Entering the Thunderdome

Don't get them started or you will never be able to leave. Today I checked out the American Embassy to try and find out what goes on there, and it was pretty cool to skip the hundreds of Thai nationals that were waiting for days and walk directly up to a window located in a small room adjacent with no particular agenda in mind. Apparently the Bangkok embassy is our country's largest, but I was unable to tour the campus due to the cage-like atmosphere of the consular office. After that, I got some photos put onto a CD and printed some out for the teachers, particularly for Krue Tiwawan, who I also gave a 'Michigan Mom' shirt and a Thai-English dictionary that I bought at a 7-11 around the corner from my hotel that I hope to leave shortly. Tiwawan and the other teachers don't want me to go to Isaan because they think that I can keep coming back to the school every day, but I will be back in the capital again. The kids there amaze me every time, and I feel bad about skipping town because they go crazy every time I come and the teachers are some of the most generous people I have ever met. Tiwawan takes her job very seriously even though she is paid next to nothing, and the rewards can be seen when students address her as a 'Khun Mae' (Mrs. Mom) as they wait patiently for her approval of whatever task they have been assigned (homework, getting me drinks, getting me food). She wants me to stay at the temple, but I am on the move. I will let her know when I am coming back because she told me I will always have a free place to stay in Bangkok as well as highly knowledgable interview subjects. Wat Ampawan is what sparked the interest that got the ball rolling on my project, and the richness of the culture in and out of the school and temple can be felt even by just scratching the surface (even in a coarse American style).