CoS Conference

...And then there were 37 (I am top right in orange shirt)

1 year and 11 months ago (almost as many as 4 scores and seven years), I started out on this marvelous, wacky, life-changing, experience along with 52 other individuals in PC Thailand Group 121. 23 months later, 37 individuals (soon to be 36) are still going it along with me. Our close of service (CoS) gave us the opportunity to take a moment and look down that long, steep path we've taken to get here and remember those we've lost along the way; to reflect on our experiences, successes and tribulations, give ourselves a little pat on the back (maybe reconcile some of our regrets) and look on to the future.

The whole CoS conference is something we hear about our whole service. It's a pretty big deal and feat to get to this point. After which, we can call ourself RPVC (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers--well, not quite yet). This year, it was also particularly extraordinary because our Country Director will also be ending his seven & 1/2 year service in as Country Director in Thailand.

Close of Service Conference was roughly 3-4 days spent by:

- Taking Thai Language Proficiency Exams (the last time we took this was almost 20 months ago--during which time I received an intermediate- mid rating but this time I scored advance-mid
-Listening and talking to RPCV's and working professionals in Thailand from various career paths (Foreign Service Officers, UN workers, NGO representatives, free-lancer, etc. )
- Eating a "thank you" PCV's Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the Deputy Ambassador
- Sitting through sessions to reflect on our work in respective program areas and our lives as PCV's in general
- Talking about the necessary steps to leaving Thailand--writing a DoS (description of service), getting finances in order, reaching medical clearance, packing, leaving host communities (which, was all very odd to think about)
- Reminiscing and hanging out
- Talking about life after Peace Corps
- Toasting the Volunteers who've left us
- Attending a very sentimental "tying ribbon" ceremony in which we all had a chance to say something about our service here (along with Dr. John)
- Joining in on a final 'no-talent' talent show (to be honest, there's nothing but talent in this group!)


Reflecting back on the 3 & 1/2 days we spent during the CoS Conference, I'm filled with conflicting feelings of reverence for my time here and for the people I've come to know and love, accomplishment, some regret & guilt, melancholy, relief, apprehension for the future and and being altogether overwhelmed!

It's all a bit of a blur to me as I look to the future. As of now, I am unsure as to whether or not my career with eventually end up continuing here in SE Asia or if I will be Stateside/somewhere in-between for a while. My immediate plans include traveling to China, Japan, Bali, & India after I end my service at the beginning of April 2011. Then, off to the good old US of A for some catching up. Beyond that, I'm very much undecided. I keep reminding myself, I have to get to mile 26.2 of this marathon before I can begin to embark on a new race. Preparations are definitely in order but, it's hard to know now what life will bring beyond this. I've still got some loose ends to time up here! (ie: Daycare Project) Anyways, Life is unpredictable and maybe it's best not to know exactly what is to come...




Country Director, Dr. John gives an emotive speech


At the Deputy Ambassador's House about to enjoy a complimentary Thanksgiving Dinner


In front of the USA Embassy Grounds where the Deputy Ambassador resides


At Peace Corps HQ after our 3-day CoS Conference in Cha-am Thailand (near the Gulf of Thailand)


Not to ham it up but, I can't hide that I was pleasantly satisfied with my Language Proficiency Interview Results...maybe I could even do better!

Two Farang's Wed, Thai Style

Loy Krathong


(Picture compliments of Wikipedia taken at a Loi Krathong festival in Chiang Mai)

On our way to a Volunteer wedding, we haphazardly caught and savored the traditional practice of lighting and releasing "Khom Loi's" (lanterns) into the night sky during the beginning of Loy Krathong, a Thai holiday briefly described below.

"Loi Krathongs history in Thailand
Loi Krathong in Thailand originated in Sukhothai period as Loy Phra Pra Teip or Loy Khom (floating lantern). It is a festival of Thai people. After that, Noppamas- the most favorite concubines Sukhothai king - created krathong, like lotus-shaped, for floating in the river. Instead of floating lantern, it used for worshipping the foot-print of Buddha at Nammathanati River beach in Thakkhinabodh district, India. As we called Nehrabhuddha river.

Loi Krathong at the present:
Nowadays, Thai people still keep form suitably; on the full moon of the twelfth, people usually prepare natural materials to make krathong. For example, they use banana trunk and lotus to make beautiful krathong then stick candle, incense stick, and flowers in krathong. They always ask for good luck in the future and forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha.
At the temples and tourist places, they held contestation of making krathong and Noppamas beauty pageants contest. There are many entertainment shows at night. Moreover, they set cautiously fireworks. The materials, used for making krathong, could be easily decomposed.
Reasons for Loi Krathong

We can conclude the reasons for Loi Krathong in Thailand are:
1. To ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha because we use and drink water. Moreover, we often throw rubbishes and
excrete wasted things in the water.
2. To worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.
3. To fly away misfortune and bad things like floating sin- Bhrama ceremony.
4. To pay respect to Uppakhud whom mostly northern villagers show their gratitude for. According to legend, he was a monk who had supernatural to kill Mara.

Krathong could be made from anything else such as banana leaves, banana trunks, coconut barks, paper, and etc. Stuck with incense stick and candle to make a wish and float it in the river. "

(Information accessed at Loy Krathong, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)


PCV's gathering for some pre-Loy Kratong 'lamping'




Setting our off dream into the sky





I'm behind so in order to catch up to speed, I have to back track a little. Whew. Where did the time go?! I've been out of site and in Bangkok way too much lately. They say a little of time away from site is good for rejuvenating the soul and balancing mental health but I now also believe too long of respite from site can cause an imbalance of reverse sorts. The more I'm away, the harder it is to get back in the grove of things. Being only months away from Close of Service, I'm definitely feeling a bit more pressure to get as many things done as possible before I leave yet, try really hard to cherish the time left. Seems like it's suddenly hit me like a freight train train how little time I have remaining. I'm not even sure I'll be ready to leave when the time does come!

It's been an incredible, frustrating, rewarding, strange, wacky, overwhelming, and altogether, life-changing experience. Given the intense nature of my existence here, it's been very hard lately to think all this building to creating and doing something is finally coming full circle. But, ready or not, it's coming.

I regress. This theme of this blog really has nothing to do with my existential Peace Corps crisis (which, let's be honest, is nothing new!)

I'd like to share memories of a purely blissful nature.

On Nov. 19-21, around 20 Volunteers attended a wedding for one of our very own. Some might call it the gala of the season; others, a mere result of our being here so long that we've become Thai. (Not really but, somewhere in between). It's probably not a coincidence that the momentous occasion fell so close to Loy Krathong as our lives inevitably weave into the beautiful tapestry of our surroundings--nothing happens in and of itself. Towards the end of the picture show, you can tell though, that despite the day long ritual (6AM to 8:30 PM) of making merit, monks chanting, parading around on elephants, pictures, pictures, pictures, Thai dance, & karaoke, that the bride & groom added their own American flavor--however subtle. (think: "Just Married Signs, Wedding Cake (definitely not a Thai tradition), & goofy costume pictures). Enjoy!

P.S. I won't comment too much, but you might notice a particular gentleman Volunteer who keeps popping up in my pictures who may or may not have captured my affections in recent months ;)

Parent's Visit