Monk Ordination and Others

 Monday was the start of my second module of classes!  My class I am taking right now is called, The Economics of the Sex Industry.  So far, it is very interesting.  We were originally supposed to go to Bangkok and Pattaya this weekend but instead we are leaving next Thursday night on a bus.  It should be about a 7 hour bus ride and we will get there early Friday morning.  Aside from talking to some workers in the sex industry and things like that, we will also being doing some tourist sight seeing while we're there.  While our excursion is all fun and games we actually have some work to do in class.  We have assigned readings every night followed by discussion questions and we are to finish a 15 page partner paper by the end of our class.  Hopefully I can get a little bit done each day so I won't be rushed at the end of class!
On Tuesday night my friends and I went on a "dinner cruise" at the Riverside Restaurant in the Old City.  We happened to go on a night when it was raining and thundering a little bit but luckily it cleared up when we went out on the water.  We got on the boat at around 7:15 and ordered soon after.  Since there was not a kitchen on the boat our food was top priority and we got it 5-10 minutes after we ordered.  After everyone got their food and drinks the boat left the dock and we went out on the water for about an hour.  It was really relaxing night and fairly inexpensive for what it was.

Our boat

 Fried Rice and a Grasshopper.. very classy

The next day, my class was invited to a former Payap student's ordination to become a monk.  I met Champ when I first got here-he's the one that took us to the police station when Lina's wallet went missing and the one that introduced us to Thaitanium!  Champ is becoming a monk for 3 months to pay back his parents for raising him and also to show respect.  It is very common for young male adults to do this.  As any other monk, Champ is only to eat 2 meals a day before noon and meditate, go to class, and pray for the rest of his day.  He had told us he had become a monk before but only for 15 days.  We aren't allowed to post pictures of the ceremony anywhere since it is a religious event.  I was pretty confused most of the time but it was a beautiful ceremony none the less.  First, Champ's family sat before him and he got down on his knees to thank them.  After that they took part in cutting pieces of his hair before his head was to be shaved.  A monk shaved his head and even his eyebrows!  After that we had some down time where his family fed us-they were all extremely friendly!  The ceremony started at 12:30 and we had to sit in the most uncomfortable position for 2 hours..  It is considered rude to point with your feet in Thai culture so everyone sat with their legs under them to the side.  I gave up after a while and sat crossed-legged.. Overall I am really glad that I have able to experience something like this!

Champ before being ordained-he was so nervous!

 Temple where the ceremony took place

Tonight our Thai friend, Nooky, is taking us to see the new Harry Potter movie!  I'm really excited to see that and for my weekend ahead.  We are planning on going to a reservoir sometime this weekend that all the locals go to and I hear it is an awesome place to see and hang out at!  Also, I have to get my last minute gifts since this is our last weekend in Chiang Mai so we will be hitting up both the Saturday and Sunday night markets!  Its hard to believe I only have two weeks left.. this experience has gone by really fast yet I feel like I've been away from home for forever! My flight has been changed by the way!  I am now leaving Thursday night, July 28, at 11:20 PM and fly to Seoul and then have a direct flight from Seoul to Chicago so I wont have to stop in Atlanta for 8 hours on the way home.. yay!  I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll be sure to post before I leave for Bangkok!