Temples around Chiang Mai, Thailand

After we spent a relaxing 4 days in Koh Samui, we flew(from the cutest and smallest airport ever) to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai was what I was most excited for on this trip. I had heard that it is a wonderfully cultural place. It certainly did not disappoint. We immediately fell in love with the slower pace of life in Old Town. Our little hotel was not luxury like our resort, but it was clean and comfortable and we didn't plan on spending much time in our room. As soon as we checked in, we changed and decided to walk around Old Town. Old Town is the less busy part of Chiang Mai, surrounded by an ancient wall and a moat. Yep, a moat. It was so exciting to turn the corner and find one beautiful temple after another. We spent the entire afternoon finding the old, extravagant temples. It is so interesting to me because you don't find anything like it in the states.

High Five For Friday 11/22

I had a great week this week! It was pretty busy, which I enjoy. It was filled with shopping, field trips, lunch dates, and getting ready for the holidays!

{ONE}

I have been having the urge to shop lately so I thought I would go to the mall and walk around and check out some stores. I tried on a few things, but I really didn't like anything. The trend here right now is really long, baggy sweaters. It is 70 degrees, way too hot for full body sweaters. I did find one store I liked and bought a shirt. I really miss American stores, especially boutiques and J. Crew!

While I was trying stuff on, I was handed a paper mask to wear. It helps keep the clothes clean, which is super smart. Count on Japanese culture to do everything the smart way. I couldn't stop laughing every time I saw myself in the mirror, though.

Ignore the ugly sweater and check out my cute mask

My favorite store, A.V.V

{TWO}

I also did some shopping for our guest room. It is coming along nicely and I can't wait to get it finished. The store like Ikea here has some great stuff for good prices. I also discovered a new home store, called Living Design Square. It is an entire shopping center of furniture and home stores. I didn't find much, since most of the stuff was pricey, but it was fun to look!

I really wanted this, but at $700 it wasn't going to happen

Living Design Square

{THREE}

I met my friend for lunch at Transit Cafe on the seawall for lunch. It was a such a cute cafe and had a great view. The food was so good. I had been craving a salad since not many places have them here. 

Cheese Fondue

View from lunch

{FOUR}

After lunch, we got pedicures at a famous salon, Cocok. You sit in big, comfy recliners that look out onto the ocean. They give you the most incredible massage for about 30 minutes. I did not want it to stop! Then, you pick a nail design from hundreds of pictures and sample nails. You can get flowers, shapes, jewels, sparkles, animal print, you name it. They free hand everything, which is incredible. It was totally worth $40! 

Just a few of the hundreds of options

{FIVE}

My friend found flavored KitKats for me! She found me strawberry and purple sweet potato. They are SO good. I may or may not be eating some as we speak. Now I just need to find the passionfruit and mango. I love finding interesting treats here!

What a wonderful week! I have a fun weekend scheduled and exciting things happening, which I can't wait to share on Monday. Have a good one!

Linking up with Lauren, Darci, and Jennie

Lessons Learned From The Weekend

Here are some lessons I learned from my good friend the weekend.

I timed myself for the first time since I started running again. I was very surprised. I thought I was going so much faster and further than I really was. I had been feeling so great about my running and was even considering doing a 10k or something. But, because I was upset that I hadn't been running as far as I thought I had, I pushed myself and ran the extra distance.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes I overestimate my abilities

Sunday Brunch at The Rose Garden

Lesson Learned: It is ALWAYS a good idea to reward yourself after eating healthy all week

Lesson Learned #2: Eggs Beni is always worth a 40 minute drive

Nakagusuku Castle

360 view of the island

so many stairs

Lesson Learned: Don't go climbing castles after a HUGE meal

Lesson Learned: ALWAYS get the famous Mango Sorbet, even if you just ate a huge meal. Especially on a "cheat" day. 

After Nakagusuku Castle, I stopped at this old house that is set up to show visitors what an Okinawan house looked like in ancient times. There was some sort of event going on, but I couldn't figure out what it was. They were handing out maps and there were signs with numbers pointing in different directions. I thought maybe it was a tour of homes type deal. No one spoke English, so I never figured out what was happening. People kept taking my camera and having me take pictures with people who were dressed up.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes you just have to smile and go with it

 Futenma Shrine

Lesson Learned: Not quite sure what happens at a shrine, but they sure are pretty

Lastly, Happy 238th Birthday to the Marine Corps and Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you to all those who have served past, present, and future.

So very thankful for my cute Marine

Linking up with Logan, Sami, and Kimberlee 

Language Barrier

I love living in a different country. Everything about it is interesting to me. I love learning about things that are different. I am not just talking about different language, currency, food, etc., but the small nuances of interaction between people and things that are considered "normal" that we might think are weird and vice versa (holy run on sentence). When you aren't actually experiencing another culture, you don't realize how many little things are completely and utterly different. Every single building, food, sign, person, is completely enthralling to me. Is this because I'm the most culturally aware girl around? Nope, probably not, just naturally curious.

I had lunch with a Japanese friend the other day and it was such a blast. We exchanged questions about each of our cultures. I learned so much and it was so fun to gain a better understanding of the culture that I am living in. It is also interesting to learn how the Okinawan culture is different from mainland Japan. She also took me around our city to show me places to eat and shop. I would have never found these places on my own. I feel so grateful for the chance to step outside my little world and be apart of a different one.

That being said, I do miss many American things. Like Target. And my bikram yoga studio. And Qdoba. Or just good Mexican food. This list could go on for awhile, but that is not the point of this post. I do miss these things, but when you are forced to live without, you realize you CAN do it even if you don't WANT to. I am learning that my mind is so busy learning and wondering about everything here that I have less time to think about the things I miss. It also helps that I can't get enough of the food or that every where I look I see something beautiful or interesting.

There is one aspect of life here that I just can't seem to get over. The language. It has been easier than I thought to communicate with people when I need something. Some people speak English and those who don't usually understand my crazy hand gestures and pointing. Many of the locals are very understanding that most Americans do not know or understand Japanese. I don't want to just get by, though. I want to have genuine conversation with the people I encounter every day. I want to get to know the locals. I want to be able to read signs on buildings so I can know what each place is. I want to be able to read the food labels at the grocery store so I can know what I am eating. I want to be able to ask someone an in-depth question about how to cook a certain local vegetable or ask directions when I am lost.

It's not that I get frustrated that people here don't speak English. I get frustrated that I don't speak Japanese. I feel like it is your duty to try to understand the language of your host country, not expect everyone to accommodate you. I feel inconsiderate and incompetent when I cannot communicate. People always smile and nod and are so understanding, but what they don't know is that I would give anything to be able to communicate with them, to have an authentic interaction instead of a few head nods and a polite arigato gozaimasu when leaving.

Admittedly, it has to do with my need to succeed. I don't like being bad at things. When I can't communicate, I feel like I am failing at something. I have tried to learn. I tried to learn some Japanese before we even got here. I try to listen when people are talking to me or to others to pick up some words. But let's be real, the sounds just aren't clicking in my head. Nothing is sticking. I have hello and thank you, but that is it. I felt like I would know more at this point.

It is not from lack of immersion, either. I am around Okinawas on a daily basis. When I teach my class to my cute little kindergarteners, they speak to me in Japanese constantly. They always cock their head and look somewhat bewildered when I don't answer their questions or just nod my head. It gets rather frustrating when I can't tell them what to do. Imagine a class full of little children and you can't give them directions. They don't understand sit, stop, quiet, please don't throw that. Talk about an intense lesson in classroom management.

I'm going to keep trying. Maybe by the time I its time to head back to the U.S. of A I will know more than two words. A girl can hope. 

Perfect Moments Captured

Sometimes, words can't do justice to the beauty of a moment, a day, a weekend. So, here is my weekend in pictures. ENJOY!

Moon Beach

Cafe Boulangerie de Paris

Cape Zanpa

Zanpa Beach

SeaSeed Coral Farm

homemade Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with local bread

Linking up with Sami and Kimberlee