Wingin it!

If you can't laugh at yourself something is wrong, we all do silly things now and again.

Ok so here's a short blog about funny things that happened, and some other quirks.

 I needed some body lotion so I look around and see this stuff called Fresh Milk, all pretty with twine and a cloth leaf, 2 bucks, Next to the Nivea cream. I motion to the lady by rubbing my arm like spreading lotion, she says yes. I go home put the lotion on and go out. I come home and wash my hands and see that there are bubbles forming on my arm, oh silly, it's soap not lotion! I had it all over my body, good thing it didn't start raining, that would have been embarrassing!

If something is too good to be true, it's probably not true! I found some ylang ylang essential oils at the market and smelled them all. Pretty nice, but after the attack of all the smells maybe it was mind over matter, I fell for it. $1.50 for essential oils! I thought lots of flowers,Thailand….maybe? But maybe not. I got home and put the oil in the diffuser to find that it didn't have that nice ylang ylang smell, just a cheap imitation. Oh well, live and learn.

I saw these wonderful pants with a stretchy back and thought well I can probably fit. I motioned to the merchant thinking they have a good take on size with so many farangs about. Yes they will fit! Ok so I got the merchant down by bargaining and bought them. I came home and tried them on, Not only were they snug they were too short too. Another lesson learned, difficult for my size to buy clothing from most places, not all. Later I found a wonderful shirt, I will send the pants on to someone who will enjoy them. But I wonder, are the prices fair, how can these be made for $3.00, are we helping people? I also went to a fair trade place and couldn't afford their prices, a happy medium?

As I came with only two pieces of luggage, I have had to be resourceful. I recycle my soda water bottles for a vase, I cut the milk carton in half for a water dish for paints, I use the paper bags to dry my herbs when I can't use it all, and I use postcards to decorate the walls. I did just buy my first beautiful piece of art a Buddah face carved in Teak wood, now to find a  hammer and nail!

One of the things I noticed when we came into our condo is that they have left the plastic on the lamp shades. Hmmm, do I rip it off or keep it on? The Thai put the light switches all on the outside of the room, I  am still getting used to that.  Sweeping brings to mind the constant clean up that happens around here, it really does look nice and manicured. I can't wait to get a Hula Hoop and maybe bocce and play on the lawn. The guards are always out front and another in the garage. They often times will open the elevator for me so I don't have to dig for my plastic security key. Thailand employs many people for what we would consider one job. They earn very little, but unemployment is low.

Walking home last night I got to see some locals homes, by day they are shops by night the door gets closed a bit and they are home. Simple Simple, nothing like what I am living in. I am rich, imagine that. I have always thought that though, even when in my own country I struggle to stay afloat, I am still much better off financially than 90% of the people on the planet. I have learned this traveling. I have also learned from my last move that one doesn't need so much stuff. I look at things in a different way, I have become more of a minimalist, seeing that the most important things really are my art supplies, and kitchen utensils and a few plants! At times I miss things that I had, but really it's just stuff. Some stuff makes doing things easier, like my garlic press, a dryer, my easel and a few more things like my car!

I am learning all sorts of interesting differences between the Thai way and the Western way. This is one of the reasons I am taking the TEFL, they help you with not only revisiting english skills, they teach Thai culture and language and they help with getting a bank, visa questions, and more valuable info. I am thankful for all of this.

Thanks for reading,
Annie