Sa wa dee ka

'Sa wa dee ka' I learned means "Hello", "Good Morning", "Greetings" and so on. And when people say it here they bow their heads, smile and hold their hands close to their heart in lotus position. I have picked up a few things so far but I am learning quickly that Thai will be difficult to learn. 

The past couple of days have been packed with activity. On sunday, the day after I wrote last, myself and a group of others visited a temple up in the mountains called, Doi Suthep. We rode in what is called a 'sung tao'--which is basically an open-air red taxi truck that seats many people. We had to go all the way up this winding road that seemed endless and I became a little motion sick. This temple dates from the 16th century and is probably the most famous in Chiang Mai. There were 307 steps that we walked up and when we reached the top we started to smell incense. People were encouraged to buy flowers in order to make offerings. In the center was this huge golden structure with golden scaffolding around it (because the monument has undergone so many renovations). It is called the Golden Chedi. And on the four sides of the Chedi were amazing umbrella-type structures all in gold also. There were all sorts of people there... many foreigners but also monks and other Buddhists coming to visit.   You had to take off your shoes and you also had to keep your head below the buddha statues and images at all times. Also, you cannot wear sleeveless shirts, you have to have skirts or pants below the knee, and you cannot display affection for another while in the temple. There was also an amazing look out point on the side of the temple, which overlooks Chiang Mai. It was really powerful to be in that environment... there is so much tradition and custom involved in so much of the way it is all organized and practiced which I think is a pretty interesting energy to be around. 

Sunday night we went to the night market in downtown Chiang Mai with our whole group (about 20 of us) along with a group of Thai students from the university. It was really fun to be able to talk to the Thai students and ask questions back and forth. The market happens every sunday night and many hand-made bags, clothes, jewelery, paintings, toys, etc. are sold there. Also there is great thai food. One of the Thai students got me some Pad Thai... which was very good! She also made me try some of this cold salad and it was sooooo spicy! My throat was on fire for at least a 1/2 hour. However, I am getting much better at eating the spicy things already. Anyway, then it started to pour rain. We spent the next hour before we left just hopping from tent to tent trying not to get soaked. August and September is still the rainy season in Northern Thailand which means that it usually rains at least once a day. But it is usually pretty short and it actually cools things down pretty nicely. 

And today we had our orientation. It was a full day of all sorts of things... basic introductions, safety information, info about the university, etc. We had lunch with our thai friends again. We spent a lot of the time laughing about what sounds animals make in the thai language versus english. They really got a kick out of a rooster being "Cockle doodle doo!" And their sound for a cow is "Maaaaaoo". Also, tonight the program took us to a show and dinner in town that was really amazing. All sorts of thai dance and music and a buffet on each table of all different foods. It was sort of a touristy thing, but was also very beautiful. This week is packed with a lot of things but so far the jet-lag does not seem to be really affecting me so maybe I will hold up. We'll see

I am here!

So, I arrived yesterday in the beautiful Chiang Mai, Thailand. My flight was pretty long and I had a difficult time sleeping so I am a little jet-lagged and groggy but I think that I will survive. 

The university where I am studying is called Payap University and I am living in the Paradornparp International House which is a gorgeous new building with three floors. I am living on the third floor and have a Japanese roommate named Aoi. She is very nice... I just met her this morning. But she has been here for about 5 months already and she is studying English. So we can communicate pretty well. 

From the window of my room I have a view of some of the campus with beautiful giant mountains in the background. What I have seen of the campus is very interesting so far. I am hoping to walk around some more this afternoon. It is very hot and humid here though. And I was told that it rains around twice a week on average. Tonight we are supposed to go to a night market downtown which should be cool.  I have not seen the downtown yet but I know that it is supposed to be peppered with Buddhist temples. All that I have seen so far outside of the university is a mall not so far from campus. That was an interesting experience. We went yesterday to get some basic things like sheets, pillow, shampoo--things that would take up too much to pack. We shopped in this HUGE store... sort of like a Wal-mart equivalent. Almost everything was in Thai and myself and 3 other girls from my program were just wandering around the entire thing getting lost and trying to decipher the labels and such. And then all of the sudden this song starts playing on the speakers throughout the store while I am rummaging through some items. I look up and EVERYONE in the entire store had stopped what they were doing and stopped talking (except for the 4 of us girls). They were playing the national anthem and I guess that it is a custom to pause out of respect and listen while this song plays through. O my goodness! Well I guess now we will know...

Anyway, I guess that covers it so far. Orientation starts bright and early on Monday morning. I am eager to see what my classes and service will be like.