Short stories - observations

ITM Neighbourhood

Outside ITM

Cockroaches can fly. How did I not know this? I am decidedly less panicked when I see one crawl around the ground where I'm eating my dinner. I guess I'm just glad it's not on my plate! Still, I have been assured that the places I'm eating are very clean and "safe".

All sorts of food comes in plastic bags here. You can buy tea in a bag, lunch in a bag - you name it. A sack of soup? For sure! I keep wondering what happens when they burst. I guess it's cheaper than Styrofoam and other carton options.

Bigger, more legit hotels are not as nice as some of the guest houses and they are not as cheap. I met up with other students for dinner last night and the hotel where a few were staying was something I wouldn't have liked to be in. My place is cheaper and I like it more.

ITM - Thai Massage School:
Phil is a rambunctious Ozzie with a wicked streak who likes to jest, drink beer and discuss the compatibility of Chinese horoscopes. It turns out we're both monkeys but he's born a good 20 years (plus) before me. He has been married twice and is into growing orchids. He's done everything under the sun.
Krisztina is Hungarian but lives in England. Funny enough she lives right near Sonja. NW Girls. She is quiet and doesn't give forth much but she watches a lot.
Lottie and Ramses are from Holland and were so excited that their country's team beat France in the Euro cup. Ramses is a history teacher of sorts - appropriate given the name. They are not married but have traveled a lot together.
Manuel is a Spaniard with all the flare that goes along with that. He's lost and looking to find himself outside of his country. He is a jack of many trades and only today I found out that he is also an artist.
Natasha from the Czech Republic has just finished school for Physiotherapy. She has a very direct way of talking and is an avid smoker. She and I ask a lot of the annoying technical questions in class.
Riane and Angelo are Brazilian siblings. They have big warm smiles and seem to laugh alot.
Christos is a big Greek guy who is in level V and helps out with level I as part of his training. He also refuses to eat Thai food so he's spent the last 5 weeks eating ramen noodles and sweets.

Phil and Haley

Krizstina Bending me out of shape with Manuel in the Background

Me and Natasa

These are some of the students at ITM. And somehow we are all thrown together for a week, maybe two or three. It's always interesting to analyze how close you have to become with people when you are physically touching each other all the time. It was this way at massage school in Ithaca, but then we had longer. Here, though, it still can feel that way even in just a 5 day encounter. There is a level of trust and respect that goes without question. Somehow I like this. It's impersonal and personal all at once. I can be alone and then I can be in a fascinating conversation about some one's trek through the country of Iran. Many of these people are traveling for longer periods. Half a year, a year, a few months. It varies. I guess we all have our reasons, our story.