Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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

Monday, August 23, 2010

not quite there, yet

the summer before my freshman year, i went to an informational event at SCU. i remember talking to this senior who had just gotten back from her trip abroad. she participated in the most expensive and extravagant program - semester at sea. students live on a cruise ship and take classes, but when they dock they visit and explore over a dozen different countries. after hearing her gush about all of the different places she'd been and people she met, i decided i wanted to study abroad.

at the time, i had received an entrepreneurial scholarship from the McKelvey Foundation worth $10,000 a year for four years. so, although my parents couldn't afford to send me abroad (they couldn't afford the school either), i figured i'd be able to make it work with the McKelvey scholarship and the other scholarships/aid I'd received.

unfortunately, the founder of the McKelvey Foundation, Andy McKelvey, died in november 2008. by july 2009, the foundation's operations were suspended due to some probate issues. this meant that i had to acquire $10,000 by the end of august to pay for my sophomore year. i did, somehow. but the possibility of studying abroad was looking grim.

nonetheless, i decided that i wanted to study abroad. i went through the application process and hoped that i'd be accepted to one of my top 3 choices - all of which were somewhere in spain. i chose spain mainly because i knew i wanted to go to europe, but i also knew i didn't want to go to england or france or any other country that speaks primarily english. language is a huge aspect of any culture, so i thought that staying in a country that spoke another language would an easy way to gain some insight on a foreign culture. however, i didn't want to be completely unable to communicate with locals. since i understand a little spanish, i felt spain was a perfect fit.

i was accepted to my first choice, the SCU barcelona program. could i afford it? nope. but i continued to go through the motions and be prepared anyways in case i could go. i renewed my passport, got my visa, worked a summer job, and cut down on my expenses (drastically). a miracle happened and the McKelvey Foundation got some money. not $10,000, but it helped. unfortunately, i still couldn't afford to buy a ticket. long, agonizing story short, i pulled some strings and finally got the money to buy a ticket.

yay! i'm going!!! right?! i told friends and actually allowed myself to believe i was going. until then i wasn't excited because i didn't think i would actually get there. i didn't read any of the informational packets. i didn't even get genuinely happy when i saw i'd be rooming with my friend, sandy (sorry, girl). sure there were times when talking to people that i'd allow myself to get excited and look up local attractions on the internet, but i never once forgot that my going to barcelona wasn't final. at least not until i bought the ticket. and even after i did, it wasn't until two days later that i actually got excited enough to really believe it. i couldn't sleep; i read all the packets and looked up free barcelona-themed apps on my phone. and when i did sleep, i dreamed about barcelona.

of course just when things get peachy, you bite into a pit. i was "randomly" picked for a financial aid verification request and the results came in, today. i won't be receiving as much financial aid as i thought. so, now, instead of looking forward to a refund at the end of the quarter, i owe money... hundreds... that i can't afford since i spent all of my money on a damn ticket to barcelona!

i don't know what i'm going to do or how i'll afford anything (it's mainly books that i'm worried about). most people (myself included) would say i shouldn't have pushed so hard for barcelona. why is it so important to go there? especially when you won't even be able to afford to do any other traveling? can't you just go next year? or some other time when you're more financially stable? why put such a huge burden on yourself and your family?

i don't know the answers to those questions. all i can say is that i'm stubborn and selfish. and that i really hope this trip will be worth all the trouble. it has to be.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Real College Student of DC

These last 5 days have flown by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was at home trying to figure out which suitcase my shoes go in or which pillow I should take now or ship later. But it's true... I'M IN DC BITCHES*!!!! (that's the bay in me coming out).

It still seems unreal, I cannot believe I am physically here or that I am at this place in my life. Students that have participated in the American University Washington Semester Program have gone on to serve for the FBI, various senators, and numerous other positions in the DC area. What does that mean? It means that students come here just as me, a regular girl from Seattle, and leave with the experience and references that will set them up for the rest of their lives.

That's a scary reality for me. If I succeed in the seminar, the paper, the internship, if I am put in the position that allows me to grow closer to the potential that has been cultivating for the past +12 years. My biggest enemy is me. It is usually the case that right as things our progressing in a positive direction we (everyone and me) do something to mess it up. SO, to make sure that does not happen I will constantly assess my goals for this semester and life beyond it.

Once you get past the realization of what's happening there are many aspects to life in DC that are not philosophical. For instance, it is F@*&ing* hot!!!!! It's that stand in the shade and still sweat heat, get out the shower and never be dry because of the humidity heat. Doing my hair is a serious joke. Needless to say, I hate it. However, with the heat, I have a new found appreciation for air conditioning.

Another thing I was not prepared for was the walking, my dumb ass* decided to walk the National Mall in wedge sandals. By the end of the day, those little piggies were SCREAMING all the way to room. Lesson learned: walking shoes always.

This whole post is me rambling and I have an internship fair to attend in the morning. I hope this provides a small glimpse into what I am going through right now. If you have any questions you want me to answer feel free to ask.

PS: I miss all my SCU friends (you know who all of you are) and my friends and family
(esp. Coco) in Seattle. *Sorry about the language mom.