Arrived at Payap University Chiang Mai

We are ensconsed at the Convenient Resort, so aptly named because it's close to the new Bangkok Airport, the scene of the recent sit-in and countrywide close down, after a long 30 hour travel experience that was even tolerable. We're still dizzingly tired, disoriented, yet befriended by kind Thais, and 11000 miles closer to Chiang Mai; two planes, one 12 hours, the second 7 hours in flight from Detroit to Tokyo to Bangkok. Dianne is sleeping breakfast off while I'm teaching our friendly bellhop to create his own blog. The temp is wonderfully damp and mid 70s; the flowers, mostly cannas, in this nowhere place nr the new airport are splendid; and we have two days to do nothing but see wats / temples, get massages, meet Aussies and Brits, and wander the small town and cafes, which is the wrong word because they're little more than assembled tables organized around ducks, tofu, chicken, various curries and lots of red peppers.

Spent a wonderful day on Sky Train discovering some of the wonders of Bangkok, its wats (temples), its sushi and noodles, China Town and the closed gate at the National Museum (holiday!). But we filled the last day in Bangkok with tuk-tuk rides, taxis, and trains, and a vivid sense of a huge city with a government in captivity.

But that didn't stop us. We flew to Chiang Mai this morning, and we're now comfortably housed at International House, Payap U. After being picked up at the Chiang Mai Airport by a Payap staff member, who spoke no English, we traveled abt 20 minutes north of the city to a wonderfully new and large campus, surrounded by hills and mountains, and the residence hall. We have a suite of three rooms, two bedrooms and a living room between. Before we had time to unpack, Dr. Pearl Wattanakul, my supervisor and chair of MA TESOL here, called, picked us up and took around campus, the university 38 years old but most buildings looking brand new, the res hall right next to the Law School and a mile or two away from main campus. Then it was onto Carrefour Mall where Pearl treated us to lunch (we ordered my curry chicken with noodles "not too hot" and it took a mere 12 seconds before my forehead and scalp were drenched in sweat).

Dr. Pearl outlined some of her hopes and expectations for my time here, and even gave a wink to Dianne whose expertise in arts education fit well with some goals Pearl and the U. has. She would like me to develop some new directions at Payap, for both English and TESOL, as well as to teach both grad and undergrad courses. Back in our room, I fell exhausted and overexcited into bed where sleep would not come. I have my work cut our for me. Dianne says, Tom, do you know what you got yourself into?