here are some pictures 🙂 

International Motor Expo & My first day at School

Ill start of by saying that 10 days feel like 100000 years, it feels like this has been my life for so long but it has only been 10 days. How are all the other exchange students say time flies when it feels like its not moving at al ?

On the 7^th of December I went with family of my host parents to the International Motor Expo in Bangkok. I have never ever seen such a big venue in my whole life, the motor expo has bigger than I can ever explain and that did not even fill a ¼ of the expo centre. It took us an hour and a half to get there that is not bad at all for Bangkok traffic at all , when we got there we parked the car in a parking lot that is 3X the size of your average mall in South Africa. When we got in we went to the International food court that had everything from steak to seaweed on their menu’s, then the family split up to get whatever they wanted to eat and we would meet again in 25min. so I was alone in this huge place to find what I wanted to eat. After 10 min I decided on  fired chicken rice and vegetables I then spent another 10 min trying to explain to the lady behind the counter what I wanted and just decided  to show her pictures on the menu, she got it after a very embarrassing hold up of the queue. When we waited in the line to get into the actual motor expo I got a little taste of what was coming when I saw half-dressed drop dead gorgeous woman in 10 inch heals at the door. There was so many people , and the most amazing cars ever. From sports cars who give messages and the newest Bugatti’s, Ducati motorbikes, the new 400 S class Mercedes, cars with no back seats and on boot but full on movie theatres in the back to the vintage car club of Thailand. We spent ALL DAY in there and still had more to see. And the Family I went with are just amazing, friendly and funny and caring, a very very fun day.

My first day of school started with a tour of the school grounds from a lady (Crukuk is her name) from the Foreign Language Department ( The English, Spanish, French, mandarin and Chinese department). I almost had a heart attack when I learnt that there are 3560 girls in my school. I met some of the teachers and everybody was very friendly, then one teacher pulled me aside and told me I had my skirt on the wrong way. The embarrassment continued when 3 other teachers  joined us for the rest of the tour and we walked past a statue, I asked why there is a statue of a little boy only to find out that it is a statue of the 4^th Kings mother who fought for woman rights ad was the founder of the school. Yeah they did not think I was funny calling her a little boy but hey now I know to do research before I ask about statues! We then went to the cafeteria that looks more like a food court in a mall, there are 15 food and desert shops to choose from at lunch time. Best discovery yet on the tour!! When I walked onto stage in assembly I found out what it feels like to have +- 3560 girls look at you all at once and I wanted to turn around and run as fast as I can at that moment. But I waved Wai’d and joined my class. It’s a very strange feeling to know your standing out like candle in the night. We walked to class and people started clapping hands a cheering and taking pictures and completely freaking out and believe me I know it sounds like im exaggerating but I swear im not, its like most of them have never seen a blond girl before ?? It seems so unreal and I have no words to explain hoe shocked and confused and overwhelmed I was. But my class calmed down after 15 min and class could start, from then my 1^st day was a blur of stairs, Thai words, questions I don’t understand and really don’t know how to answer and confusion. It was great, something I can never forget and a huge experience but I never want a day like that again!

The next day was much much better, everyone started talking to me and not just staring like im something from outer space I found that me class mates are super friendly and super funny and now some of the most popular kids in school because they are friends with me.

I wish I could explain the feeling, living only an hour and a half away from Bangkok with millions of tourists every year and millions of blond western people. But where I live you would swear they have never seen someone like me before. I still cant quite comprehend it but im getting used to it.

Sorry but this will be a long post !

So let’s start with The Kings birthday… Me and my host mom went to the Kings Birthday celebration ceremony at the parliament building, one of the best things I have ever been to just BTW. First we had to get me a traditional Thai outfit witch was a mission to say the least because weeellll I have African hips. Then me and Meh Preaw (my host mom) went to get our hair done. When you get your hair washed you lie down on a bed with your head off the bed and into a basin, strange I know.. THEN the hairdresser asked me (through my host mom) “if you’re from Africa why are you so white” yeah… she recovered by saying I have beautiful big eyes and she wishes she had eyes like me haha.

Then we got into the car and off we were to the celebration. We got there to 10 million glittering lights and people dressed up so fancy everywhere. We found the rest of the rotary club (who are all beyond beautiful might I add and I have no idea how that is possible) and stood in the row to put our silver and gold statues on the stage and bow the mural of the King. So the best part came, I got to stand in the inner circle of people only meters away governor of the whole district, then the big screens went on and the main ceremony was broadcasted. Then as the prime minister lit the big yellow candle for the king, the governor lit our big yellow candle for the King and passed it on to his wife who lit the next 5 peoples candles and then it was me!!! Then we had to form a half circle facing the King to sing the national anthem and the kings anthem, I stood there like a lost person not knowing the words and trying to look like I know whats going on and trying not to look out of place between all of these very important people and guess what happened then… a mosquito bit me on my bum !!! does anybody know how hard it is to hold a candle for the king mouth the words to a national anthem you don’t know and try not to scratch you bum on national TV ????????. I survived though, with my dignity in tact. So after that we had the most amazing fireworks EVER, and the part of the Thai army that was there came up to me and asked if they could have pictures with me, can you imagine me and the Thai army ! I could not stop giggling. After some more ladies tried to teach me 2 million Thai words all at once we went out for dinner and I tried using one of the Thai words they taught me(beautiful) to tell our rotary president that her hair looks beautiful , yeah I ended up telling her that she was bad luck. Not my best moment.

All and all a great great great experience that I am very grateful to have had

Flight to Thailand

I had an 11 almost 12 hour flight to Thailand. I walked into the waiting area at O.R Tambo with Chris we spoke for a while and then I was on my own, it’s amazing how a blazer can make so many people look at you (maybe it could have been the terrified look on my face). I waited around for a hour and then got in line to get on the plane. When I got into the plane I found my seat got comfortable and started reading the do’s and don’t’s of the plane then the captain informed us that the plane would be leaving 40 min late because we are waiting for the food. I was pretty bord by the time the pilot said it was time for the plain to take off, then I got excited ! the plane taking off was AMAZING and being inside those white white white couds was something you can’t explain. When we got high enough the seatbelt sign went off and almost immediately people stared walking around and talking to everybody they know, I felt pretty alone but went through the planes movie collection to make me feel better.

Here are some pro’s and con’s:
Pro 1: I had the most amazing aeroplane food ever
Pro 2: I the hostesses where all so so friendly
Pro 3: the line for the bathroom was not long 
Pro 4: I got to watch the whole season of Nashville
Pro 5 : nobody fell asleep and drooled on me
Pro 6: watching the sunset into the ocean… 1 of the pettiest sights ever
Con 1 : a fat lady sat next to me and I could not use my arm rest
Con 2: the plane took off 40 min late
Con 3: my seat could not recline so I changed seats and got stuck next to the couple on their way to their anniversary (not good to have people constantly laughing and kissing when you miss your boyfriend already)
Con 4 : some guy kept snoring and 2 baby’s took turns to see who could cry the loudest
Con 5: we had really bad winds so it was a very bumpy ride

All and all it was not to bad… I got to Thailand in 1 piece
The post about my 1ste day will be updated soon