Lessons within Language Learning

This essay touches upon the language learning experience. Not conducting life in one's native tongue, inevitabley leads to some very interesting twists – to say in the least.

“Young breast wheel,” my colleague announced, as she read Google’s Thai-to-English translation of words from the computer screen – it struck me that her pronunciation might be a bit-off. I asked her to repeat, and again the nonsensical phrase “young breast wheel” was what I heard, and what I kept hearing because she continued to repeat it over and over, and louder and louder – completely unaware of the silly word combo – as I hurriedly crossed the room and came to her side. And wouldn’t you know it...

Monkhood + Accident (+Coffee) = A Wordy, But Good, Love Story

The title of this piece mangages to sum up what this true-to-life tale portrays. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

This morning I wouldn’t have drank those three mugs of black coffee – the ones that threw me into a bantering wild woman spouting broken Thai, the ones that left this darn stain on my white linen pants (why I even bother wearing white, I don’t know), the cups-of-joe that inevitably have left me with the jitters of a caffeine addict unable to even conceive of being productive with office work – had it not been for the trip to the emergency room at 3 AM.

At the Office? Take a Thai Tip!

The following piece consists of a little list of tips inspired while writing an email to my 'ole office pals at DC's District Department of Environment. Now working in a Thai local government office, I anticipate taking back to America the following tips from my Thai counterparts....

NOTE: The picture here consists of me and new Thai office pals -- it was at their special request that I share this picture with you all!

Toilet Paper on the Table?

Alas, the rigorous days of being a Peace Corps Trainee – knowledge and language cramping the brain and biking cramping the knees – are wrapping up, and soon I head to my permanent 2-year site-placement as a true blue Peace Corps Volunteer. 

Here's an essay displaying how adjustment is a continual process, and is forever entertaining...

During the tender developmental years of early childhood, I conversed with a spider – an imaginary friend spider, named Hadobee. Hadobee was a common house spider with brown fur, green eyes and four-sets of squiggly legs. He was a kind and attentive listener, who would perch protectively upon my shoulder, backpack, and pillow-case while I slept.

No Need for Want: Settling In

In Thailand I surely am – safe’n’sound and getting my bearings.

This essay paints a picture about my day-to-day in Peace Corps Training thus far...

“Shampoo, shampoo…” my grandmotherly-like Thai host mom, Mae (Mother) Ruam, repeatedly says to me one evening. Is she referring to my unkempt bike-helmet hair? Do I smell so bad she has to accuse? Another minute of miscommunication – lost in translation – goes on, and her meaning is at last understood.

A Brand New Day

I was recently asked to write the following piece -- for inclusion in a 20th Anniversary Book -- about a place near and dear to me, Wild Women Expeditions. It was a treat to reflect, smile and snicker-out-loud about my time there. Here's the story...

Sawadee kah 2009 & Sawadee kah 2010

Seconds after popping balloons and blowing kazoos to bring in 2010, a grey haired gentleman slung his arm casually around my shoulder and said with a hint of a slur, “Ya know, youngen, I have this theory about ‘why time flies’.” I raised my brow at his claim, and he continued, “When you’re two years old, one year is a pretty significant 1/2 of your life. When you’re 60 years old, though, one year is a meager 1/60 of your life....” Clever, eh?

So, going along with this mathematical logic, 2009 was 1/28 of my life's pie, and well, I think it really did get eaten faster than years past. Plus, it had a constant underlying theme -- the potent concoction of anticipation, prepartion and bittersweet goodbyes....

The Walk-in Lock-in

From July-October 2009, Colchester Farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland was my home. I seeded and weeded, harvested and washed, marketed and sold a rainbow of organic vegetables. Sure there were many romantic moments (e.g. picturesque skys, jumbo neon caterpillars, and cruising in our battered little red farm truck), though inevitably, there were a handful of mishaps, too. Here's a tale of one particular "opps" while down on the farm...