A month in Thailand

Hi ya!

Wow, it’s been a week since the last time I wrote. Time goes past so fast here, it's unbelievable. I’ve been in Thailand for a month now and I still find something to wonder about every day. Like why does it take 5 people to serve you in a restaurant (one takes your order, the other one brings drinks, the third one refills those drinks, the fourth one serves the food and the fifth will bring you your check), is it really good service or just highly inefficient? It’s probably at least more fun to have more people working together or something like that. Right now I feel I know nothing about Asian culture and business, but I know it’s a lot more than I knew when I got here. Also, right now I should be studying for tomorrows test on International Economics so it's the perfect time to tell you about last week.

First of all, I had full 5 days of school last week with two quizzes (Economics and Thai language) and a few small assignments. Nothing too bad, the quizzes were really quite easy. Our Economics course is proving to be the most demanding by far. So far our aachaan (teacher) has given us two group assignments (there will also be a third one) that include 10min & 20min presentations and a written report. Our first exam is tomorrow and after that we have two more. I'm majoring in Environmental Economics at my home uni in Helsinki, so the principles taught so far haven't been anything too difficult. I'm just really looking forward to getting to the good stuff, learning something new and interesting.

Besides school, I improved my tan on the beach (even though it's been raining a lot lately, there has been some sunshine as well), I visited a waterfall nearby (which was very cute), I had a Thai massage (you have to try this, it's the best!), I went to see a movie (very cool - mostly because of the air conditioning in the theater) and on Sunday I tried scuba diving on Koh Raya and reeeally enjoyed it!

A company called Raya Divers gave us a good deal on a Discover Diving course which included a trip to Raya Island and a chance to try diving. After a bumpy 30 minute ride on speed boat and practicing some essential skills in the shallow water (like breathing through the regulator and clearing the mask of water) we actually went diving. We got to about 8 or so meters and saw some corals and cool fish that you usually see in an aquarium. After about hour and a half in the water we had lunch on the island after which it was possible to snorkel, lay on the beach or continue diving exercises that would be a part of the PADI openwater course. I opted to continue the course even though after the first dive I wasn't sure if I was liking it or dreading it. It felt so strange being underwater; I constantly had to remind myself to breathe, be calm and just stop thinking about it and watch the fish. But I definitely want to do it again and I'm sure after some experience I'll feel more natural being under the surface, might even love it. :)

Next weekend we have a long week-end (Friday is free and Monday is skippable) so we might be heading to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. There’s a lot to see in Thailand as well, so I feel like I have to use every opportunity to travel. I’ll tell you more about my plans, once I’ve made some. ;)

-Anu