The first night in my apartment

The day we met our school coordinators and got moved to our apartments was one of the most nerve-wracking days I've had in my life. This was the day I had to make a great first impression. I was going to be working with my coordinator for the next year and I wanted things to be perfect. Even trying to pick out my outfit stressed me out. I wanted to look professional and approachable, nothing to warm because then I would be a sweaty mess and that's not a good look on anyone. When the clock struck 3:45 pm it was time to make our way to the room where the coordinators where waiting for all 200 of us. There was lists all on a white board to tell us what table our coordinator would be at. First time through the list I don't see my school name.... so then I go through each individual name... no Melissa. I obviously start to panic, which makes me sweat and nervous and I find one of the OEG staff who then tells me my coordinator will be a little late and I'll meet her at 4 in the lobby. I think okay good I can clam down, maybe dab the sweat from my forehead, then she says oh never mind it looks like she is here! Great :) My practiced Thai greeting slips my mind, and I'm nervous she won't understand my English because I am speaking so fast but then she replies with perfect English. This was the most relieved I had felt all day. She introduced herself as Dao and she is 25 and so beautiful! The 45 min car drive flew by because we were talking about everything and anything. We talked about the Thai education system and how it differs from the Ontario education system. We found similarities in our overprotective moms, and how the should have never of watched the movie "Taken". We also discovered we both worked for our parents at one time. Well she still does. Her parents actually built the school I'm working at because they wanted school to be close to home for their only daughter. Her mom is a teacher but now deals with the administrative things at the school, and her dad works for Delta Airlines. Her parents also own a restaurant down the street which the all work part time at. Dao works at the school during the day helping her mom with paperwork and then works at the restaurant weeknights and weekends. We stopped at the school first before my apartment even though all the kids had gone home for the day because her mom had some stuff she wanted to give me for my apartment... and their house is literally like attached to the school (it's really cute). Her mom comes out with open arms and explains how I am now her second daughter and to always text her if I am going somewhere for the weekend, or if I take a cab somewhere to take a picture of the license plate and send it to her just incase.... (mom did you hire this lady???) lol. She gave me a couple of plastic bags filled with water, milk, cereal, sandwiches and a Thai style omelet on rice because she figured I would be hungry. I felt so welcomed and it made me excited to see my apartment and start my new beginning here in Thailand. When we arrived my excited self started to deflate and I wanted to go home. I think this was the biggest culture shock I had to endure so far. The program had told me sheets and dishes would all be provided with my apartment, but that was not the truth. When Dao seemed surprised when we arrived and the place was empty. She was going to drive back home and grab me sheets but I already felt bad because they had given me so much I said I would be fine for the night (I brought a small blanket incase for the plane and had my neck pillow). She said she would take me out tomorrow to get some things for my apartment. I slept on my mini leather couch because I was creeped out by the bed and had to hold my bladder because I didn't have toilet paper either. Thankfully I had some kleenex, but I wanted to save that for a real emergency....so I had to drip and dry for the night. Mai pen rai. That is Thailand's way of saying, no worries. It's the way of life here, so I might as well start that state of mind with my new home. I was almost on the verge of tears, when Kayla called me and talked me out of it. It is a nice apartment, and enough space for one. I have a beautiful view, wifi in my apartment, a flushing toilet, a shower (that is cold and no pressure) but it works! I have never truly lived alone and it will take some adjusting and a few pictures to make it feel like home but it will.

My Arrival and Orientation in Bangkok!

When the day finally came to leave for Thailand I had mixed emotions. I had to say goodbye to my friends, dogs (which was actually very hard), and my family. The drive to the airport went way to fast and I wasn't ready to say my finally goodbye to my mom and Sean. I cried a lot, but people were starting to look so I pulled myself together and was fine for the rest of the 2 hours before I had to board my plane. When my flight to New York began boarding I thought about turning around and calling my mom to come pick me up, this was my last chance to change my mind and stay. This was probably the hardest moment of that whole day was giving my ticket and passport to the Air Canada lady and getting on that plane. It made it real and I couldn't turn back. The whole 1 hour flight I cried. I felt so bad for the lady sitting beside me. We didn't exchange any words lol. Then I grew some balls because I once again was going to be in a busy airport and had to be an adult and find my way to my next gate. My flight to Taipei was delayed which made me nervous as my next layover was only an hour and 50 minutes. Once we got on the plane I took some gravel and passed out for 8 hours of the 16 hour flight. Then I watched 4 movies, Magic Mike probably wasn't the best choice while sitting beside an old Asian man, but I needed a good laugh. When my flight landed I ran to my next gate making it just in time to sit on another plane for 6 more hours. When I finally arrived in Bangkok I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the heat, the crowds of people in every direction and the unknown. I found my way to the taxi area jumped in the first one, and he had no idea where my hotel for orientation was. After sitting in a hot cab for 15 minutes while he asked around we were on our way. We had small talk for about 1 minute because he couldn't speak much English so then he started playing on his Ipad on his dashboard while driving around 100km/h swerving in and out of traffic. Once he found a good kick boxing match on youtube he finally put both hands on the steering wheel. I noticed that lanes are only a suggestion, and the shoulder lane on the highway isn't reserved for emergency vehicles, anyone can use it as an extra lane when it's a busy traffic day (which is everyday). When I got to the hotel I was instantly greeted by two other girls in the same program, I must have looked so lost and my crazy amounts of luggage gave it away that I was here for a while. They waved and kindly said, "CIEE?". Was so happy to finally meet some people that are here for the same reasons and could speak English! That first day I showered and slept through the day and night. The second day majority of people were checking into the hotel, so a group of us that got in the day before went on a boat tour down the river and through the canals. It was really cool to see the houses that are on stilts in the water!! We also saw these creepy looking Komodo dragon type lizards that are as long as me.  The boat made me a little seasick, so I was happy when we docked so I could let my stomach settle. My roommate came later than I did so she slept that whole first day to catch up on her sleep. The rest of the week was orientation which included Thai lesson sessions, and lesson planning for English as a foreign language. These sessions were helpful, but also boring at the same time lol. We also had a day trip to Ayutthaya and saw the ruins of the Wat Maha That royal temple. This place was huge and very cool to see! All of the Buddha statues had their heads removed because during the Burmese attack they cut them all off and set the monastery on fire. We then went for lunch at a local restaurant and had traditional thai food such as curry (soooooo spicy), a full fish body bbq'd, shrimp cakes (I think...), rice, vegetables, and soup. It was good, except my mouth was on fire lol. Then we went to the floating market. This is a market right on the water and has clothing shops and food, coffee, beer... it pretty much had everything. One night I went out with a couples of my new friends and my roommate downtown! We started at the Lebua Sky Bar! The view was the best of Bangkok I will ever see! Then we hit Khaosan Road, because you have to go at least once. It was super touristy and busy but a cool place to see! We went to a bar called Lava and saw dirty white guys trying to take advantage of thai girls, a 4 year old sleeping in the corner and much more that shocked me, but to them it's the norm. A couple days later we went to the Grand Palace which was a sight I can not describe. The buildings and temples are so beautiful and sparkle in the light, it was amazing. That night we also had our goodbye dinner on a cruise boat! It went up and down the river as we ate, drank and danced. It was a nice last night to spend with the new friends I had made. The next day we all went our separate ways to our new homes for the next year.