Chili Sin Carne (Chili without meat)

Bless her heart Thailand has some pretty creative interpretations when it comes to food. I've heard of people getting a piece of cheese when ordering cheesecake. Ice chunks in milk when ordering ice cream. And experienced here at Serenity friends ordering a veggie burger made of only veggies (no actual burger). That I can laugh at but when I order chili con carne I expected the literal con (with) carne (meat). Yep, even yogis eat meat... well this one eats chicken at least. Well here's what comes when one orders chili con carne: chili peppers and soupy kidney beans. :) At least beans have some protein!

Yoga inspiration

How do I get through two, sometimes three asana (posture) classes a day? One name can answer this question: Luca. Aged to perfection at 4 years, this half French half Thai little tyke always brings a smile to my face whenever he darts into the room. His giggle is infectious and we have lots of fun together. His energy is what helps me get through yoga in the hot Thai afternoon.

How to wash laundry in SEA (Southeast Asia) after the rain.

So Thailand, still part of Asia, can experience terrential downpours at times. When this happens the nice laundry that you so cutely washed in the bathroom sink begins to reek of stale sweat, muggy earth, and whatever was cooked in the kitchen that afternoon. If that didn't create enough of a pungant smell in your nostrils just try going to smell that old sneaker you left in the laundry room but have still yet to wash.

It is necessary to rid the clothes of this smell because... well when traveling SEA you really only have about five sets that you rotate on a regular basis. And doing yoga in close proximity to others twice daily adds to the necessity of this washing effort. So why not just use the local laundry ladies? 30-40THB (roughly $1USD) per kilo of laundry seems like it's not that much but add it all up to an already tight budget it saves to do your own.
In preparation, run to the 7-11 to procure laundry detergent (this should cost roughly 33THB). Now we may commence!
To begin:
1. Catch and remove cockroach from washing area.
2. Gather laundry the wind has scattered about the patio during the monsoon.
3. Wet laundry in cold clean tap water.
4. Boil pot of water on stove. (This is to kill the mold that has begun to grow due to the damp air and perpetual rain.)

5. Add a scoop of unknown scented laundry detergent to the cool water.

6. Drain cool water from sink and pour in boiling water. Stir with appropriate kitchen tools. (To avoid burning your hands.)

7. Once the water has cooled, empty sink, ring laundry and hang in the sun to dry. 8. By evening your laundry should be done.

Now you know how to avoid the musky monsoon smell in your laundry! ;)

An Intentional Weekend

Last week finished strong, despite the fact that we all endured two asana (posture) classes a day for five days. (Some are 90 minute classes people!) These classes are already having a profound impact on my posture and gait. Regular exercise, which promotes blood flow, does wonders for the body and as well for the mind. Too often sitting still at a computer can bring back, neck and shoulder pain by tightening the front of the body. Yet when we regularly work on strengthening our back it can lead to a more open chest and ease stress regularly placed on the shoulders and neck. So... go walk, do yoga or get the blood flowing through other exercises.

Over the weekend there were many extra activities that one could choose from; such as a study of organic foods, a children's workshop, or a trip to town. The weekend was a nice change to sleep into 7am, rather then the usual 6am wakeup. Though this is not a habit I regularly keep at home (waking up early), I think it's one I might change. Waking up so early leaves so much time in the day to accomplish things, like an ocean swim, cleaning out the room, doing laundry. Saturday was spent visiting the main town on the island and shopping for fresh fruit and produce. The first time Thailand-visitors also went wild for the tshirts, yoga pants, and other fun island beach wear. After getting my first real latte in a week, we all crammed all 10 of us back into the sung theow (an old Toyota with two bench seats in the bed of the truck) out to Serenity.

Since I have an invested interest in working with women and children in a yoga therapy context, I chose a children's yoga workshop on Sunday afternoon. This workshop was held at an alternate yoga school on the island. So despite the torrential downpour three others and I made our way to Agama Yoga School. Our instructor Ra Dasi allowed us to sit in on an actual child's yoga class. Thoroughly energetic the kids bounced and babbled their way through the poses. They particularly loved the animal-inspired ones like cat/cow. It was a wonderful experience to see just how free she allowed the children to be yet Ra kept a fluid structure about the whole class. The kids were thoroughly engaged in the poses and even lead part of the classes. Truly it was an eye-opening experience of how to lead a kids class. I learned so much and can't wait to lead my own kiddo class.

Lovin my new home!

Welcome back the the adventures of Nikki in Thailand. I arrived about a week ago in Koh Pha Ngan, Southern Thailand for my yoga teacher training. After a short visit in Cambodia I hopped on a plane to Bangkok. Much to my shagrin I couldn't sleep suring my 8 hour layover there. Don't judge but the only quiet place (save for the flushing toilets) is often the bathroom. I was almost asleep when the cleaning ladies decided this should not be my place to slumber. ::Knock, Knock:: "Madam madam, you sleep here no!" Was my 1:45 am wakeup call.

After surviving this sleepless night, I popped onto a short flight to Koh Samui, the main island before my final destination. Once the flight landed I made my way to the ferry dock and held my stomach as the boat lurched to and fro on the way to the island. 8:30am I landed on Koh Pha Ngan and was shuttled by one of the yoga teachers (Ashton) to my new abode at Serenity.

This place is beautiful! I can't say enough about it, nor have I ever seen somthing like it in Thailand. To be quite fair it looks more like Tuscany on the outside. The little cottages are made of cement painted a cheerful yellow with red clay roof tiles and vines meandering their way up the side. Serenity is set on a hillside that slopes steeply to the ocean. (This is not a gentle slope by any means, and my thighs feel the burn everytime I hike to my room.) 131 stairs from the ocean to the top of the hill.

เกาะพะงัน Thailand!

During my time in Korea, yoga was a tool for stress relief and physical well being. I regularly attended classes on weekdays and found myself enjoying the many benefits that consistant stretching and physical activity can bring. I began to see how the positive outlook on life and the physical strength could be an aid in the rehabilitation of victims of trafficking (we all know most things in my life often relate to this work).

Seeing how these things could go together, I applied for a Yoga Alliance Certification program. This means I will be certified to instruct yoga anywhere in the world. Not only did I get accepted, I was offered a scholarship! The picture is of my Korea friends and I celebrating after hearing the news. A special thanks goes to Autum for helping me edit my application! The program is called Love.Spiral.Yoga http://www.lovespiralyoga.com/ is there site if you would like to check it out. We will be practing the physical movements of yoga, learning the anatomy, and studying it's origins. During the course I will also be taking my own time to develop a yoga therapy curriculum to use with those who have encountered trauma. The program itself is two months and immediatly following I am going to dive right in and volunteer at an aftercare facility either in Cambodia or North Thailand. (The details of which will come later.)

I leave for Thailand January 3rd, make a quick stop in Cambodia (to meet with the founder of an aftercare facility) and will begin my program on the 9th. Please pray for opportunities to challenge those around me, as I presume many will not have the origins that I do. Also that I would have an open heart for my peers and for the things that are to be revealed.

Thank you all for your emails, prayers, love and coffee dates while I have been home. You all have refilled my life and refuled my passion for those who are oppressed. I cannot wait to share more with you all from the land that has my heart and the people who will not let it go. ^_^

See you later Korea!

One year, well almost, three hundred and sixty days have passed of this Korean life. It has been a rough journey yet it has taught me many lessons about life, self, and others. Though I will be returning in July to teach summer school for two months, it is time to say goodbye to Korea and hello to the crazy month to come at home.
This week has been one of goodbyes. Saying goodbye to the beautiful people I have met over this past year seems surreal. Friendships made overseas help you to carry on semi-normal life, despite the surrounding foreign culture. Most of the time they are people completely different then your friends back home. It is a wonderful chance to gain new insights and stretch your perspective of life. I am so thankful for all of those fantastic people I met here in Korea, specifically for G Buckman, the Stewarts, and Karin B. They all have shared the highs and lows of this experience with me and I am so blessed to have known them.

Farewells also have been extended to my students. Something I think many foreign teachers forget to do/say. Rather then leave my classes wondering: "Where did she go?" "Why did she leave?" "Did she hate Korea?" I am filling them in on the reality of the situation. My contract has ended, my sister is getting married, and it's simply time to go home. Though this has helped my students to gain understanding and a bit of closure to the matter, it has also evoked tears and begging for a reconsideration of my decision. To be honest it has been nice to see how they did care and that they will miss me. I will always treasure the notes and the gifts they gave me, yet the smiles, corney English jokes, and "Goodmorning Nikki teacher"s will be missed the most.

Thank you Mabuk and the best to every teacher and student! As for all of you friends and family back home, I will see you in two days! ^.^