The Land of Smiles
Thailand was un paraiso. I fell in love with the street vendors, the landscape, and my host families who welcomed me into their homes and taught me how to farm and live a simple and happy life. I love Thai people, food, and language. Out of the four countries I visited, Thailand was always number one in my heart, but Vietnam’s landscapes stole my heart for a bit.
As I sit on my bed writing this, I would give up everything to go back and farm with my host mom, eat sticky rice, and depend on the moon’s light to guide us back to our house. I would give up everything to go back and continue learning from the communities of ESAN (Northeast Thailand). I would give up everything to eat Paneng from my favorite food stall. Chan Kidt Tung Prataid Thai!!! (I miss you Thailand!!!)
Here is a recollection of my experiences in Thailand.. enjoy!
One Mechanic Cannot Fix It All
04 February 2016 | Danielle Raskin and Estrella Vargas
Ornpailin Cherdchoo, 42, a member of the Theparak 5 community in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
She moved here 20 years ago, and has been involved in fighting against the high-speed train.
Khon Kaen, Thailand -- A slender woman in her forties sits in her living room that doubles as a mechanical shop, sawing away at a rusty piece of metal. The mechanical shop is Ornpailin Cherdchoo’s own small business where she says she can fix anything with a motor.
Mrs. Cherdchoo, 42, is a member of the Theparak 5 community. She moved there 20 years ago with her husband with hopes of creating their own electrical repair business after learning the tricks of the trade in Bangkok. She left her older sister in Bangkok, but reunited with her younger brother and sister in Khon Kaen.
Her parents currently reside in a province called Ban Hea, where she grew up. Her parents take on a variety of jobs—farming when the season is right and scavenging for plastic bottles the rest of the year. Mrs. Cherdchoo has two sons, one is in the
Mrs. Cherdchoo makes well above the average of 100 baht per day in her community-- at least 500 baht per day. However, she notes that some of her neighbors gossip about how she is able to make so much. It is unusual to be able to make as much money as she does without intense physical labor, she said. She takes pride in her business though, and credits her high income to her skills and talent as a mechanic. She says that although this is typically a man’s field, women have steadier hands, giving them an advantage in this job.
Her ascent into sole businesswoman was a recent and surprising one. After running the shop for two decades with her husband, he suffered an injury from a wire just two months ago. The accident caused him to lose his vision in one eye and to quit the mechanics industry. He now works nights as a security guard. Except for eating dinner together before he heads to work, they rarely get to spend time together.
Despite working a lot, she still makes time to be involved in the community. She helps out her elderly neighbors, taking them to the market or to temple on Buddha Day. She is also involved in the fight against a proposed high-speed train that would displace the Theparak 5 residents living within 40 meters of the tracks. Their efforts have been successful thus far, but it is an ongoing battle. Her involvement shows how she cares deeply for her community, yet she still has her concerns.
Mrs. Cherdchoo told us there are conflicting cliques in the community. These conflicts have an effect on how the community fights against the high-speed train—those not living on the land directly adjacent to the tracks do not feel the urge to join the fight against it. The conflicts sadden her, as she “just wants the community members to be together, spend time together, and love each other” to maintain their community.
I have found a greater appreciation for all the yai (grandmothers) in the world after I lost mine! Every single time I interact with grandmas, I call them beautiful because they are just that. Although most do not agree with me, I grab their rough wrinkly hands, smile at them, and call them beautiful. WISE. The elderly possess so much knowledge younger folks should listen to.
I love this yai (on the right) so much. She had a tattoo on her arm, sold tobacco for a living, and got a fresh haircut from yours truly! Just like her, we can all be bad ass at every stage of our lives. I can't wait to be old brown wrinkly and fucking amazing like her! #Thailand #yai
We Get Better As We Age
When My Stay Became My Home
My meh (mom) noticed the sun going down and started watering her garden,
Meh resisted my chu-ay (help)
The red-orange light hovering over us from the setting sun,
My meh continued attending her garden,
My heart was so happy.
Ariana (my classmate) playing with our nong sau (little sister) mok,
The sounds of nature playing in the background
It's the little things I appreciate and love the most in life
I had the privilege of experiencing all of them at once.
Even as the sun left and the night crept up,
The moon had the chance to shine her light.
La luna lit the path to our house where our meh was calling us to eat dinner
No flashlights were needed just our imagination.
The organic food my meh grew in her garden was what we ate that evening
No utensils just communal sticky rice and bowls with different dishes our meh prepared
Time did not exist...
Our environment and our physical presence were the only things that mattered
I was happy!
So Happy!
A Plastic-But-FantasticLand
Street markets were magical places because they contained everything one wants in one place for reasonable prices. I could get a kabob, spring rolls, dumplings, a coconut shake, crop tops, fake Yeezys, posters, and even a baby goat all in one night. Although tempted, I never bought a baby goat because I could not raise one in my dorm room. Street markets were our go-to spots to buy everything we needed for homestays or the upcoming week. While abroad, my favorite purchase was the set of succulents and cacti I bought because they reminded me of home. I put them on my desk as a tangible reminder of my culture. They were so cute and I wish I could have brought them back with me, but plants are not allowed on planes. Besides buying succulents and cacti, I bought food most of the time. By the first half of the second month, my Thai haggling skills were strong and could make great deals for a variety of products.
Street markets were all fun and games until I was faced with the ugly side of it. Plastic bags were provided for every purchase, every drink was poured into a plastic cup with a plastic straw to drink from, plastic containers were given to hold food, the fruit was chopped up and placed in a plastic baggy, all utensils were made from plastic, and most products sold contained plastic. I wanted to call these street markets my version of wonderland, but it would be a utopia because the effects of it ruin the image its wonder. Therefore, I called it the fantastic but plastic land. The piles of plastic after one night of business were horrendous. Most of the plastic waste was just going to landfills.
Plastic was such a huge problem in Thailand. For every bottled drink I bought anywhere I was given a straw and a bag. People did not re-use things. However, there were the scavengers who collected plastic that helped the environment a bit, but again that is not enough.After facing the truth of markets and the way people consumed, in general, I tried to use less plastic by denying excess plastic use and reusing many of the plastic items I received. I just want to imagine a street market experience where everyone brought their own reusable cups, utensils, shopping bags, and plastic containers. How sustainable would that be?
Language Barrier
Prior to this trip, I have only traveled to Spanish speaking countries: Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. As a Latina, whose first language is Spanish, traveling through these countries was a piece of cake; getting around, bargaining, ordering food, and even asking for directions to the restroom. I took language fluency for granted; and so, when I arrived in Thailand, the difficulty of getting by without knowing the language hit me fast and hard. It was very shocking, and it weighed on me emotionally because I realized this is how my parents must have felt when they first migrated to the U.S and what my mom still experiences today.
Living in Khon Kaen was so hard because everything was in Thai. At times, I would get an image of my mother getting around Chicago only knowing Spanish. This experience made me more empathetic towards my parents. The hardships of not knowing the language were the most shocking parts of my experience because they made me feel voiceless. However, as I learned Thai, I appreciated every moment a Thai person understood me. I was fortunate enough to have had a Thai roommate like Rinnie to help me in endless ways how to pronounce Thai words and get around Khon Kaen.
The biggest questions I did have regarding the Thai language were the following: is it possible for me to accurately understand Thai peoples’ world by simply speaking to them in their language? Is it possible to remove me (approaching the world as a blank piece of paper) in order to experience the REAL Thai life without influences from my previous experiences, knowledge, and privileges? What is the REAL Thai life? I used my critical learning skills outside the classroom in order to understand my experiences in a new environment, Thanks Denison!
Meditation Is Life
During our orientation, my group and I had the opportunity to interview a monk. He told us the reason he became He told us the reason he became a monk was because; “There was too much chaos happening in the world, so I needed to get away from it all.” Being a monk is not easy, especially for modern adults. There are many strict rules monks have to abide by as well as daily routines such as waking up at 3 am. The monk said he devoted his life to ultimately find happiness for himself and the world. I asked about meditation because I started meditating freshmen year of college. “What is the significance behind meditation?” I asked. I knew the reason, but I wanted to hear it from a monk. “We meditate for oneself. To fully feel the presence of our bodies and to be one with our surroundings,” he replied, my jaw dropped a bit and my heart skipped a beat. Google was right!
The weekend of March 19, I received the opportunity to stay at a temple overnight and learn how to meditate under the monks’ tutelage. I talked one-on-one with a woman monk, and felt spiritually lifted from the Buddhist prayers we had every 5 hours. I learned how to meditate and walk at the same time, sit and focus on the 14 hand movements, and get rid of unnecessary thoughts that evoke negative emotions. This really surprised me because I was not aware there were different forms of meditation. I was used to the one that requires me to close my eyes, have a specific position, and focus on my breathing. Therefore, this experience gave me an alternative form to destress myself throughout college and beyond. Sadhi means mindfulness in Thai, and having just that is a daily necessity of mine.
Do Not Disregard Your Duty
A friend told me, “You will get diarrhea your first week…” LIES! By the end of my first week, I was hoping for diarrhea. When people blog about their experiences abroad they include things to bring, places to go, dos and dont's etc., but they forget the most important thing: making sure you take the necessary precautions in order to have regular bowel movements. If this makes you uncomfortable, I completely understand, but this is something we all do therefore it should be included in our experiences as we travel to new countries.
I will not get into details, but I will give you a SOLID answer. Thailand’s markets rarely sell any fiber or include a variety of vegetables in their foods, so one does not get the proper nutrients most of the time. However, the internet has helped me survive by giving me tips on how to have balanced meals, but intaking enough water every day is equally as important as a balanced meal. If you are abroad or will be abroad in the future and would love to talk more about your bowel movements, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me!
I am against Elephant riding because no one would like 100+ pounds on their back for hours. As a birthday gift to myself, I spent a day at an Elephant sanctuary where I fed, bathed, and mud bathed 3 beautiful Elephants! This experience was amazing. The elephants reassured me that my love for them is honest and true! I hope there were more people like the ones who own this program that are there to help and protect these animals! Protect the Elephants!! #elephants #Thailand#birthdayweekend 🐘🐘🐘❤️❤️ a day I will never forget!
An Unforgettable Moment
Earth is My Religion
Standing in front of Buddha's head wrapped in a tree was a magical moment! This is the power of nature! No human can create this.
#nature#trees #Buddha #Thailand
Fotos y Recuerdos
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