Pics to below post...Arrival in Thailand

Reflections from Thailand

This morning...waking at the normal hour of 6.30 - 7, it was cold. Believe it or not, the past few nigths have been raw, the cold, moist air comming in through cracks in the floorboards, the walls as well as the open space between the roof and walls. Lately the days have been a nice, perfect temperature but the nights cold in comparison to our first two weeks here. Took my fresh pineapple slices to a table with a view of Chao Praya River (the lady we live with runs a restaurant with other family members, right next to our house). Together with a glass of peppermint tea this was my breakfast. Chao Praya River is too deep and murky for any swimming, also you would for sure have the fish nibbling your toes! This river is the largest river in Thailand and it runs from the northern regions all the way south to Bangkok.


Going to the bathroom here is...how shall I say it? Different! Some of the bathrooms consist of a low, ceramic bowl on the floor where you place your feet on each side and squat down to do your business. There is no toilet paper (so I bring my own EVERYTIME) and if you use toilet paper you cannot flush it down the drain, this would plug the pipes and cause disaster. Some of the toilets have seats like we do in the western world, but they must be constructed specificly for asians, because to me they seem really low. There is no sink to wash your hands in, rather you scoop water from a bowl and rinse your hands after lathering soap all over them. Of course, if you go to shoppingmalls, hotels or any toilet made for tourists or large groups of public, you will find normal fascilities.


Living here is definetly different than vacationing. This is the real thai life, with all its current mixes of culture, modern influences, primitive and high tech. Many chinese live here, as well as immigrants from Myanmar (Burma). Alot of korean, chinese and japanese tourists in Bangkok.

Not sure I will get much of a tan as it is not the thai way to walk around outside of your own home with your shoulders uncovered, hence everyone wears some kind of shirt or blouse which covers the shoulders. Pants or skirt to cover the knees. This is considered to be polite, or showing respect. Needless to say I am still white as a ghost, you just don go out and plop down on a towel and sunbathe....not around here anyways! Maybe during my vacation though.....?

Working here you need to have a good deal of patience and flexibility. Definite plans, well-organized days can turn upside down at the whim of changes brought by some person or the other. I dont have a big problem with it, I sort of just go with the flow. One example is yesterday, bot Jaew and I had made plans for what we would be working with during the day and had alot to do. Then a phonecall changes all, we will be picked up within 15 minutes to attend a big meeting with about 100 people, all heads of the various government offices in the province. We are asked to present ourselves and briefly talk about the project. They rush us to the meeting at 9.00 in the morning, and there we wait for about 2 hours until we get 10 minutes to speak. :)


Inspiring is to observe the youth I work with (7 swedish girls, 4 thai boys and 3 thai girls, 18 - 23 years old). How they are struggling to communicate beyond the language barriers, learning thai and english day by day, living together one swede and one thai - in a hostfamily new to them both. Experiencing the differences in culture, working with the theme of the project - entrepreneurship. Seeing them grow on a personal level as well as in the group, it is fascinating. So far no mayor problems, but we have only been in Thailand for 3 weeks

Arrival in Thailand

After 15 hour flight we arrived in Bangkok and recieved beautiful floral decorations. Today is the 26th of january and I have already been here almost 3 weeks. Time flies...

One of the best moments during our welcome ceremony was when the head of the Community Development Department (a government organization) said the following at the end of his speach.."May the force be with you! Star Wars" He is the guy in the pink shirt, in one of the pics below.

Then there is me with the King of Thailand, the thaid adore him as if he were a God.

Another highlight was eating out while in Bangkok, we went to this place where we ordered like 30 dishes which we cooked or BBQ ourselves right at the table! Yum yum!

Work is going well, so far I have great time with the youth, adjusting to life here is challenging but educating. Trying to learn the language and assisting the group in their endeavours to face their challenges. It is all good! Just wish I had a clean bathroom, at the moment I was by throwing a bowl of water over myself, then lather up, then rinse again by throwing water....woohooo!!