Abroad Trip Day 5

Today, we went to Chiang Mai University (CMU). We started the day in a conversation class taught by an Ole alum who graduated 2 years ago. Her conversation class is a class for English students (as in those learning to speak English) to practice conversations with each other, because you can know every word and nuance of grammar and still not be fluent because you don't know how to have a conversation with someone in that language. We paired up with the students, so Anna and I partnered and talked with “Claire” and “Kiss.” They are second year students majoring in English and Psychology respectively. Very nice, very friendly girls.

We then practiced our observation skills by conducting an observation in their school cafeteria, the canteen. Everyone drinks from straws, even with plastic bottles. It's a little weird. We also had a lecture from a professor who studies Japanese and Thai culture comparatively. His accent was very thick, but understandable. He didn't have time to prepare the English version of the lecture, so it was very good considering. His handwriting was scribbles though.

We ate lunch in the Humanities cantin. Every department (faculty) and dorm has their own cafeteria. We played “point and hope it's good” again. It turned out pretty well. I ended up with curried sweet potatoes, and squid with sugar snap peas, and a strawberry smoothie. It was very good. Thai portions are the perfect size. I don't feel hungry and I don't feel full.

After lunch, we went to the Old City. It's very ornate and decorative. There is gold leaf on everything, and monks in saffron robes are everywhere. There are also a lot of dogs. I donated 20baht to feed the Temple Dogs.

After we got back, we got coffee and went to an internet cafe/massage parlor. Less sketchy than I anticipated. Of course, we couldn't actually see the massage side so it probably was sketchy. I paid 20baht for an hour on a nice computer. Then, we went downstairs to “Organic Vegetables” and I got tofu broccoli stir fry for 30 baht. Yum!