Holiday Greetings and Happy New Year!

2011 marked a year of new adventures, new faces, and new beginnings.

In August 2011, I packed up my little apartment in Manhattan, handed in my resignation letter to the United Nations, and took a giant leap of faith…on an airplane Bangkok-bound.  Several layovers, continents and time zones later, I found myself (extremely jetlagged) in Asia for the first time in my life.

I was awarded the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year to travel to my first choice institution, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand to pursue my Master’s in International Development.  

My class is the most diverse and unique group of people I have ever encountered in my life.  There are 25 of us who represent 19 countries from around the world: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Canada, Germany, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Bhutan, Taiwan…and so many more!  The group is an overwhelmingly accomplished bunch with backgrounds in non-profit, business marketing, city planning, military, medicine, government affairs, and more.  I have learned a ton from my classmates already and greatly look forward to our year together.

In my three short months here – I have done more than I ever imagined.  I have zip lined through rain forests in the North, bathed elephants, cheered for Thailand in a World Cup qualifier match, spent a night sleeping out with a Hill Tribe, and attended an ASEAN Post-Summit meeting.  I have awakened my senses by sampling every curry, papaya salad and Pad See Ew dish in town and have lost my sense of direction in massive street bazaars, decadent festivals and aesthetically striking flower markets.  I have broadened my horizons and enjoyed all that Buddhism has to offer – with beautiful temples, traditions and teachings.  Just a few days ago, I even got to see His Majesty the King and the entire Royal Family process through the streets of Bangkok on the way to H.M.’s 84^th birthday celebration.

I am learning so much culturally and academically each and every day I often wonder if my brain will explode!  I am surrounded by extraordinarily intelligent and interesting individuals that challenge my learning in new ways each and every day.  This year, I am thankful for my friends and family at home – who have supported me on this amazing adventure from the beginning.  I am also grateful for my new friends and family here in Thailand and cannot wait for the next year of adventures together.  And I am most thankful to Rotary International and Foster City – who, without their help, love and support, I never would find myself celebrating the New Year at a traditional Karen wedding…in MYANMAR!

I am wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday season and Happy 2012!!!

Lots of love from Thailand (and Myanmar!)

Ashley              

Newest ASEAN Basketball League groupie

It’s official.  Within less than ten minutes of being at the stadium – I knew I was already a groupie.  Suba, Intan and I went to the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) fundraiser for the Thai Floods.  The professional basketball teams from ASEAN were competing in a friendly match to raise money for flood victims while promoting the start of their season in January, 2012.

Suba, Intan and I with #14 from To Be Number One Thailand

We donated 100 baht (about $3 USD) and walked into the arena.  The arena was fairly large, but what was incredible – were that there were seats, RIGHT IN THE FRONT.  I shook my head in disbelief, remembering how much court-side seats would cost me in the US, and sprinted towards the open chairs.  We watched several games – Saigon Heat vs. Indonesia Warriors, To Be Number One Thailand vs. Singapore Slingers, and for the finals – two Filipino teams; San Miguel Beerman vs. AirAsia Philippine Patriots.  Suba told me to prepare for smaller basketball players, stating the well-known fact that Asians aren’t as tall as “Westerners.”  However, as we walked into the stadium – I could not get over HOW TALL these players were.  Perhaps it is just because I have never had court-side seats before and been SO close ;) but they were MASSIVE.

It took us a VERY long time to realize Thailand's team had identical twins!

The best part of the evening (besides the three thrillingly close games that we witnessed), was that walking around the stadium looking for food, Intan spotted her favorite basketball star from her country (Indonesia) – Mario.  He was wandering around the food level of the stadium with headphones on after pulling through in the last few seconds to beat Vietnam.  Intan approached him and asked to take a picture with him – to which he happily agreed.  Then – he began a conversation with us, asked us where we were from, why we were all together in Bangkok, etc.  Next thing we know, ESPN is in our face with cameras, lights are flashing, and Mario coolly says, “Oh yeah – you guys will be on ESPN.”  

Two GIANT players from AirAsia Philippines!

 After wandering around the stadium, meeting more star pros and taking pictures, I quickly decided that I was the newest official ABL groupie.  I greatly look forward to seeing the first game of the season in Bangkok on January 14^th!

Santacon 2011: Santa Swim Party

 On December 10^th, around the world, people celebrate “Santacon” – which is essentially an event where everyone dresses up as Santa Clause and assembles together.  In New York – it is a massive gathering, with thousands of red Santa suits, black boots, and shiny belts.

My classmates and I decided to bring the tradition to Bangkok, even though Bangkok itself has never participated in the extravaganza.  Because Thailand is 94% Buddhist – we were unable to find traditional Santa costumes.  So we improvised.  It is far too hot here for a traditional wool Santa suit – so we instigated a different kind of suit – Santa Swim Suits.  I made 15 cotton ball beards, and we got together for another potluck party (like Thanksgiving) and afternoon of fun.  We had Santa Swimsuit Model Competitions, Santa Swim Sprint Races, Santa Belly Flop Contests, Santa in the Middle, and a Santa Surfing Tournament.

 

Due to the floods, our semester has become incredibly condensed, and we now have class all day, every day.  This was a great party for us, although we are stressed with school, to put the homework aside, share food, laughs and a few pool rafts, and float away the afternoon.  The only thing missing at this party was eggnog – which was fine by me!

Falang Means Foreigner: My Five Seconds of Fame

 

"This WOMAN..."

  

One important thing that I failed to mention in my recounts of His Majesty’s Birthday – was the amount of photographers and media that took our pictures and interviewed us.  I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life.  I assumed everyone (especially foreigners/tourists) came out to see the King – but I quickly learned that there are not that many falangs (foreigners) that come to see His Majesty – and there certainly are not that many falangs with BLONDE hair that come to see the King.

My five seconds of fame...

Carolina and I also got our picture in the paper!

Tuesday during our lunch break at Chula, one of my classmates came running up holding The Nation, one of Thailand’s largest English newspapers.  He was covering a spot in the paper and said, “Guess which one of our classmates is in THE NATION?!”  …As we searched more papers, it became clear, that there were several featuring a certain blonde “foreign woman” in the paper. 

It certainly was embarrassing!  I never have felt so “different” in my life.

Birthday Celebrations Continue

One important thing to explain – is COLORS.  His Majesty was born on a Monday (like me :) and our color is yellow.  But in 2007, after spending several weeks in the hospital with heart problems, King Bhumibol reemerged exiting from the hospital wearing a pink shirt and pink blazer.  Royal astrologers had predicted that pink was good for his health, and, like wildfire, the entire country replaced their yellow shirts with pink ones.  Others speculated that this transition in color was conducted so as not to be confused with the “Yellow Shirts” – one of the two political parties here in Thailand, who is responsible for the coup in 2006.  Either way – there was no shortage of pink or yellow today!

There are a few facts most people may not know about the King.  His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej -- known in Thailand as King Rama IX -- was actually born in the United States on December 5, 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He later finished his education in Switzerland and was crowned the King of Thailand on June 9, 1946.

Thai dancers at National Theatre

King Bhumibol Adulyadej rear-ended a truck in 1948 while studying in France. He lost his right eye after the accident, however, it was through this accident that he met the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France – the future Queen of Thailand.

The King of Thailand is not only the longest-serving monarch, but also the richest. His fortune was estimated in 2010 to be worth at least US $30 Billion dollars.

Dancer from Singapore at National Theatre

The name Bhumibol Adulyadej means "Strength of the Land." Considering that the king of Thailand has seen, encouraged, or put down over 15 coups during his 61-year-long reign, he lives up to the name well!  (Queen Elizabeth was formally crowned Queen of England in 1953, three years after King Bhumibol).

After the parade, we were all exhausted, hungry, and dehydrated.  We went to the first place we could find that was away from the masses and chowed down on food.  We walked the streets, taking in all of the celebrations, colors and sights.

We attended a free professional theatre performance at the National Theatre in celebration of His Majesty the King’s Birthday Anniversary, and were able to see dances from all over Southeast Asia – including Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, India, Singapore and more.

Lighting a candle for His Majesty

We the grabbed food on the street, sat on the grass in the middle of Sanam Luang and waited for the fireworks.  The Prime Minister came out, we lit candles and sang the King’s Song and prayed for his health and continued happiness. 

All of a sudden, without warning, we felt like we were in the middle of a war zone.  Loud noises, massive flames, heat, everything.  I remember thinking to myself – is this supposed to happen, because fireworks in my country are NOT organized this way.  There were no indicators as to where the fireworks were situated on the lawn, and they would just all of a sudden jet up in the middle of the grass on the lawn where we were sitting and send people screaming and running.  It was incredibly chaotic, and as the giant red firework flames set the nearby trees ablaze, I for sure thought we were in trouble.  I certainly don’t remember fireworks for my sister’s birthday on the Fourth of July being this exhilarating!

It wasn’t even five minutes after fireworks, that we saw more fire floating in the sky, and had to get a closer look.  Glowing lanterns were lit and sent off into the sky in hundreds.  With my classmates, we bought one lantern, and together, we made wishes of happiness for our upcoming year together here in Thailand.  If it weren’t for seeing His Majesty, this would have been my highlight of the day.

The amount of joy in this picture is amazing :)

After the fireworks, we battled with over half a million people to exit the Grand Palace area and go home.  We had officially been out celebrating for twelve hours – at least six of which were in the hot sun, and we were tired, dehydrated, and sunburnt.  BUT, we got to see the King, and the Royal Family TWICE…so we were all smiles as we exhaustingly returned home!