rongrian pasaa thai

rongrian- school
pasaa- language
thai- Thai (obviously...)

Today, I finished my third week of intensive language school.  I only have one week of school left before I am done and I will start taking up more responsibility at Grapevine, which I am excited about.  It will be a bittersweet parting with language school, though... I love the adventure of walking around downtown Bangkok by myself everyday, and I truly enjoy the company of my fellow classmates (there is a bonding element in making a fool of yourself when trying to pronounce a tonal language).  But the commute is long and tiring and I am missing out on a lot back at Grapevine while I am gone all day-- staff devotions every morning, planning events, running errands, meeting up with students, hanging out on campus....  my job, really.

Life in Thailand as of late has been just that:  life.  And what a relief it is.  My daily patterns are normalizing and I am really beginning to feel as though I live in Thailand, not just visiting.  I don't really have a miraculous story or major spiritual breakthrough to share with you this week, so I will teach you some of the Thai words and phrases I have been learning.

sawat dii kha.
hello, goodbye

chan chuu Grace kha.  khun chuu aray kha?
my name is Grace.  What is your name?

chan khoo cow-pet-guy may say hua hoom say khay song fong kha.
I would like chicken-fried-rice, with no onions, also with two eggs. [my most commonly used phrase ;) ] 

mahaawwitthayaalay
university [my personal favorite]

chan khun rotsongtaaw khun rottuu kap khun rotfayfaa ru duun pay rongrian kha.
In order to go to school, I ride a song-tow, catch a van, then either take the skytrain or walk. [which is what I really do]

thawray
how much? (does something cost)

kii moong leew kha?
what time is it?

sapparot kap teeng moo khun chop aray maak kwaakan kha?
Which one do you like more, pineapple or watermelon?

Don't worry, I know much more than this after three weeks.  We have learned hundreds of vocabulary words and multiple general grammar rules.  But since Thai has its own script (that I will not be learning), it is quite difficult to transliterate.  In order to spell many of the words I wrote above in a way that is true to the vowel, it must be spelled (in English) with characters that do not technically exist in English.  Keep in mind, each of these words has a specific tone (there are 5 of them), and if you say it wrong, it is a different word.  My Thai friends at Grapevine LOVE to help me with my homework.  I am grateful to have native speakers to practice with.... but I suppose that was the point of learning in the first place. :)

Welcome to hongrian nung (classroom 1).  Back row, left to right: Ray from Taiwan, Daniel from Scottland, Ania from Australia (but she's Polish), Igancio from Spain (Ania's husband).  Front row, left to right:  Jason from Taiwan, Mikki from Japan, Khruu (teacher) Uthai from Thailand, me, and Jaya from India.  We have a ton of fun together!  It was khruu Uthai's birthday this day, so we bought her these flowers.  Turns out, you are only supposed to offer these to Buddha at the temple!  Oh well... I think she got a kick out of it. :)