wants to write an article about Kristin and I and the Shelter!  He wants to put it on the cover of the magazine! It is so exciting :)

Pictures :)

The internet was very good so I took advantage and uploaded some pictures.

These are the days I am so lucky to live.

Sukhothai

Last week, for some odd reason, was really hard.  I think I was a little homesick and just a little tired but this weekend turned things all around.  I feeling good now.

So Kristin and I taught our 5 classes at the Thai school, which is really tiring and long.  We are at the school for 8 hours teaching people about a language they don't know in that language they don't know. Lets just say the language gap is huge there.  But we made it through with only pulling a little bit of hair out.  We then set off for Chiang Mai.  The 2 hour truck ride was long but I to listened to my iPod most of the way and I just got some new songs so it was good.  Counting Stars and Feel Again by OneRepublic are good songs that get your blood pumping again. (Tessa and Olivia - Though listening to it is so fun, it does make me a little sad because I miss singing these song with you in my car. Good times.)

So once we got into the city we met Spencer and Cody for dinner and then went to this new mall opening.  It was literally packed with so many asians but it was so nice.  That is one thing that I find very odd here in Thailand.  The streets of the city are littered with trash of all kinds but their malls are just as good if not better than American malls.  So clean and nice and almost out of place here in Thailand.  We walked around the mall for about 2 hours and then we went to see a movie.  Our movie ticket was 170 Bhat which is about 5 bucks and popcorn was 2 dollars but Thai popcorn is disgusting and I would not recommend getting any.  I miss American popcorn.  Anyways, after the movie we realized something, it was late.  It was pasted midnight and we were kind of far from the inner city which was where our hotel was and there were no red trucks anywhere on the main highway.  So we just started walking on the side of the highway.  We walked for about 20 minutes when Cody flagged a random truck down.  This old Thai guy was driving and said he was heading toward the city, so we jumped in the back of the bed and rode in.  It wasn't scary at all because we had Spencer and Cody but if Kristin and I had been alone we would have never been able to do that.  But it was really cool.  There I am sitting in the back of this truck with the cool wind whipping my hair driving through Thailand.  It was another one of those moments.

The next morning at 4:30 we set out for Sukhothai, which is this really old city full of temples, statues and ruins.  It was great because we rode around on bikes taking pictures of everything, being the epitome of a tourist.  But I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Good Days and Bad Days and Some Days in Between

Monday was the good day.  There are some new volunteers that have joined our little Shelter: Philipp and Laoni. They are here for one month from Germany.  I have decided that I like them and that yes though they are much different than me, that is a good thing.  They are total hippies, you know with the dreads and the backpacks that carrying all their things and the smell.  Just kidding they smell fine haha. I think Monday morning they both had hangovers but hey it's cool.  They will bring some life to this place.  The morning went the same as usual but at 11:00 we set off the the hospital.  Satin, 16, had an appendicitis, which means, I am sure you can infer, that his appendix's ruptured.  I love that I took anatomy last semester because I totally know how it happens, where exactly the appendix's it and all the stuff like that.  The appendix sits at the beginning end of the large intestine, and it is totally useless.  It does nothing but accidentally, randomly rupture and is very painful when it does.  It ruptures because some foreign objects gets lodged inside, the objects are usually just making their way through the intestinal tract but accidentally get stuck in the appendix.  Then the appendix inflames and ruptures.  Anyways that is what happened to Satin so he had to go into emergency surgery Friday night and is now recovering just fine in the hospital. He should be able to come home this weekend hopefully.  The rest of Monday went just fine.  In the afternoon when all the kids came home I was watching a movie on my computer and after about 10 minutes I have 5 kids crammed onto my bed watching the movie with me.  Don't laugh but the movie was Lilo and Stitch, I had a craving to watch it, I haven't seen it in years.

So since Monday was the good day, Tuesday was the bad day.  I must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed because the whole day I was lazy, not really feeling that well and a little grumpy.  I have no idea why but that was just how it was and I decided that it is fine.  It is okay to have one or two grumpy days every once in a while, as long as you don't make them a habit.  I was so lazy yesterday that I read a whole book, or most of it.  I was on about page 80 and I finished it.  It was 400 pages haha.  Pathetic I know.  But it was a pretty good book, The Kite Runner, that was the title.  Well actually I don't know if I liked it all that much.  Honestly it was really boring.  Well written, really boring.  But hey if you like that style then I bet you would like it.

So the kids are still great.  They still come up and give me random hugs, which I love.  They still laugh just about all the time.  They all said good morning to me today and asked me how I slept.  They really are good kids.  They work very hard and still have happy, smiling attitudes.  I know that I have said this about a million time already but they are teaching me more than I am teaching them.  They touch my heart so easily and have worked their way inside.  For these three months they are my life and I am in theirs.  I find that I never use my phone unless I am texting my mom or dad.  And even my computer has taken a backseat.  It is great honestly.

Well I got to go teach a class.  Wish me luck!

It's a wild ride

This past few days have been wonderful, relaxing and great. Wednesday two guest came for the day, they were from Washington D.C.  We talked about traveling, good food, and how she actually grew up in El Salvador.  She was amazing.  She talked about how she was so poor that one piece of chicken was devine and she would suck on the bone until her mouth hurt.  She worked and came to the US and worked some more and went to college in D.C.  She just graduated after six years of school.  That is why she is amazing.  While they were at the Shelter the rains came.  It poured and there was thunderings and lightning and this wind that blew all the rain into the covered kitchen.  Everything was soaked, including us but we didn't mind.  Once the rains stopped after about 15 minutes we cut some pineapple and enjoyed the freshness of it.  It was so juicy, it ran down our arms and got on our chins every time we took a bite.  It was better then the pineapple from Hawaii by far.  Also on Wednesday I painted the prayer that the kids say before every mea l up on the wall in the kitchen.  (I painted the things that they say in English.)  I had to figure out the words though first so I knew what to paint.  It was hard though because neither Chey nor Kam knew exactly what they were saying.  They mumble most of the English words in the prayer so it was like a guessing game trying to decipher what they were saying.  I got it though and painted all 10 lines of it on the wall in the kitchen.  It is so cute and I love the words in it: This food is a gift from the whole universe, the earth, the sky and much hard work. May we live in a way, so as to be worthy to receive it.  May we change our unskillful state of mind, especially our greed.  May we take all this food that nourishes and prevents illness.  We accept this food.

Friday we were asked by the kids school to come and teach 5 classes English.  It was fun but really hard and really long, it took all my energy not to stop and lay down on the floor and fall asleep.  There are about 75 kids at this school and 18 of them are mine, for the orphanage.  It is crazy because our kids were so much better at English compared to the rest.  I am sure it is just because of all the guest that come and speak in English to them, but it was nice because we could rely on them to help us with the lessons.  After being at the school for 7 hours, Kristin and I got onto a yellow truck and went down to Chiang Mai for the weekend.  The ride took an hour and a half, which is really long to be squished into a truck with no air and only windows for relief.  One we got to the city we checked into our hotel, went and ate at our favorite Thai restaurant and then went to the night market.  We walked around the night market for an hour or two, bought a few movies and got mango sticky rice.  It was nice being just us two because it was less people to worry about and try to make happy.  We then went home and watched some movies and went to bed.  It wasn't a very exciting day but it was a nice because we finally just got to relax.

In the morning I got to Skype with some of my family.  Grandma, Grandpa Vernon, Erin, Frank, Lola, Ava, Amy and Uncle Eric.  It was really good to see them all.  We talked and laughed and had a good time. I forget just how much I miss them until I start talking to them and seeing them. I love you guys, thanks for all the support.  I also got to Skype with my family, mostly just my mom but it was so nice.  We talked about the day when I will have to leave the orphanage.  It is funny because I am already dreading that moment.  The moment when I will have to get into the car and say goodbye to all my kids.  I know it is still two months away but this first month has already gone by so fast I can't imagine how fast these next two will go.  I actually started crying talking about.  I know that it is going to be the hardest, most bittersweet moment of probably my entire life.

Anyways, Saturday we went to the Silk Market and the Umbrella making market.  The silk market wasn't that cool, it was actually like we were in a huge department store and everything was made of silk.  I personally think silk is overrated.  But whatever.  The umbrella making market was awesome.  (Mom - when you come we have to go.)  I got a design painted on my bag and the back of my phone.  It is pretty sweet.  The rest of Saturday and Sunday were pretty lazy but then again that was kinda nice.

Last night it took us 2 hours to get home but I think that it was worth it because the yellow truck dropped us off at this police station just off the highway.  We waited for Aii to come and get us with the truck but then two of the boys showed up on motorbikes so we just jumped on those.  We then raced through the town on those with the wind in our hair and bugs flying into our mouths if we opened them long enough.

Being here has made me have these moments.  They don't happen often and they don't last long but they are the kind a moments that make you stop everything you are doing and just look around you.  The kind of moments that take your breath and make you wonder if you have ever been happier.  Perhaps that is kind of cheesy but that is the only way I know how to explain it.  Here I am in the middle of Thailand riding on the back of a motorbike in the middle of the jungle heading home to see some of my favorite people.  It made me stop and think as I sat there driving down the bumpy road.  This is my life and how grateful I am for it.  For anyone who has seen the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower or read the book they will know this quote and I think it go along quite well...

I know these will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now these moments are not stories. This is happening, I am here.... I can see it. This one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite.

Anyways, here's some pictures.

Kid's Uniforms.  They always look so cute!

Coolest. Kid. Ever.

Bee-Mi

So cute!