I just need to eat potatoes!

First of all I would like to clarify a few confusing details about where we live. We live in Muang Tak which means Tak City, but most people just call it Tak. It is the capital of the province of Tak. The province is considered huge and is the 4th largest of Thailand’s 76 provinces. I enjoy telling students that the province I come from is called Ontario and it is even bigger than Tak! In fact it is even bigger than all of Thailand! Then they gasp and I feel very satisfied. 

Wiki map of Thailand's provinces

Each week I have been testing out certain aspects of Thai culture that are different from Canadian culture. This week I went to get my hair cut. You might have thought that haircuts are standard across the world but no this was a totally different experience. I got my haircut in the back of the barber’s truck which was parked at a major intersection.   

We are starting to crave the luxuries that we’re used to back home. A few times Heather has come to me desperately saying “Connor, I just need to eat potatoes!” Luckily, we planned on satisfying her Islander desire by celebrating American Thanksgiving with the other foreigners at a North American style restaurant. However, when we arrived their mashed potatoes were actually mashed squash.... and they had pumpkin pie which was actually squash pie. All in all it was very tasty and a nice change from spicy food. The restaurant was also very welcoming and had the TV on a station that was airing a documentary about the construction of the Canadian railroad with occasional dog sledding interludes. Made me feel very proud to be Canadian. 

  

I went to the big Thai festival called Loy Krathong. I was expecting to experience a real sense of culture shock but surprisingly that didn’t happen until afterwards. One thing I learned to really respect about the Thai people during this festival was that they acknowledge that they mess up and feel the need to ask their gods for forgiveness and they do this buy floating a krathong down the river. I realize that I do not ask my God for forgiveness often enough and that there are many other life lessons that I can learn from these people.

As the night was coming to an end I was thirsty and felt a strong desire to buy a Sprite. Like Heather needed potatoes, I needed a Sprite. However, vendor after vendor didn’t sell Sprite. I was getting frustrated when finally I saw a beautiful Sprite bottle glimmering in the distance. My night was complete I went over to the vendor and purchased what I knew would be the perfect thirst quencher. The seller took a bottle opener and opened the Sprite for me which was very kind of him. Then he proceeded to pour my entire bottle of Sprite into a plastic bag! My jaw dropped and was still open as he handed me the plastic bag. I don’t understand this culture...

Release the lanterns

The royal kratong

Sweet dragon boat

Two Lovely Ladies

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that Connor and I had found this adorable little restaurant one evening which is just a hop, skip and a jump away from our apartments. We were so warmly welcomed from the moment we stepped in that it instantly became our favourite place in Tak. Our first time there we really knew no Thai at all which made ordering an interesting adventure. We tried communicating “anything at all”, but this was a failed venture so we resorted to pointing and nodding.

The name of this place is still unknown to me, (all the signs are in Thai), but it is run by two incredible ladies whom I love dearly. They are always so excited to see us when we come. Every time we walk by their restaurant they stop what they are doing to smile, “wai” (Thai way of greeting), and wave. We have continued to go back to this lovely spot very often and feel quite at home there.

In addition to their kind hospitality, the food is always SO GOOD! We have noticed that they have been picking up some English words to communicate with us, and they have been particularly excited lately as our Thai is improving and we are able to order Thai dishes. They are also quite happy that we can now tolerate “ni noiy” (mildly spicy) rather than “my pet” (not spicy) food.  

To get to school in the mornings I have been catching a ride with another girl who is also here teaching and has become a great friend.  This Wednesday she was really not feeling well and knocked on my door quite late in the morning to tell me she would not be headed in to school that day. I was glad that she was going to take the day to rest, but it did leave me in a bit of a pickle. I was supposed to be at the school early that morning to help students prepare for an upcoming English and French competition. The school is only about a 20 minute walk which I do quite often at the end of the day, but I was already running late and hated the idea of not being there for the students.

I walked down the stairs of my apartment and thought, ‘Ok Lord, how will I get there today?’ I began walking towards the school, and not 3 minutes into my walk did a lady on a motorbike pull over, re-strap her basket onto the front of her bike, and motion for me to get on the back. It was one of the ladies from the restaurant! She was on her way to the market to pick up some produce for her restaurant when she saw me walking. She knows which school both Connor and I teach at as her daughter is a student there. The very night before I had been praying for these women and wondering what I could possibly do to serve them and thank them for their kindness. Not half a day later, they are the ones blessing me even more.

Thanks again for reading and for all the emails I've been getting! It is truly so wonderful hearing from you!

~Heather

Student quotes of the week:

“I have made a foot. Have you made a foot?”

“The kitchen has a stove, a refrigerator, and a dead chicken.”

“I dislike monkeys because they jump.”

“I don’t like giraffe because the neck is long.”

A view of my favourite spot!

Thailand seems to have a strange obsession with Carnation milk. They put it in everything. 

Tables are always dressed with a variety of spicy sauces
I must admit we have not been too adventurous in this area yet. 

About to enjoy a feast!

Connor's track shirt makes an international appearance.
(This one is for you Michelle) 

Another reason why we love this place:
Pirate Bear glasses.

Thai cuisine anyone?

Kai jee-o, kow.
a-roy mahk! 

You cannot serve two masters

As each day passes I am beginning to notice the most popular hobby for children in Thailand seems to be setting off fireworks. Kids of all ages are always playing with fireworks. The youngest I’ve seen looked to be about five years old. They even set fireworks off at school in the middle of the day. It has become so normal that I don’t really think about it anymore I just carry on with my day. My favourite experience with fireworks took place in downtown Tak where some six years olds started setting fireworks off close to Heather and I. The first big one they set off surprised Heather so much that she let out a terrified shriek. From then on the kids would set off fireworks but instead of looking at the firework they looked straight at Heather hoping for her to provide another great reaction.

I have also noticed that Thai culture is very noisy. I woke up at 6 AM one day to the University across the street blaring loud Thai music as a bunch of people had gathered to make crafts. Really... is that necessary at 6 in the morning? There are also these birds called mynas that are very beautiful but also extremely loud during the night. I assumed Thai people were used to them but I was thankful when I was walking along one day and saw a man hunting the birds with a slingshot.

Arrival of the myna birds. 

One day after school I really felt like eating a normal bag of chips so I went to the convenience store and looked at their selection. What was I thinking? Of course they don’t sell normal bags of chips. Their entire selection was seafood flavoured. I could buy spicy crab chips, lobster and fried vegetable chips, or two different varieties of seaweed flavoured chips. So I panicked and bought them all!

Instead of onion rings they have squid rings!

Mmmmm.... seaweed flavours

Exotic chip flavours.

Thailand is known as a Buddhist nation. They have statues of Buddha, they worship Buddha and their calendar is dated from the day when Gautama Buddha is believed to have died. (March 11, 545 BC) So I am writing to you from the year 2556! Thailand’s Buddhism is really a blend of Buddhism and Animism and the majority of beliefs seem to be animistic. I am about to witness their spiritual beliefs tonight at the Loy Krathong festival where the people honour, thank and ask forgiveness to the river goddess.

I see a similarity between Thais who claim to be Buddhist but are really more Animist and Canadians who claim to be Christian yet do not live for Christ. Many Canadians publicly claim to be Christian, they go to church, and they study their Bible, but then live completely for themselves. They do not pray to God about their life decisions or their life path. They don’t ask Jesus about what they should do, or where they should go and so they say they are living out Christianity but they are actually living for themselves.

Here is the mark of a Christian who is not polluted by the world: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

This is what happens when Connor tries to be artistic.

Found this frog in my shoe.

Looking so pro.

Random photo of Greenland!

The Journey Lens Thailand- Take Two

“Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”  Habakkuk 2:18-20.

I have read many scripture verses which speak about idols, but such verses have taken on a whole new meaning to me since my arrival in Thailand. My room is exactly 11 steps away from a large golden Buddhist statue (yes, I just took a walk to count for you). The view from my balcony – to the right sits a large Buddhist temple, and to the left a spirit house belonging to the apartment owner. The school and some classrooms where I teach are adorned with Buddhist and Animistic symbols.   

I am ever more and more aware of my personal need for Jesus and how lost I am without Him. I am ever more and more thankful for the privilege of knowing Him and for His love. I am ever more and more aware of how this world needs Jesus and of the need to pray for workers to be sent into the field, for “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” Luke 10:2.

As I walk around Tak and see the shrines, temples, and spirit houses in the thousands, it is hard to understand how this nation will be reached. I begin to pray for this city and for its people, but I have no words to say, I only weep. Despite how far from the knowledge of the truth this nation may be, God placed a beautiful verse on my heart today which brings me great hope:

“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told”.  Habakkuk 1:5

I love the Thai people and I believe that Jesus will do mighty works in this country to show His love to them.

Thanks for reading,

Heather

The statue down the hall from my room.

The view of the temple from my balcony 

One of many spirit houses. 

Shrine of King Taksin the great.

A statue of the king can be seen through the window on the right hand side.  

Spirit houses are sometimes lit during the evenings. 

Offering to the spirits

Walk of gold images

Worshipers making offerings and burning incense.

Shrines in the river

Instant Fame

It is strange being a celebrity in a place where you have lived for only two weeks. Heather and I went to explore the other side of the Ping River and I treated her to lunch (a grand total of $2). I know that is too expensive for most men but I felt it was the right thing to do ;) When I was paying the bill the Thai cashier said in very good English “Hello teacher Connor I go to Taksin Rachanusorn School. Nice to meet you.” I teach at a different school so I was caught off guard. “Uhh how do you know me?” “Oh you are on your schools facebook page.” So apparently I am on my schools facebook page and apparently a lot of people know that.

We then went to a different area and a man came out of his house and was very happy to meet us. He had seen us at church and was excited to tell us that he had painted the sign of a cross at the entrance to his house. Then he continued to be excited. So we congratulated him multiple times because once just didn’t seem like enough.

Many Thai’s have never heard of Jesus Christ. I had a difficult time explaining Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral to a very bright student, who is the school’s selected representative for an upcoming French competition. In the end, despite my words and drawings the student never understood what Notre Dame was as she had never heard of a Church, a Christian, or Jesus Christ.

One of the aspects of Thai culture I was looking forward to seeing was the poorly translated t-shirts. Before coming here I had seen a shirt which read “Be like your liver and love mango.” My favourite one so far is from a lady that was making our food. She was wearing a shirt with cartoon hippos in water which read “Hi, Let’s Swimming!” Sometimes it is difficult not to laugh out loud.

Heather and I have also started studying the book of Revelation. My favourite part so far is the free blessing. So if you feel like being blessed read Revelation. “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it” Revelation 1:3

Those are some of Connor's stories from Tak and now here are some photos

This was a nice view...

This is a better view

View of Tak from the other side of the Ping River

Tak (ตาก)

Map of Tak Province. The 4th largest province in Thailand. 

Entrance to downtown Tak

The King of Thailand is a very respected and his image is everywhere. His name is Rama IX and he is the world's longest serving current head of state. He became king of Thailand in June 1946.

No marching bands!

Spirit House with food and drink offerings

Rosters at the shrine of Taksin the great.

 Random French sign!

Car with an identity crisis

Random photo of Japan!