Night Market

Today was my first day here on a non-school day. We started the day relaxing and watching A Night At the Museum w/Ben Stiller-i thought it was a cute movie.

We then piled into the Ban San Faan van and headed to a mall to see the High School Musical by the local Chiangmai International School. The school was set up for missionary children and the musical was done in English. It was cute. We then headed over to a night market where we ate at one of the local shops. I ate what the kids ate (pork w/garlic and rice), which the teachers and nannies found comical since the children's food has a lot less spices in it, though it is still slightly spicy. I can't handle how hot the adults eat their food. It's almost not worth eating when it's that hot!

While walking around the Night Market, I was warned by Brian to hold on tight to the two children I was walking with. Apparently a lot of children have been stolen lately in Chiangmai and Night Markets are the perfect place to snatch a child-who knew. I asked Malee tonight what they do with the children. She said some of the stolen children get sold into sex slavery and others have limbs removed so that they look more pitiful when they beg. It just seemed disgusting to me that anyone would even think to do that to a child. On a lighter note, the Night Market was teeming with vendors selling clothes, vegetables, fruit, meats on sticks, fried dough, waffles, frozen orange juice (which I had but was disappointed at because it was VERY salty-Brian said the Thais do that to cut down the sweetness-I didn't really like it), puppies, gerbils and other rodents, lottery tickets, hairbows, purses, etc. etc. I'd like to go back at some point and buy some skirts, but I was too worried about the kids getting taken to really be able to look around. I took some pictures which I will post tomorrow or so. The traffic near the market was also enough for me to keep the kids really close-cars would drive so close to us and not slow either that I was afraid the kids would misstep and get killed. Which makes me think of another sidenote: On the wall in the living room/dining area, there are mail slots for each child. One name didn't sound familiar to me, so I asked who that was. Averil said he had an accident and died. How terrible. I don't know what kind of accident, but I felt funny asking. I wonder if he got killed by a car. Not sure, but it's sad nonetheless.

A good day

I wrote a whole post last night and then the Internet decided to go out for a moment and I lost it. I was too tired to rewrite it. Luckily, today was better than yesterday so this post will be more cheerful. Yesterday, I was feeling very homesick since I was confused as to what to do with the children and got stuck with the Kindergartners with nothing to do-hah, I couldn't deal with all day playtime. Also, I was brought to the church attended by all at Ban San Faan. Brian, Malee's husband-she manages the children's home and lives a few steps away, brought me to the church which I then realized was Evangelical. I had tagged along simply because I wanted to see something outside the Children's home, which is really nice but on the outskirts of town. The service was much like what I have seen on TV about Evangelical mass-a lot of loud singing with hands raised and then people receiving the holy spirit and falling down. It was slightly frightening and I wanted to run out though Brian was just too nice of a man to offend. I respect everyone's right to worship in that manner, but I definitely will not be participating willingly. To explain where I am further, I am living in a really nice, new building that has many rooms that open to a sort-of courtyard (which is shaded as well, thankfully). My room has bunk beds, although I am the only one sleeping their at the moment, two comfortable chairs, English books, and its own bathroom. It's actually really nice and I'll probably miss it when I leave to travel with John at the end of May.

Today, I got to help out with more English classes and Math. I spent time working alone with the Kindergartners as well, but this time they had to make cards for their sponsors so luckily I wasn't asked to crawl on the floor and pretend to be an elephant like I had the previous day :)
The Kindergartners are really cute and consist of the youngest, Abby, who is 4, Ruth and Esther, who are 5 year old twins, Mark, and Paul, both 5 years old as well. One of the Thai women told me to go find my "fan club" hah. They do tend to follow me around. There may be a baby coming here while I am still here. He is 8 months old and living with a family until he is ready to come to Ban San Faan. That should be interesting if he does arrive while I am here. Did I spell Kindergartner right???

I also got to see the ice cream man today. He drives a cart around attached to his motorbike and rings a bell until all of the children run outside. He was selling coconut and banana leaf flavored ice cream. The children got their ice cream in rolls. I had mine in a cone. I actually saw the hamburger bun, hot dog bun, roll phenomenon of Asia on the Travel Channel before I left or I would have been very confused. On the Travel Channel they actually had yam flavored ice cream and something else that sounded terrible. I also sat outside with the children and watched some men set up a jungle gym and swing set. They actually were painting it once it got there and Bill (the man that orchestrated Ban San Faan) said that the swing set pieces were all fashioned by hand. I was wondering why he didn't just get plastic because he was complaining that they may be too hard and the children might hurt each other with them. He said that the Thais like to do things their own way and its cheaper to make the swings that had arrived.

I'm HERE

So I have arrived in Chiangmai, Thailand. The plane ride was soooooo long and uneventful, but boy was it long. It was about 22 hours of traveling once I got on the plane at JFK airport in NYC. The home I am staying in is really nice. I have my own room with it's own bathroom and two really comfortable chairs for reading-its perfect. I am definitely homesick at the moment as I am overtired, really hot (its about 97 degrees and HUMID), and still feeling nauseous from the plane ride. The only thing really interesting about my trip was that the moment I stepped on the plane I felt like I was in another country. I took China Air and even the Chinese Americans were speaking in Mandarin on the plane. I was a little lost. At least the movies were in English! I sat next to a Cambodian who claims he is from the royal family. However, he spoke slightly oddly about things-telling me how he wants to be THE ARTIST of 2007 and create a monument of the steps down to hell and up to heaven. I guess that doesnt sound that strange but the way he spoke about it for some reason made me think he might be full of it.

On another note, the children here at Ban San Faan are incredibly cute and friendly. They also speak a decent amount of english which is a plus. I can tell that I should learn some Thai however because many of the people who work here know very little English. Until Later, Brittany

Anxiously Awaiting

I will be leaving for Thailand on March 25th at night from JFK airport in New York City. Please pray for my safe arrival in Chiangmai on March 27th in the morning (which will be March 26th in the evening here in MA). Thailand is 11 hours ahead of Massachusetts. Thank you all for your well wishes. I will hopefully be talking to you soon! Love, Brittany