Okay I've had two Thai 1 on 1 lessons in the past couple weeks and now I am obviously a master of the language. Actually I still don't know shit, but I have got the numbers down and some basic greetings/vocab. I can talk to taxi drivers sometimes without saying any English, but I am tempted to everytime. I just want to get to a very basic level, but it will take a lot of time and effort from me. The last thing I want to do after a long day of work is sit down and study Thai for an hour (or write more emails/update my blog) but I just have to do it every so often! Oh and sorry for the corny Meet the Parents quote title of this post.
I started playing rugby 1x a week two weeks ago with the Southerners rugby club. Good bunch of lads, mostly older, working in business or education here in Bangkok. I think the quality of competition was a notch or two higher back in school since it was so serious, but these guys have all played for a long time and I hope to continue for a while. They are just in worse shape and don't practice a lot every week than my team in Davis was/did. We also only play 10s, a variation of the game (normally 15 a side) that is half the time and moves much quicker. It is fun but holy crap in this humidity just 40 minutes can take a lot out of you.
Finally got my new personal laptop up and running and it is BADASS compared to my work cpu. It's actually better than my college PC! Vista is pretty cool, but nothing all that special. You know you are a geek when you get excited about an operating system.
Now I need to download some new music to get up to date. Some Thai songs are cool, but I have no clue what they are called. The western music they play here is usually a month or two behind the States. Anyone got some suggestions?
I saw the movie 300 a couple weeks ago in Singapore. Wow it was bloody and full of testosterone. A 2 hour battle scene, and well worth the 4 US dollars it cost. And that is expensive according to Singaporeans for a movie. Sure most everything else in Singapore is almost as expensive as in California, but movies are a damn bargain.
At the gym last week I actually got a free trial 1 on 1 pilates course. It was alright - not so challenging but definitely different and I can see the non-traditional exercise benefits that it can bring. I'm not paying $100 USD for 5 more lessons though! I WILL take out the instructor this week, haha. I love Thailand.
I'm going to Vietnam again next week for a few days to do some exploratory meetings regarding new projects I'll be driving there in the next few months. I'm looking forward to going back to that crazy place. Some stories I have heard....wow. For example, a guy waking up with 7, yes SEVEN women in his bed. Or two fellas playing the bored game RISK with a woman representing each country and when you conquer the country then that woman goes on your side. Hahaha, insane. That stuff is a bit overboard but still interesting to hear - only in Vietnam!
One of my coworkers used to work in Hollywood and he had some cool insights on a few actors: Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts are rude/arrogant assholes. Kevin Costner is a sleeze. Mel Gibson is actually one of the only nice and genuine guys he met in the industry that wasn't on drugs or a sex fiend. I guess he just has his rants every once in a while...go figure.
Last week was the 3rd anniversary of my friend Andrew Dang getting killed in Fallujah, Iraq. He was a combat engineer in the marine corps and his life was taken from him much too early. I knew him since I was 12 years old and I used to play football in his front yard with his brothers and we'd have sleepovers. It's been 3 years since he left but I still find myself thinking about him everyday and when I do it really hasn't gotten much easier. I was reading an article in Time last night about letters from America's fallen in Iraq and it got really hard. I remember his letters and words vividly, and I feel for all the families and friends out there that have lost someone to this obscure war. Sometimes Andrew gives me strength to face challenges I fear. Even when I decided to move out to Thailand I thought, well, what would Andrew say? He's probably call me a dipshit and tell me to get out there. So I did. I'll try to live my life in such a way that remembers him and his wild free spirit so that when I consult my friends for advice on what I might do, I don't forget to listen to his voice too. I find some comfort in the fact that whereever he is, I'll see him again soon. I think I'll always miss him though...All this said, don't take your friends for granted and don't be afraid to tell the people you care about how you feel every so often. Life is short even if you live 80 years - the things that matter, don't ignore them or be afraid to admit them. Well now I'm just rambling a bit. Miss you Andrew...
On a bit lighter note I am going to Phuket this weekend with some friends from Singapore for 3 days. I just want to relax on the beach and get away from the big cities I frequent. Maybe I'll go hobiecat sailing - yeah, just like in Fiji and Hong Kong. Love that stuff.
For all those that still take the time to read my posts, thanks, I do appreciate it. Please drop me an email every once in a while so I know you still think about me from time to time. I promise to have a bunch of pictures up next post so it isn't a chore to get through all this text in one sitting.
I am enjoying life, and I'm enjoying work (as much as one really can). Still miss you folks though and my life in the states. It was just different, but good. It's a bit depressing that I have so many good memories about the past 10 years that I won't ever get to relive. I suppose I'm also very lucky in that way.
All the best,
Charles
This kind of stuff goes on in the middle of malls in Singapore sometimes. The next show could be hip hop or pop!
A common street in Da Nang, Vietnam.
A friend exerting some calm Thai road rage!
A picture from my last night drinking in Davis. Vadim, Scott, Rufio, and I in Little Prague. Good times...
A pop club in RCA road, Bangkok. Places like this, plus their electronica and hip hop counterparts, are where the youth and heartbeat of the city congregate until 2 or 3 am and beyond.
From back when I visited with Till in December. Didn't know at the time that I would be living 2 blocks away from here later on.
2 comments:
A number of things:
1) RIP Andrew...
I actually thought of him as well the other and how it was the 3 year anniversary since his death. Glad to see that others remember.
2) 300 WAS THE SHIT. wouldn't you feel like shit if you were persian and went and saw that movie and very very very awesome if you were greek. yes, that's what I thought.
3) those thai chicks are hot! even if they are 50, good to see that you are having fun... especially in light of our recent conversation...
1) I'm glad you remember too. I don't think any of us will ever forget. We just don't talk about it openly very often...
2) Hahaha what a punk. Let me hear you say "Because Spartan women are the only ones that give birth to REAL men." Yeah the Persians got slaughtered. Why are the dark people in epics always fucking evil! LOTR? Kingdom of Heaven?
3)None of them are over 29! They are hot, but trust me at least half of them are crazy in a bad way. Gotta play a careful game here sadly...
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