EIL Intercultural Learning

Soooo!! What to say about my placement and Thailand in general! Well! I have experienced a different culture entirely but I am not shocked that much in a sense. Certain things Im astounded by, for instance, have five people including children on a wee scotter flying around the city! That has shocked me aswell as the wearing o no helmets! The place is pretty cheap but it is very easy to loose track of money and spend waaay over budget! Another thing which I personally find strange is the removing of footwear when entering most places. The clubs I have been to are fine but most other places request the removal of footwear! Thats a new thing for me and something I will look forward to not doing when I return home.

There are so many other ‘different’ things but I cannot think of them right now. Work with Care for Dogs is going fine. Today, I felt slightly lost as I am the type of person who works to routine so I felt that I wasn’t busy enough but I got through the day in the end. The people there are lovely, you have to use a lot of inititive though. Today was definately a challenge to me, I didnt want to be there at all but I lasted it out and got through the day. I guess everyone has days like this. The volunteer house is amazing. The people here are so different but we all gel together great. I was stressed about that but everyone is dead on so for that I am grateful. The food is another thing I still can’t get my head around but Im like that with most food in Ireland so maybe its just me. The weather is very humid, I feel like I am melting all the time! Its like very heavy weather in Ireland apart from your sweating all the time, no joke. Again, Im a snow person so that is a major shock to my system, physically and mentally!

I have to say I go through days of homesickness. I miss my dogs and family, of course. Time, however, does not drag out, it flies by quickly. Im here a week and a half now and it doesnt seem like it in one sense. We are visiting Pai? At the weekend. Its three hours away from Chiang Mai so that should be good. It is supposed to be just a totally chillased place so that should be nice. Last weekend, we stayed in huts in the middle of the Dam lake. Excellent spot until the middle of the night hits, then the water rats come out to play and boy do they play! So if your a light sleeper, bring ear blocker things or sleeping meds!! I wish I did! Im scarred for life! The people are nice here, you can have the craic at the markets too if your into haggling! And there’s loads of markets each and every night!!!!

I can’t think of anything else to say but I will be updating again soon! I will also add some photos! Bye for now!

Amanda. :)