Trying New Things

First of all, I have to express how happy I am that it has cooled down here in Chiang Mai. It was steaming hot for a couple of days-pushing 100 degrees Fahrenheit...or at least it felt that way. I was grateful for a thunderstorm two nights ago, despite the fact that it scared the children since it happened just as they were falling asleep, but that took the temperature down to a more comfortable level. It rained again early this morning so that it is now a very comfortable 70 degrees. I love it when the weather is like this!

Two days ago I decided that I was going to try the fried chilies (which are about the length of my fingernail mind you) that the Thais have told me are probably too hot for me. I thought that I should try it since I am in Thailand. So I started to eat a little teeny bit of it at a time, and thought oh okay, it's a little hot, but it's bearable. I crushed the rest of it up into my food and mixed it in so that it just seemed like I had put crushed red pepper into my food, which is something I can eat in the U.S. I was completely fine and proud of myself (though not too proud since the children were eating the chilies too :) ) All of a sudden my tongue started to burn with a vengeance and I couldn't bear it any longer...I tried to quickly make myself some Milo (hot chocolate), and as I had finished making it the pain subsided to soon be replaced by a burning sensation around my mouth (right under my nose and under my lips)...hah which then turned bright red--It was so embarrassing. The Farang (term for foreigner) tries a chili and gets a rash. Haha! It must have looked really funny. I then had to go take a nap until I felt better. As Malee said: "You are not Thai. You cannot eat like the Thais." I will remember this advice from now on and listen to the Thais when they say they think something is too hot for me. It's nice to have someone looking out for your best interest, but as a naughty child I had to learn that lesson for myself. :)

Tonight, I might be going with the teacher Pat out and then to stay the night at her Aunt's house in Chiang Mai. She has to ask Malee first if I can go...since last time she asked was during Songkran and her request was turned down-thankfully in my opinion, because I am guessing the reason she said no is because Pat drives a motorbike and during Songkran there are a lot of drunk drivers and a lot of dousing motorbikes with water on the streets-i.e. it's a time when there are a lot of motorbike accidents. Again, I am very happy to have someone looking out for me here. It's really nice. Ro (another teacher) also asked if I want to go visit her home about 4 hrs from here by bus from Saturday night to Tuesday night. I would like to see something new though I am not sure if I will go this time or not. The time I have here is quickly dwindling and once John gets here I will be off traveling and seeing more of Thailand.

Until later,
Brittany