Even I still have about a month left in Thailand, this past week was our last full week in Chiang Mai. Thus, the week of lasts began, with everyone trying to cross things off their bucket list for the city. I really didn't have too many activities left on my list, other than making it to a few restaurants/cafes and of course my final Walking Street! I did, however, want to make it to the climbing gym, which we finally managed to do last weekend!
Other than that, it was a busy week. We had quite a bit of readings in preparation for our next course and it felt like my brain just didn't want to absorb any more Thai. Combined with a little run-in with some dogs in Chiang Mai University (I'm fine), feeling stressed and exhausted, a Thai reading test and oceans essay, and less sleep than I should have been getting, it wasn't necessarily the best of weeks. I think, though, that the semester is just catching up to me and everyone else as well. We've been on the go since early October, and I was thinking that I haven't slept in the same location for more than a week since Foundations ended so long ago. So I suppose a little fatigue is to be expected!
In light of all this, I figured I would share a little bit about everyday life in the city. After some requests from home, I started trying to document our everyday activities; we live pretty normal, everyday lives in the city (to some degree) so the pictures don't necessarily seem as exciting to me as do mountains and rice fields. Nor do they seem to really do the experience justice, but hopefully they'll give you a bit of an idea about semi-adult life, aka life in the apartments where we may have graduated to high school from the preschool days of our homestays!
I'll let the photos do the talking....
Other than that, it was a busy week. We had quite a bit of readings in preparation for our next course and it felt like my brain just didn't want to absorb any more Thai. Combined with a little run-in with some dogs in Chiang Mai University (I'm fine), feeling stressed and exhausted, a Thai reading test and oceans essay, and less sleep than I should have been getting, it wasn't necessarily the best of weeks. I think, though, that the semester is just catching up to me and everyone else as well. We've been on the go since early October, and I was thinking that I haven't slept in the same location for more than a week since Foundations ended so long ago. So I suppose a little fatigue is to be expected!
In light of all this, I figured I would share a little bit about everyday life in the city. After some requests from home, I started trying to document our everyday activities; we live pretty normal, everyday lives in the city (to some degree) so the pictures don't necessarily seem as exciting to me as do mountains and rice fields. Nor do they seem to really do the experience justice, but hopefully they'll give you a bit of an idea about semi-adult life, aka life in the apartments where we may have graduated to high school from the preschool days of our homestays!
I'll let the photos do the talking....
We walk half an hour to and from school each day. This is the entrance right off the road.
Here we are walking down the driveway, with the CrossFit gym ahead and the instructors' motorcycles on the right.
This is our main outdoor space (it's covered with a roof), though it probably has 6 tables and is much bigger than it looks. We eat lunch here everyday, in addition to sorting/handing out gear.
Gear storage and part of the bouldering wall.
Our front yard with tables and a swing.
Thai classroom. We calculated we've spent over one hundred hours in this room....lots of great memories!
Whiteboard the other day. If you see spears and fish, you're correct; we were learning about mangrove forests and fishing techniques!
The front of the apartment buildings. The coffee shop on the left is where I'm sitting right now writing this post!
Our apartment building.
New mall just up the road on the way to school. The progress is more noticeable each time we return from an expedition, and I believe it is supposed to be open by the time we return from Oceans.
Thai class love! Hard to believe Friday was our last day of class ever.
Walking home from school.
Front gate of Chiang Mai University (CMU). I pass this every morning on my runs.
CMU track. I frequently run here to either just run laps or pretend like I still have speed in my legs! If you look really close at the mountains, you can see Doi Suthep, where we hiked to during Foundations.
Walking Street. Basically one long street probably a couple kilometers long, lined with every sort of art or good you could want. It's every Sunday evening, and we love to go there, walk around, hunt for gifts, and get great street food.
Smoothies are probably one of the greatest aspects of Walking Street (and other markets). Take your pick of tropical fruit, add in a little sugar and water, and there you go! I think in this picture we had dragon fruit, banana, and pineapple.
This is the road where we live, and just up on the left is the coffee shop we frequent for internet access and computers, mainly for skyping and essay writing.
Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures (CMRCA) bouldering wall. Finally made it there!
Awesome market just around the corner from CMRCA. The food here is delicious!
Turkish chicken kabob and watermelon smoothie...new favorite foods!
Samosas from the Indian food stand at Walking Street.
ISDSI treated students and staff to Thanksgiving dinner last night. Here we're toasting to pumpkin and apple pie!
More Thai class love!
We went to Burma! Not again; this was earlier in the semester. Unfortunately we were there for less than a half hour.
Street food at Walking Street.
Walking in the Old City.
That's it, some snapshots of life in Chiang Mai city! Now off to run some errands and pack before leaving for Oceans early tomorrow morning!
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