April 29, 2007

Allergy Season

Yesterday, it was HOT here. The weather people claimed it was only in the low 80s. But the steering wheel of my car almost burned my fingers and the water I poured on myself to keep cool evaporated the moment it touched my skin. I think it must have been at LEAST 95 degrees, and the weather people are part of some huge government conspiracy to keep Americans from panicking and buying all the ice cream before the summer ice cream supplies are ready.

Also yesterday, I noticed that all the roses have suddenly sprung into full bloom, and are gorgeous in shades of reds, pinks, and purples. Of course, with beautiful flowers come allergies. The weather people admitted the pollen count yesterday was in the "mid to high" range. They must have allergies, because they were SPOT ON! I sneezed like crazy all day. Now I am listening to the soft hum of an air filter machine next to me, as it sucks out the allergens, and blows lovely cool allergen-free air directly into my lungs.

I have had a difficult time finding out how bad allergies are in Thailand, but I am definitely going to pack allergy medicine just in case. If I don't sneeze there, I'll be thrilled. If I do, it will suck. But I will take bunches of drugs, lug a box of kleenex wherever I go, and enjoy myself despite the itchy eyes and scratchy throat!

April 24, 2007

Running Late

Readers of this blog may wonder why I keep posting during the wee hours of the night. It's not because I am lying awake craving chocolate (although I am) or because there is a large affectionate dog that wants to play at all hours poking me with her cold nose (although there is).

Instead, I decided to set my blog to Thai Time, since the majority of this blog will be written while in Thailand. Thailand is located within time zone UTC/GMT + 7. Time zones in the US range from UTC -5 to UTC -10. Here in CA, the time is UTC -8.

Thailand really is almost on the opposite side of the world from here! I am not looking forward to experiencing that jet lag.

They Took My Money

It cost me a total of $60.80 to get my visa for Thailand. A $25 money order to the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles + $7 for two passport photos + $28.80 for express mail of my passport, passport photos, application form, bank statement, and airplane ticket copy to and from the Consulate.

$60.80 isn't bad. But I can't wait to get to Thailand, where a meal in Bangkok costs about 50 baht (a little over $1.50). My internship is paying me 300 baht a day, so I may even manage to save up a few pennies by the end of summer!

April 22, 2007

Haircut

I got my hair cut short for Thailand!!!

Thanks fellow clinic girl (names have been changed to protect the innocent) for giving me advice, and being nearly as excited as I was! :-)

I definitely like it, even though it's a bit tomboyish... but I'm a bit tomboyish so it fits! Plus, it will be so nice and cool this summer while I wander through the 100 degree, 99% humidity Bangkok weather.

April 18, 2007

Tsunami

You know those personality tests psychologists use when they say one word, then the patient is supposed to say whatever word that word makes them think of?

What word do you think of when you hear Thailand? Unfortunately, the word that first comes to my mind is "tsunami." I'm looking forward to learning more about the country's culture and people, rather than being familiar only with current Thai events that are significant enough to make the international news. Maybe my one word will have changed by the end of the summer.

April 17, 2007

To-Do List

Alright, I have exactly four weeks and one day to accomplish the below items before my plane leaves San Francisco:

1. Draw up sublease contract
2. Decide what business casual clothes and shoes I need for my internship
3. Buy above clothes and shoes
4. Read Thailand guidebook from cover to cover
5. E-mail list of internship questions to employer (e.g. will my apartment have AC?!)
6. Get Thai visa (get photos taken, get money orders, mail passport)
7. Put my things in storage for subleasor
8. Switch bills to automatic payment online

Oy.

All Done List

Alright, rather than start with my to-do list, I'm preemptively boosting morale by starting with a list of things I've already accomplished for the trip to Thailand.

1. Find internship (done!)
2. Have employer find me housing (done!)
3. Read about Thailand online (done! probably to excess)
4. Buy plane ticket (done! flying Cathay Pacific Airways through Hong Kong)
5. Get guidebook (done!)
6. Learn how to say at least one word in Thai (done! three words, thank you very much)
7. Find subleasor (done! miraculously)

Next up: the dreaded, but necessary, to-do list.

April 16, 2007

The Little Blog That Could

Welcome to the Thai Blog Extraordinaire! You may have once known me as CuteLawyaChick. Now I am Sophie, Thai Traveler and Writer of Deep Thoughts. You just rolled your eyes, didn't you. Okay. Reasons to stick around and read my blog: 1. it's gonna be funny, 2. when I'm not talking about Thailand, I'll be talking about chocolate as much as possible, 3. it's gonna be super cool, and 4. after I get back to the states, you can print my blog out and use it as a personal guidebook for when YOU visit Thailand. I'm going to totally put LonelyPlanet out of business.