The blog you have all been waiting for...

Actually probably no one reads this on a daily basis or even monthly but I like to humor myself. Today I had the most interesting lecture again about buddhism from the 82 year old man today. His name is Ajan Saeng. If you get a chance and are extemely bored you can look him up and see that he was a crucial part of the Buddhist university that I am interning at. He wanted to connect the lay people and also those who weren't Buddhist with the Buddhist lifestyle. He created something called monk chat which is what most of the farang (foreigners) go to when they visit this temple.
This man is incredible. Initially you think "wow this is going to be the most boring hour and a half of my life" and when you look at the clock again you wish that he had four more hours to tell stories and just teach us about buddhism. He knows so much and can relate everything to Christianity for those people in the class who only know and seem to only want to know Christianity. He knows more about the Bible that I ever knew which is not a lot I guess. You can see his loving kindness and compassion right there in front of you. I am very sad that today was the last lecture for us to have him as a professor.
Anyways here are some tib bits of info you might be interested in about Thai culture:
1. Take off your shoes. Sometimes in the oddest places but take them off...if you don't it is major disrespect especially in a temple. You can put on slippers at home though to warm your feet...not sure why they would be cold in 90 degree weather but ok.
2. The Wai. This is the term for when the hands are together at lip level and you bow slightly to say hello and goodbye. You are supposed to do this to anyone older than you especially a professor (more of a bow) and even more a monk (extreme bowing). Never do this to a taxi cab driver, a younger sibling, or someone with less status. It is considered rude.
3. The thai nature is very unique. Yes means no most times. Your family might say yes yes but really mean no no. For instance if they don't want you to do something they won't say anything about it so you would never know but if you ask they would still "lie" to you. It is a very pleasing society trying to please everyone even if what they are saying may not be true. This is the first hard part in living with a Thai family.
4. Don't touch anyone's head or feet. Just don't do it.
5. The cars have the right of way and if you get hit it is most likely your fault.
6. At the street vendors normally you can get half price for everything in their inital sale. For instance I bought some fake raybans first it was two for 500 baht then I said nothing higher than 300 baht and started to walk away. Every step I took the man lowered the price until it hit 300 baht for two pairs. Aka two pairs for about ten dollars. If you speak in thai you also get a lower inital price.
7. Time is irrelevant. Arriving 20 minutes late for a lecture is fine. Also the Thai students that have class at 8 always walk by us at about 8:10 with no hop in their step. Aka time is no big thing.
8. You must pronounce thai correctly or else it means something completely different or they cannot figure out what you are trying to say. It is odd because most times you can figure out english no matter how sloppy. Apparently you can not do this in Thai.
9. Dogs are everywhere. They do not have homes and most times are fed by random scraps people leave. They are not friendly dogs and you do not pet them or feed them or even like them much. But they are EVERYWHERE. Today I counted about 11 walking from the buddhist university back gate to the front gate which is the length roughly of a football field. They must feed them there.
10. If you get up early enough you can give the monks food in alms. It is quite the experience and sort of enjoyable. Do not touch a monk if you are a woman so don't hand the monk something put it in his basket. Monks cannot touch women.
11. There are ladyboys everywhere in thailand. They are called catoys which is not how you say it but it is one of those things that can't be spelled in english. They are legit lady boys as well and you would have never guess them to be men. Some are monks too and there is one class full of them. I have yet to meet one yet but I am planning on it. Sexuality is much more fluid here than in the US. People talk about homosexuality very openly and also about crossdressing. It is very comforting to know that some people out there do not judge based on sexual preferences. This is a lesson for the US to follow.

Well those are a few good things I have learned from the family and the University which I really appreciate. We learned today that every person no matter who they are is a teacher and every moment in life is a lesson. I hope to take that along with me on my journey through Thailand.
Aubs