Tales from Thailand

"Your call is very important to us." : )

Father and I have commented via voice on the value of comments on a blog.  I thought I should mention here that all  readers are most welcome to comment or query, as appropriate, right here on this page!

: )  Tim

Sunday in Bangkok

This morning Tim Snyder and I met up with Father Nash and some of the Loyola students at the Hua Mark campus of Assumption University for Mass and breakfast.  The Hua Mark campus is Assumption's original campus and it is centrally located in Bangkok (as much as anything is centrally located here!).  It is now mainly a center for graduate studies.  The Loyola College students live on this campus and commute to the new Suvarnibhum campus near the airport.  Since the new campus is somewhat isolated, Father Nash arranges for our students to live in town in order to provide them with a richer experience of Thai culture and of life in Bangkok.  The students agree that that is the right choice.  I saw the modern building where the Loyola students live but have not been in it yet but the students I met with today say that their accommodations are better than their rooms/apartments at Loyola (so much for "Dorms like palaces!).

Mass was a very interesting experience for me.  Since I am an honored guest, I was the principal celebrant joined by Father Nash and Father Joseph, a Dominican priest from Vietnam.  The Mass was in English but almost no one in the very crowded congregation was a native English speaker.  I tried to speak clearly and to stick closely to the printed prayers.  At the sign of peace, the custom is to "wai" one another instead of shaking hands as Catholics in the US do.  This is gesture of bringing your folded hands to below your chin and then bowing slightly.  So first I bowed to the congregation and then to Father Joseph and Father Nash.  "Wai-ing" is a traditional form of greeting that I am gradually getting used to.  There is a subtle code of who initiates the wai (usually the person of inferior status) and how high to hold your folded hands (holding your hands higher than usual indicates recognition of highly exalted status.

We had lunch after Mass at a local restaurant "Oscar's" and the students walked me through the menu.  Oscar's is definitely not a tourist trap.  The food was simple and tasty, both Thai and American. Since I am finding that I really like Thai food, I was grateful to my table mates (Lizzie, Megan, and Kathleen) for explaining all of the Thai delicacies to me.  They did not even try to trick me into ordering the snakefish head soup!

After lunch, Kathleen, Colin, Steph, and Nicole took Tim and me to the Chatuchak weekend market for some souvenir shopping.  Acres of stalls filled with "bargains."  I wasn't too successful in my search but it was fascinating.  I was really touched by the role-reversal: the students were very concerned that Dr. Snyder or I not wander away and get lost and they had an extended discussion as to whether or not we were ready to make our way back to the hotel on our own or not.  I am happy to report that we were allowed to travel back on our own and did not get lost, well at least not very lost.

If there are any first year or sophomore readers, I hope that you noticed the comments that have been coming into this blog.  Bangkok alumni and current students love this program.  It seems that the current students would like to stay on longer and the alumnus who wrote in still cherishes the memory of this time in this great country.  As a matter of fact, I have never met anyone who regretted doing an international study program but I have met lots of students and alumni who regret deciding not to take advantage of the opportunity to live in another culture for an extended period of time.  Think about it and talk about it with your parents and advisors.

Note the photo of Father Nash with Kathleen and Stephanie in their King shirts at the top of this post.  Those shirts honor the Thai king on the occasion of his 80th birthday.  They really love the King in this country, in fact you can go to prison for speaking about the King in a negative manner.  Could be a good rule for Loyola College.  Also, there is specially designated seating on public transportation vehicles for the elderly, the infirm, and for monks.  That sounds pretty good to me!!

Finally, good luck to the students in Father Nash's Thai Politics course.  They take their final examinations tomorrow.

Take care,

Father Linnane

Wai Me!?

Father Linnane brilliantly summarized our trip and arrival.  I am honored that he thinks of me as a good traveler; he is also a terrific person to travel with. 

When I denied one of the in-flight meals because it consisted of seafood, which I do not eat (I know: I don't know what I'm missing!), Father discovered a small cheese and cracker component on his tray and immediately offered it to me.  I was struck at how he had not at all considered the act of giving.  Rather, he was just happy to have found something---a gift from elsewhere---that I might like.

This reminds me of all the goodness that surrounds us, and how easy it is for us not to notice it.  As I prepared to write this, this morning, I was reminded of the careful attention Rich Sigler and Amy Filardo put into a sort of Blogging for Dummies document that they put together for us.  It shows an imagination for what it might be like to be remote and blogging for a first time.  I was reminded of the flight attendant who learned of my seafood dislike and, without my asking, improvised a special course for me, including an adornment of the fast-noodle treat with a hibiscus flower, truffles, and, yes, cheese and crackers---a sort of Ramen-to-Amen moment.  I was reminded of the dozens of thoughtful wishes we received on our way out of town (including John Palmucci assuring me that Father is a good traveler!).

But, Why the "Wai Me!?"  The wai is a common way of greeting in Thailand.  To wai, one places their hands into a sort of prayer position, with fingers pointing skyward, near their mouth, then bows their head in salutation.  Typically, the person in a lesser hierarchically distinguished position (usually determined by age or profession) wais first; the other party then wais back.  The more distinguished a person is, the deeper the lowering of the waier's head, even to the point where, for a highly distinguished person, one's head goes completely below that of the person being waied.

This may sound like an obsession with social hierarchy, but it allows Thais to honor one another, and it symbolizes and contributes to their love of peace.  It is bad form to wai a person of lesser stature, for that disallows that person their ability to offer honor.  Through the whole transaction, parties are honoring one another mutually.

My first wai occurred as we boarded the Thai Airways aircraft.  Having read my culture/etiquette book, I was ready, and I waied back.  The flight attendant stopped and, smiling, told me that one should have their hands together when they wai; mine were filled with luggage. 

Through continual wai watching and through some tips shared by Father Nash, my waiing seemed to improve---well, I got more comfortable with it.  I read in my micro etiquette book that Thais are fine with Westerners' attempts to wai, even delighting in them, no matter how shaky they are.  Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles.

Following dinner, Father and I, bleary from the trip, decided to check out the gym before retiring.  Following a quick glanceover of the facilities, on the way out I was warmly waied by a beautiful host.  I took my time and returned my best wai.  She and her friends nodded and smiled, and she continued with, "Your wai is---so beautiful!"

Maybe I didn't nail it.  But, no matter its quality, the moment gave each of us a chance to recognize a shared goodness.

Right now, Thai time is 7:28 a.m.; my time is 8:29 p.m.  Off to the gym, then...wai time.

Tim

We've arrived

Greetings from Bangkok!  After a seventeen hour flight from JFK, Tim Snyder and I arrived safely in Bangkok at about 4PM local time.  I was not looking forward to being on a jet for so long but it wasn't too bad.  I passed the time reading, enjoying the Thai hospitality, and--thank God--sleeping.  I enjoyed spending the time with Dr. Snyder.  You really get to know a lot about a person when you fly half way around the world with someone!

We were out of the airport in about fifteen minutes.  By the time we walked to the luggage area, our things were there and we were able to pass through immigration and customs quickly.  It was great to see Father Nash waiting for us in the arrivals hall.  Soon we were on our way to our hotel.  My initial impression of Bangkok is very positive.  It is large modern city with an excellent transportation system (although Father Nash tells me the streets are sinking!).  I was just thinking that Bangkok reminded me of Los Angeles when Father Nash said, "Bangkok is very much like LA in that there is no one distinct downtown area."   You can see clusters of high rise buildings dispersed throughout the city and mixed in with more traditional residential areas.

After washing up and getting changed, Dr. Snyder and I had dinner with Father Nash.  We were in an outdoor restaurant by the river.  The restaurant had great views of the boats on the river.  Every so often a large, brilliantly illuminated boat filled with young people partying would pass by.  Father Nash suggested that Dr. Snyder and I might like to join them.  I don't want to speak for Tim but if there was ever a night I didn't feel like a disco cruise tonight is the night!  I'm wiped out!

Tomorrow, we are going to Mass at Assumption University and then we have a free afternoon.

That's all for now.  I hope all is well in Charm City.  Take care, Father Linnane

Ready or not

I, too, am a novice blogger.  So far so good.  Just like doing an e-mail.  The next challenge will be to post photos....with IT support thousands of miles away.  In February, I was able to visit the Loyola programs in Acala, Leuven, and Newcastle.  While we were there I kept thinking that it would be great if I could share something of the study abroad experience with the students at home--especially the first year and sophomore students who might be thinking about international study and so when the opportunity to visit Bangkok came up I decided to blog.

Dr. Snyder and I are visiting Bangkok to familiarize ourselves with the Loyola program at Assumption University.  This is one of the oldest Loyola international programs and I am very proud of our relationship with this great university.  I am also eager to meet the Loyola students and learn about their experiences in Asia.  It should be great.

As Dr. Snyder mentioned, we are leaving right after Margaret Farley's lecture tonight.  I am introducing Professor Farley and I still have to figure out what to say....and get a haircut....and, oh yeah, pack.  Why do I always wait until the last minute?

I hope that I will see you at the Farley lecture tonight.  Take care,

Father Linnane

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