Khop Khun Kha - Thank you!

It is Friday afternoon, so I've been in Thailand for just about a week today! It feels like I just arrived, and it also feels like I've been here for forever!

We have the weekend off, so the ETA group and I are taking a train to Ayutthaya tomorrow morning. This is an ancient capital of Thailand (from 1350 - 1767), and is full of history and ruins and temples and palaces. Supposedly it is about an hour and a half away from Bangkok and the train ride only costs 17 Baht (about 50 cents!).

Saying thank you (khop khun ka) has been so important during my time in Bangkok so far. Everyone I've met has been so helpful that the least I can do is say thank you, thank you, thank you! You're welcome isn't really a phrase used here very often, so usually the response I will get from the Thai person is just a smile. And isn't a smile worth a thousand words?! Thailand is known as the "land of the smiles" and I would definitely agree with this!

We started our Thai language lessons on Wednesday and it is so exciting and difficult to learn a new language. But it is awesome that we can go to class and learn the vocab for fruit or learn how to bargain, and then we can go right out and use it! Mai aw neu kha (without meat, please) is one of my personal favorite phrases just because I use it so much!

This morning about six of the people in our group went for a run around the National Stadium that is located about two blocks from our dorm. It was great to get out and run, and it was particularly fun because the National Stadium is where many Thai people run or walk as well. I ended up running for a while with a Thai man and I used (or attempted to use!) some of the phrase I've learned - like what is your name, and what is your occupation. Supposedly this man (probably about 60 years old) and his friends run every morning at the Stadium, so maybe I'll see them again soon! Thai lessons while exercising sounds like a great way to start the day!

Our last lecture/meeting today was chatting with an ETA from two years ago. It was great to ask her questions about her experience in Thailand, particularly with teaching. It sounds like it will be quite the experience!

Hope you had a great week! And I would love to hear from you!