The Best of Bangkok!
Trip Start
Jun 05, 2008
1
30
38
Trip End
Sep 28, 2008
Bangkok,
Thailand
Friday, October 10, 2008
The temples, shopping malls, transportation system, and airport are all safe and there's no need to avoid coming here. I think the international news gives an unfair portrayal of what's really going on and faily to say that it's 6000 people out of millions in the country who are protesting. The country is not in chaos and it's still super duper easy to get around Thailand! Everyone pretty much just goes about their daily lives and it's not that big of a deal.
I've taken a month of language classes with some super duper awesome teachers who've taught me basic Thai - "survival thai" - in their words. After 4 weeks of 3 hours of language lessons a day, I am somewhat prepared to brave Thailand on my own for the next few months. Unlike a lot of Thai language teachers here in Bangkok, all of the teachers are college educated and have a degree in Thai or language or something that allows them to communicate extremely well! Aside from the language learning, it's been quite a cultural experience as they're so open to sharing facts and knowledge of their country and taking me to the market that's below our building. They explained to me that the reason that Thais are always suprised that I'm from America is that they think all americans look like the Colonel from KFC! They call Americans "Uncle KFC" because we're so fat. They think Russians are beautiful and are sooo surprised that grandma's live all by themselves in their houses in America. They gasped to hear that my Popo drives, cooks, shops, and runs around town on her own. She says that grandmas's here once they're old, just tell their daughter to do things for them. One of my teachers is planning on being an au pair in the US in order to improve her language skills so that she can work with an NGO one day. She's awesome, knows all the origins of every thai word, is super smart, and the gentlest person alive. If anyone needs a nanny...let me know!
For those interested in learning thai, their website is : www.sumaa.net
They're located a 5 minute walk from the Lumpini Subway Station and about 15 minutes from the Silom Sky train. 5 minutes from Starbucks, and close to Lumpini park and the thai boxing stadium.
