Exchange student program 2019

Hello....

 It has been awhile since I update my blog. I try to update this blog while I'm in Thailand but I can't. I went to their computer centre and let's just say I have hard time trying to log in my email. I found my friend at there but she say that it's quite difficult and me being ignorance I still entered the computer centre and ask someone to help me.

The first week was really awkward cause people at there using uniform and I was in my casual smart clothes which I use back in my university. And yes it was very awkward especially when people stare at you and giving you the look. I keep telling myself that I'm an exchange student. Maybe that's why they stare at me. I attended classes like every student. It was fun and exciting. I make a lot of friends back then and they were very nice and delightful to be friend with us.

Since I don't speak Thai, I speak English and I was pretty amazed at how good their English was. I never speak English that long but it was fun. I learn new language. I don't really learn much but I can speak a little. In the first week, we enter few languages class. We visit the consulate to tell them that we came there as an exchange student. It was an honored to be there. I feel like I'm on an official trip with my uncle. All of us has our own Buddy. They were pretty cool but they always busy and barely have time for us. I have to understand it because they are freshman and they have a lot activities to do. My buddy named T, I can't expose him.

 He's cute but if I compare to our age and our mind. I have to say that he's playing the older person or in other words big brother. But I'm older than him hahahahaha.... I ask him to guess my age before and he said I was 19 and I was pretty surprise and laugh at him. I be honest and tell him that I'm older 3 years than him. We had dinner together that night and I get to know him. He's quite childish but he's cool to me. I get lost a lot on the campus. He always found me and say "I don't understand you, this is the 3rd time you get lost". Neither do we. I have to stick to the schedule that has been assigned. I want to say it's not fun but I gain experiences. 

We have some sort of food fair where we present our local food to them which turned into a wild party. Some of my friend put on a party songs and hahahahaha.... I never thought my friends were that kind person. We wreck the food presentation program and turned it into a freaking club. I don't really show the real me to people who's not my family but it turns out to be a freaking party. The food presentation consist of Filipino, Thailand, my country and USA.  I might continue by using my report. 

That’s where we get to speak Thai by ordering the food at the canteen since that’s the most important things that we need to know. We watch the Malaysian movie which make me cry in the end. It’s remind me of my late grandma and I still hope that she still here with me but it did tear me up. My buddy were worried when they saw my red eyes.  The trip to the Folklore museum at Koh Yo island was very fun. I never saw a museum were divided according to their names and building. The sight from the museum was very beautiful and I’m amazed. Our buddy took us to the Night Market where I get the chance to go out with my Buddy. He being helpful and making sure I didn’t get lost. I think I always get lost everytime I went out by myself and my buddy scold me about it. So he took me back to my friends. It was fun that night.

The freshman student who came with us are very curious about Malaysia. I also told them about my hometown. The day after that we went to the orphanage. Some of the children could speak english. It was fun because we can play with them. I play basketball with them. I never play basketball before but once I saw they play among themselves I decide to joined them. We use non-verbal communication rather than talking to each other. After we went there we went to the mall and also the Floating Market. I finally get to see the Floating Market with my own eyes. It was so beautiful the scenery. I shop some foods and souvenir to bring back home. We went on a trip with Ajahn J in the morning.I think that first week. I feel very different because I do things that I never thought I would do. I never go hiking in my entire life. But by coming to Thailand it gave me new experiences.

I’m glad I took the offer. The beach was very clean. Thai people took really good care of their beach. I almost got ripoff by the lady who sell the souvenir near the beach and thank god my Thai friend were there to help me. I think the first week as me being honest. I think I did faced many obstacles from my friend.  They complain about being tired and cranky. I didn’t dare to say much because I came to Thailand to learn and experience new things. I’m grateful that’s for once. I make new friends from the other Major from the FSS.

The second week we have International Food demonstration. It was really fun. We have so much fun at that time. We bring back the camp vibe to the university and they were very excited to see us dancing our traditional. I manage to teach my buddy the traditional dance but end up laughing at him. About the English camp. The best part is the Lotus River. It was so beautiful. I gotta give credit to Ajahn N for the schedule. We woke up really early to go to the Lotus Lake. As usual I was very sleepy at that time but as people say never look down at something that you thought that you knew but apparently you know nothing. It was very beautiful to get the chance to see the sunrise but I think going there is really worth it. I get to see the lake cover with Lotus and I also saw a huge bird. I call my mom and talk about it while on the boat and she was very excited and keep saying that I should take her there. Which I plan on it. I think we should be grateful for the opportunity to go to a place where we get to see the hidden gem of Thailand. It was so beautiful and I did took alot of picture of the lotus flower. The part when we climb up the stairs to the Taloo Mountain.

I get the chance to talk to two Filipino teacher. We didn't climb up until the top in fact we talk to each other. They were quite surprised of how I can talk in English really well and I share them the story behind it. I really like talking to them. I may be the student but it's nice being friends to the Lecturer. On that night where we were given homework. It was more like slumber party to me that I get the chance to stay in one room with my old Thai friend from the camp. It was really nice of them. I think they are the reason why I came here in the first place. I still remember the day when they saw us infront of the parichart 2. They were screaming like crazy when they saw us. Then I get the chance to sleep in actual tent which AC are provided. My friend and I face the AC problem and I ask AJ J for help and he say that we might suffocated by the heat. We get to change the tent which I'm utterly grateful. I hope we get to make camp fire that night and sing camp song or roast marshmallow.

At the waterfall I didn't swim like Ajahn I but I only dip my feet in the water because it was really cold and P and M help taking picture and I was surprised of how good they are at taking picture. But the unexpected things that never cross over my mind is the snake on the tree. Even the last time when Aj J program going on hiking at the waterfall I was sleeping on the rock. I didn't bother to think about snake or any reptiles that hidden in the forest. 

My final report about the final week is I feel satisfied with the program. I get to go hiking up the hill, sleeping on a rock, see the lotus River, visit the museum, walking up at the stairs at Yor Island which give me the best view of the river. Drink ice chocolate which is the Thai version. But I'm very happy about this program because I do things that I thought that's impossible for me to do but because of it. I'm happy about myself and proud about myself. I make new friends. I attended the Muslim program which help me to know more about Muslim student from my camp buddy.

At here I get to talk in different language which is English, Thai and Malay. Miscommunication happened alot but it never stop me from communicating with the TSU student. I keep encouraging them to learn English especially in AJ J program. People might think its lame but the program are very helpful for the student. To help them improve their English and communicate well. Back then I couldn't speak English well but I keep on trying and trying. . I would like to thank the Ajahn for inviting us to Thailand because the time I saw my Ajahn show the outbound website. I knew there was something going on. We were very happy and apply for it. I also would like to thank my Thai friends who has been really nice and kind to us. We feel guilty because we didn't get the chance to treat them the way they treat us.

I would also like to thank the Freshy student who became our buddy since day 1. I know how busy they are with cheerleading and activity until they barely have time for us. But they still manage to come to us when they have the same activity with us. They were very nice to us and kind and it is impossible for us to repay for them. Same with the other Thai student who became our friends. Because to me I would like to repay my buddy kindness. I think that is all from me. Thank you again for the wonderful memory. I hope I get to come here again but I'm bringing my family with me next time. 

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