Host Family - Day 1

I wrote the following over the past day. I'm now back at the hotel for training, but my internet access will not be very much in the coming weeks... I'll try to be in touch as much as I can.


Sunday, Jan 24:

Last night was my first with my new family. Yesterday all the families came to the hotel where we were staying, and we were paired up one by one with our chosen hosts. I was assigned to the tambon (county) Ban Gluai, close to the hotel where we will be meeting occassionally to train. The mother of my household, Ohm, was there to greet me. We exchanged pleasantries to the extent that my Thai language skills would allow, then went off to my home for the next 10 weeks.

I'm in a 3 person household - mother, father, and 16 year old daughter. There are also 3 dogs, which really are more like strays that the family happens to allow in their yard. The house is nicer than I would have expected. Very clean, flushing toilet and overhead shower inside, and my own room with a stand-up fan. The house is adjacent to another house, where some extended family live - and they happen to be hosting another volunteer, Brooke. I really can't understate how much of a relief it is to have her here. I can imagine how rough it is for other volunteers who have no way of understanding their hosts or being understood themselves, and can't express their feelings to anyone. Just having someone to be able to talk to is the best luxury I could've gotten.

My family / extended family has been really welcoming. There are a couple cute little kids in the extended family. I'm having some fun with them - making faces, playing peek-a-boo, and playing with a Philadelphia Eagles fiki football game I brought. Before they left to go to bed last night, the 4 year old little girl "waiy-ed" (how you greet elders - hands together, head bow) and then blew me a kiss.

The matriarch of the complex is the grandmother, whose 3 daughters live here (one of which is Ohm). I was initially a little intimidated by her. She seemed serious and stern upon first impression. But When Brooke and I were getting a tour of the outside area, Ohm showed us the outhouse with a squat toilet. I squatted down as if to show I needed to practice. The grandmother saw me from a distance and burst out laughing, pretty much breaking the ice.

The food has been incredible. We ate dinner on the floor of the living room. Brooke and I were served first, and often after that. There was fried rice with chicken, fish soup, pork with vegetables, and an omelette. The meals are all rice based. They showed us how to mix the soup in with the rice, and add some spicy fish sauce. The words I've used most since moving in are "Alloy maak" (very delicious).

This morning we went to the market. The family has a coconut farm on site, where they strip the bark to process the coconut milk and pulp to sell at the market. They made us a delicious treat that can be described as a coconut flavored mix between ice cream and water ice. The rest of the market was an experience in and of itself. Hanging pig heads, live frogs, whole squid, etc etc.

After that we went to the Chainat Bird Park. It's a very expansive and pretty place. Peacocks and ostriches roaming, all different types of birds in a huge netted area, and a small aquarium on site. The best was the fish foot bath. We took off our shoes to put our feet in a shallow tub of water, and all these little inch-long fish flocked to nibble at our legs. People apparently find it soothing - for me it was just really really ticklish.

Right now I'm inside after just helping a fellow volunteer change a flat bike tire. Realized it's really good to feel useful once in a while when you're being treated like family by complete strangers you can't even properly thank.