BUSARA’S DIGEST #6

Sawadeeka everybody!!!! Sorry that this digest is a little late in coming but after reading this you will definitely see that I was extremely busy. Because I did so much, this is in journal form. ENJOY!!!!!!

Wed. November 1st

My mid-term break is finally over and school has re-opened although Thursday’s is still Army day for the boys at my school. My Thai is coming along great and I’m beginning to get the hang of reading and writing. I can speak to get around and some short conversations. I now even find myself thinking certain words and phrases in Thai. This term I am taking the same basic cultural classes but I enjoy them twice as much because now I can understand and communicate with my teachers. I especially like Thai Dancing and I am learning a dance from the south of Thailand right now. I’ve made ‘kanom Thai’ (Thai dessert) in my cooking class and also created some beautiful craft in my fruit craft class.

Thurs. November 2nd

A fellow inbound from Petchaboon (Megan S.) came to Bangkok and we had the chance to hangout and show her around the town. She, Anne-Sophie. Megan L. and I went ice skating at World Trade Center and I almost broke my leg (Angelo, you aren’t the only one!!!) Afterwards we took a trip to Cowsan Rd. and this was also my first time going there. It’s a tourist market but everybody was so surprised that we could negotiate prices in Thai and get them down by saying that we were ‘sim same Thai people’ (Thai English for ‘just like Thai people’.) Did I mention, that I speak perfect “Thai English”????? We spent the day on Cowsan Rd. just shopping and looking around. 

Sun. November 5th

On this Sunday I went to China town with some Y.E. friends. It was a lot of fun. We walked through the market simply browsing and taking in the cool summer-like air, although the Thai’s claim that it is now winter. After China Town we went to the Emporium which is one of the most expensive malls in Thailand, to eat Italian food. Afterwards, we watched Coyote Ugly, which was like the 5th movie I’ve watched since I’ve been here.

Fri. November 11th – Sat. November 12th

This weekend was probably the highlight of November. All of the exchange students traveled to Lopburi, another province for LOY KRATONG. One of my Ajarns (teachers) told me that it is a festival to make amends with the water for dirtying it. At midnight, the moon is full and everybody bathes in the river for good luck. Unfortunately, the river is too dirty now to bathe in so people float (loy) Kratongs which are boats made out of banana leaves and filled with flowers, incense and candles. It is sooo beautiful to see the river lit with floating lights. That night I floated two Kratongs.  The festival also had a beauty pageant and Mariko (Y.E. from Japan) and I participated in it. I think it was just for fun because after the opening model part we were finished. It was 60’s style and the contestants looked like real life Barbie dolls. After Loy Kratong festival we went back to the different houses we were staying in and got ready to explore Lopburi on our own at night or should I say early morning. 

On Sunday morning, we had to leave for Bangkok again. We had lunch at the house (or should I say mansion) of a Rotarian. He cooked sooo much food for us but the Rotarians ate most of it because we all just snacked on the exotic fruits. 

But of course, who could go to Lopburi also known as ‘Monkey Town’ and not take a look at the monkeys. We stopped at the Monkey temple and in that area they were all over the place just crawling around the town and on light poles etc. So CUTE!!!!!!!!

Fri. November 17th

I went to RCA (Royal City Avenue) which is a closed off road with clubs lining both sides. I can say that even though we exchange students look like ‘falangs’ (foreigners) we know which buses to hop on and go almost anywhere. Yes, I said buses, not taxis. I went with Mariko, Anne-Sophie, Masato, Eriko, and Yoshikoto RCA. We went in clubs like Route 66, Beverly Hills, Marine, and Sea Beach. In one club they played Baha Men “Who Let the Dogs Out” and I almost went crazy because they were showing parts of the video on the monitors. It was sooo funny. LOL!! My host-mom is so cool that I don’t have a curfew. After dancing to this extremely loud music I got home about 3am and Mariko and Anne-Sophie spent the night at my house.

Sat. Novemeber 18th

On Saturday Mariko, Anne and I met some other Y.E’s and we went to Suang Siam, which is a water park. We spent the day swimming and playing on the water slides. I can say that I had a really good time. That night I went to Chinese dinner with my host-family and family friends. My hair was still wet and the restaurant was snowing cold (surprising in Thailand right?????) so I got a slight cold that I’m still getting over. 

Mon. November 27th

Megan S. came to Bangkok again and she Mariko and I went to Wat Po to see the enormous and world-famous ‘Reclining Buddha.’ This was really a strange but funny experience. Temples are supposed to be free for Thai people so the three of us were there telling the cashier “Nacrean Thai, Nacrean Thai!!!!” which means Thai student. But since we didn’t have any Thai ID or school card, we had to pay 20 baht (50cents). I even had my business card but they didn’t take it. Then, when we were supposed to take off our shoes to go into the main temple we put them on the rack labeled Thai people. The security guard came to us, but this time they believed us when we said “Nacrean Thai, Nacrean Thai!!” At Wat Po, we also got to play a favorite game of Y.E’s in Thailand that we made up. We call it the Language game, where we follow ‘falangs’ (foreigners/tourists) and try to guess what language they’re speaking and where they’re from. Then we go up to them and start speaking a little to Thai to see if they understand. Most times they don’t but it’s really fun because we get to introduce ourselves as Exchange Students and since the inbounds in this district are so diverse more than likely we have one person who can speak the language of the foreigner. It may seem silly but it’s a lot of fun. One time we ended up meeting the Russian Ambassador to Thailand but the two Y.E.’s from Russia were not there at the time. 

That night we went to PATPONG, which is a world-famous night market for go-go bars and shopping. We didn’t want to go into those type of clubs so we just walked along the market part and took in the scene.

November 28th

This was probably the second biggest even that happened in the month of November for me. “70 YEARS OF ROTARY SERVICE IN THAILAND!!!” There was a hugeeeeeeee banquet (Chinese-style) with Rotarians from all over the world. I don’t think anybody from Dist. 6990 was there though. The hall was soo beautiful as Rotarians from the 4 districts in this country came together to celebrate this joyous occasion. Almost every Rotary club had Thai performance from their region of Thailand, which they showed to the audience and visitors. In attendance was supposed to be Rotary International President, Frank J. Devlyn but he was sick so he could not make it. There was a huge choir and even little ballet dancers as Rotary (Lo-ta-lee) songs were sung and as the M.C’s took us back to the beginning of Rotary in Thailand. At that time, I was definitely proud to be an exchange student in such a country.  

Ok, that’s all for the sixth issue of "BUSARA’S DIGEST’.

To come… SOUTHERN BUS TRIP 2000!!!!! (Dec. 3-9) I have ants in my pants waiting for this event!!!!!

Look forward to issue seven (7):::::::::::

COMING SOON TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU, IN AN E-MAIL JUST FOR YOU!

SAWADEE KA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Signed: BARBARA ZÁ FRANKS

R. Y. E. 2000_2001

Dist. 6990 (Grand Bahama) - Dist 3350 (Thailand)