My last post

Well, my last week at work. Nearly four months ago I left Honolulu, school, my nice apartment and my lovely husband to come to Bangkok and do something for myself and my Ph.d. 

On my way home, picture stolen from Antony Tam

After much time spent having 'me' time and 'me-and-my-ph.d.' time, I can definitively say it was worth it. Although that 'osmosis' process I was hoping to happen, didn't, and my research question is still elusive, I still think that this UNESCO experience was one of the most beneficial things that will happen for my future research, but did not help the immediate issue of helping me define my question. Looking back, there were definitely nights when I could have mustered up some energy and did readings or put in some hard slogging thinking.  

But first things first, Kanchanaburi. My last weekend trip of my Thailand adventure and the sight of the famous bridge on the river Kwai, where some 14000 POWs died to make the train line for the Japanese invasion of south-east Asia. I hadnt realized how many Aussie diggers died in the process and admittedly, was found myself a little upset while looking at documentation in the museum. The cemetery next to the museum was a very tranquil place, I could easily spot the Aussie graves by the logo. Although it did take some restraint not to smack Asian tourists (not being racially stereotyping- those were just the only ones I saw) who would sit by the graves and take sexy-posing selfies. Oh man, I wanted to smack them hard. 

The bridge itself was not the original (having been blown up a year after it was built), but was still quite impressive and still put to use (as we discovered when a train came along and we were right in the middle of it). We walked along the entire length of it and looking at the train tracks lost into the green jungle was quite a sight. Having some dinner on the river afterward, a motorbike ride back to our hotel felt exactly what a night ride should feel like. No city lights, relatively quite night along the river and just the right amount of wind rushing through my hair. We also spent a day hiking out to Erawan national forest, where we saw the renown and quite beautiful seven stages of waterfalls. 

My last week of work lasted only four days. And it showed, I feel like I left a substantial amount undone due to my brain being everywhere. That big English report I had hoped to finished, never did get finished. But, I am actually a little happy about this. Since the UN (and therefore UNESCO) is so poor these days, interns are the most relied on feature for work (in my opinion). Meaning that they need as many as is sustainable. In this sense, I feel that staying in touch with UNESCO staff and having as many opportunities for future contact would be very helpful. This English report, might therefore be a link to them in the future. On the Friday we had the usual tea party to celebrate the end of the work week and also for my leaving. It was quite a nice affair before my some 30 hours of traveling. 

On a final note, thank you to all who have been reading this site, I see that it is over a 1000 visitors, which blows my mind, but when I think about it, I am sure it has just been my mum checking up on me. Now that I am back in Hawai'i, life has been a little lazy, but that is not a bad thing of course. I am looking forward to an actual date tonight with my wonderful husband! Life could not be better. Mahalo and Aloha. 

Week 15/16; Crunch time has hit.

Top of the World, ma! Sky Bars are the best.....and tallest.

Well, the last two weeks have been somewhat of a work-frenzy-blur. This solo report of English education in ASEAN +6 seems to have taken over my life. The biggest hurdle seems to be one of access and then extracting both little details (how do they assess English taught) and then the big issues (how important do they think English is in the education system). Of course I shouldnt and would not expect that foreign countries publish their policies in English, that would be making a mockery of linguistic identity and snubbing their own linguistic culture. However, it is English education, I guess I have always been a little lucky with just coming across these things. Second, come on Google chrome translate, throw me a bone here, why are you always breaking down!? Why is it so hard for you to recognize Khmer yo?

Right now it feels like this will be 'the' contribution I make to UNESCO. It might not be a high demand subject, but from what I can tell, there is not much on the subject, so perhaps this could be a start for future projects. I have been working like a beast (only a slight procrastination every half hour, I swear!). And heck, if UNESCO doesn't use it (although technically every thing I am doing right now is the property of UNESCO) then I might even use it for my own research and doctorate studies.

View from Chinatown

In any case, it is nice that I can just have some time to sit at my desk and get it all out in one go. I am a little ashamed that I have been prioritizing this personal report over tasks that my supervisor needs. But I really, really dislike Lit reviews. really. (update; as of Aug 9th, no lit review needs to be done!).
Speaking of supervisor-given tasks, I am still on the learning process of 'understanding what people want from you 101'.  After a few mis-communication issues, it turns out I do not understand language any more, and need to re-do my review and assessment of country goals for post 2015, which will hopefully only take 1 day (fingers crossed). At this stage, I have some 3.5 work days left, with most of the nights taken up with last minute visits and errands. Not much time left.

Late night Jazz bars in downtown Bangkok. 

My social life has been not hectic, still active, with lots of 'me' time thrown in to the mix. Just the way I like it. Made it to the big weekend market last weekend, to visit the most lovely jewelry store ever (thank you Rachel McCarthy) and finish buying all manner of souvenirs for family (you all wanted silk scarves, yeah?) with my Greek ball of energy friend, Xenia. After our foot massage, we met another UNESCO friend, and wound up in the most random, most local-young-people hang out I've been yet. Where we listened to local young bands do awesome covers of Death Cab and their own songs in the similar style. It was pretty great. Taxi-ing it over to the center of the city, to the Jazz Bar was also a highlight as I heard Michael Jackson covered by a jazz band and it is was sublime. This weekend will be my last trip and although I do love traveling, at this stage, I am just waiting to get home in all honesty. So, this trip is more to fill in time and see something that was on my list of 'to-do' and see Erawan waterfalls and the bridge of the river Kwai.

On a side note, I seem to have met the people I connect with most at the end of my trip, and it is super frustrating. I literally shouted to said friends the other day "ahhhhh, you're awesome! Why are you leaving!, why am I leaving!? Move to where I am, I live in Hawai'i!" Super frustrating, but it has led me to ponder the nature of people in international development, and I guess people with the lifestyle that I am also attracted to. Its not really goodbye, (and FYI, I hate goodbyes, just say 'see you later' to me, if you please) if you have a mind to keep these friends, I will most definitely make a choice to keep in touch with particular people and make sure to let them know when I am in their city/country/continent. Still super sad. Xenia, Mas Dino, Radhika, Melinda, Rachel, and all the rest of you! argghhhhh!