We have received a few e-mails from concerned people due to the unrest that’s going on over here. However, for our Lincoln friends it just so happens that all of this is going on during the first week of football and as we all know the world revolves around the Big Red Machine at this time.
Here’s a quick recap: the ex-prime minister Thaksin was ousted and charged with corruption and a whole slew of other allegations. His wife has already been tried and charged. They allowed both of them to go to the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in which he fled to the UK. He is absolutely loaded and is the owner of a soccer team there. Pretty much this guy is pretty unsavory and will likely be put to death if he ever comes back (hence the UK won’t extradite him). So this new PM has been in power for only about 9 months and the PAD (People’s Advocacy for Democracy) says that he is just Thaksin’s puppet and want him to resign. Well the PAD organized and stormed in and took over a state run television network, they are camped out and protesting in the Government’s House (which is the PM’s residence). Friday they demonstrated in the airports at Krabi and Phuket and the railroads have all shut down in support of the PAD. It’s been largely non-violent except for a little incident where there was a skirmish. There are warrant’s out for the head PAD leaders as well as a mandate to get the protesters out of the Government’s House. So far the King has had a special meeting with the PM (he usually stays out of the politics of this country) and right now there is a parliament meeting to discuss how best to go about everything. As of now the military is with the PM but an ex-general with power wants him out so if the military is swayed he’ll be out! Good news is the king won’t allow a bloody coup…meaning they won’t go into a civil war or anything. Believe it or not this one man has that much power. Today the airports opened back up but the railroads are still closed.
It’s a little volatile right now but as long as you stay away from the troubled spots you are fine. With that said Allison and I are headed to Krabi tomorrow!! J (don’t worry mom it’s not bad down there, just at the airport). We were planning on taking the train which is the way to go, but we obviously can’t do that now so we are taking a 14 hour bus ride. We will go and visit a bunch of the islands and relax a bit.
I know I’m not making good with my promises on posting more believe me it’s not due to a lack of things to report but I’ve been very busy with ActionAid Thailand and now with Allison here only one of us can be on the internet at a time so it gets a little difficult to manage. But everyone is fine and dandy over here and we are excited to hit the beach!
Saturday we went to a Muay Thai match and it was one of the craziest things I’ve been too. Matt and Brooke knew a guy from the movie set they worked on together so we went with him and he knew the owner of the gym so we got in for free and sat literally 10 feet away from the ring. We saw 6 matches and these guys are crazy as is the crowd…you had everything from bookies, low-middle class people to the mob and people that were throwing down 300,000 Baht on matches. No, we are not betting the way they do it is impossible to understand. We saw a kid get knocked out and another one broke his shin. Definitely an intense intense sport.
Besides that I went to Laos for about 3 days to the capital. It was very sad, for the capital of a country and there was nothing going on there! I can’t believe how much I take for granted the little knowledge I have of Thai…because in Laos there is NO Thai or English spoken. It was very difficult to communicate and almost starved because I couldn’t order food. But it was an experience at the least. I met a few people on my travels, as always, and unfortunately I see them and it scares me that these people are out in the world. It amazes me how people twist and turn and try to cover-up who and what they are. Then the next guy behind them is proud of who and what he is and does. However if you are buying human lives I suppose your conscious has gone out the window a long time ago. It only fuels my drive to help ActionAid and the things they are trying to accomplish.
Also Brooke went on a 10 day meditation retreat where there was no absolutely no talking. Obviously not something I can do but she said it was amazing and wants to do another one. It gives you a unique insight into yourself and helps you to figure out your internal problems. Something we all probably could use but few have the ware withal to go about it.
I hear our football team won but didn’t look to impressive, I only hope that you all had a beer for me and cheered extra loud. Hopefully we will come around. I miss football so much and will let you know if I find a place to watch it.
Thanks again for your concerns and keeping tabs on us! We are all fine, safe, and having a blast. I’ll be sure to post something once I get back from the island! For more information on the political unrest over here
Here’s to you,Ryan
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Adam's Final Thoughts:
We all know everyone makes mistakes. We all learn from mistakes and adjust accordingly. But how do you learn from a mistake you don't know you are making? One of the worst things you can ever be is selfish, because in their eyes they do not make mistakes and therefore can never learn from their actions.
A few good ones:
It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.--Winston Churchill
“Do or do not, there is no try” –YODA
“Events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order the continuous thread of revelation.” Eudora Welty
You must be the change you want to see in the world
Mahatma Gandhi
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
The main things which seem to me important on their own account, andnot merely as means to other things, are knowledge, art, instinctivehappiness, and relations of friendship or affection.
Bertrand Russell
“Do or do not, there is no try” –YODA
“Events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order the continuous thread of revelation.” Eudora Welty
You must be the change you want to see in the world
Mahatma Gandhi
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
The main things which seem to me important on their own account, andnot merely as means to other things, are knowledge, art, instinctivehappiness, and relations of friendship or affection.
Bertrand Russell
Update
Okay, Okay, Okay, I know it's been awhile since I've given you an update. Yes, I'm still alive. I have been spending more time getting reacquainted with an old friend, doinga whole lot of research for the future, and walking around aimlessly in Salaya and Bangkok. I was prompted to get back in the groove and write on my blog after drinking a Carona the other day. It tasted like Florida...
As for volunteering I am meeting with ActionAid on Friday to see what kind of projects are going to be needing my help, I am in contact with Friends For All Children an adoption agency in Bangkok as well as Project L.I.F.E. Foundation which has a whole range of programs that I'm interested in.
As for the future, I've been thinking a lot of what I'm going to do after my Thailand trip. I've come up with some unique options and have searched endlessly on the internet. Some options include Graduate School abroad or domestically in the Social Sciences field, attempt to find a job in the Social Development, philanthropic, or Human Rights fields, and last but not least I'm looking into Officer Training for the Air Force. I know for some of you you might see the military as an odd option but talking with Matt and my Grandpa it is something that I've decided to look into. Of course there is always the option of attempting to find a job in my field of Marketing. So a lot of broad research is being done to figure out my best options.
I don't know if I've told all of you this yet or not but Matt and I dined on crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and some giant type of flying cockroach. They all went down okay but I about lost the flying cockroach because I was laughing so hard. Matt and I decided to put the whole thing in our mouth and chew...well all of the Thai's around us started laughing and we had no idea why. Turns out you are supposed to take the wings off before you throw them in your mouth. It was a very interesting experience.
I wanted to thank all of you for the Birthday wishes, cards, and even phone call. We are having a good time here and hope all of you are over there. I have gotten a few responses to my 24 questions so I thank those of you brave enough to offer your opinion.
I will try and post more regularly!
Here's to you,
Ryan
As for volunteering I am meeting with ActionAid on Friday to see what kind of projects are going to be needing my help, I am in contact with Friends For All Children an adoption agency in Bangkok as well as Project L.I.F.E. Foundation which has a whole range of programs that I'm interested in.
As for the future, I've been thinking a lot of what I'm going to do after my Thailand trip. I've come up with some unique options and have searched endlessly on the internet. Some options include Graduate School abroad or domestically in the Social Sciences field, attempt to find a job in the Social Development, philanthropic, or Human Rights fields, and last but not least I'm looking into Officer Training for the Air Force. I know for some of you you might see the military as an odd option but talking with Matt and my Grandpa it is something that I've decided to look into. Of course there is always the option of attempting to find a job in my field of Marketing. So a lot of broad research is being done to figure out my best options.
I don't know if I've told all of you this yet or not but Matt and I dined on crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and some giant type of flying cockroach. They all went down okay but I about lost the flying cockroach because I was laughing so hard. Matt and I decided to put the whole thing in our mouth and chew...well all of the Thai's around us started laughing and we had no idea why. Turns out you are supposed to take the wings off before you throw them in your mouth. It was a very interesting experience.
I wanted to thank all of you for the Birthday wishes, cards, and even phone call. We are having a good time here and hope all of you are over there. I have gotten a few responses to my 24 questions so I thank those of you brave enough to offer your opinion.
I will try and post more regularly!
Here's to you,
Ryan
Sunday, August 3, 2008
24 Questions from a 24 Year Old
If you have any questions to add...please feel free! I also reserve the right to chane and/or edit my questions!
1) Why can't we all live by the beach?
I've never had a bad time while I was on the beach.
2) Why don't Priests use please and thank you's when talking to God?
I've been taught to always use please and thank you's with everyone and I never understood why we almost demand God for forgiveness or strength.
3) If high heels are so uncomfortable why to people wear them?
4) Why are children starving?
There is enough food in the world there is no reason why there should be kids starving. I read a disturbing article where a man wanted to explain away starvation by an almost Natural Selection phenomenon. As if we shouldn't do anything because the weak are dying which will make the strong stronger...I don't know if I have ever read anything sadder in my life.
5) Is it possible to forgive and forget?
6) Is it a coincidence that the two hardest things to say are both 3 words long and have more power over people then any other phrase in the English language?
"I am Sorry" "I Love You"
7) Why can't you realize that it's not your intentions that cause reactions but how your message is perceived?
8) Why don't we sing more?
I know I can't sing, I know I have no musical talent...but I don't think you should have to be a good singer to sing. Sometimes people just want to sing!
9) Is this year the beginning to Nebraska's return to dominance?
If so, tape the games for me!
10) Why don't we give more to charity?
How much is too much? $5, $50, $5,000, $50,000, $500,000, ??? At what point did you consider those numbers to be a ridiculous sum to give? Instead of that extra beer, that monthly pedicure, instead of that purse you've wanted or that fight you were going to order on t.v. donate to a charity!
11) Why is it so hard to volunteer your time?
12) Why are the foods that taste so good, so bad for you?
13) Why is it so hard to stay in touch with friends with family?
14) Is a job the means to do something you'd like or is a job supposed to be doing that thing you like?
Read it again and slower...does it make sense? This is an important one!
15) How much planning can we do for the future if the future is yet to be determined?
Why do we worry about things that are so far in advance ,when we are not even guaranteed that we will see tomorrow or that our best laid plans have somehow become irrelevant.
16) Does the end always justify the means?
17) Why is it so hard to admit to being wrong?
18) Why is there always drama with some people?
19) How come it is so hard for us to believe we deserve happiness?
20) With so many memories stored in our brain why is it that certain ones creep to the conscious?
I have recently gotten in touch with an old friend...a friend that, together, we've created many many memories. I find it pleasantly surprising the things I remember and tragically unfortunate the things I can't recall, but I look forward to trying to recover them with my friend.
21) How come we can go off to war and fight for our country but we can't have a beer until we are this age?
22) Is it considered selfish to pray for yourself?
23) Why do those closest to you sometimes hurt you the most?
We have such high standards for our loved ones... I can't figure out why they say and do things that seem that the only objective of that action was to hurt us. In order to "push somebody's buttons" you have to make a conscious effort to lift your hand and push it...you can't accidentally push a button!
24) Why don't we toast more often?
Every drink, toast to me, to you, toast to those that aren't with you, toast to health, laughter, and happiness, toast to love lost and love found, to those that said no and to those that said yes, toast to family and friends, to the ability to watch a Husker game, toast to the bartender or the next table over, toast to those that are at work, to those that can't toast, toast your troubles away, toast to the smile of a friend, and to the laughter of a child, toast to birthday's and to Wednesday's, toast to Peterbilt trucks and Cat engines, toast to a new school year or a new patient...toast to memories!
Here's to you, PROST!
Michaud
p.s. If you have any answers to my questions please let me know! I will spend the rest of my life trying to figure them out...and odds are I'll ask you your opinion about one or two of them anyways!
1) Why can't we all live by the beach?
I've never had a bad time while I was on the beach.
2) Why don't Priests use please and thank you's when talking to God?
I've been taught to always use please and thank you's with everyone and I never understood why we almost demand God for forgiveness or strength.
3) If high heels are so uncomfortable why to people wear them?
4) Why are children starving?
There is enough food in the world there is no reason why there should be kids starving. I read a disturbing article where a man wanted to explain away starvation by an almost Natural Selection phenomenon. As if we shouldn't do anything because the weak are dying which will make the strong stronger...I don't know if I have ever read anything sadder in my life.
5) Is it possible to forgive and forget?
6) Is it a coincidence that the two hardest things to say are both 3 words long and have more power over people then any other phrase in the English language?
"I am Sorry" "I Love You"
7) Why can't you realize that it's not your intentions that cause reactions but how your message is perceived?
8) Why don't we sing more?
I know I can't sing, I know I have no musical talent...but I don't think you should have to be a good singer to sing. Sometimes people just want to sing!
9) Is this year the beginning to Nebraska's return to dominance?
If so, tape the games for me!
10) Why don't we give more to charity?
How much is too much? $5, $50, $5,000, $50,000, $500,000, ??? At what point did you consider those numbers to be a ridiculous sum to give? Instead of that extra beer, that monthly pedicure, instead of that purse you've wanted or that fight you were going to order on t.v. donate to a charity!
11) Why is it so hard to volunteer your time?
12) Why are the foods that taste so good, so bad for you?
13) Why is it so hard to stay in touch with friends with family?
14) Is a job the means to do something you'd like or is a job supposed to be doing that thing you like?
Read it again and slower...does it make sense? This is an important one!
15) How much planning can we do for the future if the future is yet to be determined?
Why do we worry about things that are so far in advance ,when we are not even guaranteed that we will see tomorrow or that our best laid plans have somehow become irrelevant.
16) Does the end always justify the means?
17) Why is it so hard to admit to being wrong?
18) Why is there always drama with some people?
19) How come it is so hard for us to believe we deserve happiness?
20) With so many memories stored in our brain why is it that certain ones creep to the conscious?
I have recently gotten in touch with an old friend...a friend that, together, we've created many many memories. I find it pleasantly surprising the things I remember and tragically unfortunate the things I can't recall, but I look forward to trying to recover them with my friend.
21) How come we can go off to war and fight for our country but we can't have a beer until we are this age?
22) Is it considered selfish to pray for yourself?
23) Why do those closest to you sometimes hurt you the most?
We have such high standards for our loved ones... I can't figure out why they say and do things that seem that the only objective of that action was to hurt us. In order to "push somebody's buttons" you have to make a conscious effort to lift your hand and push it...you can't accidentally push a button!
24) Why don't we toast more often?
Every drink, toast to me, to you, toast to those that aren't with you, toast to health, laughter, and happiness, toast to love lost and love found, to those that said no and to those that said yes, toast to family and friends, to the ability to watch a Husker game, toast to the bartender or the next table over, toast to those that are at work, to those that can't toast, toast your troubles away, toast to the smile of a friend, and to the laughter of a child, toast to birthday's and to Wednesday's, toast to Peterbilt trucks and Cat engines, toast to a new school year or a new patient...toast to memories!
Here's to you, PROST!
Michaud
p.s. If you have any answers to my questions please let me know! I will spend the rest of my life trying to figure them out...and odds are I'll ask you your opinion about one or two of them anyways!
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