So yesterday (Sunday), we went to church. It is a Catholic Church, but considering only about 1% of the Thai population is Christian, it is very ecumenical and accepting, as well as one of the very few options available for Christians to worship together! I enjoyed the service, it was completely in English so that was a huge help! The people were happy and smiling as usual and we felt so welcome =)
After church was lunch and then shopping. We went to quite a few places: The biggest jewelry store in the world, a place where traditional Asian umbrellas are made and sold, a Thai silk factory/store, and a Lacquer factory/store. Each place had either an instructional video or a person talking to us who told us about their product and how it was made. I learned a few things, for instance, did you know that sapphires and rubies are the same stone just different colors? The jewelry store really was HUGE and it was amazing to see all the different things they come up with for jewels! At the umbrella place, it was sort of a marketplace set-up and there were artists there who would paint things like flowers, elephants, dragons, etc. onto anything. People had clothing, shoes, journals, bags, and other stuff painted; I had a very pretty plumeria flower painted onto my Bible, I'm very pleased with it (and everything is so inexpensive, it was under $2!). I wasn't a huge fan of the Thai silk factory because in the instructional video they said that they basically kill the worms before they come out of their cocoon to get the silk--call me a humanitarian, but I wasn't a fan, even though the silk was beautiful! Then we learned about lacquer which is thick black sap from trees that they make into vases, bowls, animal figurines, etc, and then paint or decorate with gold overlay... it was very pretty! In our Thai art class we will be doing something with lacquer, I'm sure it won't be as beautiful, but it should be fun! So, Sunday was a packed and tourist-y day, and quite exhausting!
Today, we finally started our class!! This morning was a lecture about our internships from 8-9 and then our first Thai language lecture from 9-11. Then we were free for lunch, etc. until 1, when we had another hour of Thai while in smaller sections and with different professors. I really enjoyed the lectures, but my memory is failing me and I don't feel I learned much!! With time, I'm sure I'll retain it better (I hope) =)
Then, we went to the American Consulate and talked with two of the diplomats there. They talked about their jobs there and then opened up for questions. Most of our questions were about their job with the state department and the other posts they have held in other countries-- it was pretty interesting overall. After that, we went to the day market where we had to search for a traditional Thai outfit to wear to a dinner event we will be attending on Wednesday. I found a really pretty skirt and a nice shirt. Some of the girls got really gorgeous formal dresses... I'll share pictures after the dinner on Wednesday!
Tomorrow, we will have more classes and then we will begin visiting some of the internship sites to begin to choose one. Today, we went around and everyone shared what internship they were most interested in and I was the only one with absolutely no clue!! I hate to exclude any of them because they all seem so great, but I will have to pick one eventually... prayers for my decision making appreciated =)
Sorry this is kinda long, that's all for now,
Be blessed!!
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