MADE IT!! First week! August 25, 2011

Remember how much I LOVED crossfit?…well…it is HARD! I have never sweat or worked so hard in my life. Yesterday we had optional training so I did it. We sprinted, did a TON of squats, sit ups, push ups, and pull ups, and sprinted again. These workouts are made to be short but INTENSE and intense they are. Today was more complicated and much harder! I would have to draw a picture to explain so I’m just going to leave it to you to imagine. But everyone was drenched with sweat and no one could speak, we were so beat! Safe to say, I am going to be in great shape at the end of this. I now have a love/hate relationship with crossfit. 

Yesterday (Wednesday, August 24), we had our city orientation after Thai class. City orientation was actually a scavenger hunt! We were put into teams of 3 or 4 and sent around the city with our cameras and had to take certain pictures to prove we went to certain places or did certain things! They gave us 1000 baht (about $30) which paid for all our transportation and costs! By the way, just to prove how cheap everything is here, I pay 35 baht (~$1) to get home which is two and an hour and a half. Anyways, back to the scavenger hunt… 

We had to go to Gat Luang (the huge market that I switch taxis/buses) and buy a sarong and eat bugs/fruit with picture proof. I had already  eaten crickets but this time was way harder…I think its because last time I was trying to impress my family. We then had to go to the famous gate, the hospital (and take a picture with a hospital worker!), chiang mai university, the mall and a temple! We made it everywhere except the university! It was so HOT so we got ice cream and, embarrassingly, stopped in Starbucks to get a frappaccino (sp?).  Our excuse was to get the taste of bugs out…SUE ME! Haha. If you were wondering, starbucks is more expensive here! 

The scavenger hunt was a lot of fun! I’ll try to get the pictures from Isabel’s camera and post them at some point. They are pretty funny.  I also feel like I know the city a little better.

Today, we just had a gear check after Thai class and crossfit. Then we headed home. I really appreciate being at school and always look forward to it! I love my host family but it is nice to be with people I can easily relate to. And, the toilets are western style. AND we have wireless! I know that sounds bad…but I have learned to REALLY appreciate all those things. The teachers are also WONDERFUL and great teachers. I can already speak to my host family a bit! The most useful phrase is ‘im leaow’, which means ‘I’m full!’ They LOVE to feed me. Apparently some host families weigh their student before and after the stay. If they have gained weight, the host family did their job well! Luckily, mine did no such thing.

Speaking of food. I have a funny story about both last night and tonight! Paw Peap always tells me which foods I can eat that aren’t spicy. So, yesterday I asked if I could try a spicy dish. He said ‘no…not the first week.’ I  then asked ‘why’? Paw said that a few years ago he had a student who ate too much spicy foods in the first week and had to go to the hospital! So, today I asked again if I could try some. Paw said ‘nit noi’, which means only a little! And he only let me have two beans! While I was helping myself, Meh runs to get me water! They have very little faith in me. To their surprise, I could handle two beans!! Also, after dinner tonight, Paw said ‘maybe next week you eat more.’ I eat so much!  I had a whole bowl of rice with the toppings AND then Meh whips out so Pad Thai (yes…everyone loves pad thai and yes…it IS better here!). I am so full right now. IMLEAOW! 

Ok I should sleep because tomorrow I get up at 5:45 so I can be at school on time to head to the mountains to go rock climbing! Ready to conquer my fear of heights along with MANY other fears.

Speaking of fears…(I know, I never stop when I say im going to, I keep thinking of more!) Everyone knows I am petrified of mice. Last night at dinner, we were eating on the floor as usual. The kitchen is across the way in the direction I was facing. All of a sudden, I see three mice chasing each other around the floor in what I would call, a figure eight form. TOO BOLD! I yelped a bit, subconsciously, and my family asked what was wrong! I said nothing because I was embarrassed but I was apparently staring, horrified, as the mice continued to run around the house. Paw realized and they all laughed at me. They told me it was just Micky….I said NO WAY! But, when I see mice, that is what I tell myself. YIKES!

Ok ok. Much love!!