Roob Thai Project

Our Thai Studies program had a photo competition that was supposed to depict a theme of a current issue in Thailand. The entries were judged by 4 people and was based on the content of the picture, the description and title, and the aesthetics of the picture. My picture ended up with second place!! I won 500 baht for it, which is like 15 dollars. here is my picture and description:

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Caption: “Papa Don’t Preach”

Explanation: This picture was taken at a cabaret show in Koh Samui. During this act a Lady boy or “gatoy” sang a song while slowly transforming himself from drag to what he was underneath it all. At the end of his performance, all of his makeup and accessories were gone and you were left with just him. It was very interesting to see his transformation because he looked so different at the end. I chose this theme because I think gender issues are so interesting here. There seems to be blurred lines of gender and sexuality prevalent everywhere. Thailand is either extremely accepting or somewhat ignorant of the widespread existence of the several sexual identities that are present here. After talking with several people about sexuality here, it seems like there are many things you can identify with and there is something for everyone. It think it is great that this man was brave enough to go through his transformation publicly because your sexuality can be a very personally thing, and he really put himself out there.

All deep things are song. It seems somehow the very central essence of us, song; as if all the rest were but wrappages and hulls! -Thomas Carlyle

For Annie and I’s second teaching experience, we went to the nursing school. When we showed up, there were only two students. We planned to teach a lesson on American popular music. I brought  my Ipod and speakers to have the students listen to some popular songs we had picked from different genres. Annie also printed out the lyrics to one song, “Just a Girl” by No Doubt. We thought this song would be good becasue it also has a good massage about women’s rights. It turned ot that we talked about the one song the whole time since we went through all the lyrics and explained the meaning of each word and phrase that they did not understand. It was pretty interesting to see their reaction to the song. It seemed like they enjoyed it, but were kind of confused by its massage. A lot of the song uses sarcasm, which was a hard concept to explain. One of the lines in the song says, “I’ve had it up to here.” that was a rough one to describe, because it is pretty non descript and to understand you really have to just know the phrase. We attempted to say that is means you are really angry and frustrated with a situation, but that doesn’t really explain why they say use those words, so we showed that it is a was to say that pressure builds up from your feat to your head and when it gets to high you say “I’ve had it up to hear,” while pointing at your head. Whew, trying to explaining that is really more difficult that I thought it would be, especially the second time. I never realized how complicated all of America’s little phrases are.

It was really fun for Annie and I to talk about music, since we enjoy listening to it so much. I also think music is a very important thing to a culture and is used a lot to express ideas and feelings about one’s culture. It is also so beautiful and a way to communicate feeling without needing to understand the language. It is almost like something universal. I am just glad I could share a passion of mine with some new people and hopefully I taught them a little something too.

You Learn Something New Everyday

 Buddhist traditions are very ritualistic and have very significant meanings. They help protect, make merit, and celebrate. Buddhism iscentered around following the middle pathway and no having desires, but ever since the Western world of consumerism has entered Thailand it seems people become increasingly needy of things, but still at the same time uphold their Buddhist beliefs. This is one of the many things I have encountered in Thailand that is quite an interesting mix of modern verses ancient tradition. I have noticed when I am in cars that there is some type of painting on the headliner near the front and then sometimes there is string around the steering wheel (the same string used in the Kuan ceremonies to help your spirits). One of my friends cars has a clear plastic Buddha statue of a monk and a sticker on the headliner instead of the painting. I was so confused about this until I asked Queen and she told me that it was from the blessing that the monk gave to the car. I guess this happens to every new car when it is purchased to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers. Thai people tend to be superstitious, so this makes sense, but it is so interesting to me that a monk gets into the new car and blesses it. I see it as an example of how times are changing, and shows Thailand is right up there with modernization. They have adapted their religion to fit in with how they currently live their lives. Ever since this blessing of cars was explained to me I realized that even most motorbikes (which are more common than cars here) also have the string tied around the handlebars.

I love that even the smallest of details about Thai culture can be so eye opening. I can get so much information about they way people work here from all these tiny details I have gathered throughout my time here. I wonder if people feel the same way about how people act in America.

7 Eleven, Stitches and Temples

I recently completed my final for my art class. Duringthe class we had visited and talked with many contemporary Thai artists as well as looked at historical Thai are and our final project was supposed to be something that was inspired by what we had learned. I chose to do a wood cut print because I thought this was a good opportunity to try using a new medium. I wanted my design to have a mixture of modern and historical Thai, so I first looked to the Lai Thai designs that are frequently seen on temples. Then I tried to think about something modern about Thailand or a way that it has been affected by Globalization and all I could think of was 7 Eleven. They are everywhere in Thailand, sometimes more than one every couple blocks. The minimart chain plays a big role in my day to day life here. I frequently visit them to buy baht for my phone, a drink, snacks, etc and many people do the same. Sometimes I question my loyalty to the 7 Eleven store, but it is just so convenient and I know what I can get there. I guess that is what they are going for. The are just as common if not more common than Starbucks in the Northwest and that is saying something(I know you all know what I am talking about). Anyway, I feel like the two most prevalent things in Thailand are Buddhist Temples (which are also so common you couldsee one from almost any placeyou are standing in Chiang Mai) and 7 Eleven, so I decided to combine the two in my woodcut.

The process was quite long and difficult. I actually ended up cutting myself and getting stitches while doing the carving. It was also quite difficult to figure out how to do the printing process. Since I used water colors, they dried before I was done painting the whole thing, so I ended up havingto do one color at a time. I had fun comingup with the colors I used. Hopefully when my computer starts working(if it does) I can get a picture of it up here, but for now, they are stuck in my computer without anyway to get them out. I really enjoyed experimenting with this project and I ended up pretty happy with it (even thoguh I came out of it with three stitches).

Service to others is the payment you make for your space here on earth- Mohammed Ali

My friend Katie is working with an organization for a volunteer project here in Thailand called the Healing Family Foundation. It works with mentally challenged adults and helps them learn to weave so they can sell what the make tohelp them make a living. They recently had their three year anniversary celebration and Katie asked us to hep out with a performance. They were going to have the weaving artist sing the Do-re-mi song from The Sound of Music and they needed a little back up. We ended up spending a couple days with them before the performance practicing and getting ready. There was also a group of children from an orphanage who were going to sing with us. I love kids, so it was great to be able to spend some time hanging out with them. On the day of the anniversary, we all went to the technology university in the morning toset up by helping blow up balloons and such. The celebration took the whole morning and consisted of several performances from the artists and various other groups. My favorite part was after we sang our song we released over a hundred baloons into the room and everyone srtated to play wioth them. The kids seemed so happy and I think it was a moment of bliss for everyone involved. I love when I get to feel like a kid again. There was quite a large group there to see the performance, and I think it was quite a success. It was a fun experience and I was glad I could help Katie out with her project.

Takes all kinds of people to make up a world- Kilgore Trout from Kurt Vonnegut’s book Breakfast of Champions

Last weekend I went to Nan with my Thai friend Queen who I know from my travels last time I was in Thailand. She was my tour guide for the last two weeks of my trip and I have hung out with her several times while I have been here. I got the chance to ask her so many of the things I have been wondering about Thai culture while I was with her. It is rare for me to get to spend a lot of one on one time with someone who has so much personal knowledge about Thailand and is able to talk about it with me since she very fluent in English, so I took advantage of it. Throughout the weekend I asked her everything that I could think of that I have been wanting to know, so it was more of an informal and random interview, but it sure was interesting. I got answers to every question from, “Why do a lot of Thai people have long pinky nails?” to, “What do you think about the various sexual identities present in Thailand?” Well, people have long pinky nails because they use them to pick their nose, but her answer about her ideas about sexual orientation here in Thailand were a little more complicated. She said that people seem to be very comfortable with expressing themselves. There are plenty of ladyboys (transsexuals) and toms (tomboys) all over Thailand and most people seem to barely be affected by it. Not once have I heard a derogatorycomment about someone identifying with the opposite sex or being attracted to the same sex. It is almost like people just leave someones sexual preference to themselves (What a novel idea!). However, Queen told me that many older people, religious institutions, and government members still do not agree with the idea of alternative so the possibility of the legalization of gay marriage is about 20 years off she guessed.

We also talked about a lot of random things:

-Being 25 is bad luck. That is the reason that many men become ordained as monks at this age. It is supposedly dangerous and common for bad things to happen to people at this age. I don’t know where this idea came from or why it is at 25 and not any other year. Queen didn’t explain it so it is kind of a mystery to me, but it isn’t extremely surprising that this belief exists since Thai people tend to be very superstitious.

-I noticed in her truck that there was a painting on the ceiling and when I asked her about it she said it was from when the monk blessed her car. She said that most Buddhist have their cars and motorbikes blessed to help protect them from accidents. Ever since she told me this, I have noticed that every car I get into has a similar painting or sticker that is meant to protect you.

-When we visited a temple, there was a small dome and when we came up to it I realized that it was a representation of hell. I never even knew the idea of hell existed in Buddhism, so it was surprising to me when I saw these statues begin tortured in several different ways. Queen told me that there are 5 main things that can get you into hell: Adultery, lying. using too many substances, killing animals or people, and stealing. Depending of the extremity of the crime you get certain amount of times in hell  before you are reborn. She told me that it is actually common for monks to go to hell since they have many more rules to follow and therefore many more to break. Her father used to own a slaughter house, but her mother made him sell it because he she was worried that the killing of the animals would cause him to go to hell.

-I talked to her about prostitution in Thailand, because it is such a big problem. She said some people do it to make easy money and use it to buy nice things for themselves, but she did seem to understand though that some people send a lot of money home as a way to make a good amount of money to support their families. The idea of prostitution is so difficult, because it is such a terrible thing and very dangerous to the people involved, but it is one of the more lucrative careers to have in Thailand. Even though it is illegal, is is prevalent everywhere. She said the harder you work for your money, the more likely you are to save it. Since prostitution is a quick way to make a lot of money, most women spend their money very quickly. As prostitutes get older she said a lot of them die of HIV or end up homeless and go back home to work in rice fields. I asked Queen how she felt about old foreign men with young Thai girls (which is a very common sight in Thailand, especially in certain areas of town) and she said, “it is disgusting.” She herself prefers to date foreigners, so I asked her if she sometimes feels like people think she is a prostitute because she is with a foreigner. She said she sometimes does and will occasionally get looks from people (especially if she is dressed up), but to help herself avoid that feeling, she will make sure that she pays for herself when she goes places. She has kind of gotten over it though because she knows who she is.

-I have noticed that consumerism is becoming very popular in Thailand and to me it seems so against Buddhist philosophy, so I asked her what she thought of all this new technology and “stuff”. She said that technology can sometimes cause problems like easier access to pornography, but it really depends on the person. She also mentioned that many young girls become prostitutes becausethey want money to buy phones and clothes, so that is definitely a negative impact of technology. I think she has become very westernized because of her constant exposure to foreigners, so she has definitely been impacted by globalization here.

-Queen has eaten tiger, bear, crocodile, squirrel, and rabbit. She used to go out into the jungle with her brothers and sad and sometimes they would find an animal and eat it.

-Queen has had 5 different names that have been changed by her mother because a fortune teller told her that that name would cause her bad luck, but her nickname has always been queen. Her current name is Supicha and is only about 5 years old.

So as you can see I learned a lot from Queen over my weekend in Nan. It may not have been a formal of focused interview, but I learned more from her about current Thai culture in three days than I did the whole time I was here before that trip.

Over the weekend I also got to go to her cousins wedding with her. It was very different than any wedding I have been to back in the States. They had to negotiate the dowry in the beginning. The groom had to pass through several gates as the dowry got higher. The ceremony is held at the home of the bride or groom most often, unless the house is too small and then they have it at a school or something similar. In this case it was at the brides parents home, but there were going to be two more ceremonies; one at the grooms in the south and one in Bangkok, where the couple primarily lives. The only thing i recognised in the weddin was the exchanging of rings. There was a Kuan ceremony where each guest came to tie a string around each of the couple’s wrists to wish them happiness and then received a gift. They also had some Buddhist chants and a speaker. At the end of the ceremony, the couple got into a bed that was layed by a couple who had had a long successful marriage and every one went in to take pictures. Then they were left there for about half and hour until they came down to have lunch with the guests. So there was no. “now you may kiss the bride,” but they definitely got some alone time. Queen told me that in very traditional weddings, the couple is left there for three days! Overall, the wedding seemed to be much more about the family and guests than it was about the couple, which is typical of Thai to be more community oriented than individual.

That whole weekend was such a great experience, and I am so lucky to have a friend like Queen to share these things with me.

Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences, our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them. -Judith Henderson

For our intercultural understanding class we were asked to write about one of the cultural differences of communication.  We went over several major differences in culture and I thought one in particular stood out to me. Power distance which identifies the distance between those in power and those who subject to their power. In America I am used to being encouraged to challenge authority and use critical thinking. We question our teachers, our parents, and our government. We are taught to develop our own individual thoughts by critically thinking about others ideas. But in Thailand, people give full respect to their authority figures and would never challenge them. The King is the highest of authorities here, and it is illegal to speak poorly of him. Then there are monks who are also extremely respected since they have devoted their lives to Buddhism and live by 227 precepts or rules. Followed by monks, or pra in Thai, is the government. Many people are protesting against the government right now, so that is an example of an exception of this rule, but those who are protesting are mostly highly educated academics. Age is also something that is very respected. If someone is older than you, you call them pee usually followed by their name. Kids do what their parents tell them and you never challenge what a teacher has to say. One specific example I encountered was talking to a friend about them wanting to go to the US. They said  that they were not sure if their parents would let them go and I thought about me coming to Thailand and the situation with my parents. For me, it was more like i let them know that I was going and they supported my decision. I didn’t really ask permission to go, which now that I think about it is kind of funny, but I guess I am an adult and can make my own decisions.

This difference exists primarily because the US and Thailand differ greatly in one area. Americans are taught to be individuals from the day they are born. We are brought up to be our own person separate from everyone else. In Thailand, people are raised in a community atmosphere and learn to rely on each other greatly. Their parents always know what is best for them and their communities are very strong. These are two very different ways viewing a society, neither is better than the other, just extremely different.

This is the reason people are so respectful of elders and those in a position of authority. They are community oriented and trust each other. In America each person always has their opinion and is quick to tell everyone else what they want for themselves. I think it is good to have your own opinion and think critically about important issues so you can develop an good understanding, but I also think it is important to be connected with a community and not divide people every chance you get, whcih is something that is lacking in the US. I loe that people are so connected to each other here. It is a really safe feeling and I hope that someday the US can bee more community oriented like Thailand

Success depends on how well we relate to everything around us- John Perkins

My philosophical insight from abroad:

You now what is really cool? The fact that you can meet someone on the other side of the world who seems to be nothing like you and still find common ground. You can still talk with them and communicate with them in some way. That is interconnectedness. People all over the world are still people no matter how many minor differences we can come up with to separate ourselves. And it is not only the people we need, it is everything. There is so much beauty in this world and it is amazing to know that everything is realted to it. I have thought about this concept before, but being in a different place and still feeling a connection to things and places and people really affirms how true it is. Feeling a connection to something is what makes us happy in life. Relationships and comforts are what keeps us going day to day. My strong connections with my friends and family at home are probably what is making me so homesick, but I am realizing that I feel connections here too. My success in Thailand is completely dependent on the connections I make while I am here. As time goes on those connections are getting stronger and stronger, which will only make it more difficult to leave. The best thing this experience has done for me is help me realize that the world is not a big as I thought, and people are not as different as they may seem. Sure we all have different characteristics and personality traits, but we all share one thing and that is the desire to feel like we are apart of something. When we share common ground, we realize that our differences are not so important. It is also really important to recognize that we are not only connected to other human beings, but to nature as well. Humans are apart of nature, although it may seem like we are very far removed sometimes. But nature is really everything around us, and people’s environments become part of them. Basically what I am trying to say is everything is dependant on everything else to survive, so we should appreciate that by respecting and acknowledging what our surroundings are.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

I have started to realize the vast amounts of money that I have been spending here on things like zip lining and souvenirs. For a little bit I was thinking that I need to stop doing all these things and save my money, but then I realized that this is my only opportunity to experience all that I am so I should take it! I am going to try to focus more on  spending money on activities rather than stuff, even though I want to get fun gifts for everyone back at home (yes that means you!). From now on, I am going to take every opportunity (that I feel is safe of course) that I am offered and even go out of my way to experience new things, because I am only here for five months and I have to carpe diem!!! I have been able to do a lot of things, but I think the most rewarding does not cost any money and that is making friends with Thai people. I love how different we are and being able to compare things with each other. Plus, it is always fun to attempt to speak Thai with them and then have them laugh at you for using the wrong tone or something (which can actually be pretty funny since one word in a different tone can mean something very different, for example if you pronounce the word for banana wrong it can mean a body part that resembles a banana, or a water buffalo).

I don’t want to end up with any regrets about not doing something. Today, I am going to go into town and explore. I haven’t had many chances to go into the city just to walk around, so that is what i am goign to do. Maybe I will find a cool new place. Wish me luck on my many adventures to come!!

Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in. -Amy Lowell

The past couple weekends my art class has been going on field trips to visit artists studios, temples, museums, and galleries. It has been really interesting to see how modern Thai art differs and compares to other modern art I have seen. I love abstract art, so it was great to be able to meet some Thai artists that all had their own take on how to express their ideas. It was interesting to see how some of the artists still maintained a “Thai” style to their modern art. When I signed up for this class, I assumed we would be talking about all the ancient art since Thailand has so much of it, but it was a pleasant surprise that we got to see some new art as well as the beautiful art in temples. I especially liked this one artist that did wood cut prints. He name was Inson Wongsam and he did abstract depictions of Thai proverbs. we have an assignment to recreate one of the artist’s works that we have seen and I want to do one of his works. I love the texture and the meaning behind them. These field trips have been awesome excuse not only do we get to see amazing and inspired art, but we got to explore Chaing Mai and Lamphun.