Leaving Bangkok ...

Tomorrow we depart for northern Thailand to experience one of two field studies that this program offers. It will be a week-long practical study. Friday’s class consisted of an in depth overview about human trafficking and refugee camps. Early next week will consist of speaking to government officials, NGOs and other agencies who will discuss the challenges of trafficking responders, talk about trafficking issues in Thailand, and tell us about their involvement with victim response. Do you know that trafficking brings in over US$31 billion and that there are over 1 million people a year (2 people every minute) who are victims of trafficking. We were told that this was a very loose number. Regardless, it is tragic and a sobering endemic reality.

In regard to refugee camps, please take some time to read this article: http://www.unhcr.org/498ab65c2.html … very thought provoking. It makes you wonder (sigh) what place do these people call “home?” As you may read, Angelina Jolie was actually there in February of last year (2009) and we will be at the same camp next Tuesday.

Here's Erinma doing some last minute ironing ... After such an intense day, Manisha, Andrezza (who I'll introduce to you at a later time) and I had an aromatic massage with oil, drank fresh vegetable/fruit juice for dinner and went "snack shopping" for tomorrow.

... off to sleep, anticipating a week that will provide unique and intense experiences, one's that will surely change my life... So in just a few hours, I will leave the city of angels - Bangkok!!

"Fan-mail"

I've adopted the term - fan mail - from Miss Baines, when I worked at the Admissions Office at Bridgwater State College (and as of Wednesday Bridgewater State UNIVERSITY!); she would become overly elated when she got “fan mail,” that is, mail from friends, former students, you know … fans! :o) Well, since then I've embraced the term, and must tell you that I got my first piece of "fan mail” during afternoon tea break from our deputy director, Jenn (who I'll introduce you to at another time). For some strange reason, but not a surprise to most of you, my eyes welled up … Jenn was within arms-length for a timely embrace. Thanks, or "khob khun ka," Eileen for your kind words from "home," and for your hug, Jenn … And so, if anyone wants to send me fan mail, feel free! Here is my address:
Rosamaria Carlozzi
Rotary Center at Chulalongkorn University
Vidhaya Pattana Building, 2nd floor
Chulalongkorn University
154 Phyathai Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
THAILAND
Keep in mind that it takes two weeks to get here, so don’t mail anything after September 15!

Diversity everyday!

Among the 17 individuals in my class, we shared 13 countries for our “cultural fashion show” on Monday. Some of the traditional dress from Nigeria, India and the Philippines was absolutely stunning!! I feel as though I captured the essence of my “red, white and blue” with my Mickey Mouse shirt (that one is for you, Lindsay) and my Red Sox cap (that one is for you, Lisa Sylvia) pretty well! What do you think? ;o)
Look at Inday (pictured above) in her outfit from the Philippines. What looks to be a design on her shirt is actually a beaded necklace! In case you're wondering, yes!, her neck was sore after wearing it just a few hours.

And Aarti - our astronaut - in her silk sari was absolutely stunning!
We have a fairly large, creative and enthusiastic “delegation” from Australia! Allow me to introduce Charlie, Ian, Sam (my swim coach) and Tom. What a wonderful bunch! As laid back as they are, they’ve done incredible work in their respected fields. Ian has worked with aborigines in northern Australia for years. I relish story-telling time (naturally in his Australian accent) of his countless and amazing jaunts and encounters with extraordinary people from every corner of the world. My goal is to encourage him to write a book …

Our group of Australians are all laid back and they're “simply fantastic!” After three weeks, I’m still having a bit of difficulty understanding them – especially Charlie! All good though! Between being hard of hearing and just not understanding certain expressions, they still repeat each phrase countless times with a smile! Of course they do … they’re Australian!:o)
The evening concluded with dinner at a Korean restaurant with our American professors Joel Schaffer and Jan Sunoo from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Since Jan is a Korean-American, we dined at a Korean restaurant downtown. It was absolutely delicious and healthy!! Here's Jan lecturing about the roles of mediator and facilitator and the concept of BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiation Agreement). Yes, it is all very interesting! I love school! Look at all of the little dishes filled with veggies, beans, raw garlic, lettuce, sprouts … Mmmmmmm …. I ate it all!!!!
Other than one other American in class (and incidentally), I never see anyone who is like me, that is … Caucasian. Whether I’m at the gym, shopping, buying my 45 cent bag of fresh cut fruit from the canteen, going to the post office, praying at the temple, or simply walking around – diversity is all around me! I love it and realize that, yes!, this world has much … so much … to teach me!!


"Say cheese!" world :o)

Exercise-filled weekend

Saturday and Sunday consisted of swimming, yoga, writing my 15-page paper (due Wednesday night), journaling, reading, researching and … shopping!! Because our week is sandwich-packed with lecture after lecture, group exercises, discussions, reflections and more readings, it is wonderful to have physical, mental and spiritual exercise on the weekend!

Here is the pool, which is fantastic! This week, I’ve gone into the hot tub once and steam room several times. The latter, perhaps, is my favorite – especially after half-hour of swimming the back-stroke (the only stroke I do well) and switching off with my styrofoam swimming board. At some point Sam (short for Samantha) from Australia, is suppose to give me “proper swimming lessons;” she swims almost every morning before class. After spending three months at a Buddhist temple, I will be curious to see how patient she’ll be as my personal swimming instructor … :o)

Saturday evening I ate at SASA International House, which is a hotel next door from my dormitory. The spicy papaya salad and bowl of fresh vegetable soup (carrots, cabbage, and broccoli) was delicious and healthy. Since I haven’t adjusted well to food from the canteen (where all of the students eat), I’ve been having most of my dinners here. Almost always, I’m alone and take “time” to journal, read or blog. After dinner, I wrote my paper, read, researched and skyped with a couple of people … skyping is always a nice break.

Sunday, I had breakfast (fresh cut papaya, pineapple and yogurt) in my room, worked on my paper and then … SHOPPING at Chatuchuck Market!! It was absolutely crazy!!! People, as you can see, are EVERYWHERE!!

We took a couple of breaks and had fresh juice shake and then coconut ice cream, with pieces of coconut in a coconut shell. Here is a picture of Nadda (one of the administrative assistants from school) holding my ice cream!

I mainly bought souvenirs, a couple of dresses and tried looking for “togs,” (which is what they call bathing suits in Australia). I managed NOT to buy any shoes, if you can believe it!!! Here we are after 6 hours of shopping, taking the sky train back home!!!! From left to right, Aarti, Erinma & Nadda (whom you've already met), Inday (Philippines) and me!!!
The weekend was great as it included exercise for the body, mind, soul and spirit!! It was a great way to gear up for the following week of lectures and also in preparing us to fly to northern Thailand (Chang Mai and Mae Hong Sorn), on Saturday morning, where we’ll visit refugee camps and talk to people who are involved in the prevention of human trafficking. The briefing last Friday, which consisted of ground rules and what to expect, was eye-opening and disturbing … I can’t imagine what it will be like to see, learn, talk to people … simply experience it all …

Thai theatre

Tonight, I attended the theatre with my Thai friends Neung (left) and Joy (right). We've been getting together weekly for dinner, which has been fabulous! Last time we we're all together was during my first visit to Thailand in 1998. Although Neung and I sometimes meet in Italy, should we find ourselves there at the same time, we've managed to maintain a wonderful friendship since our memorable year in Florence - completing our Master's in Italian through Middlebury College. Both Neung and Joy are professors at Chula - Neung teaches Italian and chairs the department of foreign languages; she has also published a few books and is under a deadline to translate an Italian novel to Thai in just a few days!! And you think I'm busy! :o) Yes, she is brilliant and I am so fortunate to have her as my friend. She was the first person who introduced me to Buddhism, years and years ago, and has inspired me to explore it further. I truly admire Neung for her accomplishments and for the person that she is ... Joy is a close friend of Neung's and teaches English. She loves yoga and dance and is simply a "joy" to be around. I can't tell you how awesome it is to spend "time" with these two vibrant, lovely, classy, intelligent, versatile, independent, funny and warm-hearted women ... my friends. :o)
So here is the theatre curtain!! Isn't it beautiful!? The performance was spectacular! Although I didn't understand A WORD, I was captivated and mesmerized by the costumes, masks and traditional Thai dancing. The movements of the actors and actresses hands and feet alone are amazing!! Because traditional theatre and dance are fully intertwined, storytelling is quite different. Of course having English subtitles of what was going on during a particular act was extremely helpful, not to mention Joy and Neung's occasional comments to clarify instances where the audience was laughing and I wasn't. :o)
You can definitely feel the pride in maintaining this classical part of their national heritage. The Queen (who was in attendance on Thursday night) supports the arts and sponsored authentic props from the Palace and also made is extremely affordable so that students would be able to go. A great number of Neung's students were there, which was spectacular. As we strolled in they were all waiing us!

Speaking of waiing ... I absolutely love it!! Each time I do it (which is countless times a day), I find that it actively engages two people to simultaneous communicate with one another beyond a verbal "hello." When you say hello in Thailand, you say it together with the gesture of waiing (hands pressed together at chest level with a simultaneous bow) and end it with a smile. It's more than a simple greeting!! I LOVE IT!! Waiing is a unique, graceful action practiced throughout Thailand as it plays a very important part in showing respect and is fundamental to Thai etiquette. As you can imagine, hugs or the "European kiss-on-each-cheek" is not Thai AT ALL! No worries though, even as an Italian, I'm adapting very well ... :o)
At the end of the performance, everyone stood up as the King's anthem was played, after which, everyone simultaneously and respectfully bowed really low (lower than they would for their national anthem). It was wonderful! Upon exiting the theatre and to my surprise, I was interviewed by a woman who had a similar name as mine. Rosesawan, from World Buddhist Television, asked me to comment on the evening's performance, if I would recommend it to anyone and if I would come again to another performance in the fall. It was a bit overwhelming but definitely fantastic!!! (After she interviewed me she interviewed the director, pictured here).
Beautiful masks for sale ...
In front of the theatre, there was this open Buddhist temple which was absolutely stunning. There is such a peaceful feeling about going to temple ...

Neung, me and Joy outside of the temple. Notice how it's surrounded by water. Isn't it stunning?

An apple for you!

For 199 baht (almost US$7.00), I bought an apple!!! Its vibrant color and size initially attracted me! Because it is imported from Japan, it’s expensive -– surprise-surprise! As you can see, some of the fruit here is packaged quite uniquely – for $7.00 it should be! My classmates and I amused ourselves by taking pictures and comparing it with the size of our heads and hands.
(Check out the great packaging! Even the stem is protected with foam)!

Here is Aarti (India) with the imported apple. Incidentally, Aarti is an elementary school principal in India, who is an electronics specialist and on the NASA training team. We proudly call her our future astronaunt, our peace fellow colleague, our loving humanitarian, our new friend!

As a Rotarian Peace Fellow, I decided to share my apple with everyone (18 wedges) this afternoon. Final consensus (drumroll) ... it was delicious, but (in my opinion), does not compare to a fresh, crisp McCoun – my personal favorite – hand-picked from a carefully pruned apple tree on a crisp autumn afternoon, grown on a New England farm/orchard ...

Rainy season!

Rainy season in Thailand runs from June to November. This period is HOT and wet - making it HUMID!!! Have I failed to tell you how HOT it is here?!

What an amazing lecture today!!! Doctor Soree Pokao, a psychology professor from Chulalongkorn University, who actually studied in Illinois for a while, began with … “for there to be external peace, there needs to be internal peace.” He continued to talk about the boundaries – simple boundaries – that we establish amongst ourselves – that of being a woman or man or a psychologist, or a company owner, or a mailman. These boundaries separate us, thus encouraging discontent and alienation. How true! I think many of us can see this in our work but also in our social interactions. This imbalance causes a sort of disequlibrium or disproportion.

He also spoke about Eastern philosophy and how gratitude is given to all living things (past and present), from the sun and the trees to one’s ancestors and other nations. If people (you, me, world leaders) could look at life like this, the way in which we would treat others or our work through conflict would be so different. Life could be so different!

Doctor Pokao went on to state that many of us are programmed to believe that “the more we have, the better. This is what determines success!" He mentioned that having this engrained in our “spirit” has caused mental distress, especially amongst Westerners, and that we should develop the philosophy of living more with less.

He then asked us (he asked us A LOT of questions!!!!) what, in reality, can we own? Can we own our car, our children, our eyes, our husband/wife? Do we, or can we, take what we “own” with us when our life ends? By not having (material) desires and by living life naturally (like a flowing river) would provide us with an internal or inner peace, thus unfolding into external peace. Hence, internal peace promotes – encourages – breeds – external peace!

On a lighter note and after a long day of lecture, Manisha and I went to MBK because I needed a highlighter (MBK is a mall that contains 6 floors of ENDLESS shopping). It’s actually nauseating … ANYWAY, look what I found! Pringles!!!!!! I am not one for junk food, but sometimes have a weakness for Cape Cod chips and …. yes, Pringles! (No, I didn't buy any!!!) Check out the flavors!!! Any takers?! :o)

My weekend!

What a crazy couple of days!! Busy, educational, fun, tiring, emotional, draining, invigorating … It all started Saturday morning when a small group of us went on a guided tour of the main sites of Bangkok (the King’s Palace, the Emerald Buddha, the Reclining Buddha, boat ride through the canals of the old city, and the Temple of Dawn). Let’s start by saying it was HOT! It’s ALWAYS HOT in Thailand, whether it’s 5 a.m. or 2 a.m.!!! It never, ever, ever cools down!!!!! Let me also add that the sun WAS NOT out today, yet the humidity is enough to kill people that are not accustomed to it! For those who know how much I dislike air-conditioning in the States, I am the one who favors it the most out of all of us in the group – or at least vocalize it the most!! I VALUE, APPRECIATE AND LOVE A.C. HERE IN THAILAND!!

As you will see through my pictures, our city tour was fabulous!!! Come journey with me …

Photo of Grand Palace!! Me and Erimna Bell (U.K. / Nigeria) Let me just add that Erinma is THE QUEEN of shopping, food and fashion!!!

Gold, gold and more (real) gold at the Grand Palace!!! … fit for a princess!!! :o)


We even ran into some graduates from Chula who were getting a photo shoot. Aren’t they hams? They should be proud of getting their degrees from what they know to be the best university in Thailand!!
As we were leaving the temple of the Emerald Buddha, there was this young girl, who couldn’t have been more than three or four years old. I was taking pictures of her and then asked her mom (with gestures) if someone could take a picture of me with her. As you can imagine, the child was frightened but quickly warmed up to me, put her hands together and “wai-ed” me. There is actually a picture of her wai-ing … This is how everyone greets one another as a sign of respect. Unexpectedly, I started to cry … Her stare penetrated through me and captured my heart. There’s just something about Thai children that intrigues me and seizes my inner spirit ... Immediately after, Erimna and I walked over to the temple and bought amulets. Almost all Thais wear them; they’re either of Buddha or contain the remains of a loved one. They believe in protection and feel that parents are the ultimate protectors. So, for example, if a Thai college student goes abroad to study, they may cut a small swatch from their mother’s skirt and bring it with them as a way of protection or of feeling close to them. My amulet is of the Emerald Buddha; I chose it because green is the color of those born on Wednesday, it was my first favorite color as a child, it will always remind me of my encounter with the precious little Asian angel whom I met in Bangkok, also known as, the City of Angels …

Before visiting the Reclining Buddha we stopped to get coconut juice – straight from the coconut!! Charlie (Australia) and I stopped to get one for 20 baht (30 cents) to rehydrate and watched the tuk-tuk driver across the street take a break from the inferno!!

Zipping through down-town in a tuk-tuk is an experience! ;o)

The Reclining Buddha or Wat Pho – What an amazing structure as it is the third largest Buddha in Thailand! It is gold-plated and measures out to be 151 feet long and 49feet high; it illustrates the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. Let me tell you … it is quite a masterpiece!!!


The boat through the canals of Bangkok was spectacular and gave us insight on how Thai people (middle/lower class) live. Their homes are simple (check out the beds with the mosquito nets and the floating restaurant) and they appear to be satisfied with minimal possessions. Having the opportunity to see places like this and “feel them” (my former students will know exactly what I mean) with all of your senses makes me appreciate where God decided to place me when he put me on Mother Earth! And those who know me really well, truly understand why I get emotional whenever the American National Anthem is played … I am thankful, truly thankful …

... always friendly

A floating restaurant

A friendly wave from his humble home

Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun was probably one of my favorites because it provided a stunning panorama of the city!! Unlike the previous structures, which were decorated with gold and tile, this was decorated with bits of porcelain which had previously been used by boats coming to Bangkok from China, a hallmark of the reign of King Rama III. Interesting to note, the Temple of Dawn housed the celebrated Emerald Buddha for a brief period.
A close up of Wat Arun or The Temple of Dawn

Climbing to the top!

This Thai student interviewed me for one of her class projects

Absolutely beautiful view of Wat Arun

After our crazy day, I came back to my room and decided to venture out on my own. Those of you who have traveled with me know that I love to just “get lost” in whatever city I’m in, so I went out “mapless” into Bangkok!!! It was HOT, full of traffic, (which means I was breathing serious exhaust the entire time), and there was food everywhere! Normally, I eat EVERYTHING but my stomach hasn’t been right for a few days. The smell of some food turns my stomach and I’ve converted to being a vegetarian, for the most part. :o( Well, I got lost and the only road I knew would take me home was closed off. At night the security guards lock all of the gates to the university. I managed to have one of the guards unlock the gate and let me in; however, he failed to tell me that the other side would also be locked. Fortunately, there were a bunch of Thai students gathered at the other gate and asked them how I could get to the other side. They signed for me to climb over!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, right!! was the expression I gave back, after which one of the girls guided me to climb over!!!! Thank Buddha I didn’t have a skirt on!!! :o) When I reached over to the other side, they all clapped and smiled. I thanked them in Thai and wai-ed to them and they simultaneously wai-ed back and smiled as I walked away!!!! After my two hour walk, my evening ended with a bowl of vegetable soup and a tepid shower …

Today (Sunday), I had a “Rosamaria day,” which started with breakfast (fresh fruit and yogurt), yoga (I was the only the only foreigner and my teacher conducted the class in Thai and English), and a day at the pool of the Princess Hotel. I swam four laps (I could hardly breathe!!!), read a ton of material for class this coming week, went in the jacuzzi, and just relaxed before my intense week of school!!!! Dinner was light ... papaya salad and fruit!!!!! Speaking of fruit, Thailand is “fruit heaven!” Their mangos are sweet, juicy and never bruised!! My favorite dessert is sticky rice with fresh mango covered with coconut milk and crushed peanuts. Doesn't it look fabulous!? Eating this has replaced my homemade ice cream jaunts to Somerset Creamery!!!!