I change clothes at least 4 times a day. I am lucky enough to live really close to my language class. It is just a couple houses away from my home so I usually get dressed riap roy (long skirt and collared shirt) and walk my bike over. After language class, I change into my biking clothes and bike to my technical class. When I get there, I change into my riap roy clothes. After class, I change back into my biking clothes to go home where I change into my hang out around the house clothes.
I shower at least twice a day, every day. My mom makes me. I shower before bed. Sleep. Wake up and shower again. One time my mom made me shower before and after dinner. This is the cleanest I have ever been in my life.
People really want to take me to the hospital. I sneeze. “Do you need to go to the hospital?” I cough. “Do you need to go to the hospital?” One day family and neighbors told me that I just didn’t look good and that was reason enough to try to take me.
Most of the time I have no idea what people are talking about. My family speaks only Thai. When I look confused they speak louder. I just smile, nod, and say “OK.” I never really know what I am agreeing to.
I smile. A lot. I had a review with one of my teachers a couple weeks ago. She said I was doing great in language class and on track. Only problem was, I do not smile enough. I have made it my personal mission to smile all the time. It doesn’t matter where I am, what I’m talking about…every 20 seconds or so I flash a big smile.
I eat way more than I should. My diet is 100% carbs and I hate it. My family feeds me so much and I’m trying my hardest to be culturally sensitive and eat it all. I found out today (with the help of a translator) that my Thai grandma is worried about me because I am not eating enough. I guess I need to step it up.
My favorite thing is that my family here knows that I love puppies. And they think I am weird because of it. But they are always having friends stop by with their animals for me to play with.
With all of these adjustments, I can already tell that I am turning part-Thai. I used to hate spicy food, but now I add spices to my meal at lunch and dinner. I am barefoot all of the time – even when I don’t have to be. When it cools down at night (maybe the high 70s) I wake up freezing, turn off my fan, and put on an extra blanket.
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