Waii Mee

Since my bed was so comfortable, I awoke at 5 am and figured it could be a good opportunity to watch the sunrise and do some yoga.  I went to the lobby and found someone who worked there.  With my very limited Thai and a game of charades, I figured out where the best place would be.  He then told me to wait because Waii Mee (pronounced why me) would take me.  He made a motion with his hands that signaled it was probably his wife.  So I waited and sure enough a girl on a scooter showed up.  I got on and she took me to the east side where a gorgeous pier and beach were the perfect setting for some yoga.  Waii mee (Para Ta Saa) and I played some more charades and until I finally understood she would leave me there.  We rode for a while so I knew the walk would be long and as she left I asked myself,” why me?” Oh well, my study abroad to Peru taught me I could walk for 4 continuous days so I knew I’d make it.  Wouldn’t you know it a storm approaches as I start heading back.  Halfway to the hotel, Para Ta Saa rolls up and saves the day! After breakfast (squid the guys caught the night before), and an interview with the Mayor’s son, we transferred to Burapha University where we would spend the rest of our time evaluating the info collected to create our final presentation of possible solutions for the island’s environmental dilemma.  We have our own office and assistants who graciously help with anything we need.

Burapha University

This campus is huge!!!  It’s a city in here! We are staying in the hotel on university grounds.  This morning we had to be in the lobby at 5:45am to head for Bangkok to meet with the Port Authority to learn about their best practices, hoping we could implement the same in Sichang Island.  We are truly treated like royalty here.  We were police escorted from the main building to a tugboat that showed us how they collect garbage.    It was extremely hot and smelly but thankfully, the boat ride didn’t last too long.  We were also able to see how the vessels moored to dauphins and their overall behavior.  We then attended a presentation with port officials who further explained their system.  One official had done the same thing we are doing here in Sweden; Since he was empathetic he was extremely helpful . 

GBP offers an incredible opportunity to meet officials and to acquire first-hand knowledge of what it means to work on an international basis.  My group members and I are learning so much from each other, as well as sharing techniques for different types of presentations.  We are all hard working and  committed to putting forth our best effort to make this project be the best we can.  Our work will be used by Thai officials and students for years to come.  Also, the ports in the U.S. have asked us to share our final project for their further research. Our words will be seen by many who will use them to transform a 200 year- old system.

Moreover, the food doesn’t stop…We attended a party hosted by the University and I counted 9 very big plates on the table.  There was a whole fish, two kinds of soup (one with pig stomach), fried pork balls, vegetables, fried rice with sweet sausage, noodles and prawns (with heads), and more I can’t remember.  The dessert was ginkgo nuts in syrup.  Afterwards, we went to a massage parlor, $6.00/hr.  There was no oil involved, I changed into a very soft blouse and pant that were supple enough to feel the pressure and twist and turns.  I left feeling much better than when I arrived.

 Last night, the students took us out to Karaoke.  There are private rooms with a big TV and a lady who comes in to help you decide your next tune.  The Thai students sang in both English and Thai, we sang some songs in English and Mutsuo, a Japanese team member, sang in Japanese.   Those were the only three languages offered, there weren’t any Spanish songs L.  Again, yet another experience which melded our vast backgrounds.   After Karaoke, the police pulled us over at a checkpoint.  They wanted to see if there were any illegal substances in the vehicle.  We asked our assistant if there was any reason why we wouldn’t pass and she reassured us there was nothing to worry about.  The faces of the police when a bunch of “farangs” (foreigners) exited the car was pretty funny.  They were definitely surprised.  An officer approaches and asked me my name and I told him, Laisa (they use L’s instead of R’s here). He then asked where I was from, I responded Miami.  He requested that I tell people that Thai police are very nice and proceeded to let us go.  So here it is: Miami, Thai police are extremely nice!