Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Lovely Ladies
I have the joy of being accountability partners with Holly and Catherine. These two lovely ladies are such an encouragement to me in so many ways. We meet on Fridays after school for a few hours to talk, catch up, encourage one another, and pray for one another. I look forward to it every week. They are certainly a blessing! :)
**We put Catherine in the middle so that she would be surrounded by Asians. :)
Monday, December 14, 2009
12 ways to seriously injure yourself on a Bangkok sidewalk
b) all too true!
You think Bangkok is dangerous because of political unrest or bad Nicholas Cage films? Think again – what’s most likely to get you is the everyday assault course known as taking a walk on a Bangkok sidewalk.
Bangkok is a not a city built for pedestrians. While the infamous traffic gridlock has eased off since the arrival of the futuristic Skytrain and Underground public transport systems, Bangkok’s pavements remain an urban minefield that require you to be hyper alert lest you trip over, electrocute yourself or fall down a hole. This perpetual pedestrian obstacle course gets particularly interesting at night. Here, then, are 12 ways to seriously injure yourself on a Bangkok sidewalk.
The Bag Flag is a thoughtful warning to pedestrians to not break their neck falling down the hole left by random collapsing paving stones.
Almost invisible to the eye until you trip over it, this cunningly placed electrical cable powers a large advertising sign just out of shot. I wonder how many times the sign has been pulled over by pedestrians crashing to the pavement…
On the other hand, this is one of Bangkok’s Low Flying Spaghetti Monsters Of Death – these cables hang down to about 4 feet off the ground, perfect to entrap unwitting passersby.
Looking straight ahead when walking down a Bangkok street? Be prepared for something hard and invisible to send you flying. This lump of metal is the remnant of some previous installation, but no one could be bothered to file it down to the ground.
When you hit a wide, empty, blissfully flat expanse of pavement in Bangkok, you really need to start worrying. That’s because motorcylists (and this is the city of a million motorcycles) will also spot it and use it to escape the bumper to bumper traffic, with scant regard for traffic regulations or pedestrian safety. It’s not unusual to have a motorbike appear right beside you from behind, at speed, and not to have heard anything before it scared the crap out of you. Try not to jump in front of its wheels.
Some street signs in Bangkok are held up by steel hawser wires, triangulated from the sign to the sidewalk. The only problem is that the support wire is almost impossible to see until you walk straight into it. Ouch.
Sometimes the steel support wires are covered with a steel sheath to make them more visible – and provide a whole new set of sharp edges to hurt you.
However, sometimes thoughtful shop owners will provide a different version of the Flag Bag to warn oncoming pedestrians about the steel support wire, probably because they’re tired of having to pick up hapless strollers from the ground after colliding with it. This one is particularly nasty, a real cheesecutter right slap in the middle of the sidewalk.
Let’s put the telephone box in a place where it takes up the entire sidewalk so there’s nowhere to actually walk. Brilliant!
To be fair, many cities have this problem, but Bangkok seems to have it with every tree that’s been planted
You remember when you were a kid and you wouldn’t walk on iron grates set into the sidewalk for fear it might give way underneath you and you’d plunge down the hole? Well, in Bangkok, if you step on a grate or a manhole, it really might just give way. Hapless Bangkokians regularly fall down poorly sealed manholes, so much so a special taskforce was set up a couple of years ago to try and stop the problem.
And finally, the biggest problem for walking the sidewalk in Bangkok is when there is no sidewalk. Sometimes it just collapses into a big hole and gets left there for people to pick their way around.
On the upside, walking in Bangkok is never dull…
Taken from www.travelhappy.info/bangkokThursday, December 10, 2009
It's beginning...
Well, it certainly doesn't LOOK like Christmas around here... at least a MN Christmas with a lot of snow. And it most certainly does not FEEL like Christmas around here with it being in the 90's every day. So we've been rockin' out to Christmas music and put up this little tree, stockings and nativity dolls to remind us that it TRULY IS December and we're just 15 days away from the day that our Savior was born.
Not quite like at "home" in the states, but we're thankful for what we have. We're thankful that we can celebrate Christmas so openly and freely here, that we can find little things that make it feel more like Christmas, that English Christmas music can be heard in all of the malls, and that there are Christmas decorations up in major areas. However, we're most thankful for the birth of Jesus, our Savior, whom God graciously sent to us that we might believe in Him and have eternal life. What a gift. What a God. What a Savior.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Coconuts
My friend Holly and I are like coconuts... we are brown on the outside, but white on the inside. We both were adopted from Korea and moved to the US where we had white (or at least semi-white) families (Holly also has an adopted brother). Despite being Asian, we don't FEEL Asian and as funny as this may sound, we FORGET that we are Asian.
Since coming to Thailand we have felt more Asian than ever as we "blend in" and have people speak to us in Thai, as we get offered the Thai menus at restaurants, as we have people laugh at us when we say, "Poot pasaht Thai mai dai" (please forgive me spelling any of you Thai speakers), and as we have people look at us expectantly when we're surrounded by farong-looking people... but it's really those farong-looking like people that speak Thai better than us!
This weekend at the 2009 ICS International Day, we decided to embrace our Asian-ness. There were booths representing the many nationalities at our school. Each booth had information about the country, a game of some sort, clothing, and food. Essentially, it was like the Festival of Nations in MN, except on a much smaller scale. We went back to our Korean roots, had both of our Korean and American names written in Korean for us, dressed up in the traditional hanbok, and took some very typical Asian pictures. Holly even got a fake Asian mole. Too bad she didn't get any fake hairs to grow out of the thing. [hahaha]
In a sense, being Asian, or even pretending to be Asian has become more of a running joke for us than anything else, but it's fun none-the-less, and even more fun to have a friend that understands what it really is like to be a coconut.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Game on
Too much red for Stephen to handle...
Brett (ES art/PE) showing off his mad skills while Allen (MS math) protects/defends him
Jason & Mike
George (HS PE) looks for an open teammate. Luc finds and opening and looks to take him down.
Hut hut... HIKE!
Mike trying to find an open man.
Red team huddle... talking through some plays/strategies
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
They never cease...
These kids never cease to make me laugh. Sometime it's because they are just plain funny, and other times it's because their English is...lacking.
Karly: (to a Spanish student who walks in during my break) Can I help you?
Student: Yes. I was absent all last week due to the 2009 influenza (aka: H1N1).
Karly: Sure, what can I do for you?
Student: Well, I am kind of confused on the material and I just really need some understandings.
Karly: You need some understandings?
Student: Yes Mrs. Karly, I really need some understandings.
Karly: Oh, some understandings! Of course. What kind of understandings do you need?
Student: Well, the understandings I need are...
I know, I should have told him that he needed some explanations, not understandings... but it was just so cute that I couldn't bring myself to do it. :)
Mike has been playing hockey with his students lately. One student kept approaching him to tell him about her pain tally. She would say things like, "I have one pain" or "I got nine pains today." In other words, she was telling him how many times she hurt herself. Whenever Mike would ask her if she was okay, she would always tell him "Yep!"
As many of you know, Mike teaches K4 (aka: 4 year old kindergarten [or pre-school]
K4 girl: Why do read us a Bible verse every class?
Mike: It's just part of gym class. Is that okay?
K4 girl: Yup.
Mike: This is the only time I will see you this week, since we don't have school this Thursday
K4 girl: [clapping her hands excitedly]
Mike: Yay that you don't have school on Thursday or yay that you won't see me?
K4 girl: [clapping hands excitedly] Yay that I won't see you!
Mike: [fake cries]
K4 class: [laughs]
Sometimes I don't know why a person would ever want to give up teaching... the kids are simply too funny and entertaining. I think we need to take the suggestion of my mother-in-law and start writing a book about all the weird/funny/silly things that our students do. They certainly keep us on our toes!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Right where I belong...
But by God's amazing grace, I got to school and I felt relieved and eager.
Relieved and eager to:
...get back to my normal routine
...have the opportunity to teach some amazing students
...have a job when other's have been struggling to find work
...organize and plan lesson plans/activities
...correct papers and see how much progress my students are making
...punch in grades and see how my students are doing overall
...interact with people instead of be quarantined to my apartment
...laugh and act ridiculous with my students
...be challenged to give my day over to God
...bless and be blessed by others
God is good. I am sure that there will be a season in my life when I stay at home with a small child or two for a little while; but I am going to find joy and contentment in the season that I am in now, because I know that when I am at school, I am not only right where God wants me, but I'm right where I belong.
Friday, November 20, 2009
To have kids or not to have kids...
Mike: Good, but I had a 3rd grader caressing my arm today.
Karly: What? Oh, pulling on your arm hairs now? (**see previous post)
Mike: No, playing with my veins.
Karly: Interesting. Well, they do bulge out.
Mike: Yeah, she didn't know what they were! She asked me, "What are those Mr. Mike?" So I told her they were veins and that she had them too. Then she asked me, "What are they for?" I was kind of surprised that a 3rd grader didn't know what veins were for. I told her they were for carrying blood to different parts of my body.
Karly: Kids are SO weird!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Can I just say...?
In other somewhat funny news, since Mike is coaching a U-13 soccer team, he was asked to think about doing a Tuesday afternoon life group with the team. A life group is basically a small group or discipleship program here at school to support those that a Christians, to get kids that aren't Christians to perhaps start asking some tough questions, etc... but in a sense it's more like FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Well, since Mike's team doesn't have practice on Tuesdays, he can't make the life group mandatory. So optional it was, and for his first life group session he had two kids... which unfortunately isn't all that surprising considering the number of Christians at this school. So Mike was talking about teamwork and working together for his first session. While he's reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 about being one body with many members, suddenly one of the two boys starts laughing. The boy apologizes and says, "I'm sorry, it's just that you sound like a sports commentator!"
It's official...kids are so weird!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Apothecary
Insurance and seeing a doctor are a bit different here than in the states. It seems more efficient to me (and I'm all about efficiency) and it just seems to make more sense! I went to the hospital yesterday morning, which may or may not seem strange, but going the hospital here is like going to a clinic in the states. They check you in at a reception desk by taking your insurance card & ID card. Then they usher you over to this little table that has a nurse who takes your blood pressure, temperature, and weight. The nurse asks what your symptoms are, gives you a little piece of paper with all of your stats and send you off to the correct department in the hospital. So off I went to the department of medicine.
Upon entering the department of medicine, I had a lady talk to me in Thai as she took my little piece of paper with my stats. I told her (in Thai) that I don't speak Thai. She looked at me, smiled, and then spoke to me in Thai again. I found that rather humorous... maybe she didn't understand what I had said? I waited about 15 minutes before I was able to see the doctor who asked more questions and then told me he was going to prescribe an antibiotic and a nasal decongestant
I was then ushered out and went to wait at the department of pharmacy. As I waited, I was able to pay for my visit and my 2 medications. I was surprised that it all only cost about $18 American dollars. When my name was called to pick up my medicine, I was even more surprised that it only cost $18 because I was given 6 different medicines. I was told that the Thai like to over-medicate, but didn't believe it until they handed me all the medications!
I thought it was rather thoughtful in a sense though because the doctor I had seen really wanted to make sure that he did all that he could for me and that he had covered all of his bases. For example, I told him I had a little bit of a sore throat, but no cough... and in my little bag of goodies I found 2 bags of cough drops, which actually have come in quite handy today. I was also given Tylenol, which I thought was kind of funny since most people have Tylenol at home, but here in Thailand they want to make sure that they've given you everything you need to recover. Additionally I was given an electrolyte powder, diarrhea medication just in case my aching stomach resulted in... well, you know, and then the anticipated antibiotic and a nasal decongestant.
So off I went with my little bag in hand... it was like Halloween only with medication instead of candy... and here I am recovering at home with a little drugstore at hand. Very efficient indeed. Cheers to a quick recovery... I'm already missing teaching and being with my crazy students!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Good times
The men on the other hand, dominated the boys soccer team with a final score of 4-1. This was the first year in a long time that the men actually beat the students though. Which when you think about it, should really happen since they have been practicing as a team, are in shape, significantly younger, and actually have soccer knowledge and skills. However, there is a lot of natural athleticism among the men folk this year, along with just knowing how to play "smart" so they conquered this year. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of them, maybe I can find someone else who does!
We already played the student vs. faculty volleyball game (the men won & the women lost again... but we won two sets, which made ICS history!), the basketball games will be coming up soon, as well as the football game. We've never been part of a school that has done something like this before, but we certainly are enjoying it! Good times!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The hardest part
During our weekly chapel time, the high school students have been learning about virtues. Yesterday’s chapel was on patience. The teacher who was speaking on patience not only talked about exerting patience in our own life, but also how God has been so patient with us. He talked about how God’s patience will not last forever though, as the coming of Christ is not far off. But as nobody knows when/how soon that day will come, we need to be prepared for that day. In other words: accept Christ as your personal Savior. (I believe that it is truly God that opens one’s heart and eyes to the glorious riches and beauty of the gospel though, not man’s doing/his own effort). To close chapel, students were invited to think over what was said during chapel as they listened to a song, but were allowed to leave quietly and go to homeroom when they were done examining their own heart. I was so saddened to see 90% of the student body just get up and walk out of the auditorium practically before the song even began.
I am so accustomed to teaching in Christian schools where the students ARE Christians, where they pay attention in chapel instead of falling asleep, where they are eager to sing praise instead of slumping down in their seat, where they are attentive to the speaker instead of talking to their friends. Teaching at TLO and CAB was comfortable and in a sense, “easy”. My heart didn’t ache so much for my students because I wasn’t as concerned about the condition of their souls. Here in Thailand, I am brought to my knees in prayer and sadness. I am left clinging to Isaiah 55:11, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” So I am trusting that God’s precious word will not come back void… trusting that His will be done… trusting that despite my flaws, my sin, my pride, my shame, that He would use me as His vessel to be a light here at ICS… trusting that God hears my cries and my prayers interceding for my students… trusting that God will continue to move, soften hearts, and open eyes because He doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
As I cried yesterday thinking how unfair it is that God would save me and perhaps not many of my students, Mike reminded me to find joy in my own salvation… to remember what it was like to be a rebellious enemy of God, scorning Him in every regard, but how God gave me beauty for ashes and a heart of flesh for a heart of stone. Mike also reminded me that mercy is not mercy if it is extended to everyone. It’s hard to accept… I struggle with election and with accepting not seeing some/many of my students “safely home” one day. It just gives me all the more reason to be here and share my life with them, to love them, to serve them, and to be on my knees praying for them. Won’t you join with me in praying for them?
Shane and Shane came out with a new CD. In our household, we love Shane and Shane. We love how their songs speak truth to us, how they are centered on Bible verses, and how they are wicked awesome guitar players and singers. One of their new songs, and actually the title of the new album, is called “Everything is Different.” As Mike and I listened to this song for the first time last night, we rejoiced in thankfulness knowing that everything is different in Christ… praise the Lord for that. I pray that everything would be different for my students and that Christ would overwhelm them with His love.
Everything is Different
Who am I to know Your glory
Who am I to recognize Your voice
Calling out
How could I be in Your story
God who was and is, and is to come
Who has won
I was dead in my sin
You came in, yeah
You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and you're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me want to shout
That Jesus has been sent
And everything is different
Oh yes it is
You turn ashes into beauty
You are for me not against me now
You found me somehow
You turn mourning into dancing
You turn weeping into joyful noise
Oh rejoice
I was dead in my sin
You came in, yeah
You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and you're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me want to shout
That Jesus has been sent
And everything is different
Oh yes it is
What manner of love
That You would call us sons and daughters
We call Abba Father
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I will never be the same
You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and you're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me want to shout
That Jesus has been sent
You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and you're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me want to shout
That Jesus has been sent
And everything is different
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A few firsts
2. Saw my first "walking stick" the other day (in person). If you look at it closely (click on the picture itself to see a larger image), its head really looks like and "alien" head. Absurd creature, in my opinion.
3. Went to Seacon Square (one of the largest malls in Asia) and saw a cheerleading competition. The teams consisted of mainly (-ahem- flamboyant) males, which was interesting to me since I was on a team in HS that was all girls. Also saw some new stunts that were particularly amazing to me.
4. We went to our first hot-pot Japanese restaurant with our new friend, A. He is a college friend of one of Mike's childhood friends. A is from Thailand, so he enjoys showing us around and taking us to some of his favorite restaurants in Bangkok.
5. Read the Twilight series for the first time. Just like with the Harry Potter books, it took me a little while to jump on the bandwagon. And just like the Harry Potter books, I enjoyed the Twilight series immensely, and was thankful that I didn't jump on the bandwagon right away because then I didn't have to wait for all the books to come out one by one. Mike bought me the box set for my birthday and I flew through them in a week. Now I'm looking forward to seeing the movies.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Koh Chang Alphabet
Bad Mexican food
Chatty, crying, and content children
Deep friend bananas with ice cream
Elephant trekking
Food, fun, friends, fellowship, football
Gulf of Thailand
Heated football disputes on the beach between the men folk
Indian food
Jack and Jana’s near miss motorbike accident
Kids playing on the beach
Lively laughter
Motorbike gang adventures
Nice game of cribbage (Stacy & Karly vs. George & Mike)
Opportunity to relax
Poolside conversations while picture taking
Quiet, restful nights in a gigantic bed
Roti with bananas and chocolate
Swings and seafood along the beach
Twilight & A Tale of Two Cities (books we read)
Unbelievable sunsets
Vivid colors
Waterfall número uno and dos
X-ceptionally wonderful weather
Yucky “steak” from the Italian restaurant (Jack)
Zippy motorbikes
Now without further ado... lovely pics from the trip. Though, if we are friends on facebook, I would recommend checking out the pics there, as I have posted many more in a photo album. As always, you can click directly on the two picture collages to see a larger image.
Needless to say, we had a ridiculously fantastic time. We were grateful for a restful week to regain
Friday, October 16, 2009
Birthday Haiku
Had a great time with my friends
Ate way too much food
My birthday was great! School was canceled due to flooding, so I even got to sleep in on my birthday! Granted, I only slept in until 7, but who can complain about 40 minutes of extra sleep!? I had a lazy morning doing a little bit of school work, and then went to go watch a movie and eat Tony Roma's ribs with Diana. Holly and I went to go get a massage mid-afternoon, and then a gang of us went out to eat at Sizzler. It was great. Thank you friends for making my 27th birthday special! Here are some pictures from the evening. :)