Meeting Min

I met Min 4 years ago. He commented, via Flickr, on some of the pictures I took in Burma while studying abroad in 2006. Since then, we've chatted online fairly often. Now he's a graduate student at ABAC Hua Mark campus, in BKK. He also runs an online business; flashband.net. Today was the day I went to ABAC to meet Min. Tyler and I hopped on bus 99 and cruised through BKK to get to ABAC. Min picked us up at the bus stop and we went to C Building to meet some of Tyler's friends teaching at ABAC. Then I went to Min's house and met his family. Needless to say, it's great to finally meet Min.

Locals

Thai people are very kind and hospitable. With an early smile and wai, they are at ease and friendly. I've been fortunate to meet many early on, through Loyola teachers finishing up their year contract at Saint Gabriel's College.

Recently Sarah and I went out to visit a friend of hers near Wat Songachai, southeast BKK. We met many people for the first time. They immediately offered us food, drink, cool towels, and accommodated us with what little English they knew. We watched futbol on TV but after a bit they put the game on the radio and changed the TV to, you guessed it, karaoke. Because let's be honest. The one thing that holds humanity together is singing songs poorly with a group of friends.

"Because I.. caaaan't helppp.. faaaalling in looove..with..yoooouuuu!!!" Coming to a Thailand Idol near you.

Here I go!

My first post from Thailand! This will be a public journal of sorts. But you only get the PG rated stuff :-P

I'm here. In Bangkok, Thailand. Specifically living on the campus of Saint Gabriel's College, the primary/secondary school in which I teach 6th grade Math in the English language. School hasn't started yet because of the political situation. The government informed schools to not open until Monday, May 24. We'll see if they push it back again.

The red shirt protests have been going on in Bangkok for 2 months. Only today did the protest leaders surrender to police and encourage their followers to go home. They did so after the military cracked down on their main camp in the 'heart' of Bangkok. Arson and looting have ensued. The government called for an 8pm curfew tonight so the streets are now completely empty. No cars, no people, no noise but the insects. Rather eerie for Bangkok. I can't hear a thing from my apartment's roof. Quite peaceful actually. A stark contrast to the gunfights and arson that are happening in the red zone. I can still see the smoke rising from Central World, the second largest mall in Asia. But I can't hear more than the crickets, and occasional bat flying overhead...

Update: The curfew has been extended for the next couple nights. Nothing burning anymore downtown.

That's all that's happening on this first post, but get excited!, there will be plenty more to come.

Here's a video from my apartment's roof;

One Love

The Warrior!!!

I Love the Whole World

Boom de yada!

BHO on global student competitiveness

I wish a presidential nominee told me this freshman year of highschool...