Long Awaited Post!

So…many of you have probably given up hope that I would EVER write again. Well, no worries! Here I am! A month later…
So I left off at January 18th. January 19th I had class—probably my first time EVER having class on MLK Jr. Day. A few of the American students went out after the inauguration on the 20th so that was fun. We expected to see more Americans out and were disappointed though. Koh San Road (backpacker’s paradise but not so clean or appealing when you’re not drinking) didn’t impress me like I had planned.
The exchange party I mentioned in my last blog went well. All the different countries represented were supposed to come up with skits to represent their countries. The Asians made sushi, the French talked about fashion and beauty, and the Canadians wore all red and declared that they were “NOT American,” etc. The Americans (although we had plenty to talk about with Obama and the Super Bowl coming up just to name two things) were a disappointment. Girls usually take the time to come up with something creative to do. Guys frankly usually don’t give a damn. This was no exception. We only have two American girls on the exchange program and like 10 guys. So, what did we do? We performed the all-American college drinking game—Flip Cup. SO BAD! Anyways, later that night a big group of us went out to RCA which is a club district and had a great time.
The 23rd I went to the Grand Palace with Roy. We were planning to make it an all day excursion and hit up Wat Pho too, but it was exceptionally hot (now, a month later, I’d probably love it to be that temperature again) so we just went to the Grand Palace. Remarkable place—lots of gold! The esteemed Emerald Buddha is only about 3 meters tall, but he sits on this massive mound of gold and is surrounded by lesser impressive Buddhas. He has three outfits for each season—winter, summer, rainy—that the King changes. We saw the winter garments, but it certainly was NOT winter outside! Anyways, it’s a beautiful place (you don’t go for the Palace, you go for the Emerald Buddha and all the temples surrounding the wat he’s in).
Saturday and Sunday the BBA program (my exchange program) took all the students on a trip to a Floating Market. The first night, we went to this one market, went on a boat ride to see fireflies (didn’t see any because it’s their winter and fireflies don’t come out in the winter even if it’s a hot winter), and stayed at a hotel where they split us up into random rooms. 9 girls (the 7 French and 2 Americans) stayed in one room with 9 individual beds! It was funny to see actually. A little difficult with the language though because a few of the French girls have very poor English. The next day, we offered food to the monks who came by boat on the river. Women aren’t allowed to touch the monks so they have these dishes you give the food to them in. Their boats were so small I was afraid they’d tip over with all the food we offered! Afterwards, they chanted blessings over us. I really enjoyed it. The second day, we went to the floating market (it’s supposedly the most famous in Thailand) and I finally started buying stuff. I’d restrained myself up until this point, but it’s been all downhill from there.
The next week was pretty uneventful—classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Friday the 30th, Roy and I headed down to Koh Chang for a restful weekend. For those of you who don’t have the privilege of knowing the marvelous Roy Upchurch, he’s good friends with Catherine. They went to Governor’s School together. He graduated from UNC last year and was active in ECM with me. He’s been in Thailand since September working for an NGO writing grants for them. He’s decided to head home (next week actually) and wanted to head to the beach before he left. We found a place and literally did not leave that spot the entire time we were there (Friday-Monday). We liked the restaurant, the room, and the beach there so what was the point? A few of my friends from Chula headed down Saturday so we hung out with them that night, but besides that it was just the two of us, Thais hiding under trees so they don’t get tanned, and some Europeans (the men were in Speedos…). I finished my book—Life of Pie—and just relaxed the whole time. Really nice.
Headed home Monday (which was Gracie’s birthday). I had class again Tuesday the 3rd. Thursday night, my roommates and two other Canadian girls headed to Koh Tao (another beach). We took a bus to a place called Champon and ended up getting there at 2:30 in the morning. This meant we got to the ferry stop at 3:00 in the morning. Well, the ferry didn’t leave until 7 in the morning. Needless to say, a few of you got phone calls if I could remember your telephone numbers. Koh Tao was fantastic. It’s supposedly one of the cheapest places in the world to get scuba certified, and I’m definitely considering it if I have extra time at the end when nobody will travel with me because it’s just a pleasant little beach. I only stayed one night. Thursday we stayed on the beach all day, Friday morning we did a 2 hour yoga class which was really nice, but I was so sore afterwards for a few days—hadn’t done that in a while! Friday afternoon I headed off on my own (yes, yes—on my own worrywarts) to Koh Samui. I took this catamaran which was really pleasant but fast so you couldn’t read or do anything because the waves made the ride so rough. Most of the people on the boat got off on Koh Phang-gan (I probably butchered that spelling) which is where the well-known Full Moon Party takes place. It happened that upcoming Tuesday and most of the exchange students went, but I had to get back to Bangkok because I had a presentation to give in class. I headed on to Koh Samui and stayed in the worst bungalow EVER and hardly got any sleep because the beach party that was going on right outside my door. Earplugs would never cover that intensity of noise.
Saturday morning, I had booked a boat tour of the Ang Thong National Marine Park. It was just beautiful! Pictures cannot describe it. This was the reason I left the girls because I really wanted to do this and they didn’t. We took a speedboat to the islands (42 in all I believe) and rode around, snorkeled, hiked up a mountain to see a spectacular view of a lagoon, and kayaked. Really great day. I met some nice Australians about my age and also the cutest couple from Scotland. The couple invited me back to their hotel after the tour so I could shower before taking a plane back to Bangkok that night. They were so nice and I could tell they definitely kept life interesting!
My team presentation went well in class that Tuesday—made an A-. I picked up another class that Wednesday which only runs a month and a half but meets all the time, so now I’m stuck in Bangkok until the middle of March which stinks. It’s actually a pretty interesting class—it’s called Business Management in Asian Countries and I have an American professor, but I wouldn’t call him American. He’s lived OUT of the US longer than he ever lived in it. He speaks like 20 languages and understands 30. If I called him anything, it would probably be Japanese because that’s where he lives now. I left class a little early because that night I went to the Kenan Institute Asia’s annual banquet. Kenan-Flagler’s Dean, as well as the Director of the Kenan Institute back home, was there along with plenty of other alum and all the UNC students studying abroad in Thailand right now. It was good to see all the UNC students and share stories and recommendations. I had a skirt made for the occasion and absolutely love it—red Thai silk! Thursday morning, I went to a bar with Dan and Drew (two of my friends) and watched the UNC-Dook game where we dominated! Friday, I was supposed to meet with the Dean and all the Kenan-Flagler MBA students for a morning meeting, but they changed the time to the afternoon and I had class from 1-5. Saturday, I had class from 9-12, went to a market and bought a dress I love, and went to dinner with Roy. That night, I headed to the Sirocco Sky Bar with friends which was FANTASTIC. WHAT A VIEW! Drinks are really expensive, but it’s so worth it!
Monday and Tuesday, I had class. Tuesday night, I jumped on a plane for SINGAPORE! What a change from the chaos of Bangkok! The transportation is fabulous. I took the MRT (subway) all the way from the airport to my hostel. Elliott, Catherine, and Katlin (all from my Dubai adventures) met me at the airport and we went for dinner and just hung out before they left me and went back to campus (National University of Singapore). Wednesday morning I ventured out on my own, but just headed to a mall—Singapore has SO MANY SHOPPING MALLS. That afternoon, I met up with Elliott and Katlin and their friend Yong (who studied abroad at Carolina) and he is just great! He took me on a tour of downtown and I saw all the famous sights…the steps where Singapore declared their independence, the old Parliament House, Raffles Place, the Merlion, etc. etc. etc. What a beautiful city! It’s so well-planned and they have such a vision of what they want to do in the future. Anyways, headed back to NUS and hung out there for a while until Yong came and picked me up to show me Holland Village (kinda like Franklin Street). We grabbed dinner in a hawker stall and coffee at Starbucks. Eventually we headed back to Clarke Quay (which is right near where my hostel was) and met Elliott and Katlin again to go out! It was fun, but very different from going out in Bangkok. It seems to be a younger crowd at the clubs we went to (the drinking age is 18 in Singapore versus 20 in Bangkok so that might have something to do with it). It’s also extremely expensive, but Yong bought the drinks all night. I know he spent over $200 without blinking an eye, but supposedly that’s how it’s like to go out with him!! Friday, I headed to NUS to drop off my bag because I was spending the next two nights there, and then went to the Asian Civilizations Museum in the morning and then Orchard Road in the afternoon before meeting Elliott for sushi at 5. We headed back to NUS because we were both exhausted from the night before and I’d been walking around all day. Friday, Elliott, Yong, and I headed for the Singapore Zoo. I was so excited about going because it had been so long since I’d been to the zoo, but I was a little disappointed! It wasn’t all I’d hyped it up to be (although I’m sure it was great compared to other zoo standards). Afterwards, I went to my cooking class! It took FOREVER to get there! I took a bus from the zoo to the MRT and then the MRT for a long time. Then, I couldn’t hail a taxi, so I had to power walk (and I do mean power) all the way there. I was 30 minutes late and so sweaty with a bloody stumped toe, but I had a great time and the food was fantastic! If you all buy crabs for me, I’ll make you chilli crabs—they’re super yummy! I headed back to campus and Elliott and I met Yong for late night waffles at the on-campus late night hang out to say goodbye. He invited me back to Singapore and I might take him up on the offer! I really loved the place—it was a nice change from Bangkok. A little western oasis some call it. I could definitely live there! I’m glad I didn’t study abroad there though because it wasn’t quite the drastic change I wanted out of my study abroad experience though. Saturday, I saw my first rain in two months. It poured! It was actually beautiful! I left Singapore with a big smile on my face.
I kinda hated the fact that I went to Singapore without studying a bit when midterms hit this week. Monday’s went horribly and I know I didn’t do well. The two on Tuesday went well I believe and I have one more Friday.
So folks, there’s an update on my life! Elliott, Catherine, and Katlin are heading to Bangkok this weekend since they’re on spring break so I’m excited about that. I have a lot of classes in the next few weeks. My parents, Aunt Kay, and Mrs. Pat get here in like 2 weeks so I need to start planning their adventures. Crazy how time has flown! I’m SO BUSY! Sorry it took me so long to write this. Now I feel like it’s really impersonal with no little quirky stories, but I have to study and wanted to get it all down! Hope everyone is doing well back home. If you know of any internships available, send them my way!

PICTURES (there are more in extra posts): Photo #1: Affie and I went and took pictures with Ronald one day giving wais (little bows-there are different ways you can wai depending on who you are wai-ing to-a friend, elder, monk, royalty, etc.). Photo #2: Grand Palace. Photo #3 One of the monks we offered food to. Photo #4: Sunset at Koh Chang=beautiful. Photo #5: the beach Roy and I did not leave the entire time we were at Koh Chang-we ate every meal here and sat our tooshies on this beach the WHOLE TIME!