It is only the second week in Thailand and I have had two experiences I thought I could never imagine having: riding an elephant and bargaining at the Chartuchak weekend market. This weekend has been jam packed with fun, interesting, and engaging activities and events, beginning with a trip to Ayutthaya and ending with a shopping excursion in Bangkok.
One of the fun activities in Bangkok involved a visit to an elephant camp in Ayutthaya where we watched an entertaining show and rode the elephants around the camp. The talented and humorous elephants danced with their trainers spreading smiles and provoking laughter among the audience. Elephants, being one of the most intelligent species of the animal kingdom, showed its brilliance in its performance. The elephants seemed to have their own personalities, the eyes of the elephant alone mimicked happiness, delight, and curiosity. After watching the elephants perform we then mounted the elephants for an exciting ride. Morgan, my riding partner, and I rode the elephant around the camp. We took pictures of ourselves and others riding atop the majestic animals.
This Sunday we experienced the dream of every girl on the SEAS trip: shopping at the largest market in Thailand! We started early, whipping out our shopping lists, synchronizing watches, and getting in the mindset of a hardcore bargainer. We set out in small groups and rushed the market with determination and confidence. My failed attempts at bargaining at the night market only days before gave me the will power and fight to try again and to succeed! My fellow shopping warriors, Monique (the expert), Lea, Meghan, and Nicole, and I set out to find souvenirs for our friends and family. We Searched for everything from hand woven hand bags to silk pashminas. We typed figures into calculators, helped each other bargain, and made the most out of our shopping adventure. By 2:00 p.m. we had literally shopped until we dropped: we left the market tired, sweaty, and drained. But tiredness is definitely not the only thing we left with; we left that market with the smiles of accomplishment, the confidence of champions, and the weight of multiple bags filled with goodies and parcels!
The events of this weekend were absolutely unforgettable! Being in Thailand is so much fun, but I think we all missed home on the 4th of July. We promised each other that we would try to make a run to the hotel restaurant and eat some burger and fries and comfort each other on our Independence Day away from home, but we were in for an even better surprise. On our way back home from our trip to Ayutthaya Professor Steiner invited the whole group back to his home to celebrate the Fourth with his family. Of course we were all thrilled and excited and we immediately worked together to make our Fourth of July dinner as familiar and homey as possible. That night we devoured pepperoni and cheese pizza, potato chips, donuts, ice cream, and soda pop. We all joined in together to sing the Star Spangled Banner and the Alma Mater before turning in for the night. Celebrating the Fourth together, just when we were beginning to feel a little homesick, was the best part of this weekend by far. Feeling at home miles and miles away from our families, friends, and homes was the best gift I could have been given. Thank you to everyone making sure we were all comfortable and happy! And Thank You especially to Professor Steiner and his family for inviting us to his home and making us feel at home!
--Danielle G.
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