A couple of weeks ago, my former professor from Lee University came to visit some students who are doing an internship in Cambodia. We all met for dinner, and my professor asked me which aspects of Thai culture I have bought into and which ones I haven't. I had a hard time answering him right there because I don't always think quickly on my feet. I've thought more about that and realized that I probably have a pretty substantial answer.

1.Food
Sometimes, I eat rice 3 times a day! The other day, I was eating Hong Kong noodles for breakfast in my office with chopsticks and my co-worker asked me "If someone would have told you five years ago that you'd be eating noodles with chopsticks for breakfast, would you have believed them?" I said "absolutely not." Even last year, I didn't eat Thai food for breakfast. At this point, I realize that I don't have time to cook a substantial American-style breakfast, so it's better to buy Thai food and eat breakfast in my office.
However, I have not bought into everything. I ordered food the other night to take home and I thought I was getting pork (sometimes that's the only option if you want meat--I'll explain in a second). I got home, and realized that along with my pork (and vegetables, mint leaves, chili, etc.), I got pig intestines. After picking out all of the intestines and taking the large amounts of fat off the meat, I probably ate ten baht worth of the thirty baht I paid for my "nam tok moo."

2. Market Shopping
Every time I ride the bus past Khlong Toei Market, I think, "I really don't want to go there because it smells horrible." It's a "wet market," which means that they have fresh meat and seafood, along with produce and lots of other things. The prices are really good though. I was cooking for my church, and I was on a budget, so I decided to brave the market. After buying everything I needed and finding that people were generally helpful, I decided that I need to go to the wet market more often. I had a really good experience.
Average Thai people buy their clothes in flea market type settings. Some markets are huge with hundreds of stalls to choose from, and some are relatively small as they are set up along busy streets. While it's a little bit hard to find clothes big enough to fit well, I've become like the Thais and I would rather shop in a market than in a department store because I can save a lot of money. I think I might have to give in and buy shoes in department stores, however, because it's rare to find shoes that fit me well in the markets.

3. Transportation
I take buses, song taos (pick-up trucks with seats in the back), the Sky Train, the subway, taxis and motorcycle taxis everywhere I go. (I don't have a car and I'm not very excited about Bangkok traffic or driving on the left side of the road. I guess I haven't bought into that one) I'm trying not to take motorcycle taxis very often because I generally feel like I could die at any moment (but they're so convenient that sometimes I forget the danger when I'm in a hurry). After riding on the sidewalk on a motorcycle two times recently, I've realized that I have to use a different method of transportation on that route.

4. Language
When I'm with Thai people I don't know, I try really hard to speak Thai and listen to what they're saying. I don't catch everything, but I usually understand enough to continue the conversation. When I'm with people that speak English well, I'm kind of lazy. I don't usually practice Thai with them because I know that we will save time if we speak English. My Thai lessons are on hold for the moment because my teacher had to go back to her province. Hopefully we'll start again soon.

I think that's more than enough for now. I'm really enjoying teaching 3rd grade. I think this year is going better than last year because I actually know what I'm doing and because my students are more respectful and interested in learning than my 5th grade students were last year.

This week is Spiritual Revival Week for the students and teachers in our school. I'm leading praise and worship with the elementary native English-speaking teachers. Pray for me to show the love of God and be confident, no matter what the attitudes of my co-workers are.