sunday...

i don't have internet access on the weekends...so my apologies for the delay in posting...i'm at an internet cafe right now so that i can give you an update.

i completed my class on friday....and the adventure has begun:

Saturday we went to my first of the "1000 things to see before you die" that is located in Thailand. The Chatuchak Weekend Market...it was incredible! there were stands selling anything you can imagine lining streets and creating their own streets for over 5 miles. (pictures to come;)

the afternoon was spent reading by the pool, and the evening brought another small adventure. in an effort to see a movie (which is quite the experience in Thailand) we went to an incredible mall downtown. it was just like the King of Prussia Mall in America but nicer...flat screen TV's hung on the walls in the food court...and level 5 of the mall had Ferrari and a Lambroghini dealers. it was strange...

i had my first ride on the skytrain which was neat and ate ROTI for the first time. it's like an omlette inside of a pancake...and has chicken and veggies inside...topped with a chili ginger sauce. SOOOO good...my favorite thing yet.

Today we went to an English speaking church downtown-very cool- and then went out for Lebonese food for lunch. good stuff...

basically i'm just counting the minutes until my sister gets here....

tomorrow we're headed to Krachanaburi...where the bridge over the River Kwai is lacated along with the historical death railroad...then picking Clare up from the airport late...then the real fun will begin...

i'll add pictures on monday...

AHHH you can all pray for one of my classmates who contracted Denghi Fever and is in the hospital...it's a disease transfered by mosquito's and it referred to as "Break-bone" fever because you feel like your bones are breaking...great huh. she'll probably miss class this week and she's bummed...and not to mention in pain...don't worry mom she contracted the disease in Cambodia...

Figured it out!!!! (the website however is still in Thai;)

ok...no one knows why these pictures are arranged like this...but...at least it's pictures...

clockwise from top left:

the pack-horse...my distinguished airport shuttle driver;)...the pink and purple airline...the inside of my humble abode...the international community school where my classes are held(picture taken from the balcony of my apartment...)

While the last few days have been filled with new sights, new people and new smells, the most incredible thing to consider is that I am on the other side of the world from all of you...and that people here live life just like we do...only different...but it's still this day to day thing...Thailand is a lot like America, but completely different (well the city anyway). Bangkok, or what I've seen of it so far, consists of the usual city sights: shopping, street vendors, museums, parks, cars, buses, etc. Oh yeah and then there are these monstrous statues of gods and the King;) I went walking to the local grocery store today...small back-roads where the cars and motor bikes have to make way for the people rather than vice-versa. The people are completely chill as they just stroll along and find what they want for dinner, then proceed to take funny colored liquids home in clear plastic baggies. Stray dogs line the side walks and lots of puddles left over from the night's torrential downpour need to be consciously avoided. The walk was not bad and the heat is very tolerable. The humidity is the hard part...I ended up getting a ride back to campus from a Thai woman who recognized me from the Smile Post-a place to go on the internet and mail various things. I've only been there once but I suppose I'm pretty recognizable considering I'm the only person with blonde hair in the vicinity. No jet-lag and no sickness of any kind from the food yet;)(My apologies for taking so long to post. I'd intended to do it yesterday but the internet went down on campus...aghh.)Consider this the Tuesday blog...even though it's Wednesday...on this side of the world;)

this website is in THAI!

ok, so the blogger website on the computer is completely in Thai...good think i'm a visual learner who is drawn to spacial layout and graphics, thus i have the website memorized spacially and know what buttons to hit...

i have arrived in Thailand and as i write, it is 4:15 on monday june 25th...which is strange because the majority of you are 11-12 hours behind...but that's ok.

Bangkok is a little scary...simply because i forgot how difficult it is to be in a country that speaks another language...my little pink Thai phrase book is quickly becoming my dearest companion.

lunch was only one dollar! unbelievable...

already the Lord has shown his provision through the course of events surrounding my arrival...i realized about 4 hours into my 17 hour plane ride that i did not print out the email with all of my school's contact info. on it. ergo(sp?) i had no idea how i was going to tell the Thai-speaking taxi driver how to take me where i needed to go, nor did i have anyway to find out where to go, as my cell phone no help. (i wouldn't know what number to call even if i had a phone). i'msure i lost sleep over it on the plane...but all was well upon arrival and a man held a sign with my name in it when i waltzed off the plane and away we went...and arrived safely. it was "all good" as they say.

i made it through the first day of class and no homework for tomorrow...we're headed to the mall (walking distance with a Starbucks). While i hate to succumb to the globalization of the American economy...starbucks is a comfort of home i cannot resist at this point...don't worry dad starbucks is only .65 here. oh and they serve iced coffee in bags. strange but fun.

well we're all (16) sharing three computers so i must sign off for now...pictures to come soon...apparently you can buy a Thai wireless card for approx. $5...i'm on my way.

a little over 12 hours from now..

...i'll be on a plane en route to the east. my bags are packed, cameras and school work ready, and a sister close behind for company. i'm so thankful for all that has been provided for this trip (thanks mom and dad;). a little less than 12 hours ago a dear friend informed me that she will be enabling me to carry an emergency cell phone with me as we travel through the vast unknown...you know...just in case we need it. a welcomed comfort and a gracious gift. thanks;)...soooooo that next time you hear from me...i'll be on the other side of the world.

one week from today...

...i'll be on an airplane en route to Bangkok, Thailand.
can't wait. the blog will function from june 23-july21...so grab your donuts while they are fresh...i love when you all leave comment on the blog...but don't forget to tell me who you are;)

the latest update, Miss Katherine Clare Zilich will be joining me on my adventure...so you can all drop her a line as well. She will arrive in Bangkok on july 2 and will be serving as my lil'traveling companion for two weeks following her glorious arrival...yay!

check it ouuuuuuuuuut.

here we go again.

for the sake of easing the anxiety of those who love me...i'm going at this blogging thing again so that they (and others) will know i am still alive.

destination: THAILAND.

i'll start posting as soon as possible upon my arrival. so check in with me periodically to see what i'm seeing...