While you all in the Midwest are bracing for a major storm, I am ending my time in sunny Bangkok. Last week on Monday, a person whose husband is a General in the Police and two other faculty members took me to the Immigration Bureau. A police detective drove us. I had previously been given the form to fill out. No line for me. I was escorted in and in less than 30 minutes I was on my way with a visa extension. Then we went to lunch at a fancy mall and then on to a Wat in Chinatown. I had not been to Chinatown before. And speaking of the Chinese, the Year of the Rabbit is almost officially here, but in Bangkok rabbit things have been all over the place since I arrived. That evening I went back to Central Bangkok to buy a black jacket for the funeral. In keeping with taking little, didn’t bring one. Traffic was awful coming back and I was exhausted!
Last week I was blessed with a cold. I felt awful for a few days, but by Sunday was much better. One of the days I felt bad I went to Rai’s and she fed me soup. Another day I had soup on campus and came across my friend Nong-but more on that later.
On Thursday I taught and then did a faculty workshop on evidence-based practice. Following that, I was supposed to meet the group at 4 to go to the Dean’s father’s funeral. One person asked if I wanted to ride with her, but I declined because she wasn’t coming back to campus. I later found out that had been interpreted as I didn’t want to ride with her. I sure had to apologize. Well anyway, turns out I was only person in van, which then became a car. Took us two hours in traffic to get to the Wat. The dean even called to ask where I was. I think she held the formal part till I arrived.
When I arrived I was given a box lunch and the funeral ceremony began. Prayers were chanted for about an hour. The walls were lined with many flower wreaths. Many photographs were taken so the family could know who came. The actual cremation/burial takes place in 100 days. At least two other funerals were being held at the same time. After the funeral the usual food vendors arrived as did a person selling lottery tickets. The ride back took much less time and we were doing well until a police blockade for drugs was encountered.
On Friday night I went to dinner with some colleagues and I met them at what was similar to a Mary Kay type party. I wasn’t invited to that event (good thing), but I did buy something small for a friend. Saturday I had my usual massage and had dinner with Warunee (who stayed with us) and two of her friends. We ate at fancy hotel -it was a buffet with food stations. I had lamb, beef, chx, veggies, fruit and yummy desserts. I did a bit of shopping before hand for Seth.
On Sunday I just laid low except for a leisurely walk. On Monday I went with Nong and her friend to Pattaya Beach and Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden. What a great day! Spent most of it at the Garden. Since we were running late when we got back to BKK. Nong’s friend let us out and we took a Tuk tuk the rest of the way while Nong’s friend went to get her son from school. Perhaps not the safest, but sure can get around quicker than a cab.
Today was class prep and planning for leaving. Looking forward to being home soon.
