Busy Few Days

The past few days have been busy.  On Friday I was in class when my phone rang. I ignored until I could get students settled. Turned out Dean called and she wanted me to go to a meeting in 15 minutes. ISU delegation was being formally received by the SSRU (Suan Suanandha Rajabhat University) President.  Typical of all Thai meetings, snacks were served. I felt sorry for the recent ISU grad who is going to be here for a year teaching English. He just arrived about 10 hours before and was a bit shell shocked. After the two hour meeting I opted to go to lunch with the nursing faculty instead of delegation. It was the nursing faculty New Year’s party with gift exchange. I got a set of placemats with napkins.

On Friday evening I went to a Friends of ISU reception at the Pullman Hotel. This is a really elegant hotel and the food was wonderful! A mixture of Thai, sort of American, and Japanese.  The highlight was the band playing the Sycamore Fight Song. Thanks to Brian Kilp, the music was sent to the band members who learned it quickly.

Saturday I left hotel on campus at 8:30. We had to wait to leave campus as someone from the Royal Family was coming by on street. All the traffic was stopped and street cleared so the security entourage and Royal person could pass. Couldn’t really see who it was. Went to Siriraj Hospital to pay homage to King. We (ISU delegation) were videoed  and apparently we were on the news.  Then we all went to the Grand Palace for a tour.  I had been there 2 other times, but still an awesome site to see. We saw one of the Princesses come through. I think royalty was out and about because it was Children’s Day.  After that, President and Mrs. Bradley went to SSRU while the rest of us went to a Vietnamese restaurant and then to the weekend market.  Jo Einstandig, who is representing the foundation, and Oil, the visit coordinator, and I walked around together. Since I have been here several times before didn’t buy anything but a few more wash clothes.  Just like Europe no wash clothes in campus hotel.

Then back to hotel for an hour and then leave again for an ISU alumni reception at the Pullman hotel. The food was great-slightly different this time, but still lots of seafood, chicken and desserts.  How exciting it was to see the first ISU alumni club outside the US be chartered.  Several of the alums hadn’t seen each other in 20 years, so it was exciting for them.  Our grads are experts in tropical medicine, one is a former ambassador and one is a marketing manager for Central World-a big mall.  Met one young man who is coming to ISU in the Fall.

Yesterday, I got to rest. Went and got the newspapers early. The newsstands now save for me.  Then read, took a nap, had a Thai massage, took several walks and then took the young man, Isaac who had just arrived to dinner at my favorite place. Also were joined by another young alum and his girlfriend. He teaches at Christian University of Thailand and was in town for the receptions. His girlfriend is a Thai that he met on study abroad. She is a flight attendant for Emirates Airways and was in town on holiday. I also did a  bit of work.

Learned another lesson in Thai bureaucracy. When I arrived last week, I gave all my plane receipts and boarding passes to a staff member for copying so I could get reimbursed for plane ticket. I signed all the copies.  Well this AM, another staff member asked for same thing.  So I gave to her and then I had to sign about 10 copies of each! Bottom, just because it has been done once, doesn’t mean you don’t have to do it again!

This week should be just a usual week, but who knows. The Thai way is much flexibility.

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