“ Tomorrow, You Vacation...”

My host brother: “ so tomorrow, holiday holiday...”
Me: “ Ohhh Really? What holiday? What is the name?”
Brother: “ no, you holiday, off”
Whenever my family uses that term to point out my “off Sundays” I constantly catch myself thinking “wait there is a holiday coming up?” and then I realize what they are trying to say. Yes, I do have Sundays off which usually consists of me getting up at 7:30/8, eating breakfast, doing laundry (by hand) and going off to some planned Sunday event.

Last week, I spent all of Sunday going to two weddings then going to Josh's house for our usual Sunday relaxed gathering. I never thought I would catch myself getting up at 7:30 AM on my “ off” days but yeah that's what I do in Thailand on a Sunday. The wedding started at 8am, perhaps there was some information that got lost in translation because I followed my host Mom and rode my bike to this person's house for what I thought was a “leisure” bike ride. Mind you, I was still in a t-shirt, messy hair, still sleepy, still a bit confused wondering “ I thought we were just going on a ride...” well I was at the wedding. I looked around, everyone was either in jeans or a nice pink flowery shirt; I felt pretty embarrassed in my casual “Bucknell University” t-shirt after being introduced to everyone, I told my “mom” that I needed to go home and get my camera. After I sorted myself out, we came back to the wedding, we were at the first ceremony for an hour or so; listened to the live singers' performances, ate and gave money to the bride/groom. Apparently, sometime during the wedding, bride and groom walks around and pays their respect to the guests while collecting their “ wedding presents (money)” from the guests and trading that with a small gift from the bride/groom. I got a little coin purse out of the deal. The second wedding we went to was 10times more extravagant than the one in my own village. These people rented out a setting inside a nearby school. They decorated with pictures of the bride/groom, they looked much better put together and there were tons of people there already. There were also “ professional” dancers/singers that performed. The word is in quotations because they probably get hired to do these events; but half the singers were enjoying being completely skanky rather than the actual singing, and the other half didn't really know the steps for their routines. As Riap -Roiy as this country is, how does these dancers/singers get away with wearing nothing but see through pants and bikini tops during performances? Maybe as long as u r on a stage, you can be as “Mai Riap Roiy” as possible? Who knows.... So that's how half of the day went by; then, instead of going home our families (Josh and Mine) like to stay together and drink off the rest of the afternoon while Josh and I realize how we been up since 8am and all we want is a Sunday afternoon nap. I will say though, it was a pretty funny afternoon at the house of “Pi Mu”.
This Sunday though, has been nothing but AMAZING. Woke up around 7:30, 10 mins later my brother knocks on my door and reminds me that it's time to eat; of course, who doesn't want to have rice, fish, chicken at 7:30am! Finally I understood what my 'mother' was saying as she said “ Du Naa (see farm)”

Since I was at weddings last week, now I actually have the time to go see her farm, so after breakfast, we went on a bike/motorcycle ride to her farm. She is 60 years old and takes care of the biggest field of rice, vegetables...etc, I have ever seen. I respect her 10times more now, just by going on a 30 minute tour with her. She talks non-stop as though she thinks I have learned a lifetime of Thai, as I say “ mai kao jai, mai kao jai (I don't understand)” but even then, I love being around her :) After I got home from that amazing mini-trip, I finally decided to do my laundry. People here do laundry at least once a week, with their hands. I won't lie it's not the most fun activity and half the time I'm thinking “ all my clothes are just going to be half-clean for the next two years” and everytime I bring out my laundry my sister says “ That's all you have?” … Well, you cannot just wear a pair of pants once and expect to wash them every week! (well at least not in the States). Anyhow, as I fell asleep on the hammock, realizing how hungry I was getting, this friend of mine came over with her sisters and asked if I wanted to come to lunch with them at their friends' restaurant. Why not right? And plus, I didn't have to bike so of course :) Lunch was delicious, after, they took me to their house so I could use the internet :) I got some cool-hip Thai songs from the girls – that was the highlight of my day! :) Rest of the day was spent with me reading, hanging out with Josh and his family, and having amazing dinner with everyone :) Why can't all Sundays be like today???? … :)

Pictures: 1. Mosque in town 2. "moms" farm. 3. Sports day with my team 4. Carnival/ bird fair 5. Chillin on Sunday 6. Wedding 7. WEdding 2 8. Food at Wedding :)