Tag: language

Thai is a Language of the Heart

June 20, 2014

Sometimes, listening to Thai people speak, it seems like the word jai (ใจ) is everywhere.

เข้าใจไหม (Khao jai mai, Do you understand?)

ใจเย็นๆ (Jai yen yen, Chill out.)

คนใจดี (Kon jai dee, Kind person)

But what does jai mean? Jai translates as “heart” and has all the similar connotations that heart has in English, such as “spirit” or “inner being.” So it makes sense that jai is used to construct phrases that have meanings related to one’s heart, mind and spirit. more “Thai is a Language of the Heart” …

Swearing and Cursing in Thailand

May 4, 2014

One thing about Thailand and Thai people that they are extremely polite, particularly because of the value of saving face. I can’t say that I’ve heard anyone really curse or swear. However, that’s not to say that it is not a part of the language here. Check out this video of an American professor’s first time being cursed at in Bangkok.

My Peace Corps Service is 50% Complete

February 18, 2014

There have been a flurry of time marking milestones happening over the last couple months. First, there was New Year’s Eve and Day. Next came the one year anniversary of coming to Thailand. Then there was my 26th birthday. Friday was Maka Bucha Day, or the first Thai holiday that I have had a chance to celebrate twice. Finally, Sunday marked the day of the half-way point of my service in Thailand. I have now been in Thailand longer than I have left here. more “My Peace Corps Service is 50% Complete” …

What Happened at the Thailand TESOL Conference

January 24, 2014

Last week I attended the 34th Annual Thailand TESOL International Conference in Chiang Mai. The theme of the conference was “21st Century English Language Education: Towards Global Citizenship.” I was extremely satisfied with the experience and it made me think quite a bit about teaching English, specifically in Thailand, and how I can improve my approaches and to pass those along to my co-teacher.

more “What Happened at the Thailand TESOL Conference” …

Gender Roles and Gender Identity in Thailand

November 15, 2013

In Thailand, there are some pretty strict traditional gender roles. Men and boys do manual work while women and girls clean. In the social hierarchy, women are considered lower than men. However, gender is a construct. There are lots of people around the world who challenge the ideas of what gender means and how it’s expressed. Thailand is particularly well known for people who challenge traditional notions of gender identity and expression.

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Small Successes of Community Integration

November 1, 2013

One of the most important things that contributes to the success of a Peace Corps volunteer is community integration. It’s actually enshrined in the 10 Core Expectations of being a volunteer.

This is something that I feel like I have kind of struggled with. I hit a wall with language learning because the people in my village speak a different dialect. The area that my house is in isn’t really in the village, it’s just kind of on the road. Also, because I’m a vegetarian, I often end up turning down a number of meal offers.

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Open Letter to Future Peace Corps Thailand Volunteers

October 1, 2013

Dear Future Peace Corps Thailand Volunteers,

You may have found the Facebook group* already and had some of your questions answered. You may not have found it, and are heading over there right now to get your questions answered. I’ll wait here for you to come back. You may have seen the common response from those who are currently where you will be of “Don’t worry; just relax; enjoy the States!”

more “Open Letter to Future Peace Corps Thailand Volunteers” …