sawattdii khab

For all the benefits of time travel it sure does make one exhausted. I am still trying to recapture the 12 hours lost to the conventionalities of time.

Chiang Mai City is boxed in by an old dilapidated wall and moat - definitely not something you would want to swim in. The city sprawls beyond the gates though, spreading throughout the wide Chiang Mai valley, with lush mountains on most sides from what I can tell. Can't wait to get up there on foot. Monstrous monsoon clouds, protruding high into the sky, cover the peaks and bring torrential rains every once and a while.

After a delirious first day exploring Chiang Mai City, I was swept off to my homestay on the outskirts of town. Papee, Meemee, Grandma, Yok (7), Ninn (6), and Trunk (1), plus some other visitors from time to time. They are so great, the most caring and friendly family. Meemee keeps telling me that I seem like a real son to her.... except that I am so much taller. Fortunately, I try to tell her, I am accustomed to being taller than my parents. Meemee knows exactly how long I spend yawning each day (more than you'd think) and how many times I use the bathroom during the night, plus everything I learned during the day in Thai class. We laugh a lot, especially at their English and my Thai.

Yok understands some English and the parents speak a little bit, which was nice because last weekend I could say almost nothing in Thai. I desperately want to pick up some competence and converse in their language for a change. Learning Thai has been a roller coaster of tones flowing through the jaw... new mouth muscles have been discovered... and never before heard sounds have been uttered.

On Sunday we had a family outing to Lampang, a town across the mountains about an hour away. Don't forget to honk 3 times upon passing the shrine on the top of the mountain pass! We ate at Papee's family restaurant and then stopped by the elephant conservatory along the way. If you close your eyes, ignore the trunk slurping sludging sounds, and touch the top of the elephant's head you could possibly mistake it for a hard bristle brush. The creatures are huge and have the most tough skin with pointy little bristles sticking out on top. Yok and I took a ride on one. To top the day off I experienced an authentic funeral ceremony up in the mountains, where scorpions show up next to your shoe.

Class started Monday, and every day for the next five weeks I will be in intensive Thai language class (4 hours) and a seminar on Thai culture, history, and sociology. With all the many differences in culture and world view I can still make out the universals of everyday family life. It is amazing how much we as Americans are judged by what people see on movies and TV. Some myths need dispelling. Pictures aren't uploading, sorry. Love kyle.