week one in bangkok

Sawadee Ka!

I have now been here a bit longer than a week, I had meant to post Sunday night after exactly 1 week, but what can you do.

The flights here were not so bad...things could be worse than flying in business with a seat that reclines to 180 degrees. it is still 22 hours of travel, but things could have been worse. (On that note, it could have gotten worse--flying through Shanghai, I had to go through customs and get my passport stamped just for transferring. Not so bad in theory, except I had only 3 boxes left for stamps, planning to get new pages on arrival to bangkok. If i had been 1 box shorter, I'd have had a massive issue.)

Once I arrived to Bangkok, I collected my luggage, arranged a car, and, thanks to Noam's map, found myself at DS Tower 2 shortly before 11. After introductions, a bit of chit chat and some business with keys and cell phones, I retired to my new home, room 93/129, where I did some minor unpacking and went to bed for the night.

Merely 6 hours later I was meeting Noam in the lobby-- for my first day, he kindly agreed to let me go into work with him. This needs some explanation. The mode of transportation in Bangkok can not be your feet. For us, the daily commute in involves a motorbike to the BTS station, and then the BTS airtrain (and the reverse coming home). So, this my first morning, found me as the third passenger on Noam's bike, along with his 7 year old daughter we were dropping off at school.

Of course, everyone, the forong and the locals, have been very nice and as helpful as i need. the biggest thing is still just getting used to the ways that i can--and cannot-- get around the city. Since my fourth day, however, I am able to get my own motorbike taxi to and from, and I haven't missed a BTS stop yet. Oh, and not to worry--Last friday was my appointment at the embassy, at which I successfully obtained a set of additional pages, worth a total of 88 new stamps.

Monday through friday I saw nothing but my desk and my bed really; between the hours, the unexpectedly early sunset, and the jetlag (I was waking up at 3 am for a while), what else could I do? But in this time, I got to meet many people and slowly begin to gain my bearing, just in time for Saturday, when Kun O kindly offered to go to chatuchal market in bangkok with me (the largest outdoor market in asia). It was amazing on so many levels-- obviously the shopping was great and fruitful (two hats, a couple of bags, 1 actually needed, and some souveniry things for me and others), we had some good food, and I was actually on my feet walking around outdoors for 7 hours!! Even I was a bit tired afterwards, though, and came home to relax for an hour or so by the roof-deck pool. tough life for a saturday with 90 degree weather in february. sorry, new york.
When Sunday suddenly came already, the end to my first week, i looked around and still saw-- my giant suitcase, with clothing spilling out of it. I, who can not resist unpacking for an overnight, had been living in a suitcase for a week. that ended quickly. In addition, I finally managed to find the local (and shockingly walkable!) grocery store. A successful end to a needed weekend.

Monday was Valentines' Day, which is definitely done here--roses and hearts abounded-- including for me! I came home to find a delivery from my own Valentine, all the way from New York-- roses, chocolates and a teddy bear. What more could a girl ask for :)

Which brings us more or less up to date. Today, I finally had the lenses of my glasses replaced (they had been so scratched up, it was like a permanent cloud!) and this evening I even joined a gym, going to bang into shape while in bangkok!...okay, that was bad. Oh, well.

To really seal the deal of my extended, not-so Eat, Pray, Love-like stay here, this evening I hung my mezzuzah on the door. I bet I'm easy to find now.