Mai Pen Rai

Much like love, Ke$ha is universal. I naively thought that taking a hop, skip, and a jump across a couple continents and multiple oceans would free me from her blahblahblah -- but no, there she was...blaring from a street vendor selling everything from Eric Benet to Joss Stone at Marshall’s prices (1 for 20 baht, 5 for 80).

It’s hard to go deep into my experience thus far without giving you one simple equation that has had me waking up feeling like P. Diddy:

30 baht = $1

So yes, those CDs were in the ballpark of 80 cents, and I have yet to pay more than 90 baht for a meal.

We spent the first two days in Bangkok, doing all of the things that tourists do best. Visiting the Grand Palace and weaving down Kao San Road (equivalent to a backpackers’ Cabo) -- a blissful mix of Westernized bars/clubs, dogs with sunglasses riding on handlebars of their owner’s motorcycles, sizzling pad thai, and the best kind of clothes (very, VERY cheap)...all to the soothing tunes of JT’s timeless Sexy Back.

In all seriousness, there is something indescribably beautiful about this place. Bangkok was a city much like other cities - busy, dirty, and tireless. However, the “land of smiles” has welcomed me with a hug that simply says “we’re thrilled you’re here”. Coming from the states, I found it hard to rid myself of the dog eat dog, every woman for herself mentality. But here, it’s as if those expressions hold no meaning. I can see already why people get hooked.

After that whirlwind in the capitol, we threw our suitcases on top of the van (literally), and headed for the orientation site in the rural Loei province in northern Thailand. Driving through the country made me realize that here, things just work. It’s not fancy, it’s not boastful -- it just works. Void of crosswalks and pedestrian countdowns telling you exactly when, where, and how to walk - here, they use a weird phenomena called “common sense”. Their children are not on leashes and Ritalin, but riding on the back of dad’s motorcycle to the market. Cabs, dogs, tuk tuks (look it up), and children successfully navigate their way without popo rearing their ugly heads. If jay-walking were a crime, Thailand would be on Alcatraz.

I was planning on writing more, but the program ajaans (professors) are holding up beers and bingo cards (we’re learning our numbers) - duty calls.

Tomorrow, we leave for Khon Kaen to move into our apartments and meet our roommates. I promise to not be a stranger.

Until then...sawat dee ka