Update....

I haven't written much lately because there hasn't been anything terribly exciting to share. It's the end of the semester which means papers and finals (and the late nights and diet cokes that come with it). Officially I will finish up on Friday the 22nd. And between now and then I have to finish 2 papers, take 2 in-class exams, do a take-home exam, and write a journal response paper. I'm 85-90% done with both papers, so it's time to start focusing energy on the 2 in-class finals.

The papers have been really interesting. In the one for my Group Dynamics class I watched the movie Crash and am writing about how the character interactions give insight to the Intergroup dynamics of Americans and Non-Americans in post 9-11 culture in the US. Really the paper is about the theory of Intergroup Dynamics which says that members of groups interact in a way that represents the power, authority, and boundaries of the larger group. Somehow I feel that I didn't explain that clearly... Hopefully it makes more sense to my professor.

In my second paper, for the class Organizational Psychology, I chose to write about the theory of organizational socialization. I focus the paper on the 10 weeks of training for Peace Corps Thailand. Does it surprise anyone that I have a lot of suggestions for improvement?

So that's my life these days. I did get to do that 15 mile run last weekend. And it has not gone unnoticed that today is exactly 4 months from the Boston Marathon. Gotta get crackin! In other news I registered for classes for next semester, including a marketing class at the business school.

Can't believe I have one semester under my belt already!

jfk-bkk

Bought my ticket to Thailand!!! It's official: March 9th-March 26th I'll be in the land of smiles. It sounds like a long time, right? That's because I'm taking a week of classes off so I can be there when group 117 finishes up.

I hope to spend a week in my town of Uthai Thani, and a week celebrating with everyone in Bangkok and at least a couple days in the blue waters at Ko Chang. Fun in the sun will be much needed after a few months in the NY cold.

12 hour time difference

I just spend the last 3 hours on the phone with Thailand. Whoa holy
phone bill! Thank goodness for good calling cards. About 50 of my closest friends are all at a conference together. I expected to call one person and get the phone passed around to 20 people all partying in the same room. That's usually how night time at these confrences go. Instead I called 5 people, all of whom were already chillin in bed. It was a great treat to have long talks with each of them and one even said the confrence was not the same without me. How nice. 40% of me wishes I were there with all those friends. But 60% is still grateful for the daily hot showers and supermarket down the street.

They had a big dinner tonight which included a slide show of pictures from the last 2 years. Apparently Chiquita was well represented. Liesbeth said she put a bunch of picts in, including these from Pattaya in July.

which crayon color are you?

You are most like: You are Yellow
The clouds part and the smell of daffodils and daisies fill the air when you are around. Your sunny disposition cheers most, and makes others (the jealous and bitter ones) wish you'd never gotten out of bed.
Take this quiz: Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Are You?
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your good deed for the day

Hey kiddos. Go here: https://www.lighttounite.org/ and the pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers will donate a dollar to the National AIDS Fund. It only takes a second and you don't have to give your name or email or anything.

I just went out for a 15 mile run

and just got back from a 4.5 mile run. WHAT?? It did not go as planned. After about a mile I couldn't fully feel my right foot and I felt like I was dragging it as a lead weight. I have never had this happen before and I think it's from all the running I'm doing on the Columbia track which is really small and results in lots of turning- which means lots of extra strain on my right shin. It's either that or the whopper hills on the Thanksgiving 7 miler. I would never even entertain the thought that it might be from the day in tight ski boots last week.

About 2 months ago I started noticing the weirdest sensation when I was running. It was almost as if I felt I was going to trip, but not exactly. On Friday I was able to recognize the feeling. Friday was the first day on the slopes in 2 years!!! Skiing!! Oh, how I have missed you. I'm happy to report that I didn't forget completely how to ski. Certainly my form got a little sloppy. And my GS skis from racing days were a little too much for me to handle at times. But who cares?? And besides I can blame it on the poor conditions. The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the first day of skiing for the Bobruffs, and usually the mountains have been open at least a week at this point. Well Okemo, where we skied, was only on it's second day of the season, and they had to bus us up to the lift to the one trail that was open.


Notice the bare ground off the trail on the left where the didn't make snow.

I hope there will be lots of skiing this year. I'm headed to my old Colorado stomping grounds in Jan. And I joined the Columbia ski team. I think it's lot like the Amherst team was, with 30% of it's focus on partying and not very competitive even when there is competition.

When I was testing out my ski feet last Friday there were certainly a couple heart-in-throat moments when I caught a ski tip and my momentum was thrown off wack. And I noticed that's exactly the sensation I'm getting when I'm running. It's like I have phantom skis and am catching the tip on thick snow and have to check my balance. Weird, eh? I've heard of phantom feelings when someone loses an arm or leg. I guess my body feels like it's lost an appendage without skis on.

travel....

high school 10 year reunion

Yup, it's been ten years since high school and yesterday I went to reunion. Well, not MY reunion. I was crashing the Newton North 10 year reunion. I certainly got a few confused looks at what I was doing there, but mostly those were from people who knew me and knew I didn't go to NN. I was pleasantly surprised
that there were dozens of friends to catch up with and there was never a
moment where I was left to twidle my thumbs by myself.

Best surprises:
Seeing my best friend from nursury school who was also crashing.
Reconnecting with a best friend from camp who cried when she saw me.
My friend luke trying to convince people I was his wife and mother of 3
kids.
Meeting all the real husbands and fiances.

Everyone looked great and it was wonderful to see people that I mostly haven't seen in years! Someone there was commenting how everyone looked the same. My 6th grade boyfriend must have said 5 times how I looked exactly the same as I did in 6th grade. I'm just going to assume that wasn't only a commentary on the pimples I was sportin' :).

A taste of the future

A year ago, Thanksgiving 2005, we were coming to the end of our India tour. We were lucky enough to come across a Subway in Delhi and split a turkey sub. Oh how much
has changed in a year. This year we had the traditional Bobruff Thanksgiving
in our NH house. Complete with approximetly 30 dishes from the kitchen of Mama Bobruff.

Thanksgiving day 2005. Henna Tatoos in India.

This year I am certainly thankful for the turkey, something that was in my top ten list of most missed things in Thailand. And I also raised my glass in thanks for the chance to go skiing on Friday! But besides for spending time with the family, the best part of the weekend was a full kicthen and access to all sorts of FOODS!! When in Thailand I had a kitchen, but not a lot of food options. And now in NY I have access to american supermarkets, but not great access to cooking. One day I'll have both!

For now I am able to enjoy the fully stocked kitchens when I go home. Wednesday Mom picked me up from the boston airport and on the way to NH we stopped at a HUGE supermarket. Heaven! We went a little overboard on what we thought we'd make, but the possibilities were just so exciting!

I made a yummy chili Wednesday night for dinner. And then went baking crazy. Pumpkin pie, mini cheesecakes, and peanut butter herhey kiss cookies. mmmmm.



Here's me, raising my glass of apple cider in a toast to all we have to be
thankful for and to all you out there in Blogworld. Happy Thanksgiving
2006!

A new era for the nose

Can we have a moment of silence for the passing of my nose stud? On Friday I took it out- for good. I've been thinking of doing it for a couple months now, but Friday morning it was a quick thinking decision. I had a big fancy corporate meeting at Deloitte consulting offices down town. I though the nose ring didn't really go with my suit. So out it came.

I've had my nose stud for over 2 and a half years now. I got it with Pam and Chris in New Orleans the day after my 1st marathon. I was SO nervous. The guy doing it knew I was so scared that I figured he had to be joking when he put the stud in and said, "oops." I mean only an idiot would say "oops" with a freaked-out girl in the seat in front of you, so he had to be joking. He wasn't. He had accidentally hit the tissue that divides my nostrils; but it was barely a scratch so all was fine. Except that I was so nauseous after it happened that I couldn't get out of the seat for 10 minutes. I think it was a combination of nerves, hangover, and the 26.2 mile jaunt the day before.


It was a toss up between taking the stud out and getting one of these. There's always the next marathon...

Which sounds more impressive 26.2 miles or 42 Kms

Yesterday was the NYC marathon. I was planning to do it, but an injury
derailed my training and I didn't feel ready to do it the way I wanted.
So for the first time in years I was a marathon spectator. I watched the
start on TV and the tears started flowing. I just have SO much respect and
admiration for each of those people and all the work they put in to get to
that start line. Not to mention the finish line. I most especially have
respect for Colleen Brophy who was running because a while ago we decided to
do this one together. Last time I saw Colleen was in June 04 when we ran the Anchorage Alaska marathon together. And by 'together' I mean Colleen waited for me at the finish line.



This run was Colleens 11th marathon. She got a PR time of 3:07
and came in 32nd for her age group!!! Remember this is the largest marathon in the world with over 37,000 people running, including olympic medalist and course record holders. Colleen came in the top 100 of all women! I think she's really a robot.

My friends Malcolm and Maureen and I went early to get good watching spots. We stood in Central Park right behind the MET, and right after mile marker 24. I brought life savers to pass out.





Just after Lance Armstrong ran by my friend Malcolm thought I should get my signs out for Colleen. I had made two: "Colleen, You're a Superstar." and "HOT GUYS, just 2 more miles." Just after I told Malcolm that Colleen wouldn't be there for a while, Colleen came running by in her cute green hat. I started yelling and ran into the road with her jumping up and down. Colleen started yelling and jumping as she ran too. And then the whole crowd of about 100 people we ran by started yelling for her too.

After Colleen went by we made the journey to the finish line to find her. She made it before we did even though we cut through the park. Who wants to meet me at the finish line for NYC 2007??

BOO

Happy Halloween. This is one of the best holidays ever invented and apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way. Last year American shelled out $3.3 Billion on the holiday. That's second only to Christmas!

I was inspired to be Raggety Ann by Brooke one day in Bangkok last July. She was sitting around in the front of Tae Wez guesthouse, our bangkok home away from home, and I walked in with Tara after a meeting at Peace Corps (shoulders were covered- fret not). I was wearing my new blue dress that we had just bought on Khao San Rd for 150 baht (about $4). She asked how many people told me the dress looked like Raggey Ann. And a halloween costume was born!!!

Saturday I went out to the bars in the East Village with 2 school girls, a pirate, Clark Kent (in transition to Superman), and some peeps in fun wigs. I was SO impressed with all the great costumes I saw. The best was a Gillian (of the Island) look-alike. At some point our crowd decided to go to a fancy club for dancing. When we got there the line was blocks long and would have taken forever to get to. So we went across the street to a lesser club. I guess we weren't even cool enough for the lesser club because they wouldn't let us past the velvet ropes.



No Andy for this Raggety Ann. The pirate threw him overboard. Hence the tatoo: RIP Andy.

US travel

As many of you know the most popular mode of transportation in Thailand is the bus. It's slow. It's stops often. It's often crowded. And there is no internet or number to call to find out when it leaves. You just have to show up and read the signs. But you will never get shut out. They will put little plastic chairs (the kind you see in 1st grade classrooms) down the aisle to get every last person in. Or you'll find Thais who are willing to stand up in the aisle for hours.

On Friday I was headed back to Boston and so excited to take my 1st bus ride since Thailand. I figured it would remind me of all my traveling adventures in Thailand. I had my ipod charged and my phone on vibrate in my pocket! [get your mind out of the gutter and read on]

I was sadly disapointed. Let's just say greyhound is a step above a baw 2. The engine and road was so quiet I could actually hear my phone ring, no need for vibrate [see, I told you]. There were little TVs spread throughout the bus, and the movie was in ENGLISH. While it would have been quite nostalgic to have stiff upright plastic seats, I was pleasantly surprised to have cushy cloth ones with elbow room.

I did get to listen to my Ipod and all my favorite Thailand music: Ben Folds, Black Eyed Peas, Cake, and even my Thai music.

I love when my Ipod is on shuffle and my Thai language learning tapes come on. Mostly it happens when I'm running. I can only imagine how I would look to the Thais passing on their motorbikes when I would speak along to the tape. "Pria-sa-nee you tee nai?" "Where is the post office?"

I've been doing Thai language tutorials here at school. About once a week I meet Priak, a Thai guy from Bangkok, at the Business school library. It's great to keep thai fresh in my mind. Unfortunately I find more and words are going to hide in the deep recesses of my brain and it takes more effort to pull them forward. "Bor-ree-sat you say? I know I know that. What does it mean??" "Why can't I think of the word for March. It used to roll of my tongue."

I also haven't had as mch practice with my Thai cooking. I am very limited in my cooking space in my studio so it was a TREAT to have access to my parents full kitchen when I went home. Saturday morning I was feeling creative so I did a recipe search and realized we had all the ingredients to make eggs benedicts. If I do say so myself, they were delicious.

I was home to pick up my kitty because my parents were off to Paris and Morocco for 2 weeks with my Brother and Jen. It was a short trip home, but long enough to go to the Atrium mall with mom for a mini shopping trip. And Friday night I met up with Janet for a butt kicking ashtanga yoga class.

Saturday I made the drive back to NY, this time behind the wheel of my mom's subaru. A couple times the rain was falling so hard I couldn't see anything out the window. But who could complain? I had my music playing, my seat heater on, and I was driving myself in a car. I guess you have to be out of the country for a couple years to be that excited to drive yourself. Either that or be 16 years old.

So now kitty is here for a couple weeks. I love her fuzzy company.

Oprah

Oprah is interviewing mothers from around the world. There was someone from Brazil, Norway, Kenya, Alaska, and THAILAND. A correspondent met a bangkok woman who lives in a small room with her husband and 18 year old daughter while her son lives in the "country" with her parents so she can work 6 days a week doing Thai massage. A story that is very representative.

It was very cool to be able to understand the thai being spoken under the English translation when the woman spoke.

a new season

The winds are whirling around and picking up the leaves that have fallen to the ground. The smell of fall is in the air. Gloves and scarves are now part of the recommended attire.

Today I went downtown to meet an alum who is working for a marketing company. I had applied to an internship opportunity in brand valuating. Basically they look at a brand, such as Sports Illustrated Magazine, on many different characters and rate them as a way to understand the marketing direction to take. For example: how feminine is it? How athletic is it? How techy is it? etc. FUN! But I didn't get the job. So I'm looking into other marketing possibilities. It seems like a job that has both analysis and strategy, and that it's something I'd love. But I'm not sure, so I want an internship in order to test out the waters. I'm looking both into firms like the one I applied to, and individual companies who would have an in-house marketing division, like Sesame Street or J. Crew.

I hope that soon I'll be able to work 10-15 hours a week at an internship, but it may not start till next semester.

run forrest run

It's official. Well it's been official for a few days. But now it's really official. At least I'm pretty sure it's official.

You'll have to count me out of that little jog through the boroughs of NYC. That little 26.2 jaunt with 37,000 other people on Nov 5th will just have to go on without me.

I'm not doing the NYC marathon.

It hurts to walk down the block so I figure I shouldn't pound the pavement for 4 and a half hours. I pulled a muscle on the bottom of my foot; ironically enough it happened when I was doing no impact water running. Oh, and that 18 mile run 3 days later didn't help the situation. Anyway every once in a while now I get a shooting pain in my foot; and my knee is having sympathy pains too.

It's hard to let go of the marathon. But on the other hand it would feel a lot worse to have to quit at mile 18. Or to not be able to run for another 8 week after.

The upside is that I get to tape my foot and knee every morning and I feel like a real athlete.

class schedule

Lots of people have been curious about what classes I'm taking and what I'm doing to fill my days. Here's my class schedule:

Monday 3-4:40: Group Dynamics
Tuesday 1-2:40: Understanding Behavioral Research
Tuesday 7:20-9: Organizational Psychology
Wednesday 5:10-6:50: Functions of Organizations
Thursday 3-5: Preparation for Coaching

I know that might not mean a whole lot. Except for the coaching class, they're all required classes and all about 40 people. The professors are all really impressive and laid back too.

I'm also busy with a Deep Water Running Class Monday evenings through the NY Road Runners Club, Yoga class on Tuesdays, and Thai tutoring on Thursdays. Oh yeah, and there is that job hunting thing.

What's in a name?

Some of you may have noticed my blog introduction still says I'm in Thailand. Yes, I'm having trouble letting go a little. I certainly still want to connect with being in Thailand. I can't believe it's already been 9 weeks since I left.

I know how lucky I am to be in America. And one of the reasons I'm acclimating so well is all the support I'm getting from people in Thailand. When I left at least half a dozen PC friends told me they were jealous I was leaving. In fairness, I think it was just a general low point in the 2 year cycle of PC Thailand. But friends in Thailand have been wonderful about asking how life is in America. They all want to know about what I'm eating and how classes are and where I'm out and about in NY. I think some people are having moments of vicarious american life through me. That's great because I'm vicariously living in Thailand through them.

I've been calling Peace Corps friends over there about once a week or so. Text messaging too. It has been nice to keep up on the gossip of Peace Corps life, but at the same time it's not like being there. I've been chatting with Thai friends too. And recently my thai friends have been emailing me!! I taught them email while I was there and we have been writing every couple days.

Mostly I write in what they call 'Thai Kareoke.' It's Thai writen in English letters at the bottom of Kareoke screens. It means phonetic Thai. So 'hello' in Thai is สวัสดี and in Thai Kareoke is Sawadee.

While I can get by reading Thai slowly, I can't write well at all. For example, the Thai alphabet has 4 or 5 letters that have the same sound as 's' depending on the tone. It's all beyond me.

For now enough of my life is lived mentally in Thailand that I'm not letting go of my blog title yet. Besides, I've been keeping these posts mostly Thailand related. It's one of my 3 PC missions- to share Thai culture with Americans. So in this way I'm still a PC Volunteer.

It's not from the salad onions

I'm crying. I'm watching a show about the NYC triathlon and I always get teary when I look at people working extremely hard to reach a dream. When I think about how much training and dedication they put in to get to this competetion I can't help but get overhwelmed. There's a woman in a wheelchair talking about how a triatholon is a symphony- no one goes to a symphony for the last note, it's about all the movements along the way!

My exhaustion is contributing to my sappy urges. Today I ran in the New York Road Runners 'Tune Up' Race- an 18 mile course that took us three times around central park.



Today marks the 4 week count down till the New York Marathon which goes through all 5 boroughs and ends in central park. Due to an injury I've taken the last 4 weeks off from training, but have been given the go-ahead to do the race. Today's run was really well organized with shoe chips, water stations, huge starting events, and even a t-shirt! Even so, I was dead at the end and don't know how I'll be able to add on another 8 miles come race day.


I'll get to that finish line somehow! Colleen is coming up from Philly to run. Last time I saw her was when we met up in Alaska to run the Mayors Midnight Marathon.

On the run I kept passing food carts that sell pretzels,nuts, hotdogs, and icecream!! The promise of this is what kept me going mile after mile, just like an energizer bunny....




After the run I chilled on the grass and called Rachel in Nashville and Matt in Palo Alto to catch up. After all that, I didn't really feel like ice cream. Instead I went to the store and got yummy lox and some bengay. Come to think of it, maybe that's where the tears are coming from. Here's my worldy experienced advice: No matter how bad you pulled your groin, keep the BenGay away!

Tara's muse

Just playing and wanted to put up some more pictures. This one is a drawing on the CD cover of my leaving PC present from Tara. This picture means the world to me. That's me, Lindsey, and Tara. And the outfits and bar stools are representative of a typical night out together in Bangkok. Cheap Charlies is an outside bar on a alley near one of our favorite guesthouses, Suk 11. We frequented this place a lot. Cocktails are 60 Baht, or about $1.25 all night!



Suk 11, the nearby guesthouse, is a cute place with simple rooms and a very backpacker friendly attitude. Peace Corps volunteers are there enough that they knew us and often made special accommodations for us. One could spend hours looking at all the graffiti on walls from all the worldly travelers. I never had anything inspirational to write or draw, so I never did, even though I wanted to. I know you're all sitting at your computer simply heart-broken over the fact that I've let Thailand without writing on the walls at Suk 11. Well fret not! Tara is going to immortalize us with the picture of Cheap Charlies Angles.

culture shock

"How's the culture shock since you've been back from Thailand." I don't know what it was about yesterday, but I think I was asked that question a dozen time. It must have been that I was meeting lots of new people.



I went to my first Columbia Football game yesterday. Yes, Columbia has a football team. I answered that question a couple times yesterday too. But they're not much to write home about. I went with a friend on my hall and a bunch of people in her program who I haven't met before. Really nice girls. We got there early enough to do a little tailgating. I even met the Columbia Mascot.



And last night I went out in the west village to a cute wine bar with Elizabeth, my friend since 1st grade, and a bunch of her friends.



So I figure I should come up with a sound bite for answering that question. It's hard to explain each time. The jist of what I tell people is, no, I haven't had culture shock. I mean I haven't been agonizing over and upset with american culture.

They say coming back to America after Peace Corps provides for more culture shock than initially integrating into Thai culture. But I think that since I was expecting such a rough time it hasn't been that bad. I was prepared.

And also I realized along the way that my experience returning to America doesn't reflect on my experience in Thailand. I mean to show myself and everyone home how much I loved Thailand and how integrated I was in the culture I don't have to hate American culture. I can love them both.

I always have a miserably hard time with transitions. Moving to San Francisco was really rough and starting my job at Mission Dolores was also extraordinarily difficult. I'm sick of having a hard time with transitions, so I simply made up my mind that this time it would be different. This time I wouldn't have a difficult transition.

The hardest thing is that I'm afraid I'm going to get run over. I did such a good job training myself at roads to look to the right (at traffic driving on the left side of the road) that I get all confused at streets here.

I've been loving the food options here in America, and honestly haven't been missing thai food much. That's what I figured would be the hardest. But I've been able to make what I want pretty easily. Once after about 2 weeks home I was feeling a little sick and had a craving for a dish, moo dang jaye, so I went to a thai restaurant, but they couldn't make it for me. But who can complain when diet coke is readily available everywhere.



I've also committed myself to appreciating a hot shower everytime I take one. And I still get a kick out of filling my waterbottle up right from the tap.

How to I turn this into a sound bit?

my new place

Hi everyone,
Here are some picts from my new apartment. It's 98% set up. I'm still looking for a rug. It has been so much fun to get everything for this place. Even though a lot was provided and a lot came from my room in Newton. I feel like I have a real grown up place for the first time. No futon, no posters on the wall. I knew I had arrived when I was walking down the aisle at the drug store and buying drain-o. That struck a cord for some reason. The other highlight was a shower curtain, I've always wanted to get one, but in 28 years of life this is the first curtained shower I've had. To be honest I've LOVED getting all sorts of cleaning products. I dreamt about the cleaning aisle of a drug store when I was in Thailand. Here I can use all these fun products like swiffer brooms, and the best part is: it stays clean for more than 20 mins!!! No bugs!!






This is the fluffiest coziest bed I've ever had and compared to beds in Thailand which are similar to slate stone with a cloth sheet over layed, this has a sleep number of 700.

Bless You

I don't have a cold or anything, but I've been sneezing a lot today. Tonight in my Organizational Psychology class I sneezed a few times. It must have been contagious because a 2 other people around me were sneezing tonight too.

There are a few things back in America that I really missed when I was in Thailand. Saying "Bless you" after a sneeze was one of them. I can't tell you how happy it made me that I was able to say "Bless you" half a dozen times.

Now there are a few cultural things that I'm having trouble wrapping my head around back in America. Hand motioning people to come over to me has been really weird. In thailand they use a palm down thing, almost like the way we tell people to "shoo." I can't exactly remember how it goes in America and I have to catch myself from telling people to shoo. It's more of a sideways palm thing here, right? And I think it's got more arm in it.

Over the last few weeks I trained myself that it's ok to step over things. And that it's not a big deal to walk between two people. Both BIG no-nos in Thailand.

But I still can't help myself from ducking my head when I pass by someone. I can't exactly remember how that goes in America. Can you bow a little when passing someone here in America, or is that really weird? Running is the hardest. I can't stop bowing when I pass people running.

I'm happy to say I have gotten over the 10 foot distance I used to give dogs on a leash. I still give dogs a lot more of a check out that I used to before Peace Corps.

I can't remember exactly how the use of foot goes here in America. I tested it out the other day by pointing to a magazine on the bottom rack and my friends didn't bat an eye. I was agast at myself by folding my leg so the sole of my foot was facing my professor, but don't think she was insulted. I quickly put my foot down anyway.

Still learning. Slowly acclimating back to American culture.

Allie's wedding in VA beach

Thai Iced Tea

Anyone in Thailand remember how much I loved to drink Chaa Yen? I even got my language group to visit a coffee stand in order to learn precicely how to filter the tea and mix the milk during a 'community lesson.'

So I was SO excited to see an icecream shop nearby school that sells Bubble Tea. Today I ordered up my first Thai Iced Tea, without the little black tapioca balls at the bottom that I don't like. I was a little disapointed when they didn't drip in the thick condensed milk, but offered if I want regular or skim milk. I guess I wasn't thinking about taste, but more about health, but I responded, "skim milk." I was even more disapointed when i tasted it. Blah.

I guess I gotta come back to Thailand to get my Chaa Yen, with ice scraped out of a cooler, and served in a bag, just the way I like it.

classes

Wow. Yeah! I just got out of my second class this semester and I'm so excited about it. It's called "Preparation for Coaching" and we're getting practical experience being an executive coach, or rather, a life coach. The professor already set a really easy going tone for class. First of all, no papers or exams. Just a weekly 3-4 page journal reflection on the class. And some suggested readings. But more importantly she did a really good job demonstrating the 'there are no stupid questions' and 'there are no stupid answers to my questions' rule. I felt very comfortable talking in class, even though it's pretty big, at 40 people. It's very self analytical, which if you know me at all, is what I do well. The journal entries are supposed to be reactions to class, and how we feel, and what we know we know, and what we know we don't know, etc.

We did a fun excercise where one person was blind and had to draw a picture of what their partner's vision was. And then we switched. I did it with a really nice girl, Rebecca. We did an excellent job drawing a face, and a house. Then, of course, we debriefed how we felt being guided and if we would prefer more or less instruction when blind, yadda yadda. After that the professor led us on a discussion about good listeners we knew in our lives and what made people good listeners. Then we talked about how this is all relivent to being a life coach.

Yesterdays class was fun and engaing too. The class is going to be a big overview of an MBA class. The professor seems cool too. He's in a band.

Now it's time to enjoy my 3 day weekend which I have every week because there are no Friday classes.

morning pic before my run

I live just a few blocks from Riverside park. A nice green space that runs almost the whole length of Manhattan, along the Hudson. It was nice to be out enjoying the sun with the other runners, bikers, and dog walkers. I certainly plan to go back and sit on a bench and enjoy NY there! And will run there often.

I am training for the NY marathon on November 5th. Marathon number 6!

But I got some news from my podiatrist last Tuesday that I have stress reactions at my tibia. I am not supposed to run major runs for 6 weeks. So I'll be doing lots of biking at the gym and running in the pool!


PS. I saw my first star today!! Walking down 5th ave I passed the nurse? on ER with the curly brown hair. She was under the arm of a guy who I didn't get a good look at. I only saw her for a split second, but she looks pretty much the same as on the show. The only impression I walked away with is that she has a very distinct voice, and was wearing clumpy mascara.

I love NY

I moved into my apartment 4 days ago, but it feels like I've been here for 3 weeks. So much has been going on. I've been getting my place all set up so I don't have to think about anything when classes start. But there always seems to be something else to do. We'll call it a work in progress.

There have been a few orientation activities, but nothing like the amount we had in college. I'm actually a little disapointed I haven't connected with more new students. I think there will be more opportunities when classes start and I get to know people in my department. There have been a few large confrence hall info sessions about things like registration. And yesterday there was a really fun 'Amazing Race' activity that took us all over the city and subways. It was a gorgeous sunny day. A day where you walk past street fairs and can't help but say "I love NY." They should put that on a T-Shirt.

Web Cam shot in new apartment

Address in NY

Ever have Progresso soup? The ones in the big blue cans. Well if you haven't you should! Every trip to Safeway always included a trip to the Safeway aisle when I was living in San Francisco. And concurrent with typing I'm eating my first scrumptious bowl in 2 years.

In my NEW YORK STUDIO!!

I'm here. It's official, I'm a New Yorker. Hopefully with a little less of the requisite attitude than the stereotype.

I have a cute and cozy [read: little] studio apartment in the grad school housing. I have my own bathroom, but only a fridge and microwave to suffice as a kitchen in my room. My place is all decked out in the latest IKEA fashions.

Oh yeah, and that school thing. It's been a whirl-win of a few days. I'm sitting down to read through the stack of papers I've received. And classes don't even start for 4 days. I've had a few orientation exercises. Met a few people. There are loads of new students in many many programs here. I'm looking forward to meeting lots more people over the next few days and semester. And excited to hang out with all the people I already know in the city.

For all of you who want to visit, or send expensive gifts, here's my new address:

Rachel Bobruff
517 West 121st St
Apt #1005N
New York, NY 10027

Cell: 347-551-0522

I have a large window here that looks out to the south side of the building and many other buildings here in Morningside Heights. Rain is beating against my beautiful big window;it's my first gray New York evening. I'm ready to hunker down with my bowl of soup and then maybe a bubble bath. Ahh, the exciting life of a New Yorker.

My new nephew, Trance, with my dad

At Laura's Bachelorette party

My family enjoying my Thai feast

boston

Yesterday was one of those blissful days. One of those days I dreamed about while homesick in Thailand.

It was a warm sunny day and everyone in Boston seemed to be out on the Commons enjoying the weather.

coming up next, cranberry oreos.

Tonight was my first attempt at Thai food in an American kitchen. Making food for my family in my Newton kitchen was something I often imagined as I perfected my Thai cooking skills during Peace Corps.

It all turned out yummy and was a fun night, but the highlight of the experience for me was food shopping. Entering the supermarket was a dream come true.

I almost hate to say this, but coming back from Thailand feels like I have a second lease on life. I don't mean to say Thailand was like a terminal disease that I just narrowly escaped. It's the exact opposite. It was such an amazing experience it gave me a new perspective on life. Just how lucky we are here in America.

I made a vow once in Thailand that I will thank the higher powers every time I get in a hot shower. I know this vow has a shelf life, but for now I am still so thankful every time I get in the shower. And last week I even had the treat of a bubble bath. Life is good here...

So the supermarket. SO SO SO much food right at your fingertips. Cheeses and turkey and blueberries and crackers and root beer and Ben&jerry's and salad bars and all the amazing food I haven't had in 2 years. All just a credit card swipe away.

I spent a lot longer than necessary just wandering up and down every aisle and looking at all the food and shiny packaging. Did the same thing at CVS. In Thailand I had about 3 choices for shampoo, here, we have what, a gazillion? I feel like a kid in a candy store.

While so much is the same as when I left, there seem to be so many new products out. Did you know there are about 12 kinds of oreos? regular, double stuff, mint stuffed, peanut butter stuffed, chocolate stuffed, chocolate on the inside and white on the outside, mini oreos.... Oh the decisions.

Wherever I am is my favorite place to be.

It was a perfect trip in San Francisco where I got to see friends and old students, visit my old school, take a run in golden gate park, hit up a favorite happy hour bar, do brunch on the bay, swing through my favorite Sunday morning activity visiting the farmers market and just be in San Francisco. I had almost as fabulous a time in Chicago visiting Anna.

Now I'm back in Boston. I'm finally home after my 2 years in South East Asia. I arrived home to loads of flowers, many balloons, a large banner outside that said 'WELCOME HOME RACH' and a home cooked meal of my favorite foods. Why had I been worried I'd lose my superstar status of Thailand when I came back to America.

Today we had a large Homecoming party just for me! Lots of family and friends came by for the afternoon and we had the most amazing American appetizers, sandwiches, and salads. I'm aiming to gain at least 5 pounds on all this amazing American food and I think all the left-overs will get me to my goal.

Everyone was so fabulously inquisitive about Thailand and gave me ample opportunity to talk about all the cultural differences about life over there. Some people seemed genuinely impressed with what I did and how I navigated the culture. That's always a good feeling. We looked at lots of picture and I had to end a debate about whether a picture of me in a rice field was real or a backdrop (it was real). I spoke in Thai a little and got a few dropped jaws. But they really loved hearing about the tones of the language and my examples of words like 'khao' which has multiple meanings depending on the tone and vowel length (rice/food, mountain, news, white, knee...).

I loved it. The whole party was great. It was so nice to see everyone I haven't seen in so long and to feel all their love. It was just nice to be at a party and smooze and joke and laugh with everyone in the American way you do at parties.

I got asked a lot how it feels to be back. And I told everyone "They say the culture shock coming back to America is harder than adjusting to the foreign culture to begin with." But for me it hasn't been. Maybe because I was expecting it to be SO hard that I haven't had much trouble. Or maybe because everything is still so exciting and new I haven't hit the hard part yet. I mean I still thank god every time I get into a hot shower.

In fact the weirdest thing is that it's not really weird to be back. Things haven't changed much. Everything's where it was when I left and I know how to navigate this world. It's weird to have been gone for 2 years doing such different things and to see everything is the way it was here, not much has changed. Don't get me wrong I love it here, and it's still exciting and new in many ways. But also strangely the same.

The only complaint I have over the past week of being home is that occationally people ask me how my "trip" was. Of course I smile and tell them it was amazing, but inside a heartstring gives a little twinge because my time in Thailand wasn't a trip. It was life: working and playing and living every day like a Thai person. It was my life, not a little side step from the path of my life, but the route itself.

Wherever I am is my favorite place to be.

It was a perfect trip in San Francisco where I got to see friends and old students, visit my old school, take a run in golden gate park, hit up a favorite happy hour bar, do brunch on the bay, swing through my favorite Sunday morning activity visiting the farmers market and just be in San Francisco. I had almost as fabulous a time in Chicago visiting Anna.

Now I'm back in Boston. I'm finally home after my 2 years in South East Asia. I arrived home to loads of flowers, many balloons, a large banner outside that said 'WELCOME HOME RACH' and a home cooked meal of my favorite foods. Why had I been worried I'd lose my superstar status of Thailand when I came back to America.

Today we had a large Homecoming party just for me! Lots of family and friends came by for the afternoon and we had the most amazing American appetizers, sandwiches, and salads. I'm aiming to gain at least 5 pounds on all this amazing American food and I think all the left-overs will get me to my goal.

Everyone was so fabulously inquisitive about Thailand and gave me ample opportunity to talk about all the cultural differences about life over there. Some people seemed genuinely impressed with what I did and how I navigated the culture. That's always a good feeling. We looked at lots of picture and I had to end a debate about whether a picture of me in a rice field was real or a backdrop (it was real). I spoke in Thai a little and got a few dropped jaws. But they really loved hearing about the tones of the language and my examples of words like 'khao' which has multiple meanings depending on the tone and vowel length (rice/food, mountain, news, white, knee...).

I loved it. The whole party was great. It was so nice to see everyone I haven't seen in so long and to feel all their love. It was just nice to be at a party and smooze and joke and laugh with everyone in the American way you do at parties.

I got asked a lot how it feels to be back. And I told everyone "They say the culture shock coming back to America is harder than adjusting to the foreign culture to begin with." But for me it hasn't been. Maybe because I was expecting it to be SO hard that I haven't had much trouble. Or maybe because everything is still so exciting and new I haven't hit the hard part yet. I mean I still thank god every time I get into a hot shower.

In fact the weirdest thing is that it's not really weird to be back. Things haven't changed much. Everything's where it was when I left and I know how to navigate this world. It's weird to have been gone for 2 years doing such different things and to see everything is the way it was here, not much has changed. Don't get me wrong I love it here, and it's still exciting and new in many ways. But also strangely the same.

The only complaint I have over the past week of being home is that occationally people ask me how my "trip" was. Of course I smile and tell them it was amazing, but inside a heartstring gives a little twinge because my time in Thailand wasn't a trip. It was life: working and playing and living every day like a Thai person. It was my life, not a little side step from the path of my life, but the route itself.

My mind is still in Thailand

Have you ever lived far away from home and had the little things from home mean that much more to see? Like when I was in San Francisco I would get so excited when I saw a Mass liscence plate, or a Red Sox hat. Every time I saw one I would get excited, even the first few days I would be visiting Massachusettes. "Oh look, someone wearing a Red Sox hat, how cool.... Oh wait. We're in Boston."

Well I'm getting that exciting feeling in the same way. That's how I feel when I see white people. I have to remind myself I'm back in America now.


I thought I'd be freaking out a lot about the cost of everything. Because compared to Thailand everything is so expensive. But I've been doing really well. Maybe American dollars still feel a little like play money, the way Thai Baht did when I first arrived in Thailand. Maybe everything is just a little surreal so it's ok to spend because this all feels like a vaction or just not real life.

I've been doing pretty well about not speaking Thai (at least outloud). When I pass someone or bump someome I instinctually start to say "Kaw toad ka" which means 'excuse me.' It feels good to still be instinctually Thai. It will be sad when I say "excuse me" automatically.

I survived the 24 hours of plane rides....

aaahhhh [deep sigh]. It feels good to be home. I'm back in San Francisco and it just feels fabulous. It's a little freaky how everything seems pretty much the same. I feel like I've been on the other side of the world (I guess because I have) and that so much has happened in my life, but things seem pretty much the same here. Oh but it feels so good!

There's a good chance I might die though. It's walking across the road that will do me in. I did such a good job training myself to look right at road crossings in Thailand because they drive on the left side of the road, that it's instinctual when I get to a road. Here I look right as I step out onto the road, but then remember to look left and then cars are coming and AAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh. Now I'm just so confused. I guess it would help if I didn't walk into the road so whilly nilly, as if I were still in a small village.

In other news my digestion track is not accepting this American food. Problems started within 20 minutes of the first American meal we were served on the plane. And continue with everything I eat here. Even my insides turned Thai while I was gone.

I've been staying with Laura and again it feels like nothing has changed. We picked up right where we left off. In this instance I'm glad nothings changed. I was so afraid when I left for Peace Corps that my friendships with those I love would disappear because of the distance, but I should not have fretted so, those who are true friends will always be there. It is so reassuring.

Party time in Bangkok

All my girls came into Bangkok this weekend and a few even managed to stay Monday with me. It's been one long party (with a few stops for shopping along the way).

We've been doing our typical Bangkok partying. We start in the dorm room at Tae Wez guesthouse- our home away from home in Bangkok. When I arrive at Tae Wez they all great me by name and I don't need to register. Sweetest people, as all Thais are. The dorm room is a large room with 5 beds and lots of floor space to spread out. When we're there we take over the place. It's nice because you can't rent by the bed, you have to rent the room, so we take over, as I said.

So a typical night in Bangkok involves returning to our room from a day on the town around 4 or 5. And then we usually take turns in the shower while everyone lounges around. Imagine an Ipod Speaker playing and a bunch of girls relaxing on someone's bed devouring whatever copy of 'People' magazine someone had sent from America. After a while of showering and relaxing in our pak-am-as (Thai sarong) or various states of dress a couple people will make a 'seven' run.

'Seven' (or 'Sehwen' if you want to get specific) is what Thais call 7-11, so therefore so do we. They come back with a few beers or some Thai whiskey and coke lights and we sip (through a straw of course because that's how ya drink in Thailand) while we finish dressing and doing make-up. That's the fun part. I usually get requests to put make-up on a few of the girls. Although Tara always makes sure I do it before I'm too far into my beer because once I went a little heavy on the eyeshadow and made her look like a Thai hooker.

After make-up the music usually gets a little funkier and we have a dance party or break out the playing cards, whatever mood we're in. And if it's not downpouring we usually head out by 9ish.

Our Saturday and Sunday evenings were a lot like this. Tonight we're hitting up the Black Eyed Peas concert in Bangkok. It's my last night and since I have to leave for the airport at 4:30AM we're trying to make it an all-nighter!!

Bangkok is so great because the Thai 'rules' of dress, such as nothing showing shoulders or lots of leg, can be thrown out the door. It feels so fabulous to put on a pair of heels and go out dancing with the girls. As tonight is my last night I have been requested to wear my chiquita banana outfit. That is my alter ego here in Peace Corps, and she's always a lot of fun!

Getting ready with Tara at the Dorm
Streetside dinner
Piggy-back ride from Mike at Black Eyed Peas Concert
Buckets with the girls

Leaving PC

It's official. I told Peace Corps I want to go home. I'm coming home!!!

One of the hardest things about this process of leaving is that I've been so scared how people in Thailand would react. I was worried about people from my town friends, to my American Volunteer friends, to the Peace Corps staff. I emailed with a girl who left PC early about 2 years ago and she told me horror stories how people in her group were mean to her about leaving and how the country director said she was never welcome back on the PC office grounds. I figured that when I left people make take it that I'm no longer respecting what they are doing, since I'm choosing to leave. This is by no means true, but I can see where people may think that.

Anyway, I've had nothing but positive responses. I have never felt more love than the last week in my town. Everyone said how wonderful I was and how much great work I did, how great my Thai speaking is, and how I better not forget them and how they love me. The outpour of love took my breathe away.

As for Volunteers, I told my close friends a little less than a month ago and have been trying to tell as many people in person as possible, so as to avoid the rumor mill. I don't know how I could have doubted the support I would get from my group because everyone has had the most positive encouraging things to say to me. While people are sad to see me go, everyone has been encouraging that this is a great step for me. At least 5 people said they were jealous that I was leaving and that they would be too if they had something lined up to go to.

And yesterday I told my program manager from Peace Corps. Khun Siwaporn is your typical Thai woman in many ways, and very a-typical in many ways. On the atypical side she is a strong, independent, single 30-something Thai woman with an amazing job and no plans for a husband. On the typical side she is sweet and caring and loving. When I told her I wanted to return to America she was shocked and sad, but also expressed her excitement for me and inquired about the program. When I told her I'd be getting my masters in Organizational Psychology and what all that means she told me I should come back after and work for the Peace Corps in Thailand. Guess she wasn't too mad.

Everyone else in the office has been extremely supportive. Now I just have a few days of medical work. Fun stuff like I have to poop in a cup for 3 days in a row!! (to check for parasites). And lots of paper work to finalize. And I will leave on Tuesday morning.

Peace Corps has to fly me to my 'home of record' which is Boston, MA, and thankfully one of the most expensive places to fly from Bangkok. They were willing to change my plane ticket to anywhere in the US and if it was more than bkk-bos I could pay the difference. So I am headed for a 5 day layover in San Francisco, then a 3 day visit to Anna in Chicago then to Boston on Wednesday August 9th. All for $70!!

Shopping spree

I arrived in Bangkok late last night. Jeeda, Wendy, and Munglee drove me in with all my stuff in the back of their pick-up truck. I was supposed to leave Sunday, so Saturday we did all the 'last night' things. Really what that means is a nice dinner at Jeeda and Wendy's, then a visit to my favorite shake place, where I got my last oreo shake, and then a nice ride all around town seeing everything in the dusk and saying good-bye. Friday night was the big going away party with all my school teacher friends and government workers. It was a big feast where we went around the table and everyone said something nice about me and then I have a little speech and thanked everyone and said how much I loved them and loved Uthai Thani and how I wouldn't forget them, and I'll come back to visit often.

I've had a good week to pack up so the process wasn't my usual rushed experience. And I knew if I didn't pack something it would go to a needy person, so, as the Thai's do, I could just leave a lot of stuff in the house. I also filled a few large bags with clothes and books that my co-teacher gave to the needy students at school. There will be kids walking around with American clothing for years to come!

Jeeda, Wendy, and I have always talked about going out to a dance club together and last night was supposed to be that night. But we didn't get into Bangkok till 10, so we all just climbed into bed and went to sleep, until they had to leave at 4am to get to work on time. It was an ok good-bye, not as sad as I thought. I've had my moments of crying: a few times in the last weeks I've gone into their house crying over leaving. Last time Wendy broke into tears too. In usual Thai fashion we just say 'Never mind' and brush it all off, but I was happy that Jeeda and Wendy acknowledged my tears and there were lots of hugs to be had by all.

So today's been good. Feels like just another day in Bangkok really. I went to the mall and got some shoes, a few $2.50 DVD's, and a couple cute shirts. I'm trying to take advantage of what I know I will look back on and think is really cheap prices, but I'm not quite there yet. Can you believe I think $10 is a lot for a shirt. I can see how ridiculous I'm being, yet am still having trouble coughing up the money.

If I think it's tough living on $5 a day, what am I going to do as a student in NY making nothing??

memories

Once, when I was a child and young enough to go into the bathroom stall with my mom at a public rest stop, someone knocked on the door.

"Hello," my mom said.

After realizing that was all she was going to say, I asked my mom, "Why didn't you tell them someone's in here?"

My mom said, "They will know someone's in here because I said 'Hello'"

I thought she was a genius.

Love in a bottle

I've never felt more love in my town than since I told all my friends that I'm leaving to go back to America.
"But you'll be coming back soon, right?"
"Oh, but you can come live here after grad school."
"Don't go."
"We'll miss you so much."
"Here's some food."
"Here's a present for your mom and dad."
"Don't forget me."
"Let me take you out to dinner before you go."

We had lots of farewell dinners and lunches with all my various friends in town. My principal threw me a big going away party where everyone stood up and said something nice to me and good-bye. I stood up and gave a little fare-well speach in Thai. It gave them one more chance to flattery me with compliments about my thai speaking ability (as I've said before- if you can say hello they will bombard you with compliments).

My students were also so full of love. They gave me so many little presents, took so many pictures with me and got me to sign my autograph on everything they owned.

What will I do without my super-star status in America?

free food forever

It's pretty hard to starve in Thailand. I once heard some friends debating how long one could last in Thailand without paying for food. Months surely. Especially since we're Farang (aka Superstars!!). Basically everywhere you go people offer snacks or genuinelly invite you to join a meal. I often get invited to join a meal in progress when I'm out on a run.

The other night I was at the evening market with no real plans, so when my friend who sells coconut desserts invited me to eat dinner with her I said, "Surely." Except that I spoke in Thai and it sounded more like, "Dai, ka."

I really enjoy eating with this friend and her family because they live right at the market, so as we eat dinner and sit at (well on, really) the big table in front of their house we can watch everything going on. She's also a great cook and teaches me as we go. She cooks everything over coals, as many Thai families do.

As I was sitting at this dinner the other night I realized when food was offered to me that I didn't want I felt comfortable decining and they were ok with my answers. When I first got to Thailand I was practically force fed. If I declined food it was taken as an insult and I was offered food every 5 minutes. The frustrating thing was I would see Thais declining food, or not being offered food every 5 minutes.

Well, now, as the Blog title says, I'm thai. I have mastered all the culturally appropriate ways to decline food and not send insults. As well, they know me, and so they don't have to 'take-care' and give me food every 5 minutes.

Aaaah. I have arrived.

Been having some picture problems, but here are a few to go with older posts.


Riding the bull in Bangkok.


View from the guesthouse in Nong Khai. That's the mekong river and Laos.

"I love being clean" project

Robert F. Kennedy noted, "Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."


Today was a big day at school. Teaching went as usual with my co-teacher in the morning. We taught the sixth graders about phone numbers and taught the fifth grade about amount words like 'some, few, most, all.' For lunch we had coconut chicken soup, and a cucumber, egg, and pork dish. With rice of course.

After lunch we did part of a small hygiene project. Last week we had some of the health volunteers (remember the training I did for them in March?) come and teach the sixth graders about hand washing and tooth brushing . With lots of fun games too. And then they taught 4 sixth graders to be able to teach the rest of the school in a fun interactive way. So today the 6th graders presented and we gave all 349 students toothbrushes, two tubes of toothpaste. And we had 8 bars of soap for every classroom. This project was funded by a grant by the Friends or Thailand, a group for PCVs from Thailand who have finished service.

learning hand washing techniques

the importance of teeth brushing

look at my new toothpaste and tooth brush!!

On Wednesday I'm accepting submissions for a poster contest about hygiene from the students. The winning poster will run in the provincial newspaper for a month. I can't wait to see the results. Oh, and for the rest of the week those 4 6th graders are going to other local schools to teach about general hygiene.

6th graders with their health posters

close up of a poster