21.10.2014: Reclusion Exclusion

Hello, all,
As often as I have mentioned, I apologize for my frequent absences. Lately, I have become more of a recluse and I'm coming to the realization of this. It's not really something I want to admit as a problem, I've been avoiding doing so, but it is something that is hindering me in productivity and progression.

I think this is actually a problem many people have; many fearful people have it, and people who are really successful happen to overcome this difficulty. What difficulty am I talking about? Putting yourself out there, on the line, in the danger zone in order to try to accomplish something in which there is a good chance you might fail. That is probably one of the most frightening thoughts for me to have, not dying, not public speaking, but taking a huge jump. At the same time, I know that, if I do it, I may just experience the exhilaration that those risk-takers get. It is a scary and exciting thing. The problem, often, though, to why a lot of people are not taking as many risks; i.e. taking the 'safe route' by studying a profession in which there is "job security," is because the generations before us tell us that we need to get a job and be able to support ourselves and our potential families. That's a really stressful goal that that generation has imposed on ours. Of course, the key reason for that is because of how they were raised and how they survived, it wasn't necessarily by being creative (although there were many stand-out people who were), but by taking a profession that guaranteed a long-term income....mostly. The other thing is, because of all of the economic boom in that generation, the job market was quite optimal, so it was much easier to get a job. In the present, the job market isn't at it's best; there aren't a lot of fantastic jobs for just-out-of-college graduates, and the process to get a job tends to be extremely stressful, with questions like "How does my resumé look? Do I have enough references? What about my education history? Was I involved in enough clubs? Do I have enough internship experience? What about community service?" All of this is in addition to the quality of our transcripts. It's unbelievably stressful as each person approaches the job market. Even to get into a university, it is a minor anxiety attack with each college application.

Now, I'm not saying that everyone has had this experience, and even my own mother is extremely supportive of any idea I have, and is a great guide in telling me which ideas are a bit too doughy and need more time to rise. That being said, there are many pessimistic people that have inserted their "what if's" of negativity and failure, and that with each failure, you are less. This, again, is EXTREMELY daunting.
Now, let's look at educators. Take, for example, this. Education is becoming more and more standardized, which it really shouldn't be. I don't blame the teachers in any way. In fact, I have become much more concerned with the education system, and how statistics and data is gaining more control on how our upcoming generations are being educated. That is a problem, a HUGE problem. The more people rely on numbers as a value of "intellect," the more they are limiting the quality of the education the students receive. When people become so dependent on what percent their child gets, it corrupts their education, because now all the educators become dependent on having a good percentage, giving unnecessary "good" scores. Even in the United States, this is becoming a problem, where our education is becoming standardized, and the education provided by our instructors is being limited to the "necessities to pass the standardized exams." Every time I think about standardizing education, I think of this:

Everyone will be the same, and to have only the same is boring.

In fact, after seeing a list of grades that students received on an exam in their class, (In Thailand), all I could say was, "Wow, that's impossible." If you ask me why, it is because, if, out of thirty students, the lowest score was an 87%, you have to question the validity of the exam.
That being said, I actually don't believe in giving a quantitative value until the age of ten or eleven, for competition. As a child is growing up, they are in the process of developing their personality, and the basic skills, to which should be "pass/fail" or "goal achieved/ goal needs work," because to give a percent of how well a child did when they are young, say five or six years old, initiates unnecessary competition and stress in a child because they want to please their parents.
At the same time, it is not only the teacher's responsibility to educate their child, but the parent's as well to motivate and encourage learning (not enforce it). In Thailand, I see a lot of parents that enforce extra education, but I have witnessed parents who encourage it as well;I often see these children doing much better, and not being as shy to try harder than the children whose parents send them to private tutoring but do not add much positive reinforcement. It is a little bit disappointing.

For the idealists, they have many ideas, but, like many of mine, they tend to be incomplete before they move onto a new idea. This is okay if one is by themselves thinking, although it often acts as a hindrance but, if a group of people is involved, whoever is the leader cannot completely change an idea in motion without discussing it with the rest of the group; that is, unless the group is a flock of sheep. It can be completely frustrating, but it is a learning experience. I may become a more decisive and proactive leader, after having experienced a messy collaboration like this.

Beyond that, I do have some hope for the future, but what I must do is re-immerse myself into society, and learn to focus on one project at a time, and take a few risks in order to make progress. Either way, taking a risk has positive benefits: if I succeed, it is a big pay-off. If I fail, it is a lesson learned of what not to do for next time.

But I'll never know unless I try. And to go about life passively is an unattractive characteristic.

Until next time,
K.

7.10.2014- A year, or so.

Oh, hey there, everyone.

If you have been keeping up with my (lackadaisical, to say the least) posting, you will have already noticed that I have finally made an update.

Now, I would like to show a picture, or two, of my most recent adventures. 

About a month ago, I visited Bangkok to see my BALLER of a mother, as she dropped by the country on her way to Vietnam for a conference with HVO. (And there is quite the a nifty anecdote that I can share, you know. Anyways, I went to Bangkok with one of my closest friends, of whom made friends with me and has made my stay in Thailand much smoother than it would have been without her. There are not enough words I can say to show my appreciation for her! 

It is safe to say that the trip, although too short, was a much needed break and a fun adventure.

Now, back to the scene of work. I should mention, that since I work with adults who happen to be shy and, while they wish to learn, they don't wish to speak because they know "a little bit." It is one of the most frustrating things, as someone who wants to make progress: the lack of confidence. Confidence is such a key in something like this, especially, because the only way to really improve is to practice. The concept of "I can't do this perfectly, so I'm not even going to try," is a major point to failure. Think about it, if everyone followed this idea, we would have no athletes, no Nobel-prize awarded scientists, no progression whatsoever.

Hey, look, my workplace has had it's 11th anniversary!

I think it's a cute picture, especially with the flag. CUPCAKE!

In lieu of future plans, I am unsure of what they will be or where I will go, but this is the time that I really need to start my strategic planning. Some of it might include coming back to the US to do extra learning and practice. Some of it might include traveling around some more before I return to the States, but I'm not sure yet, we'll see. I need to be skill-building.

As for children and teaching them. Let me tell you, while they are the most receptive to learning new things, they are also your harshest critics, which make them the best at improving you. When they are bored, they will tell you or act out. When they are excited, they will show it. When they like something, they ask for more; when they don't, they do something else.
They also have their own hierarchy: the ones who understand what they learn show it, and happen to take over lessons, taking away from the slower learners.
That being said, everyday is different, as long as you make it different. Some days are terrible, and you may wonder why you are somewhere, while other days remind you that you love what you're doing now with simple moments.
The project I have been working on are doing okay, though, I must say, I have been reminded, more than once, of why I do not enjoy group projects, dues to the fact that I end up receiving the load of the work, and have the group take the credit, because, you know, that's how group projects work. I don't mind doing the work, as long as I'm informed that I'm in control, so that, if I'm doing all the work, I also have all the control. While I don't mind suggestions, in group work, suggestions must be backed up with the basis that the person will come through, if they want the suggestion to be tried. Otherwise, the group member (who is not able to back up their thoughts) has no power of influence. The problem is, many people are asking for different things but are not doing much in giving back. That must be the Thai way. In addition, I must mention that I'm becoming quite frustrated with one of the staff. Although they have quite good intentions, their unplanned style of taking students out of a class is a nag. They would do this, unannounced (before class), while in the middle of a session, then return them to the class by the time that the class is being quizzed. That is not okay. Also, when there is a new student who has just came in, and it is only fifteen minutes after meeting them, it is not a great idea to see if they are good. Fifteen minutes is not enough to tell someone's complete skill. In addition to that, it is not optimal to pull out the teacher in the middle of a class to interview a student. The key problem I have is that a lot of decisions are being made that involve me, but without informing me or asking for my opinion. The only times these decisions should really be made are in the hiring process of in letting someone go. When a person is a contributor, they must be permitted the same amount of input as the rest of the group.

That's my rant for the time being.

Traveling has become an option, and I feel the desire to do more traveling, to continue seeing the world around because, as of right now, I have been feeling a bit stagnant. Stagnancy leads to restlessness and decrease in self-worth, neither of which progress to better things if not acted upon soon. What happens to an animal if they stay in the cage for too long?

Also, I would love to update on my language learning, My Spanish is pretty horrible at this time, but it's re-improving. I will have to keep practicing that everyday. My Russian is pretty awful, as well, but, at least I know that this is my first time learning it, so I know it's going to be difficult, and Russian, itself, is a very difficult language. *PHEW!*

Apologies for the all-over the place soliloquy, things have been feeling a little all-over the place, not to mention the construction happening in my complex at 7 A.M. I'm pretty sure we have a rule against that for residential areas. That being said, it is a good alarm clock and a great way to get me out of the building.

For final updates, I finally went out with my girls last week to a concert of Joey Boy, a Thai celebrity, and the them of the party was "Mad Hatter" so people wore all kinds of hats. I was unaware of this until we got to the venue, so I made my own hat.
It worked out quite well. We danced, we joked, we played with lights; it was a blast.

As you can tell, We're very photogenic
These ladies are crazier than I am, and I'm more than glad that I have had the fortune of meeting them. Unfortunately, they also have threatened to kidnap me if I decide to go off to another country. I tell you, they are crazy. It's fantastic.

Take a Gander

Off and onward!
Until next time,
K.

15.9.2014- I've Got Your Back

Well,
It has been quite a while, hasn't it? I must apologize, my state of absence could be excusable, but let's just say it is only partially excusable.

The key topic of today focuses around relationships.
Right now, I must admit that I am absolutely grateful for the people I have in my life now, whether they are ten minutes away or halfway around the world. I am grateful for my friends, my family, the people who have shaped me to be who I am, and the people who will help me along the way in the adventure we know as life.

Let's go with some updates. It is September, over a week after my sister's birthday, almost two weeks since I last saw my mom, and over a year since I landed on the soil of Thailand. Woah. It has already been a year?!
One (not so kind and revered) person once said, "The people who say that time flies don't do anything. I've done a lot, and time takes forever."
I honestly couldn't agree less with this concept, and debate that it should be the opposite. Time flies when we're doing a lot, and when we are really enjoying ourselves, whereas when we're doing nothing, or loathing what we do, it creeps like the snail up your wall after a heavy rain. I just realized that it has been almost half a year since I started a second job, and saving money to send back home. I've tried to take on new jobs, and ended business agreements. I've worked on projects and programs for my different locations of work. In less than a month, I may be doing something way too awesome, more than I (and maybe others) expected. Yeah, a lot's been going on, and it feels like time is a blurring, bustling by loud and noisily.

As for the weather, rainy season began in May, but it hasn't been too noticeable until recently. The rain is becoming heavier, but it is not bad. There is an occasional flooding of some roads, but life goes on. Thankfully, the rainy season will end in two months, and that will be when high season begins again, woohoo! Time, both the past and future, really does fly when I take a moment to sit and think about it. Of course, that means I cannot sit and wait too long or I will lose some important moments.

Now that updates have been made: I'm alive, not sick, nothing is broken, not pregnant, not married, I think it's safe to say we should return to the topic at hand: relationships and depending on people.
As I mentioned before, I am so grateful for everyone in my life. Okay, I'm grateful for people in my life now, and was grateful for people in my life in the past when things were okay between us (even if, now, they are not). Often, we are not aware of these people who provide positive influences or energy to our lives because we are so self-absorbed. I'm not using 'self-absorbed' in a negative way but, rather, as a way to be honest; we sometimes forget the world around us because we let ourselves be consumed by our problems, work, or other stresses in our lives.
These other people are great in helping us remember that we aren't the only ones with problems and there is often a solution to the problems we have, and even go to the extent of helping us find the solution(s) to ameliorate them.
I am thankful for my mother, who is determined to Skype with me every week, reminding me why I decided to take on Thailand, for settling my nerves when I become frazzled, for cautioning me when I should be aware of potential problems, for insisting that have as much fun as I can, and if things run out, I have a flight home at any time.
I am thankful for the friends that have tried to Skype with me at least once since I've been out of the country, updating me on their lives and asking me about mine, for giving me support and being (or feigning, either way, it's appreciated) amazement for what I am doing.
I am thankful for all of the people, really, back in the United States(and abroad), that have kept in touch.
I am thankful for my aunt for when I first arrived, naively. I am thankful for her pushing me into preparation of things, for informing me of the "Thai way," and for helping me get a job.
I am thankful for the friends I have made here, that have helped me socialize and not be a total recluse, teaching me their language and to enjoy life, even if money is tight.
I am thankful for all of the people who have helped me at my work, in scheduling, in motivating, in participating, asking questions and learning.
Lastly, I am thankful for all of the people I have met in Thailand who have given without expecting to receive, who have opened themselves to help others do the same, and who have taught me some pretty valuable lessons about life, whether that are aware of it or not.
Now, the key connection between all of these groups is that I have been able to depend on them. The dependability of a person strongly affects the relationship you may have with them. More dependable people often tend to have a closer bond with you; less dependable people tend to be more of just a person passing by.
Why is this?
If the reason isn't obvious, it's because we look for people that we can depend on when we are in states of vulnerability and insecurity. When someone who says they will be there when you need them happens to disappear when you feel you need them most, it could crush a person. I think, in a way, dependability is correlated with trust and honesty, and trust is often broken with the latter group.
Of course, sometimes we do not always rely on dependability to be friends or be connected to someone, and this can lead to often feeling left out or ignored, depending on how much of yourself you invest in that relationship.
For example, there is that one person you know is 'flaky,' and you make plans with them; if you're not too invested, you already have one, or a few back-up plans, and do not feel too affected. If you are, you have no extra plans, have declined invitations, etc, and only learn at the last minute that you friend "cannot go out tonight," (which either may or may not be true), so now you're stuck at home, in the outfit you were planning to wear, you are smelling nice, and your hair looks presentable, after having taken the effort to actually shower, only to put it all away, and take another shower to go cry yourself to sleep because you are too embarrassed to be caught out by the people whose invitations you declined because you would have to explain being stood up.
That is quite the bruise to your ego, and if you do continue this to yourself, your outlook on people and you changes. You may question your own value as a person, which really shouldn't be the case.
Luckily, you may also have some dependable associate-kind of friends, who you know are flexible to changes without asking too many questions. They may not be you presumed "friend," but they do serve as quite the band-aid at this time. Take a look again, and evaluate your standards of that person, because they might be the better friend.
Back to the topic again, dependability is extremely important; Dependability to stick to a plan, dependability to cancel them with time to spare, dependability to be present or listening when a friend needs to talk, even dependability to depend on others. Dependability helps create a stable relationship of trust, and knowing that you can trust someone makes your life that much better.

Sorry if I got too deep, let me make it up to you with this playlist. Feel free to comment, I love hearing from people, even if they are my family... well, most of them. Some people I just need time away to change. Until next time,
K.

20.06.2014.... Friday Fridays, but Ima throwback

Well,
It's been the week, as in Week Number 2 of my second session. So far, there is some progress. but I always worry.
As of recent, the director of the hospital I work at currently accepted a position at a hospital in Mongolia, which I think is amazing, but it also concerns me slightly because technically, he was the one who signed my contract. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but I have a "What If" person who brings in the worry, and what they said was "He didn't sign the contract. That means that he is not obligated to honor it. He can cancel it at any time." So, in a way, this is kind of scary, and somewhat of a possible wake-up call. At the same time, it's also giving me a push to continue in keeping all of my options valid, and working on making new opportunities available. One of the things I realize that I must do is, continue working on my business plan, and compiling my efforts, my notes, my research, and whatever I find that could be useful. It looks like I need to build a "Business Plan" binder, which I don't think is a bad idea, that way everything is contained and somewhat organized. Who knows? I may go insane with a laminator or sheet protectors!
Now, the upside of this new hospital director is that he comes from another hospital branch, and, if he is not busy, I can talk to him, and inform him about what I do, and how I do it so that he may consider my business proposal for his previous hospital, which also means more work in the future. Plus, now, one of my friends, who works at another hospital branch, wants to bring me with her to that location at least once a week to teach those employees. Let's just say, there are a lot of unlocked doors that I can choose from.
Now, onto other things. Today (where I am), it is Friday, the twentieth. Tomorrow will be the twenty-first. That will mean that, as of tomorrow, I have officially worked for two months straight without a day off. It's nice because I'm always doing something and have a little bit of pocket change. It is also nice that working everyday reduces my opportunity to go shopping, so I'm spending more time saving my money rather than dawdling it away. Each time I receive any cash, I like to put it into a savings jar. In fact, by next week, I will be able to afford a 4-5 day trip to Europe! It may not seem like a lot to you, but it is a lot to me. Honestly, I probably won't even use the money for that, because I'm working on the "Build Your Future" concept, meaning, I will be spending money on things I will need for my business, and the steps I need to take in order to make my business prosper (aka lose money for the first year or so, then break even, then profit). Cheers to making your way into adulthood. What makes me excited is keeping up with friends' and colleagues' happenings. There are at least two other girls that I know who have just started up their own businesses, and I can't wait to see where they go from here.
In lieu of the title, I would like to bring up the few things that I miss from America. Maybe I will sound spoiled, maybe not, I'm not really sure. I love Thailand, do not misinterpret otherwise, but I do admit that there are some things I dearly miss.

• Fresh Spinach- I miss this so much! These greens basically were my main salad food because they were juicy, velvety, and not bitter. They made my perfecto salad. It is nearly impossible to find legitimate spinach in Thailand, much less, an amazing salad, though I have come close.
• Organized Public Transportation- technically, there is a 'bus system,' aka colored trucks with benches in the bed that kind of follow a route. But, there is no bus stop, no schedule, or explanation of bus routes whatsoever. They kind of just come when they come, and you have to hail it if you want to get on. Oh, and you need to be able to read Thai to know where they are going... (Luckily, I have learned some of the alphabet and practiced enough to understand some routes)
• Tex-Mex and Tacos- I miss those darn taco bells, and Moe's burritos! I mean, technically I could make the filling for any of the tacos, burritos, or enchiladas (they have rice, black beans, cumin, salt, coriander, corn, tomatoes, garlic, meat, etc.) but I would have to spend a lot in order to purchase tortilla or taco shells. I suppose that I had better learn how to make those.

I suppose that's really about it of the things I miss. Some of video online about what people miss come off, not to sound cruel, sheltered. This, of course, is due to their personal experiences from 'home.' For example, a girl who is abroad, she loves Sweden, but, as she spoke of the things she missed, she became really emotional. While I do understand her viewpoints that some of the conveniences of America are not available, and I know that this isn't her daily life problem, I would probably tell her to take a breath, and re-examine what she is getting emotional about. They are material things.
The reality is: traveling shouldn't be about what you have or what you don't have, it should be about what you do with what you have, who you meet, what you learn and gain, because those are things you will end up always having around to replay. If you would like to know that video I am referring to, check it out here. If you focus on things and objects, you really lose the purpose of why you went somewhere. Then it's less fun.
That's all I have about being abroad, missing things, and why.. for now. Must return to teaching!

Until next time,
K.

17.6.2014- Make Time for Others, but Don't Forget that Self-Love

Hello, you lovely person who just happened to stumble upon this page,
Today, I would like to indulge in the title of this post. As a part of many professions, it is an essential detail of the job to dedicate time for the purpose of 1) assisting a customer, 2) assisting a coworker 3) assisting our bosses, or 4) helping our workplace overall. With that in mind, we must learn how to manage our time. Yes, "Time Management", as if we can not get enough education or reiteration about the need to learn it. But really, we can't. In high school, we needed to learn time management so that we could accomplish studying for exams, playing on our school athletics teams, taking lessons to learn how to play a musical instrument, and maybe working a part-time job. That, of course, was majorly dedicated to Monday through Friday. Then comes college, and what a joy! You now have some freedom, right? Of course.....NOT. Here, your time management skills must evolve into not only studying and (maybe) a part-time job, but also paying taxes (if you hadn't already started paying them with that initial part-time job), finding an internship (or four), participating in the recreational sports team, joining a club, paying rent, and the most important part, having a social life!
After successfully achieving your undergraduate degree, it's time to run with 'big dogs,' and try to obtain your first "real-world" job, aka the one that you are supposed to take seriously, as it could move you on up the professional ladder in the work world. You've have some training from your college years, in trying to keep up with paying your living expenses and managing your time to turn in papers and projects while working, now you must try to put all of that hard-earned (and somewhat expensive) education to good use. The catch is, now you must be doing it without the training wheels that your parents had provided. For many of the American readers, that means, the people reminding us when our rent is due, asking how much it is for the month, and providing a check; or reminding us about when our taxes are due and helping us calculate and file our taxes. For the first few years in this so-called "real world," we still have the assistance provided from our parents with learning how to file taxes, because only a few fine people in the States really understand how that works. For the other aspects of life, we learn the statement, "I gave you the essentials, now you're on your own, kid."
Now, in the world of so-called adults, we must learn how to balance our professional life with our social life. Humans are naturally social creatures. We need to bond with somebody in order to be content with the life we have. We also need to work in order to support ourselves and try to survive (with dignity or pride). Sometimes the professional workplace acts as a social environment as well, satiating that need to communicate and connect with another. Other times, it doesn't. This is where the time management skills are necessary. One must learn to balance working with meeting new people, participating in a club, going out with friends, or going on a date with your possible life partner. Not only does your social life include the meeting people, but also exercising. As you get older, exercise becomes more important to maintain your desired body shape and health. Of course, you can always get two birds with one stone and combine exercising with going out with friends.
Now, for me, my purpose of traveling was to gain life experiences and possibly add more skills to my resume. When I first came to Thailand, the only people I knew were my aunt, uncle, and cousin. So, I had a very small social circle. Not only did I have a small network, but, when it came to the socialization with other people, they did not expand much. This was safe and it was something I knew. At first, it was okay, but as time went on, and there was no progression in expanding my network (partially my fault), I went out on my own to start meeting people and not staying in a bubble. Luckily, my efforts were met with success, as I starting exchanging contact information and making plans with new people. More people means more socialization. I also received more work (private tutoring), which is definitely a plus. Now, with pleasure of making friends and being able to go out comes responsibility of needing to know when to say "no" to an invitation. For the very social people, it is quite difficult to say no to joining someone for an outing, but as part of growing up and time management, when you have a major project that is important to your income, you must place that higher in your list of priorities over hanging out with a person with whom  you can see after you finish. Of course, this can become more difficult if said person is moving, or has a limited time in which they will also be available. Decision-making in life isn't always easy, no matter how old you are.
On to my final point, I really want to talk about making time for yourself. My current work involves a lot of socialization and a lot of talking, both are things that I love and happen to be pretty decent at doing. I have the joy to do this every day, Monday through Sunday, with all age groups, skill levels, and multiple cultures (Thai and Russian). It's wonderful. Now, while it is great, and I love the talking, and I get to socialize at work and with friends outside of work, I also need to reserve time to being by myself, hence the title, including "Self-Love." As people, we must find a little bit of time to be by ourselves and "reboot." Being out with people is great, especially when you are not working, but when we spend a lot of time giving it to others, we aren't able meditate on our personal self. I know it sounds weird and maybe doesn't make sense but think about this situation:

You are writing a message, essay, or just something, and you are simultaneously talking to a friend. After a few minutes of talking, you look down at what you wrote and realize that some of the conversation you had with your friend (or what your friend said) has been written in the message. Your brain had been too busy receiving information, that it couldn't correctly put out what you intended.

 That's what I mean by needing some alone time. If you need a better explanation, consider Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

You start with the very bottom, the most basic of needs (Physiological). As you accomplish the bottom tier, you move on up to achieve and satiate the next tier of needs (Safety), you continue completing each tier until you can achieve the highest (Self-Actualization), which is where you need that alone time. Spending a lot of time with others can wear you out because you are exerting some energy into this exchange. We need this Self-Actualization time for self-development. If you look, you can see in the topmost level of needs: creativity, spontaneity, problem, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts. If you ask many of my friends or close family members, they will tell you that I am creative and spontaneous. This comes from my alone time. This alone time gives me no influence of others, just me.
This is especially important in the contribution to my third level of needs: Love/Belonging. Part of my contributions to friendship is my creativity in cooking. I love cooking, and I love developing the new dishes, or experimenting.
Check these out!

 

What is it? Mango cheesecake with a mango curd. Where did I get the idea? Well, one of my friends had many mangoes, so I used the mangoes to make a mango curd (Top Right image), and I convinced another friend (Zamoza) that we should make a cheesecake. So, I made my creative idea into a social event. It was successful. I gave three cheesecakes away, and each person loved them. This cooking time was both my solo (my meditation in cooking) and social (with friends) time.
Going back to time management, it can be quite difficult to make time for myself because I am fairly busy making time for other OR making preparations for the time I am making for others. If you haven't picked it up from this post, a lot of my time, whether is is at work, or outside of work, is dedicated to others. Even with this schedule, I would like to add more events in, like running a marathon or volunteering, and learning how to manage that time, is extremely important, because I still need to reserve time for myself. So, don't forget, it is important to remember to make time for yourself, not only for others. You're not selfish if you do, you're self-saving.

Until next time,
K.

05.06.2014- In this bitty break

Hello, all,
I will try to make this as informative as possible.
If you have not heard yet, there was a military coup a few weeks ago (honestly, it was less than a week before my birthday). When you first think about it, a coup seems a bit scary, but one must examine the situation more closely. Look at the history of Thailand. There actually have been quite a few coups in the last fifteen years. So, right off the bat, Thailand is no stranger to this kind of thing. Secondly, there are not many events of radical protesters; they, for the most part, have been quite peaceful.
Now, if you want to ask, I will answer honestly. "How has the coup affected you?" My answer: It really hasn't had much of an effect, other than the curfew. Even with the curfew, if I wanted to go out, I had little difficulty to do that and have fun. What the curfew did, really, was just close down the businesses at a certain time at night. The first Saturday that there was a curfew...well, that was a little different, but after that, there wasn't much trouble. Other than the curfew, I went about my daily life activities: which consists mostly of work. That being said, I don't really have much I do that would get me into trouble, just work, grocery shopping, and the occasional dinner.

If you would like to know more about what is going on in Thailand, here is an 11-minute video which gives some good explanations behind what is going on, and the reasons to why. It is not even very violent or aggressive in speech, but rather, admitting that there is a problem, and whoever is involved is working on amending it so that stability can become more possible in the government.
Here it is
If you ignore that "war-time" music and read the subtitles, it is much less radical than you may have heard.

Second update: This is my observation week before my next section of students, will be mostly Inpatient nurses and staff. This, I feel will be exciting, because I had one session already, and I am beginning to get the hang of the lessons, and a good order. In addition, I will be working in a ptient room so that the nurses are more familiar in an environment they actually work in, rather than the setting as a classroom. Last time I checked, nurses don't treat patients in a classroom, other than at educational hospitals.
Third update: On Friday (tomorrow) I will be making mango curd for the first time (holla!) and making something else to go with it, so it should be yummy! (Aren't experiments always yummy!)

Fourth update: I had a full night's rest... kind of. By full night, I mean that I pass out around 10:30PM, and woke up around 6:30. (I woke up a few times, but that's fairly normal for me nowadays). It seems that my business is catching up with me. that being said, I still am adding more to my schedule to increase my productivity. One of the activities I would like to add into my agenda is running in the mornings, because running in the evenings, after I finish all my work isn't really too safe, and joining a gym isn't much of an option. The nice thing is that, if I choose to run in the mornings, I have an audio tape that I can use to listen and practice speaking Russian or Swedish. Of course, I would only be practicing what I have already learning, not new material because that's just crazy! (hardy-har-har). Now, when I say "running in the mornings" I actually mean that I would need to wake up around 5AM and start running around 5:45 until 7:00AM. Yes, I would have a busy schedule, and yes, I think I will accept that I might be a little crazy with my schedule (Some work days end at 6PM, some end at 8PM, and they all will start around 8AM).
This is my normal end of the work day view:

As I mentioned, that is the downside of being busy... you are always busy. The upside is that you learn a lot about your stamina and ability of time management. For example, being able to find time to work, to learn something new, to exercise, and to have something of a social life....I think a lot of mothers learn this lesson, too. (at least, I hope they do).
Now, I must plan for the future, because I need to request off a few days to visit BKK to get some other business done (flight changing, criminal background checks, etc) It all sounds so exciting doesn't it? Surprisingly enough, I am pretty stoked to go out to so these tasks. I need to change my flight, either the dates, or the location. Who knows? Not I, but that's okay. For now, I must hastily return to work for a busy day! Woohoo!

Until next time,
K.

02.06.2014-The Promoting of Others

Hello, all,

So, in my (not so) random spare time, I try to spend it meeting new people and making friends and connections. So far, I have been fortunate enough to find people who have given as much as they have received.

One of these people is the owner of a quaint coffee shop, Zamoza. After coming in, we ended up talking for a while, having a bite to eat, and enjoying ourselves, making plans for future baking. It is wonderful having a friend with an oven!

** RETURN OF THE PUMPKIN COOKIES!*

How can you not want those? And, I even tried my hand at maing lofthouse cookies. I wouldn't necessarily say they were a success, but they weren't half-bad either, look! Wit hthe help of my friend, they looked pwetty! (the circle cut) The chocolate chips were an improvised added touch, because the cookies just needed something, and when the cookies were stored in the refrigerator, they tasted much better, and held their shape nicely. There will be a Round Two go at this!

Last, I was able to make a return of the ginger spice cake, and I made Cake bites, paired with maple or lime glaze, and topped with candied ginger. Om NOM NOM.

L: Ginger Spice Cake Squares with Lime 

R: Ginger Spice Cake Squares with Maple

On the subject of online affairs, I just subscribed to a Youtube channel, called HughandJohan. Quite frankly, the two, and their relationship, possible bromance, is quite adorable in the youth and excitement each has in learning and sharing their culture with the other and the internet public. I apologize if they find me labeling them as adorable is offensive, I just can't think of another word that embodies how innocent their interaction is, as well as relaxed and overall positively feel-good.

I mean, c'mon, look at this! How can you not smile watching it and learning?

Plus, it's a package deal: you get to learn something about culture, language, and these two, while being entertained at the same time. Score.

Another greatt Youtube channel to follow is that of TheSwedishLad. This guy is hilarious. Part of his channel consists of "10 Swedish Words" videos, in which he give ten words which follow a them of some sort, such as fruit, or clothes, or bad words. One of the videos I enjoy most is the video of ten Swedish words that look like English words, and have the exact same meaning, but sound different. Enjoy

I always love watching that.

If you haven't picked up on it yet, I might have a slight inkling towards Sweden. Honestly, it's true. My mind has been stuck on the place and everything about it since January. If I have the opportunity, I would love to visit during the summer, when many people are out. I have heard many positive things about the land and cities. I think the only negative comment that has been brought up about Sweden is the "coldness" of the people, meaning that they aren't really open to outsiders. In reality, I think this might be based on the personal experiences of the travelers. Where were these non-Swedes at the time of this uncomfortable situation (city, establishment, etc.) What did they say? How did they act? Personally, I am one of those social people, who loves to talk and get other people talking. Some people might label it as an annoying trait, but without communication, we become isolated, and later, somewhat obsolete. I cannot accept that. I think, in order to try to avoid this from happening, I must learn how to appeal to the mannerisms of the culture, while also displaying a warm front that is inviting to the fellow native Swede. The problem is, I'm not sure if I should try speaking any of the Swedish I know, or speak English first to someone that I would like to create a friendship with, then try my hand at speaking terribly. I think the latter might be the better option, and I could try speaking Swedish whenever I would like to conduct business of some sort, so that I can practice my skills.

Now, onward to other adventures! As I have mentioned before, I have been working since the 21st of April. That being said, I have managed a little bit of free time. By free time, I mean that I stay up into the wee hours and wake up after a measly few hours of sleep. It's the downside of maintaining a social life and trying to be productive. Even if I want to "relax" and watch a tv show, I would need to stay up later than I should in order to accomplish this. The question at hand, though, is would I change it? My answer at the moment is: NO. I love being busy, and sure, I may slightly complain about it (by complain, I mean that I am using my business as an excuse to not go out, or as an explanation to why I can't do something/ why I'm tired/why I don't have time to go somewhere). Actually, I wouldn't change my schedule, but, if I had the ability, and capital, I would purchase a travel vehicle so that I could go to places in my own time. This especially applies to going to the parks or a fitness center so that I can exercise after 8:00PM. (Bummer!) My building doesn't have a workout facility, and I do not have access to the staff exercise facility near the hospital (I think I will need to change that soon, if possible) and traveling at night isn't the best option because it is quite dangerous to be running on the roads at night; not only is it dangerous because there is no sidewalk, but after 7:00PM, the crazier people come out. These include robbers and junkies. These people are not really my cup of tea, sorry.

The other adventures I have, are teaching lessons that pertain to cooking, and nutrition. That means I need to catch up on my outside learning. (Oh, right, don't forget that I am not only working, I'm trying to learn languages and take classes online. With that, add me trying to finish some creative projects, and then we can discuss the free time I have.) 

One thing I am using is an online study resource, called Open 2 Study. Registered, enrolled, obtaining notebooks. Challenge accepted. Wish me luck!

Until next time,

K.

31.05.2014- The break from the Hiatus

Hello, all,
A quick apology for my break, I have been a busy bee buzzing around for the last (approximate) month. Quite literally, I have been working since the 21st of April, so I have not had much time for myself, or a lot of exploring.
That being said, here are my updates!

1) I have officially moved into an apartment, as of this month. Thus, I have been residing there for a week.There are a few minor problems, but nothing that cannot be amended

• The balcony door does not have a seal on the top or bottom, which can lead to some real problems, for both the lesser and the tenant. One of them being that that cost of using the air conditioning unit will go up.
• The windows need a movable screen so that I can keep the bugs out when I want to open the window. Ain't nobody got time to deal with bugs.
• I am currently living in a serviced apartment, which means that it will be cleaned twice a week. The building also acts as a hotel, therefore, what I would prefer to have is a "Do Not Disturb/Service Please" door handle sign.

2) I am finishing my first section of students, and am about to start my next section, in June, aka, this is the final evaluation time.

3) I just celebrated my birthday, woohoo! I can scratch off "celebrating birthday in another country" off my list!

4) I have found out when two weddings of my friends are going to be, aka in 2015, so now I must figure out how I will make that possible. And another girl I have known for a while recently became engaged.

5) I have made some friends on my own, and baked with them.

6) I am working a bunch of jobs, which have a lot of opportunity for growth, which I would like to delve into more.


Again, the key reason that I have not even made an attempt towards a new post is because I have been extremely busy. Sorry, but lately, I've had little time to commit to just sitting down and blabbing about a minute portion of the workings of my brain. Just to give you an idea of my time: I actually started writing this post on the 16th... so that should give my readers an idea of my actual amount of time to spare.

Now, I do have some goals in mind that I would like to keep up with, such as reading more frequently, and learning new languages. Both, I have already started, and have been trying to keep up with, using applications and PDF downloads. The nice thing is, once I have access to these, if my internet happened to go out, I will still be able to access entertainment (aka, I don't need to worry about having to reload a video, or waiting for the internet to return.

The languages that I am trying to learn, as I have mentioned before, are Russian and Swedish.
So far, Swedish is proving to be the much easier language to learn, as it has similar symbols, and words/word stems that I am familiar with. It still is difficult, though. One of the reasons is that I need to learn the different words that associate with "ett" and "en,"  not to mention nya, nytt, and ny. I am not sure if there is a rule, or if it is is learnt word-by-word. Oh, well. I must fight on and learn this. Some of my friends know that exact reason of why I want to learn the language, but I know that I want to learn to help with my workplace. That being said, I also know that I need to learn Russian to help the translation process. It is a difficult decision: having to choose between learning a language that I really want to learn for personal purposes or learning a language I would like to learn for work. *Sigh*

Until next time (which will hopefully be soon with pictures and updates!
K.

18-4-2014: If Thailand were a Person...

Hi, everybody!
So, because it's Friday, and I had somewhat of an extended holiday (due to the fabulosities of Songkran, which are still being celebrated, by the way), I thought, "Why not write up another post!" Thus, here I am, typing as I think.
*I apologize in advance if this all comes off as babble, it kind of is...

So, I love recognizing observations I make while in this beautiful country, especially when I am making them after six months of being here (imagine when I hit an 18-month mark, AND I still am making more discoveries!) Anyways, one of the first things a foreigner (especially from a westernized country) will notice is how a lot of food and drink, when served as something "to-go," will be served in a plastic bag. For those don't understand, this is what I mean:

Yes, they drink straight from the bag, and sometimes eat straight from the bag as well. Normally, they just take the food home, and pour or distribute the contents onto a plate or into a bowl, depending on what it is. The bagging doesn't only apply to food, it applies to everything. Not just shopping bags or "doggie boxes,"  but, literally, EVERYTHING. I mean, for my one cup o'joe, I was given a plastic bag. They EVEN have a specialized plastic ring with a strap, making your drink as "part" of the bag. WHAT

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't always mind it. I just find it rather humorous when I am having bags of things bagged in mo plastic bags. It can be a little bit unnecessary. There are times that I do appreciate the bags, though. See, because the people of Thailand use plastic bags so often and for everything, they have come to specializing some to increase convenience. For example, if you go to a coffee shop and are picking up a few drinks for other coworkers or friends, there is a bag to help you carry your drinks; they are more reliable than those dinky cartons that McDonalds may give, or the cardboard drink carriers or fast food restaurants may supply. 

(***This is only based on my experience of living in America, and I would love to learn more about the drink-carrying tools used in other cultures!) 

The way these "drink-carrier" bags work, there are two "dips" in the bag, , and part of the bag (the middle) is sealed together, creating two sockets in the bag in which the drinks can sit, and not jumble around wildly, spilling your purchase around messily. It can be quite convenient.

For the eco-friendly people, this can be a concern, because plastic is non-biodegradable and, overall, is not that great to the environment. If you have ventured to Thailand before, you already know how much a problem litter is in Thailand. Plastic bags, cups, broken glass, old food, and so on cover the ground in the less-touristy places. Recycling isn't a big concern here, but I am noticing that the trend is starting to catch on at companies. In all honesty, recycling would not only be beneficial to the environment of Thailand, but to the economy. People would be able to work in recycling plants, earn a living, and reduce the amount of litter around.

So, if Thailand were a person, she would be a crazy bag lady, having a lot of bags that she has no use for, but definitely full of surprises.

As for an update: this upcoming Saturday, I plan to celebrate the festivities of Songkran in Pattaya with friends. It may get wild, and I hope I have pictures!

Other updates: I am still not sure about what my next few months will be like, but, considering how many options I have now, I don't have a doubt that, with time and some effort, more opportunities will make themselves viable. 

I have been talking, of late, to some Thai people through a website called www.conversationexchange.com.

It is an excellent (free) resource for anybody who is interested on learning a language and, in return, will share their own. It can also be a really good way to make contacts for any time you would like to travel to a destination where English is not the first spoken language. In fact, with the connections I am making, I am also receiving insight, suggestions, and support from these friends, in regards to applying to jobs around Thailand. Never underestimate the value of any person, even if you are unsure of their initial value.

Anyways, if anybody has any questions about Thailand, feel free to ask. I love answering the questions I know, and researching the ones I don't. If you have questions about the food in the country, or even if you would like a really easy recipe for a delicious dish (whether it be a dinner course, or a baked good), I welcome that as well!

Until next time,

K.

UPDATE! After posting this (Same day!) I received some Kraw Paow Moo (Stir Fried Pork with basil) and rice (with an egg...that I popped by tripping up some stairs). Each had their own bag, and after receiving them, I also received an apology for not getting another bag to bag my bags of food!

15/4/2014- Walking, Water in Songkran, and Magic... Cake

Hello, fellow readers,

So, for an update, I would like to say that I had a four day holiday. Honestly, I didn’t really know what to do, so I did what I normally do when I approach these standstill points; I read and I walk. Walking is therapeutic for me, because it is one of the few times that I am dedicating time to myself. My thoughts can reorganized, my stresses can be worn down, and my ears can be enticed by the sounds of songs that I had forgotten were one my iPod.  It is one of those things I have found much appreciation for. I’m exercising, making discoveries of restaurants, boutiques, and other knick-knacks, and increasing my opportunities to meet new people. Should I also mention that I am practicing my Thai-speaking skills. Some people, I know, don’t seem to recognize any of this as beneficial. Others, on the other hand, probably do understand the significance. It is the life experience that is important, the people-skills, the adaptability skill-development, and the budgeting. Walking is therapeutic.  Staying inside all day isn’t. I don’t know how people can live a life like that. I think the key characteristic in the personalities of these people is that they have fear: fear of embarrassment, fear of making a mistake, fear of failing, especially a fear of new or experiences. This may be just my opinion, but those people won’t live very exciting or satisfying lives. They will constantly look back and have many regrets, but try to cover it up like the Fox and the Sour Grapes.

Now, let’s return to this four0day holiday. It is Songkran, which is the Thai New Year. In Thailand, I have seen three different New Years celebrated: the Gregorian (with BC/AD) calendar New Year, the Chinese New Year in February, and Songkran. Songkran is a major holiday in Thailand. It typically runs from April 13-April 15, but is celebrated around those days.  As part of the celebration, (I should warn you) many people come out in the streets with water guns, and buckets of water, and will spray or splash any passerby. The less-crazed people will pour water on your hands.  The warning I have: If you want to walk around during Songkran festivities, bag all of your electronics, and expect to get wet. You might even have a white clay wiped onto your face. If you do not like physical contact from anybody, I would suggest that you do not go out at all. I enjoyed the frivolity of the people. Some of them are a little bit more dangerous, because they will ride in the beds of trucks, and throw water at anybody. If you are wearing a Songkran shirt (which is a Hawaiian shirt to many of the Americans I know), you are a voluntary target. If you are a foreigner who wishes to experience a Thai celebration, this is the one to witness. It’s quite a relief, as well, to be splashed with water on a hot day. It’s quite honestly, a big water fight, and many people of all ages participate.

As for other updates: I experimented with a new recipe. It’s called “Magic Cake”  It gets its name from the fact that, with one batter, the cake will, in fact, produce three layers.  It was a collection of firsts for me with this recipe. First, I was making a cake for the first time in Thailand. Secondly, it was my first attempt at making this “magic cake.” Lastly, this was the first time I was whipping egg whites to the point of stiffness. I am not sure which was the most daunting idea.  My reasons: I was still experimenting  with this gas oven, which seems to have three options: Hot, Very Hot, or Off.  Because the recipe demanded for temperature in Fahrenheit, and with the settings of the oven, I would have to keep a watchful eye. One very helpful hint that a good friend gave to me about baking, and I have stuck to it ever since: If you can smell it’s aroma, it is either done, or you have five more minutes.  To be honest, this has held true in every baking experience I had ever since.

Now, about this magic cake; as I mentioned, it created three layers, and you only use one batter. The bottom layer is a dense layer, like hardened custard, I would say that it has the consistency of flan. The middle layer is similar to  Bavarian cream custard, and the top layer is reminiscent of sponge cake. The key part to ensuring the third layer lies in two Steps (1, and 3), accomplish these two, and you will have the three layers as advertised.

Anyways, so there are many flavor options for this cake: Vanilla, chocolate, fruit, lemon, (even pumpkin!) I decided to stick with the classic because this was a first attempt, and I never like to get too crazy with a recipe until I have the feel for it.  Vanilla, it was.

The recipe was fairly simple: it only had 4 steps:

Ingredients:

4 eggs, separated

½ cup and 2 Tbsp.  of sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla extract.

1 stick (8 Tbsp/ 125g) butter, melted.

2 cups () lukewarm milk*

½ cup of flour

*The milk should be room temperature or warm in order for the butter for not to solidify.

1. Beat egg whites until stiff.
2. In another bowl, mix egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla until light in color. Add in melted butter, mix until smooth.  Add milk, stir. Add in flour, stir.
3. Carefully fold in the egg whites into the batter. Pour batter into an 8x8in glass baking pan (I used a circular pan, and it worked fine). Bake at 375°F for 60 minutes, or until golden brown.
4. Let the cake cool for at least 3 hours.

Pretty simply, right? And look!

Now, for the close-up.... Watch it model it's hot self!

And for it to model some clothes...

Well, here is the reality of my experience: I started with Step 2 before I attempted Step 1, because I had never beat egg whites, and I had a fear that maybe the egg whites would lose their “stiffness” by the time I had completed Step 2. It worked out fine, because my milke was at room temperature, which did slightly affect the butter when I was mixing it, BUT because the stove top has a glass cover, which was above the oven (so it ended up getting warmed from the oven heat), I could set the better on it, keeping the butter at a liquid consistency.  For the egg whites, I’m not quite sure how long it took for me to beat the whites, but, I though that I would have to try the “bowl above the head ” test (a test to check the stiffness of the egg whites; if the whites drip onto your head, you didn’t whipe them long enough; if they stay in place, ‘you done good.’ My egg whites were sliding around in the bowl, but they were also staying together in one mass, and it turned out that I could scoop them like ice cream, and they maintained their shape. (Success!) Folinding the egg whites in was fun, because, in order to create the top layer, you need to keep that frothiness of the egg whites, aka don’t mix it extremely thoroughly.

My cake only took about 20-25 minutes to bake because of the extremity of the heat of the oven. In addition, because of the high-heat-producing oven, my cake turned out a little bit more brown that I would have liked, but considering that this was a first attempt, AND the cake wasn’t close to burning, it still is a major success. The only other slight qualm I had with the cake is that, when I first cut into the cake, the custard layer seemed a little too liquidy, and leaked, but the slice of cake I had still maintained its shape, and the custard didn’t actually leak out of the cake when it was served on a plate. Oh! And I would suggest, for a simple garnish, dust the cake slices (Not the cake) with confectioner’s sugar when you serve them. They will look angelic and dainty. I would also possibly suggest adding rum and vanilla bean into the cake (sans the vanilla extract) It would be aesthetically delightful to see the custard with the little specks of the vanilla.

Oh, and as I’m typing this, I just wanted to mention an odd encounter. I went to the main shopping center here in Rayong (Laemtong) to see if the local Apple distributer sold Macbook batteries (because mine unfortunately died) and to see if I could find a suitable belt for my oversized pants (I have already gone through two belts in the last three months). Unfortunately, the store I saw did not distribute the battery as I hoped, so I will need to visit Pattaya (a well-welcomed roadtrip!) and I didn’t find a belt vendor. Oh, well. Anyways, as I was leaving, I passed by a tall foreign woman, who I presumed was either from Sweden, or Russia (many of the foreigners are from these countries). She also was about 5’10-5’11”, which is what I say that she was tall. After I left Laemtong, I decided to go find an indoor coffeehouse so that I could be typing this lovely post for you all! One of them, called “Big M city Rayong Coffee,” had drawn my attention because of the cute westernized souvenirs outside and inside the glass window. Unfortunately due to the holiday, it was closed an extra day. I continued my trek and landed upon Dollars Café, which is a slightly more frilly place (a bit too doily for my taste, but it still serves coffee). About 20 minutes into my stay here, in walks the tall foreign woman with her male-friend. The funny thing is that this coffeehouse is quite a distance away from the shopping center, AND it is on another road. Definitely a coincidence, pleasant nonetheless.

In reference to my last post, speaking about future opportunities, there are at least two backup plans that I have in mind for if my current job status doesn’t work that way I hope it will, even with the strategic efforts to make sure I have it. One of the opportunities is to take up with an agency to work in another part of Thailand, and if I like it enough, stick with that, teaching English around Thailand or Asia. The other option is to look into being an au pair, which my friend is currently doing. Of course, because she already has some experience, I have asked her about her experience, what steps she would recommend I take if I decided to go forth with this. Being an au pair would open my access to Europe, for at least a year (and maybe other opportunities to stay there, if I find a way to increase my employment value, or learn business trades that I could utilize to really establish myself). As I mentioned before, I am not ready to stay in in the United States right now, because there is way too much out in the world that I need to experience, see, feel, learn, break, and fix before I “settle down.” Hah, settle down. That’s a term I’m unwilling to accept, even if that means backpacking around on minimal change. Even though it may be difficult, it is doable; there are people have accomplished it and survived to talk about it. Maybe I can be one of those, but we’ll see! I might be able to write a memoir about all my experiences. I think that, in addition to inserting my random dreams as short stories… oh, the possibilities that are available! If I end up as an au pair in the next year or so, I definitely think I would love to be in Spain, learning the trades of the Spanish life. One idea I had in mind for the future is to start a business involving pastries. (I don’t want to share the entire idea yet, as I’m not ready to share it until it’s developed and marketable.

Until next time,

K.

10/4/2014... Missing home... and relieving homesickness with pumpkin

Hello, you lovely people!
During my stay in Thailand, I have thought about "back home," a little. Honestly, I don't really think about the United States that often, I have been too preoccupied being involved with what I am doing in the now, and my plans for the future. I am having so many adventures here, and I love it! Each experience, whether positive or negative, is teaching me a lot: about life, about emotional stability, about taking care of oneself, about patience, and especially about food tolerance. Every now and then, though, I have that slight tinge of nostalgia. I miss some of my favorites cities and towns and I really miss food. I'm not talking about the KFC or McDonalds, either. I can get that here, but I don't want to. I'm talking about the food I would eat during the holidays: pecan pie, fudge pecan pie, key lime pie, fried turkey, and fried okra. These, by far, are my comfort foods. In the mornings, I especially miss the Greek yoghurt and muffins. And what about Starbucks classic pumpkin cream cheese muffins? Those, I would gladly spend the $3.50 for the overpriced hunk of deliciousness.

So, what do I do about this terrible dilemma? Imported Pecans are around 650THB (That's over $20 for a pound of pecans....) So.... it better be an extremely special occasion for me to be shelling out that amount of of money. And turkey? Forget about it! Key lime pie is almost possible, but I have not seen graham crackers or (bleh!->) vanilla wafer cookies on the shelves of the stores here.

What about pumpkin? Well.... there is no canned pumpkin. In fact, what they have here is Japanese pumpkin, which looks like this:

Yeah, it's kind of weird looking, and the name is pretty awesome! In Thai, the word for Japanese pumpkin is this:

ฟักทอง

Which sounds like 

FukTong

Hahahaha, it's a great word for the English speaker.

Now, the Thai people love to use the pumpkin for curries, and desserts (dessert: "Ka-nohm wahn"). Pumpkin in coconut milk is a fantastic treat.
I have never worked with any form of pumpkin other than canned pumpkin, so imagine my concern when I realized that there is no such form in Thailand. But there is pumpkin and it is by no means expensive. Looks like it is time to be creative.
My first trial with pumpkin is in my recent blog post, when I made Roasted Pumpkin with walnuts and garlic. It was a complete success, the pumpkin, after being roasted, softens very nicely. I also made those scrumptious cinnamon streusel muffin tops (muffies). Looks like there is a glimmering possibility!
The only thing: I need to learn how to make pumpkin puree for the muffin batter. Time to utilize that ever-so-convenient form of stalking: the Internet. I used a recipe from the How Sweet It Is blog, but, instead of using a pie pumpkin, I used the Japanese pumpkin, and cut it into chunks after cleaning and peeling it. Then I roasted it for about 40 minutes. and put it in the blender, adding some nutmeg(1.5 tsp), brown sugar(1tbsp), cinnamon (2tsp), and sage (3 tsp.) to it. This was my result:

It was a little bit sticky, and very dark, so I was a little bit worried, but it tasted quite good.
And this was the recipe I used for the Pumpkin Pie Muffin Tops, from Crazy for Crust's blog.

Of course, I couldn't help but add cinnamon Streusel to the top for some (refer to the same post I hyperlinked earlier, the recipe is there), and I decided to make some easy caramel, from condensed milk. (This recipe basically said to put a can of sweetened condensed milk into a crock pot filled with water on medium-high heat for ten hours.)
Result:

Final Result of pumpkin Muffies?
Massive pies of heaven.

On a final note: look what I found in Thailand!

If you guessed Gatorade, You are correct! Blue and yellow exist in Thailand (probably because they are the prettiest). Take, that/

12-04-2014: When Times Get Tough...

Hello all,
On Thursday, I received some slightly unnerving news and, for some reason, I handle stress through lack of eating and nausea. Apparently that isn't healthy, but I do lose my appetite in times of stress. Sometimes this non-hunger lasts only an evening; sometimes, it will be for a few days. I don't recommend stress as a way to lose weight, it's killer.
That being said, a lot of my living here has given me some training on managing my stress. Instead of having a few days of my brain starving my body, and me having restless nights, I've gone down to one or two days. It's an improvement. I also have learned more about talking to resources, and not being as fatalistic in my outlook, or one-track minded. I've become more keen to looking for resources that may give me more opportunity, and I am practicing my research skills, as well as my problem-solving skills.
Optimism is definitely key in searching for your open windows and opportunities. Just remember: when a door closes, there will be a window somewhere; you just need to look for it. Or, better yet, you better bust through a wall to make it happen. Either way, you do need to make a lot of effort. you also should set a long-term goal or two and figure out the steps you need to take to achieve it, and what you backup plan may be in the case you take a stumble. Don't lose confidence in yourself, because that is a one-way ticket to the demise of a dream. Also, don't let other people demean your value, live above their expectations and push through the hardships. Understand that life is hard, but it can be a lot of fun if you find your way, even if you stumble.
If money-making is your goal, you will work hard; you might work many jobs at once, and not find joy for a while. That's okay. You may go out very little and limit your spending so that you can save up money. Again, this is perfectly fine.
If you want to travel the world and don't have money, you will need to find a way to earn it, whether it is through donations, working two jobs and saving, and you may work the odd job while you are abroad. I would suggest that you do work the odd jobs. Many of these jobs are in hotels, hostels, and adventure companies. You will end up meeting a lot of people from around the world, either working with you or as a customer. Enjoy each experience, even if you are a housekeeper. Enjoy each location.
Personally, I know that I would love to take a holiday to somewhere in the world, although I am not sure exactly where I would like to stay. My experience with some young Swedish men I met while in Thailand landed some excitement and keenness to travel to Scandinavia. Australia always has adventures in store; so do Spain and South America, I feel. Honestly, I want to visit five out of the seven continents if possible, and I am constantly trying to figure out my options that will make this possible. So far, I have accomplished 3 continents: North America, Asia, and Australia. Next up: Europe and South America; probably Australia again.
If I visit Europe, though, I think a job is completely necessary. Maybe as an Au pair, where I can practice my care-taking skills, learn a new language, and still have some time to visit other countries.

As for now, I would like to find other like-minded people who might feel a little bit clueless about their life path, but willing to go on the ride, through the thick and thin, knowing that life isn't over yet.
I would like to close this post with a famous quote:

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end"

 It says a lot about what's going on in life, and to not give up even when things are tough.

Until next time,
K.

P.S.- I'm wondering if I should make any reviews of any products or such. It's just a thought.