Thursday, June 7, 2007
June 8, 2007 9:47 AM

I had meant to get up early this morning and go to the pool, but I really needed the sleep far more. Today is our last Community Impact day for Up With People Cast A 2007. Arriving a few minutes early, Greg and I took a minute to reflect on the past few weeks. It was all Good. In the morning, I finished the website stuff, and helped Bjorn paint and finish the donation boxes for the foundation. We didn’t have lunch until 2pm. Our contact person there took us out for lunch to a nearby cafe called the “Daily Grind”; run by a man from the US. It was probably some of the most delicious Thai food I’ve had. We were all presented with certificates of appreciation and some hand made cloth. Afterward, Greg and I went to the mall called “Emporium”, it was along the same lines of fancy-schmancyness as Siam Square. Moments after we got out of the taxi, we stumbled upon a place serving fried rice and egg pastries. Apparently, these mythical pastries were the ones that Greg had been on a secret quest for since arriving in Thailand some three weeks ago. I made a video of the whole event. It was all good. At the mall, he attempted to exchange his camera for a higher end one but to no avail. Since we had some time to kill as it was our last free time in UWP, we decided to hit the cinemas. We took in the movie “Oceans 13”

Arts and Craft Templates for the Kids to make






Peppe and I feeling short



Yummy!

Not yummy!

Mirinda eh?


Haagen Dazs!
Host Mom in the Kitchen

Wednesday, June 6, 2007
8:19:12 AM

This morning I got up just after 6 and drank a bottle of Thai Red Bull. Last night it was very difficult to sleep because there was the biggest most intense thunderstorm I have experienced as of yet here in Thailand. It seemed to last for hours. I went to the gym for some cardio, then jumped in the pool and did a few laps. Back at the house, my host family had already left to go and celebrate some kind of Swedish national holiday. Greg and I fixed ourselves some breakfast and now we’re in the taxi on the way to our CI for today. I’m not sure what I’ll do, perhaps do some Flash animation for the site or something. I had some corn flakes and bread with butter as well as a cup of coffee for breakfast, it was all good. We went to our CI site for the second last time. I worked almost all day on the website for the foundation; also on the designs for the sides of the donation boxes. When we were done in the afternoon, we all jumped in taxis. I was in one with Louis, Greg, and Sandra. We all went to the international school for a “secret late activity”. As it turns out we ended up having a discussion about how some of the things the people have learned in UWP (almost exclusively for Asian people) are not useful or even valued in their culture. Instead about being an outspoken upstanding, self motivated person, they are generally more all about keeping everything in Harmony. Later on, after supper; we had our secret activity. They called it an “amusement park”. We all received tickets and were taken in small groups to walk through different “rides” which were areas showing collections and collages of pictures and things from the trip. Many people had a very intense emotional experience; I on the other hand seemed to be completely unaffected. In any case, it was pretty cool to see all of the pictures.

Flooded out!
My Street
Sandra, Me and Greg
The Lunch Room
Peppe & David

Walking Market


Advanced Team "Hoo Ha Ha"
Joern

Greg Appreciates Evans







Its all Good™

Tuesday, June 5, 2007
3:29:38 PM

It almost seemed routine this morning, accept that I successfully forced myself to get up an hour early so I could get the ball rolling on summer employment with both myself and Miranda for the upcoming summer. My host mom, dad, Greg, and I had buttered bread with cheese and ham, it was a welcome change from some of the spicier Thai breakfast foods (not of course to say that I don’t enjoy them). Our driver took us to the school where we had been before with the mentally disabled children. We, despite living the farthest away, were the first to arrive. During morning meeting, we danced and sang with the kids. For most the rest of the day we worked on small projects, I continued working on the website ( Insert Website Here ). Lunch was shrimp, eggs, and rice. Again, some found it spicy while I drank it. Also over the lunch break, I went to the nearest 7/11 and bought some razors so I could shave my face before the show later this week. I’ve got to say, I never would have thought that 7/11 stores here would be so popular, and almost everywhere. I don’t know where they started originally, but they’ve sure made a permanent mark on the cultural landscape of Thailand and its tourist business.

June 6, 2007 8:03 AM

Last night, after we arrived home, our host mom had over the lady next door who also just happens to be form Sweden for some coffee. Greg and I decided to go swimming before we headed off to a nearby restaurant for some supper. Hugo (my 8y.o. Host brother) came along for a swim as well. The pool is quite nice, and as I found out, there is also a fitness facility in the office building upstairs. The restaurant we went to was a little over a 5 minute drive away, just outside the gates of the compound. As it turned out, it was owned by an Australian man who had been living in Thailand for many years after marrying his Thai wife. The food was excellent but the service was very slow; mainly because the girls employed there didn’t speak english much at all. Anyhows, it was all good. When we got back, I went to their fitness gym and then jumped into the pool again. It really hit home how fat and out of shape the past near 6 months on the road have made me. These days I weigh in at 115kg, which is definitely more than when I started. Ah well, this week I’m going to take full advantage of my time and the facilities. It will be all good.