June 17th

June 17th – We arrived in Bangkok and it is everyone's first day in Thailand except for me and May, a lovely half-Thai, half-Russian agnostic Jew studying at the University of Washington.

Everyone is fascinated by the surroundings, which is reasonable. Thailand can be a sensory overload with bright colors, friendly locals, and spicy cuisine. I try to do my best to ease my fellow travelers into their new environment. My Thai language is rusty but passable, and fantastic in light of the fact that no one else traveling can form a sentence in Thai.

In the morning we head to an opulent hotel for breakfast. I thought it set a bad precedent, but it probably helps to ease the transition. Most individuals order continental-style food, but I savor my green curry with beef.

Unfortunately as our six-hour van ride to our village began my stomach did not enjoy the savoriness of the morning meal. Part of my uncomfortableness was due to the zeal of our driver. He took every opportunity the road provided to pass other drivers, but would fail to maintain the speed after passing them. He seemed to pass no matter the curve of the bend or the steep of the hill. It got to the point where I forgot whether we were supposed to be driving on the right or the left. Still we got to the Foundations site safely.

Much to everyone's surprise, we were staying in a nice enclosed building, with electricity, running water and mosquito netting. I slept quite peacefully, excited for the activities of the following day.

June 15th/16th

June 15th/16th – Left for Thailand today. Two days vanished in a blur of movies. The first leg of the flight is composed of a trans-oceanic voyage over the international dateline. We followed the sun from Seattle to Tokyo, but everyone on the plane pretended it was time for bed. Except me.

I packed no book, so movies were my escape. I watched three movies – The Counterfeiters, Horton Hears a Who, and 10,000 BC – the first two of which were quite enjoyable.

A two hour lay-over passed quickly thanks to a few long waits in security lines and a bowl of ramen. The second leg consisted of flying mostly south. Two more movies (Under the Same Moon and Definitely, Maybe), a terrible in-flight meal, and 15 minutes of sleep and we arrive.

It is just about midnight by the time we land. I guess it will take another hour to go through customs and get to a bed.

One o'clock AM Bangkok time on the 17th, that is 11 AM June 16th Seattle time. I woke up at 5:45 AM on June 15th to wish my dad a “Happy Father's Day.” I am dead tired, and yet I am still so excited that I wonder if I will be able to sleep.

Pleasant dreams!

Made it back to the land of computers

Today the majority of my new friends returned to the reality of life in the states. I have been in Bangkok with them for the past three days and prior to that in a small village in Western Thailand near the Burma border. The entire experience was eye-opening about the way economics plays out on the lives on people who have certain privledges and people who do not. Furthermore, I made some amazing connections.
However, I will be writing all about that in the days/weeks to follow. For this post I just wanted to inform that I am safe, in Bangkok, and look for opportunities for future volunteer work that interests me. (I am also excited to see old friends.)
Also, I have a Thai cell phone for anyone how needs to hear my voice. However, e-mail is a very convenient way to reach me.
Lots of love.

Heading off

Tomorrow I leave for Thailand. I left from the United States to Thailand once before, and that was three years ago. I remember being much more apprehensive then. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into or what events would unfold.
Likewise, this time around, I don't know exactly what I am getting myself into or what events will unfold, but I can state with confidence that the apprehensiveness is near minimal. I am excited to the point of giddiness to be starting new adventures.
I can't say for sure what we will even be doing as volunteer work, but to be honest it does weigh heavily on my conscious. The simple fact of doing something new and beneficial and exciting is enough to satisfy any reservations.

I look forward to seeing you all when I return home. Until then, e-mail, calling cards, and letters will have to suffice as communication.

Drinks with former co-workers,


lunch with great friends from Thailand,


and dinner with a best bud to boot.


Good times!