All Systems Go!

Things are really looking up in Bangkok! The civilians are coming out to clean up the streets! This is such a promising site to me and makes me feel so much better about going. My excitement is, once again, rising!

I do fear that because these issues were only pushed aside for the time being that they will emerge again. I fear that while I am there another state of emergency will be declared. I fear the protests that become deadly. I fear gunshots and fires.

But more importantly, I fear living in fear. I do not want to let something that could or could not happen stand in the way of my life forever changing with this opportunity. The Red Shirts aren't targeting tourists, but at times they are also not thinking clearly (like when they set fire to Central World!). which is a bit scary.

But hey, like my dad says, at least I will be there to document history!

Thailand is a GO!

Stop, Drop, & Roll!

As I mentioned in my last blog, I fell in love with one particular road in Bangkok that sees its fair share of backpackers and hippies from all over the world, although they mainly seem to be Westerners.

As soon as you get close to it, you see flags all above your head and you begin to see people covering the street. Khaosan Road is blocked off to vehicles at certain points of the day so there are literally people filling the streets. There are also street vendors everywhere you look selling an assortment of items: clothing, sunglasses, fake degrees, and lots and lots of FOOD!

We made our way to Khaosan Road twice while we were in Bangkok, mainly because of how much I loved it! Our last night in Bangkok we stopped here to get a meal, a fish massage, a few Singhas, and just walk around and enjoy the scenery before departing.

About halfway down Khaosan Road there were people stopped everywhere. We couldn't get around them! What was going on? See for yourself...and this was just a typical night in Bangkok! :)

Why Bangkok?

People keep asking me..."Why Bangkok?" like it's crazy that I could want to live in Thailand. A lot of people are misinformed or just completely uninformed about the country altogether and I'm here to tell you, it is NOT what you think! The people are kind, they work hard, they appreciate what they have...the country is beautiful, filled with ruins and crystal clear beaches...public transportation is cheap, commonly used...shopping is everywhere!!!! What is not to love? If that doesn't sell you on Bangkok, maybe this will. This is my real reason for wanting to live in Thailand...in pictures. :) These are all pictures taken from my trip in November 2009 to Bangkok, Thailand, when I fell in love with the country!

Khaosan Road...by far my favorite place in Bangkok! Hippie/Backpacker central. Loved it!

Me and my elephant friend outside of a temple in Thailand.

Sleeping Buddha...my favorite temple! Amazing. So breathtaking. I even got a permanent reminder of this place as soon as we left :)

For good luck at the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Nashville flooding. This city needs YOUR help!

This is a blog unlike my others because it is unrelated to TEFL in any way. As you may or may not have heard, Nashville, Tennessee (my home!) is currently dealing with severe problems due to flooding. This past weekend we encountered hours of endless rain which caused rivers to flood. Downtown Nashville is still completely underwater and many historical landmarks in the area have been damaged. So far, the death toll is only at 28 (pray that this number does not go up). Many people are still looking for family members or pets and are trying to put their lives back together as they have lost everything. Please help to spread the word about this amazing city and what it is going through right now. We need your help! At the very least, I ask for your prayers and thoughts for the many people who have lost loved ones, pets or even their homes.

You can help!

Donations to the Red Cross are now being accepted and your donations can help people to start over! You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to help out or visit the Red Cross website.

Also, if you are in Nashville: PLEASE remember to conserve water! This is very important right now!

Take care everyone and please keep Nashville citizens in your thanks and prayers! Thank you :)