Orientation: Check!

It all started off with four girls and twelve suitcases being crammed into one cab. Well, one suitcase actually made its way to the top of the cab... but that's besides the point! After making it to our hotel at 4am, Mandy and I rested for a bit before hitting breakfast. Noodles and rice, noodles and rice. It's all that is around, and literally all we ate. 

Orientation started the next morning. I was excited and eager to not only meet new people, but also learn about teaching in Thailand. But doing the same thing each and every day became very tedious. My group sat in class from 9am to 6pm, learning about Thai culture, Thai language, and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Some Thai I learned this week? Hello - Sawadeeka! Thank you - Kobkunka! Ha! Yeah, that's it! I figured hello and thank you would get me pretty far.... or maybe not! 

Aside from eating rice and noodles for every meal, learning an impossible language, and learning to never talk bad about the King, there were some pretty fun things we did, too! 

First Thai Massage 

 Yes, you read that right. I took a risk and went into a place called "Good Massage". Along with two friends, I may have received the best hour long massage. For 300 BHT, or $10, I couldn't beat it. 

 

The Grand Palace

During orientation, groups D, E, and F toured the Grand Palace for our morning culture session. The Grand Palace housed the first 5 kings of Thailand, but is now only used for royal ceremonies and services. It is also the location of where the last king, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was cremated. He died last October, but was just recently cremated last week. The Grand Palace also holds the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is believed that by being in the presence of the Emerald Buddha, prosperity will flourish in your life. It was so beautiful to see people praying to and honoring the Emerald Buddha.

 

 

 Bai Sri Soo Khwan

Bai Sri Soo Khwan was a beautiful welcoming ceremony that CIEE put on for the new English teachers. Thai teachers and leaders dressed in formal Thai wear as they welcomed us into their country. About 12 leaders and teachers sat in the front of the room and welcomed students individually. As they welcomed us and thanked us, they tied a white string bracelet around our wrist. They spoke Thai as they tied the bracelets, speaking protection and prosperity over us while in Thailand. It was just a beautiful way to welcome us into this beautiful country! 

   Kanchanaburi

On our second to last day, all six groups took a 3 hour bus ride to Kanchanaburi. Kanachanaburi is home to many beautiful waterfalls, Chinese temples... weird, I know, and the Bridge Over the River Kwai. Although the tracks on the bridge are still active, this bridge is a popular tourist spot - surrounding many mountains and valleys in the area. 

Bangkok Night Markets

Wow! You have never truly seen a night market until you've seen the ones in Thailand. There were literally hundreds of people shopping around late at night. Thais will set up their tents all night and sell anything from food to jewelry, clothes to shoes, and accessories. You can get your nails done, clothes tailored, or phones repaired. This market was truly one of a kind. On the bucket list... eat a bug! Check! I went down one row and saw a variety! They were staring me down, literally... I had to do it! What'd I pick? A grasshopper. Would I eat one again? Never!! But, I did it!