awww
posted by Ashley at 8:56 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
Thailand!
I spent my first 4 nights in Bangkok.
I saw some gorgeous temples - the best were Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.
I also loved Jim Thompson's House - the home of an American silk merchant who lived in Bangkok and built a beautiful traditional Thai house. It's now a museum and houses his lovely collection of South East Asian Art.
The Vimanmek Teak Mansion (a royal residence) was also very nice.
I took a day trip to Ayuthaya - an ancient capital with some amazing 14th century Buddhist ruins.
Did lots of good cheap shopping. Went to this enormous weekend market where they sell everything.
And got some fabulous Thai massages and spa treatments. One at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Spa (considered one of the best in the world). There was also a nice spa in my hotel where, before my massage, they washed my feet in a bowl of warm water and rose petals. wow.
And of course had some very good Thai food.
Then I spent 1night on the island Ko Chang (sort of by accident, because the bus driver took us to the wrong island. but it worked out fine) Ko Chang was very beautiful and quiet. I had a nice bungalow that could not have been closer to the beach. (unfortunately, there were jellyfish). The sunset was amazing.
Then spent 2 nights on Ko Samet, which was a little more crowded and built up, but had some gorgeous beaches. I took a nice boat trip around the island with some fishing, snorkeling, and swimming.
Then back to Bangkok, for a night at the airport hotel, and then on to Hong Kong.
I spent 2 nights in Hong Kong, on my way back to Japan. It's a great city with an amazing skyline and fabulous shopping.
And that was my trip.
I saw some gorgeous temples - the best were Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.
I also loved Jim Thompson's House - the home of an American silk merchant who lived in Bangkok and built a beautiful traditional Thai house. It's now a museum and houses his lovely collection of South East Asian Art.
The Vimanmek Teak Mansion (a royal residence) was also very nice.
I took a day trip to Ayuthaya - an ancient capital with some amazing 14th century Buddhist ruins.
Did lots of good cheap shopping. Went to this enormous weekend market where they sell everything.
And got some fabulous Thai massages and spa treatments. One at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Spa (considered one of the best in the world). There was also a nice spa in my hotel where, before my massage, they washed my feet in a bowl of warm water and rose petals. wow.
And of course had some very good Thai food.
Then I spent 1night on the island Ko Chang (sort of by accident, because the bus driver took us to the wrong island. but it worked out fine) Ko Chang was very beautiful and quiet. I had a nice bungalow that could not have been closer to the beach. (unfortunately, there were jellyfish). The sunset was amazing.
Then spent 2 nights on Ko Samet, which was a little more crowded and built up, but had some gorgeous beaches. I took a nice boat trip around the island with some fishing, snorkeling, and swimming.
Then back to Bangkok, for a night at the airport hotel, and then on to Hong Kong.
I spent 2 nights in Hong Kong, on my way back to Japan. It's a great city with an amazing skyline and fabulous shopping.
And that was my trip.
posted by Ashley at 8:48 PM
0 comments
Saturday, September 18, 2004
The Growing List of Strange/Funny/Cute Things My Students Say
elementary school boy: "so did you take a plane every day to go from New York to Chicago for University?"
8 year old elementary school student: "how did you get to Japan from America?"
me: "I walked"
students: "wow!" "really?!" "that's awesome!"
middle school boy: "your eyes are blue"
me: "yes they are"
middle school boy: "why?"
me: "they just are. do you like blue eyes?"
middle school boy: "eh...."
13 year old middle school girl: (during class self-introductions) "my name is ____ ____. I like pornography. nice to meet you."
me: "what?!" (apparently she was saying the name of a band here: Porno Graffitti)
7 year old elementary school boy: "why do the Chinese hate the Japanese?"
7 year old elementary school boy: "do they have brooms in America?"
me: "what is this a picture of?" (holding up photo of Northwestern campus)
elementary school boy: "Tokyo Disneyland!"
middle school girl: "wow, your computer keyboard is only in English! I've never seen that before. It's so strange!"
elementary school student: "how is America different from Japan?"
me: "well, in America we wear our shoes in the house"
elementary school student: "you mean slippers?"
me: "no, I mean shoes"
elementary school student: "wow! so, do you wear your shoes in bed too?"
me: "does anyone have any questions?"
middle school girl: "I love you!!"
middle school student: "are you Hispanic?"
middle school boy: "Houston!!" (as the answer the EVERY question)
13 year old middle school boy: "do you have a boyfriend?"
me: "no"
other 13 year old middle school boy: "what's your type?"
(I've had this same conversation several times in different classes)
me: "who's on the $1 bill?"
middle school girl: "Bush!"
me: "how many US States can you name?"
students: "New York!" "California!" "Hawaii!" "Seattle!" "Grand Canyon!" "Disney World!" "Canada!"
"New Zealand!" "France!" "Kentucky!" (perhaps the most random answer...)
me: "do you have any questions?"
7 year old elementary school students: "do they have monkeys in America?" "do they have crocodiles in America?"
7 year old elementary school boy: "WOW!! America is AWESOME!!" (after seeing my pictures of the NU sorority quads
& my neighborhood in NY)
7 year old elementary school boy: "oh my god! her nose is so big!!!" (every time I walk in the room)
me: "what does 'University' mean?"
middle school students: "Universal Studios Japan!"
middle school boy: "Michael Jordan!" (random guess before start of hangman game)
me: "Disneyland is in California. What is in Florida? It's bigger than Disneyland...."
middle school students: "Disney City!" "Disney Town!" "Disney Country!" "Disney Sea!" "Tokyo Disneyland!"
me: "this is my favorite American movie actor. what's his name?" (holding up picture of Johnny Depp)
middle school students: "Brad Pitt!" "Michael Jackson!"
12 year old elementary school boy: "have you gotten a marriage proposal yet?"
8 year old elementary school student: "how did you get to Japan from America?"
me: "I walked"
students: "wow!" "really?!" "that's awesome!"
middle school boy: "your eyes are blue"
me: "yes they are"
middle school boy: "why?"
me: "they just are. do you like blue eyes?"
middle school boy: "eh...."
13 year old middle school girl: (during class self-introductions) "my name is ____ ____. I like pornography. nice to meet you."
me: "what?!" (apparently she was saying the name of a band here: Porno Graffitti)
7 year old elementary school boy: "why do the Chinese hate the Japanese?"
7 year old elementary school boy: "do they have brooms in America?"
me: "what is this a picture of?" (holding up photo of Northwestern campus)
elementary school boy: "Tokyo Disneyland!"
middle school girl: "wow, your computer keyboard is only in English! I've never seen that before. It's so strange!"
elementary school student: "how is America different from Japan?"
me: "well, in America we wear our shoes in the house"
elementary school student: "you mean slippers?"
me: "no, I mean shoes"
elementary school student: "wow! so, do you wear your shoes in bed too?"
me: "does anyone have any questions?"
middle school girl: "I love you!!"
middle school student: "are you Hispanic?"
middle school boy: "Houston!!" (as the answer the EVERY question)
13 year old middle school boy: "do you have a boyfriend?"
me: "no"
other 13 year old middle school boy: "what's your type?"
(I've had this same conversation several times in different classes)
me: "who's on the $1 bill?"
middle school girl: "Bush!"
me: "how many US States can you name?"
students: "New York!" "California!" "Hawaii!" "Seattle!" "Grand Canyon!" "Disney World!" "Canada!"
"New Zealand!" "France!" "Kentucky!" (perhaps the most random answer...)
me: "do you have any questions?"
7 year old elementary school students: "do they have monkeys in America?" "do they have crocodiles in America?"
7 year old elementary school boy: "WOW!! America is AWESOME!!" (after seeing my pictures of the NU sorority quads
& my neighborhood in NY)
7 year old elementary school boy: "oh my god! her nose is so big!!!" (every time I walk in the room)
me: "what does 'University' mean?"
middle school students: "Universal Studios Japan!"
middle school boy: "Michael Jordan!" (random guess before start of hangman game)
me: "Disneyland is in California. What is in Florida? It's bigger than Disneyland...."
middle school students: "Disney City!" "Disney Town!" "Disney Country!" "Disney Sea!" "Tokyo Disneyland!"
me: "this is my favorite American movie actor. what's his name?" (holding up picture of Johnny Depp)
middle school students: "Brad Pitt!" "Michael Jackson!"
12 year old elementary school boy: "have you gotten a marriage proposal yet?"
posted by Ashley at 12:38 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
About Me
- Name: Ashley
- Location: New York, New York, United States
native New Yorker, Northwestern grad, JET survivor, and future nurse
Archives
- July 2004
- August 2004
- September 2004
- October 2004
- November 2004
- December 2004
- January 2005
- February 2005
- March 2005
- April 2005
- May 2005
- June 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- April 2006
- June 2006
- August 2006
- November 2006
- January 2007
- February 2007
- April 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
Links
Previous Posts
- Chris' new Maine Coon kitten
- With his Daddy at the breeder's. His Daddy is 20 p...
- Miko trying to make friends with the new kitten (a...
- such a snuggly kitty
- Maine!
- 100_1755 Originally uploaded by abnihon
- 100_1691 Originally uploaded by abnihon
- 100_1696 Originally uploaded by abnihon
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- 100_1744 Originally uploaded by abnihon