Category: Asia

See What I Saw: A Photographic Chronicle of 27 Months

March 20, 2015

Today is officially my last day as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. Even if I could sum up that last two years in words, it would likely be a novel, or at least a novella. Can you put the last two years of your life in a blog post? Didn’t think so. So, harkening back to the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a gallery of picture highlights from the last 27 months. (Click on any picture to enlarge.)

(Apologies to my readers who are in locations with limited data and Internet connectivity. I suggest skipping this post and coming back to it when you have decent Internet.)

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6 Peace Corps Thailand Bloggers to Follow

March 17, 2015

As my time here in Thailand draws to a close, the topics of my posts are going to shift away from Thailand. I will keep blogging, and you should expect some travel writing over the next couple months!

However, if you are in need of a Thailand fix, never fear! I bring to you some fellow Peace Corps volunteers who will be staying in Thailand after I leave and whose blogs I think are pretty exceptional. Check ’em out and click “Follow.”

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5 Lessons I Learned in Thailand

March 13, 2015

After living in Thailand for just over two years, I have picked up some very valuable life lessons. As an American, Thai culture can often times feel like everything is upside down. However, living in a different culture allows you to reflect on yourself and your own culture in a very unique way. These are some Thai ways of life that I want to continue to incorporate in my life.

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6 Things I Didn’t Get to Do in Thailand

March 10, 2015

Two years is a long time. It’s also not enough time. When you are staring down the barrel of a two-year commitment, it’s daunting and difficult to imagine. On the back end, you start wishing for more time and thinking of all the things you didn’t get to do. So I present to you, a list of six things that I didn’t get a chance to do in Thailand, that I hope I will have the chance to return to do.

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Kruu Ning: My Co-Teacher and Best Friend in Thailand

March 6, 2015

This week is Peace Corps Week and in honor of 54 years of Peace Corps, the Office of Third Goal put out a call for current and returned volunteers to make a video highlighting their “Host Country Hero.” Being my last month in Thailand, I knew I had to participate, if only to make something to show my appreciation of my co-teacher and best friend in Thailand, Kruu Ning. The videos were relegated to two minutes, which is not actually a lot of time, and so I wanted to tell the full story here.

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Thai Food: Som Dtam, Spicy Papaya Salad

February 27, 2015

Way back, two years ago, when I found out I was going to be spending my service in Northeastern Thailand, my host family from training took me out to a ส้มตำ (som dtam) restaurant and ordered a couple different kinds of this spicy papaya salad and told me, “People in Isaan eat this a lot.”

They were right (it’s on the lunch table at school every day), and they introduced me to one of my favorite Thai foods. Som dtam is a spicy salad made with shredded, green papaya. It literally means “sour pounded,” which makes sense considering the unripe papaya is kind of sour and to make it, you pound up all the ingredients with a pestle and mortar.

There are so many different kinds of som dtam, with a variety of regional specialties (Isaan-style includes fermented fish and rice-paddy crabs) and even one made with a bunch of different kinds of fruit. I’m going to share a recipe on how to make my favorite version: som dtam Thai.

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Thai Food: Khao Soi, Curry Noodle Soup

February 24, 2015

Despite what is pushed as a singular Thai identity, Thailand is full of diversity, which becomes even more pronounced when looking at the various regional dishes.

One dish that is specific to Northern Thailand is ข้าวซอย (khao soi), which is like a noodle-soup with curried broth that also includes coconut milk and is topped with deep fried egg noodles. Khao soi is similar to a dish that is featured in the cuisine of the Shan people of Burma and is also eaten in Northern Laos. Khao soi literally means “cut rice,” referring to the way the noodles are prepared – by steaming a large sheet of rice noodle and then cutting with scissors.

This dish is not typically served at Thai restaurants outside of Thailand, so if you are looking for a flavor of Thailand that you may have never had before, click inside for a recipe.

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Kruu Ning is My Host Country Hero

February 22, 2015

Way back in Pre-Service Training, two years ago, I was interviewed about what I wanted from my site placement. The only thing that I was adamant about was that I wanted to work with a co-teacher who wanted me there. It didn’t matter to me if I was in a rural place far from other people. I wanted to work with someone who was willing to work with me.

With Kruu Ning, that is exactly what I got. She filled out the application for a Peace Corps volunteer. She’s been there for me when I struggled and shared my successes. She has been so amazing. Which is why she’s my Host County Hero. Watch the video to learn more.