Friday- I didn't sleep a wink as I was nervous, everything went fine and I was on the flight to Amsterdam just fine. We arrived into the airport over an hour late and unfortunately, in normal Charli style I was unable to get my second boarding pass at Gatwick so I was therefore rushing around like crazy and was once again in a position where I could miss my flight. Luckily I met some really rich American men who helped get me off the plane quickly...so all was good. The plane was tiny (china airways) but i slept for the full flight other than too eat so that was cool. I arrived into Bangkok around 6 am. I tried to get cash out and it wasn't happening so then i had to run around like a lost chicken for AGES until i finally figured out how to work the things...all was good. I got out 2000 which is like £40. Saturday-My friend Emily's brother and his wife were putting me up, so they very nicely came to get me from the airport early in the morning. It was really good of them seeing as they lived like 45 mins away. We got back to theirs and I was given a room, it was rather cosey and it had air con. :) AMAZING! The same day I went for a shower and was shocked...it was like a wet room with a bucket for a shower. It sounds worse than it is as all the bathrooms here seem to be like that, just obviously coming from the UK where we have these amazing rooms with shiny bits to using a bucket and a bowl. It was quite refreshing though as the heat is crazy. The rest of the day I just slept and ate food. First day in Thailand consisted of drinking red wine, watching 'Big Bang Theory' and 'Downton Abby' eating Pizza. :) ac Sunday- Went to the supermarket. Its called Big C, its huge...even bigger than a Walmart. Its bonkers...I spent ages walking round looking at everything and sniffing things. I soon found out that this is NOT acceptable in Thailand as its actually offensive...Think the most amazing thing that happened that day was finding packets of seaweed in crazy flavors...its amazing! I have been eating it every day since. :)
Monday: First day of work today, and because Rob lives a good 40 mins out of Bangkok I was up bright and early (4.30am) I was up, dressed and ready to get in a taxi by 5.30...Looked smart and felt good. Taxi came 40 mins late-I guess i should have figured then that it was about to be one of those days. We turned out of the street and ended up in traffic...it went on and on and on and on and on and on....and on....and on...I was meant to be at work at 8.30 am and it was still going on and on...so having been in the taxi for hours I was busting for a wee...the taxi had to pull over and I jumped out to go to the public loo...I don't really know what I was expecting...but it was a hole...with food marks either side...no loo role...just a bucket with a big scoopy spoon. Kind of like the ones you get in the sauna...yup thats right...you are supposed to squat and when you have done your business (either or) your pour and wipe with your left hand (never shake left hands with a Thai) OMG was all that went through my head...I soon noticed that in every loo I go to there is no loo roll, just a bum gun-kinda like a little shower for your bits...:S I'm not ready for that yet....I finally got into work about 11...yup so first impressions count right...2 1/2 hours late...ouch. everyone was really understanding though so that was cool. :) It was just a lot of talking and the day went quick. There were like 15 starters including me so at least I wasn't on my own. We finished at 4.30 and I headed home...I had some how managed to gain blisters throughout the day so I was walking like John Wayne...I was hot, I was sweaty and NOT HAPPY!!!! I couldn't work out how to use the Sky Train and argh...it was HELL! people everywhere...no one spoke ENGLISH and i was going to cry... I finally get a train, and a taxi after an hour of standing around waiting...after yet another 2 hours stuck in traffic got to Robs. He and his wife were stars and had my dinner on the table...well the floor and it was amazing...I ate, had a beer and then sleep.
Tuesday-I got up even earlier today...and as we had been looking at apartments took all my things. The taxi was quick and I was at work FAR too early, I went to the hotel to meet the other people who were starting. This was interesting because the Taxi driver didn't speak English and he couldn't read addresses in English either...seriously everything takes 7x longer than it does in the UK because NO ONE understands. I imagine that it would be a lonely place to come if you were not visiting the tourist areas. Today's training was better too. We were given lots of information...most of it about 4 times, and sometimes the Thais and the English would say very different things...very confusing but hey ho. We were also taught how to 'WHEY' which is when you put your hands like a budda man, bend over and say 'sawatica' which means hello...apparently its very polite and the oldies love it... We also went apartment hunting and we all got one in the same block of flats. Very nice and about a 20 min walk to work...I say that but in the heat its AGES!!! We ate food and drank beer and just hung out in the evening. I think I have managed to get the reputation of being the ditzy blonde again...kinda strange I feel...
Wednesday: Work was much the same-its looking really good. They are defiantly doing their best to train us up which is cool. :D It actually feels like they want us to be here for a while. We moved into the apartments today which was cool. We also discovered that we have an amazing food place a 2 second walk from us too. Its like 40 bht a meal so that's less than a pound. Its actually cheaper to eat out here so I wont be spending much on food. I guess that works out better in the long run...but I'm not so sure it will do much for my waist line as they seem to eat rice rice rice and more rice...oh and noodles...wait a mo...rice. Today was a struggle when my card stopped working and I had a panic as I was stuck in Bangkok with no money...turns out its actually because I can only get 1000 out a machine a day...but hey ho I cried...people were nice. I think the whole world is struggling with stuff at the moment...but Its because home is so far away.
Thursday: Work was work...it was HOT! Went for drinks after work and some food...food is good. Then we just chilled and did shopping and stuff.
Friday: So work was cool...passed my grammar test (don't know how) but now they can't get rid of me unless I'm really really useless. We stayed for a beer in the local bar after to celebrate before going to Khao san road which is like Camden road...Its AMAZING! although there are loads and loads of people trying to sell ping pong shows. One of the lady boys doing it slapped me in my privates when we said no followed by the word...MELON! I was shocked. It was cool though and I learnt how to barter...the only bad thing that happened was we got lost...but on the way home we got 5 in a tuctuc so that was cool...felt like we were gonna die but I'm still hear.
Saturday: We were observing the club today, this is basically weekend school for the kids. I can do it if i want but its a separate contract. I may look into doing it after I have got though my probational period but we shall see. I am now writing this email before we head out as a group and go to some amazing restaurant around the corner which is all you can eat...should be a good night.
In short....Thailand is ace, food is amazing, and I'm having a ball. Im tiered and looking forward to a couple of days off..but everything is good. People are really nice. I think the thing that has got to me the most is the difference between the rich and the poor. Outside my window there is a shanty village and here I am in an posh flat with air con...i get paid more than a doctor...its almost not fair. But its lovely over here....I think i can see me being here for ages...but lets see how I feel once I finally stop being so wowed by the whole thing...