Phase: Next

Hello from Chiang Mai -
Exciting news; I passed my written and practical test for the WFR course, so I am certified with a laminated card and everything - yes! Our whole class was able to pass, and I really have to admire the Thai staff who took an entire course and test on medical terminology in a second language. The actual test day was on Thursday, and that finished off chapter one of my time in Thailand. The ISDSI director, Mark Ritchie, took some video which I am excited to tell you you can watch at http://www.isdsi.org/wmi.html to get an idea of what the past 10 days have been like. Notes about the background music; the first song is (ironically, you'll see what I mean) one that has the right rhythm to get a rate of 100 chest compressions per minute, so we would have it playing while we practiced CPR on our Actar dummies. We were cautioned not to sing that (or "The wheels on the bus go round and round", another song with the right beat) out loud in an actual emergency situation. Indeed. The second song is country because our Australian instuctor impersonated Billy Bob the country hick to simulate angina pectoris, and it was absolutely hilarious. You can also see the car accident scenario I mentioned in the last post at the end of the video. We had amazing instructors and a really great group of people, so I am kind of missing it!

Thursday night some of the Kalamazoo students who have just finished up their semester were getting rid of clothes and other items they don't want to take back to the states. So I inherited some school uniforms, a gym membership, and a cell phone! It was great to hear some of their expereinces and I am impatient to begin the actual semester.

Here is some contact information:
cell: 081-168-1004 I am still figuring out how to check messages, so no guarantees there.

mailing:
Melissa Blosser
ISDSI
PO Box 222
Prasingh
Chiang Mai, 50205
THAILAND

package:
Melissa Blosser
ISDSI
48/1 Chiang Mai-Lampang Road (Superhighway)
Muang, Chiang Mai, 50300
THAILAND
(if you are shipping, ISDSI recommends DHL)

Dennis picked me up on Friday from the guesthouse, so I am now staying with the Layman family. After staying by myself in a guesthouse for 12 days, it is nice to be back in a home. Bread is now a part of my life again (there is a sandwich shop in Chiang Mai that with the tagline - "A Shady oasis in an ocean of rice". I have been swimming in that delicious ocean since I came and loving it, but it is also good to experience american food after 2 weeks.) Plans for this week: I am going to try to get in touch with SIL people and define some more concrete details for this summer internship. I have some phone numbers from Houghton people, Dr. Ritchie, the Laymans, and I could probably ask the Gallmans too, so there is a good web of connections. Apparently this city is a huge SIL center. Sarah and I are going to do some exploring of the city and I will probably go with her for a day or two to the children's home in a city north of Chiang Mai where she volunteers. We are going to check out a night safari at the zoo here (since I didn't end up going to Tanzania........) and maybe also another night bazaar similar to the Sunday walking street. So, good plans.
Friday I will be going back to the guesthouse and the semester will begin. My fellow classmates are rolling in on the 6th and we will all spend the first night at Mountainview. Saturday we will meet our Thai host families and stay with them for the weekend, and then Monday morning we will begin intensive Thai in our first course. I am so excited about the language learning after wandering around for 2 weeks, illiterate and only able to say "hello" (incorrectly) and a word that just indicates politeness and I don't think has any definite meaning.
The Laymans live in a lower traffic area, which also means I will be able to go for runs while I am here. There are so many cars, motorbikes, bikes, and tuk tuks zipping around every street and corner in the main city that running is really difficult. I went one day for 30 minutes and spent 20 running and 10 waiting to dart across intersections, probably to the amusement of all onlooking Thais who somehow stroll through the rush of traffic like it's a field of daisies.
So enjoy the video and look for anther update in a week or so. Hope you are all doing well.

And - - - hooray for 27 years for Mom and Dad! Each year you celebrate is a gift for me and Erik too.

With love,
Melissa