Massage, Kitchens and Kittens

These last few days have been full of firsts. Saturday I got to cook dinner, a real dinner, for the first time since moving here. My friend Anisha's parents are gracious enough to have an open door policy with us, so we crashed their house to make dinner and hang out for the evening. It was so fun to be in the kitchen that I cooked the next two days also: Sunday a dog shaped cake for my Ajaan's birthday, Monday focaccia bread for fun. I will definitely be making a point to getting into the kitchen more.

Today was my first ever massage, and a Thai massage to boot! Anisha describes Thai massage "it's like doing yoga, except they do all of the work." Lots of pushing and pulling, prodding, and cracking bones. I'm a little ticklish while getting a deep tissue massage in the area of my armpits. I'll admit it. I was nervous, first massage, but it turned out to be absolutely the best use of an hour and 100 baht. 

These last two days a small, friendly, adorable tabby kitten with a kinked tail has found us at the nursing dorm. I spent the better part of an hour this evening playing with the kitten and chatting with students and Mae Bons (house mothers) in Thinglish (*tin-glish, Thai-English). The consensus was that we love cats, our boss Ajaan Rujira does not, and I was delegated to ask Ajaan Esther (Vice President in charge of Residential Life) tomorrow what we should do with the kitty. I heard a lot of Thai conversation to the effect of "Ajaan Esther likes dogs. Do you think she likes cats? She'll take it!" Tomorrow I will find someone to adopt him.

I  recommend cooking with friends, getting Thai massages with friends, and finding homes for stray cats. All good hobbies. 

The World's Longest Ongoing War

Before coming here all the I knew of the war in Burma was that Karen refugees often find a new home in Boise. Sure, I read the Wikipedia article on the history of Burma, but it was an abstract account jumbled with dates of fighting and changing government. I admired Aung San Suu Kyi for her courage in the face of danger. Although she is no longer on house arrest (as of earlier this year) she will not leave Burma for fear that she will not be allowed to return. What devotion to her people!

In Thailand it is not so abstract. I have not been to Burma. I have not seen it with my own eyes. But it is a part of my life here. I hear from friends stories of the living conditions and the fear that dominates the people in Rangoon. I play volleyball and hang out with Free Burma Rangers, courageous individuals who brave the Burmese army, landmines, and countless other dangers to bring training, supplies, medical treatment and love to pro-Democratic ethnic groups. I have friends who cannot return home to Burma and haven't seen their families in years.

May they be blessed. May they be safe. May this war end.



My friend Jenica's blog here.

Documentary on the war in Burma here.

Well, how was YOUR flood weekend?

It started Tuesday. Reports that the dam upriver had broken (still don't know if this is true). A VERY heavy rainy season this year has already caused almost 200 deaths in Thailand from floods and mudslides. Reports of a storm is moving in from the East. There is no place for the water to go.

Wednesday was flood prep. Sandbags and furniture moved to the second story reminded me of the Boise River. The predictions said 3pm Wednesday. And the water level started rising.

We watched the Mae Ping swell and rush, carrying logs, trees and garbage from upriver. We watched it begin to spill over it's banks into houses, shops and roads.

By Thursday this was my boss' driveway (picture taken from the front door). The CV team ran into a little traffic problem trying to get to an appointment.

We had to find a back way. I decided to run down to the river to see the flooding Thursday night.

My normal running route by the high school was a bit inaccessible. The high school students, however, were ecstatic to get 2.5 days off school for flooding.

In the end the flooding was not nearly as bad as predicted. The water level did not rise as high as they thought it would, and the storm from the east was downgraded and ended up just being another rainy day. For us in Chiang Mai, it was a good weekend. My thoughts are with those who did not fair so well in this weather.