Oceans - Ban Jao Mai - Day 6

Cave/family day

I am skipping a bit because today was so great…for the most part! I am still in my four-day leadership block. Today was day 3! We went to a place called Emerald Cave which was supposed to be unbelievable. It was cool but my expectations were too high. We went in and it was really dark. We kept swimming until we saw a light opening! We swam out (in less than 5 minutes) into a canyon looking beach. All sides were surrounded by rock and it was beautiful. However, I was under the impression we would see cool fish/corals. We saw that all the tourists come in were attached to a rope and their local tour guides were pulling them! Today we learned about tourism…I’m never going to be ale to be a tourist again without feeling ridiculous. Although, I don’t think I have ever done anything that absurd!

The rest of the day was family day! Brendo and I had to talk to the P’s about our leadership and tomorrows plan. Brendo and I were told that we need to be more assertive and decisive. Today wasn’t so bad but yesterday was extremely frustrating. Everyone definitely loves to hear themselves speak which I s a challenge but we are working through it! Leadership is awkward when you are leading your peers. I definitely am not trying to mess with the group dynamics so I am sticking to my more understated leadership technique that the P’s are not so fond of.

Anyways, we ate lunch and then Roz and I walked back to our houses because we made a swimming date with Salina but it took forever to rally the troops and get out! This was a little frustrating because we had to write our 8page midcourse essay tonight because it was due tomorrow! Today was the only time to work on it. It got moved up because Ajan Mark came in today because he is getting interviewed for a famous television program, which is taking place here instead of the next islad where we were supposed to have midcourse. Bummer because these are our last days with the family! Eventually, we swam and played! I love all the kids but they can be so annoying! After an hour or so we headed in! I took a shower and went to Roz’s to work...

Unfortunately, Bookah followed me so I had to deal with him! Then Roz and I had to find a place to work because the kanom shop at her home was still opened~ By this time, all the kids had found us. We had told them a million times that we had a lot of work. So, we told them we were going to work on the beach ALONE! They followed. Then we decided to ignore them. Salina was NOT happy. I feel bad because we had to be very direct with her because we had such little time! I guess I took the P’s advice to be assertive!

Salina was the least of our worries. Over the course of an hour or so…we had more kids come. Everyone I had ever met and more! At one point, about 10 boys came and started shooting fire crackers out of coconuts or whatever they could find! These boys ranged in age from 4-10…all had lighters!

We had good starts on our essays but we had to head back to Roz’s house (mine is infested with kids). But of course, her uncles came to distract! I gave up and went home for dinner! I wish someone had explained this assignment to the families because they kept asking if I was done…noooooo! I worked in the middle of the floor for a while until Mah Ni said it was time for dinner. I ate alone but Mah sat with me and talked. Then all her friends came and sat around. Dinner was pretty gross and I wasn’t very hungry but they were all watching me as we talked!

After dinner, I was determined to finish my essay because there was more music and dancing tonight! Last night we had music and dancing as well but it was pretty weird… I went outside to work on the porch because there was a light but Book and a little girl who is always around came over! They wouldn’t leave me alone because they are only 2 and 3 years old. The girl even sat on my notebook! AYYY!! I had to go back to Roz’s. Somehow I whipped it out in an hour!

It started pouring and I headed back home. The music had already started but Mah said they weren’t going because of the rain. Eventually, I found someone to take me and luckily a bunch of friends were there. It was way better than yesterday! There was a huge stage. Everyone was dancing in the rain. The weird dancer girls were back but not as stripper-esqu.

P’Jack led us up on stage and we danced! So fun! The second time we went up one of the Mahs told us we had to go because some guy was getting aggressive. So the boys left but Roz had just arrived so I stayed with her. Good decision! A gay guy came up to us asking us to dance! He was so fun! But I said we weren’t allowed. He told us about his farang bf! Then my aunt grabbed me and brought me up to dance with her! So fun! So me, Roz, Jennica, my aunt, some of Mah’s friends, and the gay boy all danced! My aunt taught me house to dance and we just had a great time! 

At one point, a guy came up to me and obviously wanted to dance but all the Mahs grabbed him, yelled something at him and then shoved him away! It was really adorable. They take such great care of me! It was endearing and it made me realize how much I don’t want to leave this family! Everyone on the pier knows my name, talks and laughs with me, and takes care of me!!

Oceans - Ban Jao Mai - Day 4 (12/1)

Mudflat

Today was my first leadership day! It was actually a pretty solid day! They first part was great! We just explored wildlife on this mudflat during low tide. We found millions of soldier crabs the would walk around in huge packs but if we walked towards them they would immediately dig holes and bury themselves in the wet sand. We found huge starfish, sand dollars, etc! I never see them at the beaches I go to for vacations. There are way too many people for any wild animals to come out or even live! After a while, Kat and I just sat n the wet sand and made drip castles on my legs. We also talked about how much this beach made us miss our beaches, home, and America a little! I have gotten pretty homesick in Thailand but I am finally feeling pretty settled. Too bad I’m leaving in less than 3 weeks!

I hate goodbyes and this program forces me to do them constantly! This host family will be the hardest. Salina is currently laying next to me in bed! She’s so great! We always chat and she’s so patient with me and so good hearted (jai di). She’s only 12 but she takes care of me!

Anyways, back to the day…we came back and went to the Natural Resource Management Department. It was really interesting because it was so scripted and they really have no power to do anything effective.

Oceans - Ban Jao Mai - Day 2&3

Kiddie Encounters
I am still just as happy but I have no had time to learn a bit more about the village! They are not all fisherman and they are not necessarily saving the ocean! For example, I was carrying a kayak to the sea and I see a little girl finish her bag of chips and toss it on the street! First of all they have TONS of little kanom shops/convenience stores all around! Second, she just tossed it! So I said ‘mai di’ (not good!) and she picked it up with a grin. I’m sure the minute I turned back around, she just tossed out out again. Also, the other thing was that no one fishes! Still haven’t figured out what everyone does here and neither has the Norweigan guy who has lived here for 5 years! He’s pretty cool. He can’t stay away from the water and he found this place exploring, loved it, and stayed. He has a pretty cool mindset and lifestyle but I’ll spare the details.

Right now, I am sitting in the living area doing my reflections that are due tomorrow. It’s times like these that I realized how incredible/ridiculous my situation is. Mah I running around the village chasing fat Bookah and she comes in and puts out a little wood floor table for me to do my hw. Then she asks if she can go chase down Book. I am sitting in this thatched house writing about how the coastal area shapes this village while listening to the children yelling outside, adults chatting, and Mah yellng after Book. The monsquitoes are terrible and I am being eaten alive. Mah just put out the incent to repel the mosquitoes. This is really just a surreal experience because it is completely immersive.

As I am writing, all the little kids are shooting at me with fake guns yelling Pi Don Caow (my name)! Don’t worry, I stopped writing this to play for a bit. They come after me every day! Pi Don Caow is their main vocab. Bpai ti nai???

One of the little boys (Ja ron) just jumped on me with a gun in my face! They love to play! I love it too but sometimes I need a break! They are still yelling my name! In the morning too! They come in before I leave for the pier asking Pi Don Caow, ti nai?!? Where are you??

Now, one of the kids just grabbed my whistle from around my neck and blew it (we have to wear them for safety). I should get back to work but I wanted to explain my surroundings as it happens because otherwise its hard to understand or explain!

Oh ok!! Can’t stop yet…Nong Salina just came in and said Pi D.C. tam gan ban (do hw) and she slapped the little boys and they started crying! Anyone could tell it was all Ja Ron could do to keep crying and then the little one started. I felt so bad! They just wanted to play!

After this fiasco, I just did my work, I listened to Salina speak/read Thai to me and realized she was trying to figure out what I was doing tomorrow (going to the Natural Resource Management office). It was so funny because the booklet was in Thai and English and I saw national park and said ‘oh ani!!’ She was so proud of herself!

Day by Day

The past days haven’t been very academic heavy! Today (11/30) we sea kayaked for the first time. We were driven by longtail boat to the mouth of the river tributary and then we did some transect study of mangroves in the river and kayaked throughout, back into the ocean and back to the pier. We tested pH and looked to see what invertebrates, tree types, etc were around and had to ID them all! WE had to do forest and field transects already and this was by far the most fun!

Yesterday (11/29) was family day! I went to the school with Mah to give the ids lunch! I felt like a celeb because they all wanted to talk to me, touch me, play, etc. But they were also really shy! So cute and so overwhelming. I knew some of the kids from the village who are always at my house! When we got back and the kids came home, they were all so excited to see me and they never leave me alone! After school (only an hour of the day), I asked Mah if anyone around fished and she basically said no which was confusing! I was trying to understand the village…the point of family day!

**when I explain conversations, I explain in English but they are ALL in Thai…which is why sometimes I have awkward/confusing situations!

Since I couldn’t do anything related to fishing, I just walked around to find other friends! Eventually, I found Janelle and then Caro and Grace! We just swam in the ocean for 3 hours or so, which was great! We then had to meet back at the Ran Ahan to learn how to wet exit kayaks!

Oceans - Ban Jao Mai - Day 1

I am laying in my cute little bedroom and I am SO happy! I think this is the happiest I have been in Thailand…

We started the day at 8am and our flight down south was at 10:30. We had to fly as opposed to taking the train because of the flooding in Bangkok! Very little good came out of that flood but our potential 19 hour travel day turned into a 2 hour flight and 3 hour van ride! Can’t complain.

I have been excited for this course forever but today I was SO excited. We got to the village around 5pm and the sun was beginning to go down. We ran over to the beach…one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen with huge limestone rock formations all around. We walked into the water and t felt amazing. It was warm but not too hot and such a beautiful color. Because the sun was going down, the water shimmered gold. The beach extended so far and was empty except for some local kids playing soccer!

I have to say, I am very lucky because there are no other study abroad programs who can do what we do and have the connections that this programs has. I heard that this village doesn’t do other homestays.

Basically we all just reveled in the beauty. Everyone was so happy. We also met our host families in the sala! We had chicken curry and some weird seafood dish. All I know is that whatever I ate had tenticles. I am nervous for the food but honestly, I cannot even worry about it because of where I am!  It is all so local and fresh so I think I can handle it! It didn’t even taste that bad! We sat down to eat with the family and there was an adorable cubby boy sitting there too! I haven’t seen too many kids this chubs. His name is Nong Bookati and he’s only 2 years old!! I also met Nong Salina, my 12 year old host sister who’s birthday is today!!

After dinner, we got in the back of a pickup and headed to our homes!  I have my own room (Nong Salina’s room, I think) but it’s the most comfy bed I have had! They even put new sheets on! Anyways, I drew with the Nongs and Roz for a while using my oil pastels which are now lovingly worn and my paper is tragedied.

Everyone here is amazing, so friendly and hilarious! They are all muslim and ISDSI was very strict about dressing conservatively so I assumed they would be more strict. No way!

Oh another funny thing! As we were making up my bed, Mah stuck nails in the wood around the door, grabbed a sarong, and poked holes in it with the nails and attached it on. Guess Salina doesn’t usually get too much privacy!

Oceans - Ban Jao Mai - Day 7 FINAL DAY

Sunday was a full day and my last and most frustrating leadership day of the block. We had a goat slaughtering, a TV crew, dress up in muslim outfits and finally our ceremony with a few things mixed in.

I'll start with the morning. I woke up early to do laundry because it needed time to dry! First thing of the day was a sacrificial goat slaughter. We all circled around the goat. They laid it down, tied its' feet, muzzled it, and slit its throat. This was possibly more disturbing than the pig because we basically watched the head just fall off. Something I've never seen. Also, they didn't knock the goat out. When we got to ask questions, I asked why they didn't knock it out or do it in a less painful way. They said this was the least painful way and they must kill the animal themselves and drain the blood so they can't just shoot it. There are a lot of similarities between Judaism and Islam. After they killed the goat, they took care of burning the skin off, etc.

The rest of the day was very "fluid". We were supposed to have midcourse but Ajaan Mark didn't want to rush our day and we were able to do it in Koh Lipe anyways. Aj. Mark was here because he was being starred in an episode of a famous Thai TV program with the famous "Andy" who interviews and follows certain Farang who are living in Thailand and doing Thai things. Aj. Mark asked for some people to pretend to look for seagrasses. At first I wasn't going to go but then I realized I may be missing a out on this cool opportunity so at the last minute, Aj. Mark took me in the van while the others rode in the back of the pickup truck...I felt special to ride with THE "Andy". We basically "acted natural" for a long time. For me that meant looking at everything in my magnifying glass. We had a good time making jokes and being filmed. Eventually the storm came in and I would say that Andy isn't the toughest man around. he was ridiculous. We headed back and I realized that Brendan and I had both left the group (leadership day!). Aj. Mark took me back in the van again because it was raining! He told me that, really, I was a good leader because I was going back early in the van with them (good thinking....the pickup was just behind us).

We ate, learned about Islam and then headed back home to our families so they could dress us for the ceremony. A few frustrating leadership things happened and the group was just obnoxious and unaware, which is pretty common with this group.

I headed back, showered, and waited for Roz to come over so they could make us up! Roz got the "big" outfit and it was pink and sparkly. I got a dark blue one but it was very pretty. Then Roz's pi made us up. More makeup than I have ever worn and it was everything I hate...all pink makeup! But ohh well...different ideas of beauty for sure! Then we got dressed and she redid or added to our makeup. I didn't even recognize myself.

We headed over to the ran ahan all done up and on to the beach for pictures. Unfortunately the camera crew was there again! Everything is more uncomfortable when they have been around. We took tons of pictures and headed in to eat. Salina wanted more and more pictures. Bookari wasn't feeling it. I hadn't been feeling well so I decided not to eat too much and only eat veggies. Good choice for sure. The food looked weird. After dinner, we all said things to our families and they said things to us in front of the group. Both me and Mah Ni are shy speaking in front of the group so it was nice but the next morning was much more heartfelt. During the evening, she basically said I like to do the dishes. I said I love playing with all the kids and she cooks well, etc.

THen it was time to dance! This was just hot and uncomfortable because of Andy and the mosquitoes. But it was alright. Eventually, we left and went home. I had to back and Salina and I talked and exchanged phone numbers and addresses. It was really cute. Then i showed my host mom a picture of my family and she asked if she could keep it. I later saw she had put it on her mirror. Really adorable. That night started my never ending stomach bug. Ugh...still have it and it's 3 days later!