With October Break around the corner, I will have more time to write and fill in the gaps.  But for now, I hope you enjoy some pictures!

 

Some lovely ladies from school! On a tour of the Queen's gardens. 

In awe of His creativity. 

Yummy Thai food!

Trying to figure out how I can incorporate this into my science class for a field trip. :) 

Spirit week: Western Day. One of my students let me wear their Bronco hat!

Some of my wonderful 5th graders. 

My good friend, Faith, and my two awesome new roomies, Zoe and Leslie. An adventure to Pai, which required a 3-hr bus ride around 700+ twists and turns up the mountain. 

Never gets old. 

"I'll be home for Christmas...if only in my dreams."

Christmastime.  So many emotions, memories, and aromas evoked with that one simple word.  

For the last 24 years, I’m grateful to say that certain things remained the same for me during Christmastime: being with family, our Christmas tree decorated with sentimental ornaments, a fireplace, truly cold weather and hats/mittens/scarves, Colorado’s snow-covered Rockies, apple cider, caroling, baking, church Christmas program, etc. 

Well, almost none of that was here in Chiang Mai with me this year. 

Not being with family was obviously the hardest part; how I wished I could be back for just one day even to decorate the tree and bake with them.  While I had mentally prepared myself for this separation during the holidays, emotions did overtake me more than once.  The weather was a surprisingly hard component of not being home as well.  Since I’ve never experienced Christmas in a warm climate before, my mind simply couldn’t and wouldn’t equate sweating with Christmas (unless, of course, I was bundled in snow gear and shoveling the driveway or traipsing around on snow shoes).  And where were all the Christmas lights and gazillion banners and store decorations to remind you that it was Christmas?  Oh, right.  Thailand’s a Buddhist country.  They just don’t celebrate it the same way.

So, what do you do when it just doesn’t feel like Christmastime??  How do you enjoy the season when so much of what you associate the holiday with is not within your grasp? 

You go back to the profound basics of Christmas: a Savior is born!  Christmastime may not be the same in Chiang Mai, but my Christmas half way across the world could be the same because Christ is the same…yesterday, today, and forever, the promise in God’s gift of His Son remains!

While it was hard to experience the holidays without my “norms,” I feel as if the Lord stripped away so many of the distractions of the seasons and refocused my heart on Him.  God drew me to Him more than ever this advent season as I thirsted for something to fill the voids.  I ran hard after the advent book I chose this year, The Names of God, which explains the history and meaning behind various names of God, provides opportunities to pray through them, and lays out the promises associated with each one. A world away from home, but I still felt full of His presence and deeply touched by His abounding love.  Yahweh, my Deliverer. Jesus, my Savior.  The King.  The Child.  The Bright Morning Star who heralds in the dawn, the hope of a new day!

How grateful I am that the loss of traditions and norms are overshadowed by the joy, hope, and peace bursting forth from the incarnation!  

A Taste of Thailand

             Similar to its food, Thailand is spicy and full of surprises.  Amidst its vibrant and inviting ways, I've also found Thailand to be very peaceful.  Here’s a sampling of life in Chiang Mai, probably just enough to whet your appetite and maybe leaving you with a desire to experience the full-course-meal for yourself! J

            Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles,” as is evident with almost every interaction I have with Thais.  They are such a friendly people and always want you to feel comfortable and welcome.  A traditional greeting incudes a polite wai and is coupled with a bright smile.  I’m greeted this way almost every time I pass the guards in my mooban (neighborhood) or at the entrance of our school; what a great way to start each morning! 

Meghan, my roommate and driving instructor, testing out Ruby!

It’s said that every Thai owns at least these three things: a cell phone, a DVD player, and motorbike.  Well, I now feel more connected to the Thai way of living since I’ve purchased my very own motorbike!  We call her Ruby, a smooth-riding red Honda Click.  An automatic, of course, since having to think about shifting gears in the middle of Chiang Mai traffic did not seem to bode well for my safety.  Whether I’m flying down Hang Dong at 80kmp, weaving through traffic around the Chiang Mai moat, cautiously winding up the mountain roads, or enjoying the beautiful rice paddies in the countryside, I feel more intimately connected to Thailand and it’s people.  Because of this and the freedom that comes from having my own transportation, I think Ruby is my favorite Thai spice. :) 

Rather large beetles at the market that I have not yet braved.

       

Adjusting to the culinary ways in Thailand has taken some time. Finding food in Thailand is never a problem, as there are markets everywhere and food vendors around almost every corner, but finding food that’s familiar and safe is another story.  It’s a possibility that I’ve unknowingly eaten dog meat here, but I can’t prove that; let’s just say I’d suggest only buying meat at the market via recommendation.  My paranoia has overtaken me sometimes and I’ve thought that for sure I have worms or a parasite.  Thankfully, lunches are provided by the GIS kitchen staff who spoil us with incredible Thai food throughout the week; they even make gluten-free substitutes for those of us with an allergy.  Some things you’re sure to find everywhere are rice ("khao") and chicken ("gai").  My favorite dishes so far are fried Indian curry, cashew chicken, mooping (pork on a stick with sticky rice), and green curry.  Also, while utensils are almost always provided (at which point you eat with the spoon, not the fork), it’s not uncommon to see people eating with their hands at street-side stalls.  Meals are also a very communal event, so people often get several dishes to share amongst the group.  

A Kantok Dinner is a must-see cultural experience in Chiang Mai, where you're entertained by traditional dance and music while enjoying an assortment of popular Thai dishes.   As part of our Thai culture training through the school, we had the privilege of attending a Kantok Dinner with the GIS Thai staff members.  The dancing, costumes, and music beautifully reflect various cultural values and characteristics of Thailand’s regional groups.  If you’re lucky, you might even get to join the dancers on stage! 

 

We get to enjoy the freshest of fruits here! Yes, that's a coconut tree. Yes, that's a man with a machete. Yes, he's on our roof about to take a whack at it. ;)   We also have papaya and mango trees in the yard.  Jen, our maeban, loves to share these fresh fruits with us when they're ripe 'n ready; she's the best! 

As a Buddhist country, Thailand obviously displays countless wats, or temples.   A giant white-washed Buddha can be viewed from Grace International School atop Doi Kham.  An energetic group of GIS staff members walk to the wat every Saturday morning as it heralds one of the most beautiful views of Chiang Mai.  My own visit to the wat produced mixed emotions: I was awed by the temple’s ornate beauty, but also saddened by the void of hope and peace that this religious site brings.  We witnessed individuals and families worshipping man-made idols, praying to ancestors, and offering various atonement for their sins to monks.  Please continue to pray that these beautiful Thai people would come to see the Truth and personally know their Maker and Savior.     

I was privileged to see some of the fruits of faithful evangelism and Christian community-building efforts at “Pray for Chiang Mai,” an event organized by the church I’m currently attending, The ACTS Church of Chiang Mai.  This powerful evening of prayer was devoted to lifting up different individuals and groups to the Lord, from the country’s King to its media personnel to its missionaries.   The culminating prayer involved the crowds placing their hands on the wall of the old city, looking through the gate and up the mountain that marks the traditional entrance point of the King of Thailand.  Beautiful symbolism of the city’s sin leaving through the same gate where the True King is being welcomed in!  

Some of my favorite Thailand adventures to-date include experiences with elephants!! But that will have to be for another day. If you're anxious to taste more of Thailand, hope on over for dinner any time! :)

Many gifts...

It's hard to believe that I've been in Thailand for over a month now!  The days are flying by and I have to remind myself to be still, to find the quiet places in Him to rejuvenate. I have to say that the Thai's slower-paced way of life and their mai pen rai ("don't worry about it") attitude is rather appealing. :)

Inspired by 1,000 Gifts, I've been making a list of moments for which I'm grateful, moments in time that have the Lord's fingerprints all over them and are wrapped in His love. Gifts for His child. Drawing us into His presence.  Some are more serious, some may seem insignificant to others, and some are just funny, but all are from Him. Since being here, I've listed over 100 such specific moments and know that I could include many, many more. How loving, creative, and joyous is our God!

Here's a few from my list: 

-worshipping at a bilingual church, hearing His name praised in Thai and being awed by the fact that His love and truth aren't limited by language or culture

-hiking through the Chiang Mai mountains and all it's vibrant beauty, exploring a whole different part of His incredible creation 

This beautiful waterfall was well worth the sweaty hike.

-laughing with new friends until my stomach hurts

-the privilege of getting to pray with my students as a class!

-hearing my students talk about how the Lord communicates with them and how they've experienced Him in the past

-watching the sun set behind the mountains and reflecting in the flooded rice fields

-recognizing the many talents of the GIS staff and knowing He has brought us all here for such a time as this

Decorating our principal's office for her birthday!

 -enjoying homemade guacamole for the first time since my last Chipotle in the States :) 

-having community-style dinner AT HOME with friends and laughing over language faux pas

-honest conversations about our pasts and how God has brought beauty from ashes

-getting car rides to school instead of riding my bike and arriving with sweat and makeup dripping down my face. haha

Some of my students' self portraits :) 

School is in full swing now as we just finished our second week!  What a joy my students have already been.  I have 11 precious 5^th graders in my homeroom class and I see Anna’s (my teaching partner) 10 students for math, science, and Bible throughout the week.  Among the 21, there are 5 different passport-cultures represented: Thai, Korean, American, British, and Australian.  What a beautiful tapestry of cultures!  It’s been amazing to hear about the different ministries their parents are involved with – each using their gifts and specialties in various ways further His Kingdom.  And 5th graders are definitely inquisitive – there are constantly hands in the air, representing minds full of great questions.  I definitely can’t answer them all, so I’m starting a “What We Wonder” bulletin board that kids can post sticky notes on throughout the day. Thank God for Google! J  

Some of the elementary staff - unplanned purple power the first day!

I absolutely LOVE the staff here at GIS!  I’m humbled to be working with such an incredible group of people.  We in the elementary have been accused of having “too much fun,” but I love that there’s always laughter and an encouraging word around.  It’s been great to enjoy the new experiences of Thailand with this group!

I’ve had a few “I’m-definitely-teaching-in-Thailand” moments this last week:

-As I left to pick up my students from PE (across the bridge on the secondary side), the rain began to pour and the walkway coverings were no match for the wind.  I literally ran through the rain for almost 10 minutes as I searched for my students who had been playing outside and were taken elsewhere when the storm arrived.  As I crossed back over the bridge, I looked up to see an entire 2^nd grade class pressing their noses against the window, watching the storm, pointing at the crazy teacher running through the rain.  After I finally rounded my students up in the class again, the rain was so loud that I could barely hear myself talk…free reading time! J

-Thai culture is very communal.  This apparently even applies to snack time.  It’s inevitable that the Thai students will get out of their seats to walk around the room and share their snack with anyone else who wants some. Very unlike the “MY potato chip bag!” mentality in America.

-At recess the other day, I was approached by a student who wanted to show off his new friend: a gigantic toad!! (picture to come) He caught it in his backyard and wanted to share the excitement with others, so he transported it to school in a bucket.   After making sure he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this wasn’t a poisonous toad, I petted it and thought it was cool… until it almost peed on me.

-On our nature walk during science class yesterday, we were on a hunt for different kinds of leaves.  Students were told they could pick anything off the ground.  Well, I should have been more specific because I was surprised when 3 boys came running towards me shouting excitedly, “Ms. Will, we found one!”…that “one” was a gigantic palm tree branch, taller than the students themselves. (picture to come)

A women we met on one of our hikes. 

            While life in Thailand has been blessed and joyous, there have also been difficulties along the way.  One of the hardest things is definitely the language barrier.  Faith, a new friend and the elementary art teacher, and I will begin tutoring with a native Thai next week!  I’m excited to learn more…in order to communicate with the locals, get to know my maeban better, feel more comfortable at the market, etc. Learning a new language is HARD, and I have a renewed appreciation for what my ESL (English as a Second Language) students are experiencing. 

Miss you, CO!

            I’ve also had moments of homesickness; at times I just want to go to Panera with my family for a strawberry poppyseed chicken salad and then hop over to Starbucks with friends for a Pumpkin Spice latte (the Starbucks here is very expensive and they don’t have the same seasonal drinks!!)…or walk over to my favorite quiet spot at the pond near my parent’s house….or share all the details of the day with people back home (the time difference makes it SO hard to connect with State-side people!)…or be a part of things like Anna, my sister, leaving for her Sr year of college in Chicago (SO PROUD OF YOU, SIS!!!)…or be at HOPE’s first day of school, just to say hi to everyone that became so dear to me and to catch up on summers.  I brought this up in my Bible class last week and was surprised by the strong response I received from students – we bonded over being homesick! J

Through a note from my mom, I was encouraged by the reminder that the Lord is my intimate Guide through this foreign land.  (*Sidenote, I LOVE that our chapel theme for the year is “Following the Good Shepherd”!) And what a steady, caring Guide He has been. What He wants to do in me and through me during this time in Thailand is far greater than I can imagine, far more eternal than momentary homesickness.  And yet, He cares about the homesickness, too, and is there to comfort as only He can.