Stormy Weather

You Might Be Thai If...

1. You think a face mask could be an accessory to your wardrobe
2. Uniforms and whistles are the indicators of true power
3. You are able to completely ignore people wearing uniforms and blowing whistles
4. You don't sweat
5. You ONLY carry an umbrella when it's sunny
6. You've never told a foreigner "No"...
7. Mexican's can't even come close to how many people you can fit in the bed of your truck ....on the interstate
8. Shoes are optional
9. You don't have tastebuds (because they've been singed off)
10. Politeness and patience are inherent qualities
11. Politeness and patience are not acceptable when driving...nor is following the "rules"
12. In order to feel comfortable, social heirarchy must be understood and adhered to with a smile :)
13. You laugh in awkward, embarrassing, or tense situations
14. You are totally oblivious of the temperature and make comments like, "Air conditioning makes me lazy" (-a quote directly from my maid, Khun Jim)
15. Have a nickname (ie. Good, Porn, PingPing, Tan, Pep, etc)
16. Time is an abstract idea...as is walking at a decent pace

These are my observations of the little quirks I noticed thus far of the Thai culture.  It is fabulous, unique, and clearly seen in every facet of life here in Thailand; which, often times, "farangs" (myself included) are not able to understand .  The language, customs, attitudes, and behaviors of the Thai people all stem from ancient and traditional buddhist beliefs which have culminated into a welcoming, fascinating, and endearing society...one that I have around 22 more months to further observe.

:)  <---a Thai smile

Why I Haven't Been Posting...

Sorry I've been out of the loop the past few weeks, but I have had three really busy weekends! Below are some photos to proove it. Hopefully, I'll get caught up this weekend...hahah, yeah right!! :)

18 Years in Rap Review

Words.

See if you can identify the "play" on words and their vagueness...

National Geographic Picture of the Day

More balcony pictures...

Here are some sunset pictures from my balcony :)

A New Perspective

This is the view of Bangkok from the balcony of my 17th floor apartment (Sethiwan Residence)! The2nd half of pics is of a slow-approaching, ominous, monsoon-type storm! Hope you enjoy them! Also, I would like to state that none of these are edited...this is the selected few I chose straight from the cam :)
This is my new perspective:




Come back to read a very thorough synopsis of my initial reaction to living in Bangkok thus far!
...MORE TO COME :)

Bangkok Beginnings

Here are some pictures I've taken thus far of my time in Bangkok at a Thai cultural show I went to on Thursday night and at the new school I'm working, called NIST. Enjoy!

Call Me...For FREE!!!!

Call me on your cell phone @:

1-423-453-4407


IT'S FREE!!!!!!

My Thai Address

After a miserably stressful and hectic four days (and the help of Priscilla and my mom), I had "somewhat" successfully moved out of my Knoxville apartment and packed all that I would need to live and teach in Bangkok for two years. It was, perhaps, the worst and most difficult task I have ever attempted...it sucked. But eventually I had condensed my entire life's contents down to 3 1/2 bags (each weighing ~65 lbs). So on Sunday morning, July 25th, (running a bit late as usual) my family and I pulled out of 7104 Dalefield Lane to catch my flight out of Atlanta with the trunk of my grandpa's car literally tied down with a rope!! After a $330 fee for excess baggage, a 'farewell' family portrait, and a tearful goodbye, I was only a 14.5 hour and 5.5 hour plane ride from arriving in Bangkok, Thailand!

My New Postal Address:

Ms. Tiffany Simms
Sethiwan Residence
85 Sukhumvit Soi 13
Unit 17-B
Bangkok, Thailand 10110

Please provide me with your contact information by answering the questions below. This info will only be seen by me and will help me stay connected with friends and family while I'm overseas. You may also access the form by clicking HERE.
Thanks for your help!

Thank You!!

On Saturday, July 10th, 2010, my amazing sister (Priscilla) threw a magnificent party for me at the Chattanooga Billiards Club to celebrate me leaving. Yes, it's true. This celebration, complete with delicious food, great music, & free-for-a-while drinks, was attended by many of the most important people in my life...and who also happen to be the direct cause of my fleeing the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, this Country that I Love. But to be fair, most of these good-hearted party goers have no idea that they, in fact, are the catalysts that hastened my exit. As you can imagine, moving across the world is not easy...both logistically AND mentally speaking (especially for a broke, single, 25 year old female). But in spite of what many people believe, I am NOT crazy (at least in the general sense...). I am actually quite excited to begin this next chapter of my life; and one that has been a dream for many years. And the single most important factor that enabled me to fulfill this dream is YOU...the family and friends who funded, organized, & attended my going away party. You are the ones who have taught me to think outside the box, provided me with the confidence to achieve my dreams, and supported me in the good and bad times throughout my life. So I thank you, not only for making my "going away party" a night filled with fantastic memories, but for helping me to achieve my dream of exploring the world. I'm leaving America with the knowledge and confidence that no matter how many oceans lie between us or how many weeks separate our embrace, our love and friendship will continue to grow. After all...distance makes the heart grow fonder ...and I'm only a plane ride away!!