Oh My Buddha

'Where you from?"
-"America"
"You go school or work?"
-"Work."
"You shshdhehdi ft ebwisbrksh?"
-"What?"
You live there?"
-"Where?"
"America."
-"Oh! Yes."

Well actually sir the truth is I neither work or live in America, but we are not proficient enough in any common language for me to properly explain the truth.

That yes, I did live somewhere for the last two year, but it wasn't America, but I am American and I was working for the American Government. And I had a job that I loved very much but had to leave it, so currently, I'm unemployed. And now I'm returning to America again  after two years to re-establish the answer to the "work and live" question.

The truth honestly is that I live here. With you. And all your extended family and friends at this hotel this week.

But for the sake of brevity, the answer to both your questions today will be "yes".

What Peace Corps did to me

1. Deteriorate my English.
When you become a part of a culture, you tend to take on small nuances of the people, language, and culture. One major and obvious point of acknowledgment is speaking English in a way that best suits the understanding of your audience. For example, in Kenya:
"Assist me with tissue"= give me toilet paper

However, without the knowledge of local language it transforms into something  slightly more crude.

In Thailand, there is significantly less English. It becomes something like,
" toilet. Paper?" [frantic motioning of butt wiping]

In Cambodia, less English.
[Find props, such as a toilet bowl to completely act out what I want]

This is why I love traveling.

2. Instill the urge to bargain for everything. In addition to acting completely and utterly baffled at anything that is over $5.
"TEN DOLLARS?? NO. TWO FOR $5. Because we're friends."
"Um, sorry ma'am, all prices at 7-eleven are fixed..."

3. Eat ambiguous food. Cuz you're being polite. ..Or impatient.

"what is that?"
       "Unclear."
"Is that meat? Tofu? Pork? Jello?"
       "Dunno."
"I'm hungry. Lets just get it."
       "OK. EXCUSE ME...TWO OF WHATEVER THAT IS. GIVE IT TO ME IN MY MOUTH."

The Ancient Art Of I Stand On Your Back Now

Nothing ruins a relaxing 60min, $5 massage like shooting pain all through your body. Through a series of stretches and applied pressure to specific points on the body, the Thai massage is suppose to  relieve the recipient of tension and tightness in the body. Masseuses use their entire bodies to contort you and themselves into different positions. It's like they're making your body do the yoga for you while occasionally punching, slapping and beating you.
However, calling yourself a masseuse in Thailand is like calling yourself a cosmetologist if you've ever put on your own make up. And that is exactly what a majority of the
"masseuses" do.They sit outside for hours publicly doing their own makeup waiting for
clients*.
Once they finally get their hands on you, they make believe they are chiropractors twisting and cracking vital joints, bones and organs while occasionally asking if "you okay babeey?"
One of the signature qualities of the Thai massage is them using their entire body intertwined with yours. Specifically, their feet, which they use to walk up and down your spine, when they're not in between YOUR legs doing full body push-ups on your pelvis.
Objecting is of course always an options while language is always a barrier. So while your vertebrae may feel like its about to implode, you only get to say ''GARFLAHGHDEIDLS!" The response to which is inevitably...you ok babeeee?
But by that time, you are already a quadriplegic. Sorry babeey.
But for all its ups and downs, lefts and rights, bends and flexes, we are now officially up to almost 5 each in three weeks.
The truest form of addiction.Can't stop won't stop.

*Clients*: Men looking for handies.

Angkor What?

-"I wish we knew what we were looking at."
-"Yeah I'm hovering near the English speaking tour groups and getting bits."
-"Maybe tomorrow we could get a tour guide."
-"Or we could buy one of those books."
-"Or we can go to one of those internet cafes and look up some stuff before tomorrow."
-"Or our hotel has computers for us to use."
-"Or we can just use our phones on the hotel WiFi later."
-"Yeah, let's do that."
-"Yeah."

Our conversations tend to de-evolve pretty quickly.

Almost famous...and feminine

That time we met whitney Houston and saw shakira, Cher, xtina aguilera and rihanna in concert. No big deal.

Miracle Drug

Tiger Balm is to Thailand as well, Lady-Boys are to Thailand. It is used during traditional Thai massages, which are sometimes relaxing, but mostly you're paying to be beat on by a very small or very large Thai woman. It's sold in multiple recipes in every pharmacy, convenient store and road side shop. It's like icey-hot, but Thai-ier. It's so important in Thailand that we wanted to offer some newly discovered uses for it to those of you who have never had the chance to partake in this miracle ointment.

Rub on any and all sore muscles and joints for instant relief.
Slather under and around eyes to curb headaches.
Swallow a Tbsp for upset stomachs.
Bug bite relief.
Run through hair as a styling product.
Shoe polish.
Conversation starter: "What the he'll is that smell!?"
Upperlip hair remover.
If feeling adventurous, or suicidal, use as lube.
Also, it cures cancer.

Tired Unwashed Masses Yearning To Be Sober

Come on down to Ko Phi Phi Thailand and enjoy the splendors of youth gone gross. Walk the quaint and tiny beach streets lined with scenic tourism offices while dodging bicycles and luggage carts.
Wake up early to see the sun rise over the bay and harbor. This early morning stroll will also give you the chance to see the elusive 6am "walk of shame" happening.
Spend the afternoon on a long boat tour of the island with 50 hungover 20 somethings trying not to vomit over the side. Snorkeling is a must, as well as visiting Maya Bay. Or as locals will call it 'The Beach' beach.
End your perfect day in paradise with your third serving of greasy pad Thai before consuming the local beverage aptly named 'The Bucket'. Served in an actual bucket and filled with ice, a flask of cheap vodka/rum/whiskey, one tiny can of soda and a chasers of red bull that isn't allowed in your home country because of its trace quantities of speed.
Ko Phi Phi: England's Cancun.