I have alsways thought of American as a place that has lost it culture with how modernized it is; it has lost it’s traditions, it’s values and it’s depth. I thougt that it was one of the reasons why people from other countries didn’t like America (because we have no real culture). Being in Thailand has caused me to look at what culture is about here versus what culture is about in America. While America is not necessarily as unique as Thailand in terms of cultural traditions, it does have it’s common values among the people. I know that Americans value timliness whereas Thai’s in general have a tendecy to live in the moment and let the schedule flow with the conversation. Americans also value directness and getting to the point; and Thai’s in my experiences thus far have been uncomfortable with the directness of Americans in places such as restaurants. Americans value a lot of things that are also repeated over and over in media and advertisements including my passport such as freedom, security, and justice.
I have noticed that Thailand culture (and I believe Asian cultures in general, value personal relationships that are buile between friends, businesses or even schools. When we spent a day with students from CRU the vice president kept on saying that he wanted our relatiship to last forever in our memories. He wanted us to remember the beautiful dinner and dances and all the fun that wehad wit the other students throughout the day and for some of us through the night 🙂 It was the beginning of a long relationship.
While America does not have dances similar to the ones that the students did for us at CRU or the dances that the hill tribe people performed at the new years celebration or as much emphasis on relationships, we do have local traditions in Minnesota. We have hot dishes, potlucks, graduation parties, block parties, and importantly the state fair. As I reflect on my cultural experiences in Thailand, I realize that America has definitely not had as much time to build that culture, but we are not without culture.
As society becomes more modern and we loose the cultural traditions that were tied to the land that we lost and the way in which we used to live we hold onto the things that are important to us in the end. Being in Bangkok for a few day has allowed me to see that although is becoming increasingly more modern they will not loose their culture as I worried before. They will hold on to their food their relationships and the things that bring them together because communities uphold culture. For Minnesotans we hold onto potlucks, blockparties and the MN state fair. With more crowded places we are forced to modernize and think of more efficient ways to live and maintain a livable standard of living. I think that when I thought of culture I used to think of living in a village in the jungle and hunting and gathering for food and living in a shack. Now that I have been to a village and I have been to the city I see culture a little differently.

I am quite familiar with alternative medicine such as chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and several other types due to the many sport injuries I have had and the healing has worked for me very well. However, I recently had the privilage to get a famous Thai Massage and let me say it is in a whole other league compared to what I have had before. I was able to get a full body massage for 30 minutes and my massage therapist just so happened to know every spot on my body that needed to be worked on. At times it was a little painful, but after it was worth it. It was so relaxing! I am not sure what makes a Thai Massage so different, but whatever it is it works!

Aside from alternative medicine, we were able to go to Bumrungrad International Hospital and look at western medicine here in Bangkok. This hospital was literally one like I have never seen before. It looks and feels like a hotel that was decorated by Ikea. That is one aspect that it prides itself on is the fact that it makes patients feel comfortable and not like they are at a hospital. The rooms are beautiful! They look like they could be a small apartment with a kitchen, living area, and even two bathrooms. And the cost of one of these rooms is nearly half of what the cost is in the U.S. Everything that is needed for healthcare is all right there, it is a one stop shop. One aspect that I though was really interesting was the amount of patients they get from all over the world. This is not only becsause the service and care is one of the best in the world, but also because the cost is so low. In addition to the cost, the way things are run in the healthcare system makes sense. The cost of care, the rate at which things are done, and the whole system in general is simple, but yet so efficient. In my experience with hospitals back in the U.S. things can get pretty complicated and take days to get results. For example, dealing with insureence companies can be quite the process, but here they are more worried about the patient rather than the payer. I think the U.S. should take some pointers from Thailand!

Today was our first full day in Bangkok. Compared to Chiang Mai and Chiang Ria, Bangkok seems to be a lot more busy and chaotic. Today we went to the Royal Palace and temples there were both tourists and Thai people everywhere. After tha we went to get a traditional Thai massage. It was much needed. I have a lot going on in this back of mine, so it was nice to have someone really dig in and get all my knots out! To end our busy day we went to a market here in Bangkok. It was crazy and overwhelming. We got assigned to do a scavenger hunt, and it turned out to be very stressful for everyone! After that we walked around and did some shopping. The market is divided up into sections of merchandise, but being a foreigner, it was still very hard to navigate throughout. Bangkok is biggest city I have ever been to and it shows through the congestion of people, cars, and my nost. Somewhere along this trip, I have picked up a cold and it is making me very drowzy. I hope I can kick it, especially before my birthday which is coming up in a few days! I cant wait to celebrate in Thailand!!!!!!

We’ve only just gotten to Bangkok, yesterday, and it’s already certain it is a different animal than the rest of Thailand. When we first got to Bangkok I honestly thought of Chicago, then New York City. Two very large cities I’m relatively familiar with. The city is a city, a very large city with what I think to be beautiful modern sky scrapers. However, it still is Thailand and that’s obvious as soon as one steps onto the street outside our hotel. I say that because markets fill the sidewalks with little shops, scooters fill the streets, and the weather is wonderful – if you like it hot. Last night a couple of friends and I went to a part of Bangkok with markets and bars that’s a popular destination with tourists; we got the tip to go there from a travel book. It turned out there was probably a 1:1 ratio of “farangs” and Thais – and the 1 Thai was probably working. Yet, we had a fantastic time. The city feels busy like a NYC but has a relaxed sense like somewhere ocean side in California. It has a sky train that’s easy to navigate and plenty of different forms of taxi. The view from my hotel window is gorgeous and fills me with energy. Once again, Thailand has caught me by surprise and I’m eager to get out and do more exploring.

Communication is a difficult process for everyone, even when everyone speaks the same language. When we met with the students from the University of Chiang Rai University, CRU, everyone was excited – both Thai and American. I didn’t pick up on that from talking with students, but from the giddy atmosphere and the excitement written on everyone’s face. Something, on both sides, had all of us excited. We didn’t need to be able to speak with one another to understand the unspoken agreement to which we all had already committed to. We, no matter the complexities of our personality shared one common denominator; we wanted to learn more about different people and a different way of life. The Thai students were extremely welcoming and kind. All of us had to be patient and creative when trying to communicate. “My guy” from CRU was named Nest. He was about a foot shorter than me but was the coolest cat around. My new friend was so nice he even came to the hotel to pick some of us up to show us around Chiang Rai later that night. And, I can call them my friends as it’s “facebook official” now. When one is able to have a friend that lives in a foreign country show them around, it makes the experience much more interesting. Not only because they can help you navigate the city and find the hot spots, but because one gets a deeper more intimate understanding of their culture. I wish people always had the respect for one another that all of us showed that day. The word Thailand actually means freedom; so, we Americans probably have much more in common with them than we think.

Hello from Bangkok! We are all in a new city, and it is all very exciting. We arived from Chiang Rai yesterday afternoon. Today we toured around the Royal Palace and Temples. It was very beautiful. I liked learning about the buildings and how the Thai people relate to those spiritual locations.

Following that, we all went to a school that tought traditional Thai Massage. It was interesting to learn their methods. It was also nice to know what kinks of classes they offer. The traditional massage has to do with much more than what Americans do in relation to a massage. The Thai way uses the whole body (from the feet to the head). For some reason I always thought that a massage only worked with a person’s back. All the students were lucky enough to get a massage at the end of the sesson. It was very relaxing and enjoyable.

After that, we all traveled to a market where we did a scavanger hunt. It was fun, but a bit time consuming. It pushed us all to travel around the entire market in order to locate the items on the list. I thought it was super fun, and I think we learned a lot.

I hope that everyone takes care back home, and I will post again soon.

So excited to be in Bangkok!! Just arrived here earlier today! I can already tell that I am going to like it here. We got a chance to walk and find somewhere to eat lunch when we first got here. A place called Gulliver’s complete with both Thai and American food. A few of us even ended up going there again for dinner! I am really excited that we have some places that are only a walk away from our hotel. That isn’t something that was really possible in Chiang Mai or Chaing Rai. Downside, they charge for internet at this hotel, I guess we have just been spoiled for too long with the free wifi at the other hotels! Tomorrow we get to go to a temple and do some more shopping at a market (which I am really excited about). Excited to experience this next week in Bangkok!

My recollection of the beginning of our 2^nd week, we spent most of Monday riding on the bus than we did off of it. First, we attended a seminar at IMPECT and were introduced to the many groups of indigenous people that live in Thailand. It was interesting to know there are people who live in remote parts of the country and operate as their own “group”. After the presentation, we were able to observe an authentic Thai New Year’s celebration festival. I felt very fortunate, yet out of place at the same time. We were the only tourists there but it was something that not many foreigners are allowed to experience. We learned about a game that boys and girls play in order to meet potential partners by tossing a ball back and forth. I found it rather interesting and I am curious if it actually facilitates any new relationships or if the young people do it to make their parents happy for traditions sake.

Our last stop of the day was to a hill tribe. This was another experience where I felt extremely fortunate, yet out of place. It was amazing to know that the people opened up their villages to us, especially being foreigners, and allowing us to give their children gifts. It was very moving to see how happy these individuals are with what they have been given. Their family is the most important piece of their puzzle and everything that they do is for the betterment of the tribe. It was a rewarding to know that giving something as small (or insignificant to us) as a pencil would create so much happiness to a child. It brought a lot of perspective to my life as to what is truly important and what is excess. The importance of doing more for others than you do for yourself is rampant throughout the Thai culture; our society could take a few pointers and learn from a collectivist attitude.

On Tuesday the 3^rd, we had another full day of interesting lectures and unforgettable experiences. In order to keep a blog rather than a novel I will highlight a few ideas from each event. The first lecture was at an organization called TRAFCORD, who works with human trafficking victims in Thailand. I didn’t know much about human trafficking other than the reasons for sexual exploitation but learned that a large part of it is also forced labor. Also, a major reason why individuals are being trafficked is due to being indebted to another. Our second lecture of the day was at the Chiang Mai medical school. Here we learned about how the school came to be and their accreditation process. The focus of the presentation was in the Trauma Center and their identified strategies for improvement. It was directly related to the work we did in Quality, a required class for Health care Management majors. Their basis for improvement lies within numerous education and re-education practices. Their data showed many routine procedures, such as CPR, were done incorrectly. We were also given the opportunity to tour the emergency room department, hello HIPPA? Not existent. I don’t feel as though it would have been nearly as easy to tour an ER department in the states. But I felt fortunate to be given the chance to see how their system works in Thailand.

Today was a pretty great day! We went to the Royal Temple in the morning, had a traditional Thai massage in afternoon, and then we went to the market. The market was overwhelming. There was so much to look at, and there were people everywhere. I wanted to eat a cooked bug while we were there, but we ran out of time before it closed; I will make this happen before we leave Thailand though! When we left the market, we caught a Tuk-Tuk back to our hotel. I had not taken one in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, so this my first time. It was quite an experience, and I am not so sure I will be taking one again through the heart of Bangkok. Our driver (and other drivers) are crazy over here. We weave in and out of traffic so fast, I now fully understand why traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in Thailand. We made it back in one piece though, and I am excited for what tomorrow brings! 🙂

It has been a while since my last post, so I am stepping back a week or so in the events that took place. This entire trip has been much of a blur, always something to do or see and many positive experiences to be had. We had an amazing weekend of excursions; both elephant riding and zip lining that were unforgettable.

On Friday the 30^th of December, we attended a lecture at the mental hospital of Chiang Mai, where we learned about the prevalence of mental illnesses affecting the people of the northern region and Thailand as a whole. A few of the illnesses reported were those of psychotic nature, drug and alcohol related addictions, and depression. Like the United States, there is a social stigma attached to mental illnesses in this culture and many rarely seek help. The director of the hospital presented information about their organization and how they operate in regards to providing care to their region. Their wards remain open and unlocked so patients, or residents, are free to move bout the campus as they please. The staff also works with patients through rehabilitative activities such as making dish towel dolls and a type of rug using scraps of fabric.

After visiting the mental hospital we attended another lecture focusing on HIV/AIDS information at the Nursing School. The presenters identified the first case of HIV that had been reported; a 28 year old male who contracted the virus in the United States. After years of the virus spreading throughout Thailand, the Thai people needed to take action by constructing a plan and collecting demographic data from patients who have tested positive for the virus. This is where their extensive safe sex campaign and use of condom education became more prevalent. The program that I found most interesting was for children who had contracted HIV from mother to child transmission. They are provided care and medication for life. If their mother happens to pass away, they are cared for until they can sustain themselves. The HIV/AIDS prevention focus also brought attention to the human trafficking and prostitution problem in Thailand, it was noted that prostitutes are more conscious about using condoms and refuse services if their customer object to the use of them.

Concluding the presentation, we proceeded to tour the school and learn about the different educational areas. The facilities and rooms they used reminded us of a hospital from the 1950’s, especially their traditional nursing uniforms and rather creepy practice mannequins.