Note to readers

Hello to all who are still reading my blog. Internet is sparse in my host family's village so just bare with me. I've got some important news and here's the deal:

I've been notified by the Thailand Country Director Khun Dr. John that I am going to have to password protect my blog for security and cultural sensitivity purposes. Therefore, you won't be able to access the posts unless you know the password. To avoid locking people out, I have come up with a plan. I will leave my blog public for another week or two before I password protect it. If you want to know the password (as well as my phone number), just email me at mrtonybones@gmail.com and I will GLADLY give it to you. Please don't let this minor detail stop you from following my travels, as I'll be posting for two whole years. As a teaser, I've posted a few pictures so that you stick with me at www.mrtonybones@blogspot.com. I've got much to say, but will not add anything else until after I password protect. Rat dii sa wat gaap chok dii!


My bro's and I.

Sacred Ayutthaya.

My Niece, sister, and the classic Thai smile.

Oh, just a couple Buddha's.

The coolest language teacher and some pale Thai.

Sawatdii khrap!

Well, here I am, in Thailand. You know, the land of the Thai's. Things have been pretty busy for us volunteers, basically trying to assimilate into our new surroundings without looking like stupid farangs. I feel like anything I say has been said in other Peace Corps Thailand blogs and what I have to add is nothing original. So, until I've got a true Thai experience to share, I'm leaving anyone who's following this blog on pins and needles. Don't fret, I'm sure it wont be long.

As far as Peace Corps itself goes, we've been on the lamb for a week now and my group is beginning to bond considerably. I mean, we do all look different from everyone else. Not that its a bad thing, but it's only natural to gravitate towards familiarity.

One last thing, I've got a cell phone but I'd rather not post it on my blog, so if you want it, drop me an email at mrtonybones@gmail.com and I'll make sure I give it to you. It's incredible just how connected I am. Pictures will be up soon.

I'm really gonna miss the snow

I just finished packing my bag, trying not to forget anything and making certain I am taking exactly what I'll need, but at the same time thinking about my life in Marquette. My flight leaves at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon and I will say goodbye to the town that molded me into who I am today. I couldn't be happier with how my life in such a "cool city" panned out over the last couple of years. Thanks to everyone who supported and befriended me, for it was the people I met and the companionship of such genuine hearts that helped make Marquette as influential as it was. I love you all and you've done more for me than you could ever imagine.

Now that all the mushy stuff is out of the way, lets lighten the mood with some goofy stuff I packed:

- an "I LOVE CILANTRO" t-shirt
- a rugby ball
- a bottle of maple syrup
- a half pound of venison jerky

12 days

Just tryin' to get things organized now. Today marks the home stretch. Since I graduated, I've been taking care of what amounted to five and a half years of college paperwork and documentation. Now, I can finally breath easy and mark off my days 'til departure.

It's not until you're alone when it finally hits you. By alone, I mean, around people you don't know. That begins at the airport. The security barrier is an entrance into a world beyond that of your own, the one in which you are used to. You say goodbye to your friends and family, the faces you're comfortable with, and then suddenly it's nothing but strangers. The plane ride is too surreal. The airplane is what disconnects you completely. Any strings that were attached are broken once that big ole airliner's wheels are off the ground. Sit back, listen to your music, watch your movie, read your literature, eat extra dry pretzels, order seven orange juices and a tomato juice, determine how new the airsickness bag is so you know if someone has recently thrown up in your seat, take off your shoes, and sleep. The next thing those wheels are going to touch is your destination and there's nothing you can do about it.

Walking down the hall that attaches to the plane when deboarding is the best part of the whole process. I usually end up trying to fight off a smile that comes across my face when I walk into the terminal. People waiting in the gate for their plane to be ready shoot me glances because I'm struggling to hold back this stupid smirk that takes a minute to shake. Then, it's go time.

My research

Once I found out that Thailand would be my home for the next two years, I began absorbing any information I could on the subject. The following is a list of observations I have made during my research:

- The wai (a Thai greeting to show honor, respect, or gratitude) has distinct rules
- Sandals and shoelessness is common
- Buddhism is sacred
- Thai hospitality is unmatched
- The King is incredibly loved and revered
- Yellow is worn on the King's birthday as well as on Mondays
- Thai food is delicious, combining spicy, salty, sour, and sweet
- Classrooms are teacher-centered
- The cities are not a good representation of the outlying areas
- Rice is a staple

I'm sure these will seem like broad overviews once I begin my service. This list will most certainly be improved upon before I depart and be compared to my in-country observations, as well as my post-service thoughts.

Testing Testing 1 2 3

I have been keeping hand written travel journals my entire life and this is my first attempt at an online version. It's not that I don't enjoy the ease of typing, I rather perfer it. The fact of the matter is that paper journals are flexible, fit into most backpacks, and aren't public!

When I first heard about these "blog" things, I thought to myself, "Why would I wan't someone to read my journal?" I'd look at other peoples' blogs and become uncomfortable reading about their personal lives, like they were writing to Dear Diary. It almost felt like I was invading privacy. Through the years though, I've witnessed blogs evolve to be used for many different purposes.

My journal entries are private for a reason and they'll remain hand written the old fashioned way. What you will get here is a general overview of my travels abroad. More or less, I'm using this blog as an opportunity for friends, family, and anyone interested to easily follow me on this journey. Oh, right...almost forgot: I'll be in Thailand for a couple of years. No big deal.