Thursday, July 9, 2009

I want a salad first thing when I get back!

Hey everyone!

To start things off, some basic business:

I’ve been sick with a cold these past few days, but I’m (luckily) feeling better before the 5-day trip to Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi for outdoor trekking. So for those of you who were worried about my feeling ill, rest assured, I’m fine. And before you even ask, no I do not have swine flu.

In other news: Monday through Wednesday most of Thailand was on holiday, literally. The past three days have been quiet around the University. Full-time students and staff had a holiday break, which unfortunately made finding food a little difficult. The street vendors across the street were open in the evenings, but fewer were open in the mornings or afternoons. I always found something to eat, whether it was at the hotel restaurant or somewhere else in the general area, so no worries, I’ve been fed & I’m generally physically well, just a little tired from traveling and class and life in the outskirts of Bangkok.

During my stay I’ve done lots of things; I don’t know where to begin. My favorite thing by far was the elephant ride, but I’ve got mixed feelings about that experience. We rode elephants when we visited Ayutthaya (the ancient capital of Thailand), but the place where we rode them was definitely a tourist attraction. I’d like to think that the people who care and train the elephants at that place take care of them and watch out for their well being, but there were elephants painted to look like pandas and trained to do tricks and lots of things that elephants generally do not do in the wild. Of course, elephants would not take me for rides in the wild either— but I’m not sure what other option exists when lots of these elephants are dependent on humans for survival. I really enjoyed the elephant ride but I feel a little guilty at the same time. I imagine they’d be happier just left alone to be elephants and do elephant things, but they’re far too profitable for that to ever happen…

I’ve taken several trips to the Night Markets here in Thailand – including one at Lumpini (where there is a large stage with free performances) and one called J.J. Market. At the market, especially as a Westerner, it’s important to be on your game. They stall owners will inevitably try to give you a grossly inflated price, and it’s your job to bargain it down. At the beginning this process is novel and interesting and exciting and engaging – but after a few visits, I began to miss the price-tag-no-negotiating type of shopping I’m so accustomed to. Bargaining is exhausting (and sometimes the stall owners get angry)!

Cabs here are a lottery, but they’re the best way to get from place-to-place. Because Mahidol University is on the outskirts of Bangkok, not a whole lot of public transit is easily accessible – it’s generally better to split a cab with three or four other people. Of course, because most cab drivers speak limited English and we speak all of “hello,” “thank you,” and “chicken fried rice,” in Thai, establishing where we want to go is a challenge in and of itself. There road system is so convoluted, there’s no way to tell whether or not the cab driver has taken the shortest or longest route. Some will and some won’t, but it’s really a toss-up. And the traffic in Bangkok is like nothing I’ve ever seen— there are girls riding side-saddle on the backs of motorcycles, flying down highways like it’s nothing, and contraptions known at “Tuk-Tuks” which are some strange hybrid between a wagon and a motorcycle and a tricycle.
I hope this post doesn’t sound too critical—Thailand really is an amazing place to be, and particularly relevant to the class I’m taking on international migration right now. We met the other day with the Bangkok chapter of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees) and learned a fair amount about UNHCR’s involvement in legally protecting refugees in Thailand (particularly those from neighboring Burma, or Myanmar). Prior to our meeting with UNHCR we met with Sally Thompson, a leader for TBBC – the Thailand Burma Border Consortium— an organization of NGOs that deal with Burmese Refugees in Thailand.

I’ll be gone in Kanchanaburi/Ratchaburi for a few days, so no one worry if you don’t hear from me – I’ll try to post an update later after our trekking trip. It’s just been hard for me to wrap my head around this experience, so I’ve been hesitant to update my blog the way I really should. Know that I miss you all and can’t wait to see you when I get back home!

All my love,
Allie


p.s. I will post pictures when my internet is not so slow that they won't load. I promise!