Thai'm is Running Out

This is my first-ever blog post.  (I know: "Welcome."  : ) 

Here is what I am thinking, roughly 24 hours before departure to Bangkok:

1. First and foremost, I am eager to go and learn.  I know little about Thailand, but I know that our guide and host, Father Nash, and our friends at Assumption University, have set up plenty of opportunities for us.

2. I have had precious little time to prepare.  I have two tiny Thailand books---one on etiquette/culture (I should get one for here, too!) and one on 25 nice things to experience in Bangkok.  This means that, while in the air, above an ocean (in which direction will we be flying?---the time difference is 12 hours, so wind direction will determine the path), I will realize that most of what I should have brought or done prior to departure went unrealized.

3. The students determined our two main dinners for the trip: one at their usual hangout, and the other at their city's-best selection.  The former is Grandma's.  The latter is Buon Giorno.  Wait a minute: I have been dreaming, for months now, of legitimate, authentic,  world's-best *Thai* food!  (Maybe Buon Giorno will have some sort of Penne Prik King??)

4. I learned from my culture/etiquette book that Thai people dress impeccably.  I decided to travel light, bringing just one suit for official events, with a few shirt and tie change-outs.  Father Linnane will have to endure this.  But what from there?  Long pants?  Shorts?  Polos?  Button-downs?  Accuweather tells me that it is now 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Bangkok (at 5:23 a.m.!).  Whoa.  The highs across the coming five days are roughly 90 degrees, but the humidity looks reckless, with the "RealFeel" temeratures hitting 105 degrees.  That might shorten my pants or sleeves.

5. I have dreams in which I have left my passport at home.

6. When traveling internationally, one always worries.  The greatest danger of our trip?  Our first phase: a car trip to JFK, from here (Baltimore), following tomorrow night's talk by Sister Margaret Farley.  We at least get to sleep in Friday---we leave late Friday morning.  On the way back, we arrive earlier than our departure time.  While we are in the air, thousands of motorists will be on the ground experiencing significantly greater danger.  I will be constructing talks---one is a math talk; another is about millennial students; a third is about women and science; and a fourth is one for the Loyola faculty. 

7. Upon our return next Friday, with a high probability of being physically discombobulated, I will host our official Honors Convocation.  Normally on return from Asia, I need a full day to sleep and readjust my body clock.  This will be a challenge.  Then, the next Monday, I share the math talk with our student Mathematics Club.  I will learn the value of Starbucks through these experiences.

8.  All these thoughts are a sort of random spill, and I recognize that they are largely based in worries or fears.  That is not uncommon before an international trip, at least for those of us who do not take them often.  Our Dean of International Programs, André Colombat, bounds about the world like a water molecule.  I will think of him to ease our travel---though this will probably not help me sleep on the plane---an art I generally do not experience.

9. Our new Admissions web site, which we saw today, is terrific!  All should thank those who put it together.  I was overjoyed to see a successful site that was not a cut 'n paste (or a "control-drag") of other places' sites!  Check it out at http://admissions.loyola.edu/admissions/admissions.asp .

10. A Thidbit: in Thai, one does not prounce the "h" in "th," the "h" in "ph," and the "h" in most similar combinations.  (Have you ever heard of "Thighland"?)  This may help you read the coming blog. 

Enjoy!

Tim

 

Comments

[Bernadette Roche]

The photos were a nice touch! The fact that they enlarge when clicked is a huge bonus - you really DO know your stuff when it comes to posting figures on a blog! I was thrilled to see the post that showed the population structure graphs for Asia compared to US and Europe. I teach this concept in both majors and nonmajors courses, and I'm hoping some of my former students recognize it in your blog. Have fun and thanks again for the pictures.--Bernadette Roche

[Bernadette Roche]

I have enjoyed reading your blog, and now I'm hankering for some pictures! Hope you can comply! Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Yours truly, Bernadette Roche

[Stephanie, Kaity, Nicolle, Meg and Jes]

Tim,
Sawadee-ka from Bangkok. Sooo, five of us were sitting on a bed, grateful to be over with today's finals when we heard about this blog and couldn't wait to read it! We read it aloud (steph pulling off a pretty good impersonation of you...we think) We can't wait to meet you and show you around what has become our home over the past few months. We're sure you'll fall in love with this amazing place just as quickly as we did!
Hope you're having some safe skies :)

-Nicolle, Stephanie, Kaity, Meg, Jes