[RenyBontes]

There's a thai temple in Tennessee where you can learn about some of the culture before she get there.

[elalmhicabalp]

If you want to cook something simple for her then check out own cooking videos at www.enjoythaifood.com.

Ingredients might be a problem unless there is an Asian market in Newport. The town is a bit out of the way. The nearest market I know of is in Knoxville. Even there, you can't get everything that will needed. There is always the Internet but that can get quite expensive. The Thai kitchen should suffice unless the menu has been extensively modified for American tastes.

Unless the young lady is a really picky eater she should do fine with white meat, fish, fruit and veg (and red meats if she is into them). Chinese restaurants are also a good alternative and, as everyone knows, you can't help but fall over those anywhere in the world.

As far as Buddhism goes, a place with peace and quiet should be all that is required.

[DownloadMan]

But do them hillbillys in N. By God Carolina bath pretty regular normally??
Maybe about like them in Tennessee.. 555

I have noticed that the Thai living in an air con house only shower twice a day, but without air con they do hit it more often??

A farang is what Thais call foreigners (FiP should know better) Know better than what?? Everyone calls em Farang, I do and so do all the farang I know as well as the Thai, and I bet the kid does too.

[M4tHkBw2]

A farang is what Thais call foreigners (FiP should know better)
Be prepared to keep the heater going until it reached 30 deg C
Don't be upset if she seems quiet, Thais take a bit of time to adjust and speak openly, just keep talking amongst your family with the occasional "What do you think" or "would you like that"

[elalmhicabalp]

Pete, I think that they do pretty good in English generally, I know when we were thinking of sending our kid over she would have to have passed an English prof. test. and most schools there also require an ESL before they will allow admittance, at least the ones I checked do..
I have found that if a Thai is given beef that they can actually eat then they like it pretty well, coarse our kid is a teen but even my wife prefers beef to pork and chicken most of the time, [They really like Pork ribs and sour kraut tho,] but we do mix it in and they eat these Thai warm water fish, but I can't go em. I was brought up on PNW mountain trout and cold water north pac salmon and steelhead.

On the other hand, my wife won't touch beef or lamb with a barge pole! Fresh water fish is also off the menu, salt water only!

[DownloadMan]

Breakfasts in our house seem to be the main food differences, seems they just will not eat a western breakfast but will eat the same food types at any meal.
I have Bacon, Eggs and hotcakes and they will have a bowl of some kind of soup or cook up a stinking mess of skillet fried garlic, weeds, and weiners, maybe a few noodles mixed in.

[kylsq0Ln]

Hmm, this thread has taken an interesting turn. I've been puzzling about FaranginPhetch's comment about "idol worship", not wanting to say anything rash...

While, from my perspective, and the perspective of every Thai monk I've talked to, Buddhism is not idol worship (one respects the teacher and the teaching: the Buddha images are there as a reminder, not as objects of worship) it is true that Thai add on other (not-really-Buddhist) things to their spiritual lives, such as the spirit houses (usually representing their ancestors, so completely un-Buddhist) and the putting out of food (sometimes "for Buddha", sometimes "for me, just in case..."). And during the Songkran holiday people splash water on the Buddha images at the temples, and collect the run-off to take home... And don't get me started on amulets... Of course, most of these things are not particularly different to what Christians do with images of Christ, beads, holy water, etc...

One problem I have with my Thai friends is terminology. Some use the term "praying" for the chanting. When I tell them how Christians might interpret that word they generally stop using it...

[DownloadMan]

that seems to be the case in other religions? where idols are used, they represent the idea or what ever, but not the real Deity its self and it is by most considered idol worship I think when you pray before a statue or rendition of what ever Deity you do worship.
I was mostly referring to catholic because they go completely out of it over certain statues or objects, down in Mexico when I was young and they bring the holy virgin[mother of Jesus???] out for a walk about once a year and the people were crawling on their bare knees on rough pavements and their knees bleeding from crawling along behind.
But it does seem strange to me that people will pray to an image of Buda when he specifically said that he was just a man and not a god. But I do know too that most people still have to believe in an imaginary god of some kind, so I guess looking at it [whatever] is necessary, and be thankful that they are not preforming live sacrifice.

[StampNews]

Can we try and leave the discussion about religion behind as this is sending this thread way off topic.

[indahouweres]

jhekel... from what exchange program is your student coming? And when does she arrive?

[DownloadMan]

Far out, being an athiest i ain't to hip on religions anyway.

[easypokergonj]

Gang;

Sorry I have been slow to respond. Was at my mother-in-law's for a couple of days and away from the computer. OK, let's begin with the religion angle. From what I know so far, the students are interested in fitting into the American culture. She will attend church with us and be involved in the youth group. But we will also be interested in learning about Buddism and other aspects of the Thai culture. I would prefer that she not bring a dozen statues of Budda with her, but we will be tolerant to her beliefs. The organization is ACES, American Culture Exchange Service. We have to pass a final inspection on Friday and then we will learn more about her arrival and other details. Our classes begin fairly early--August 6 last year. So she should arrive in early August would be my guess. Now, does anyone know of the people of the Kamphaeng Phet area? Are they farmers or fishermen or what exactly?

Jim Hekel
Newport, Tennessee

[DownloadMan]

That area around sukothai is very heavy fruit farming area, lots of bananas, also is one of the main areas of early Thai history and an ancient capitol of the early Thai kingdoms.
What her family does, I have no idea.
But I know if it was our kid I would let her decide if she wanted to go to church and be involved with a Christian youth group.
I would not make her feel that she should have to go to be accepted, as especially in the USA religion is a matter of free choice and she should not be put in a situation where she would feel forced.
Buddhism is one where it will not interfere as they have no god as such and is a matter of ways of living a good life.
But I do know if she ever said that going made her uncomfortable and was really going because she felt she had to go I would be on the next plane to Tennessee and would bring her home in an instant.

I did check out ACES and seems fine, no rules that say it is a christian org. and not like the missionarys tend to do here.
.

[reervieltnope]

mikenz66-Hmm, this thread has taken an interesting turn. I've been puzzling about FaranginPhetch's comment about "idol worship", not wanting to say anything rash... Well I sure would!

FiP-But I do know if she ever said that going made her uncomfortable and was really going because she felt she had to go I would be on the next plane to Tennessee and would bring her home in an instant. I guess that time at Harbin Hot Springs wasn't all wasted!

[StampNews]

I would prefer that she not bring a dozen statues of Budda with her, but we will be tolerant to her beliefs.

It is doubtful that she will bring dozens of Buddha images. She might have an amulet that she will wear around her neck. Or she might have one small Buddha image. I know the Christian religion says "do not worship false idols". However, the Buddha himself said he is not a God and should not be worshiped. If she takes a Buddha image then it would be used only as a meditation device when she does her brief chanting (suad mon) before bed. Buddhism is not a religion in the same way as Christianity is. You will find that it is more a way of life. It has worked well for centuries (there have been no major wars waged in the name of Buddhism). I am a Christian (by birth) and I have a great deal of respect for Buddhism. Thais are also tolerant of other religions and I am sure she will have an interest in your church activities and how you worship. But, please just leave it as a curiosity and don't try to convert her. Let her make the first move.

[DownloadMan]

See, you always say stuff better than me Richard.

Do not pay to much attn. to Bassai, he is to civilized to spend to much time at Harbin Hot Springs worshiping at the alter of The "Church Of The Conscious Heart" and running around naked and acting a fool.

[mortgrhhh]

You can convert her to baseball and basketball! Those are essential parts of the American experience.

I know soccer is huge in Thailand but I don't know if Thai girls play soccer. It seemed to be fairly big with teenage girls when I was in the States in Feb.

The main ball game I've seen girls playing in Thailand is badminton. You could ask if she likes playing that.

[Jeaxatoem]

I agree with previous posters that you should definitely not bring any pressure whatsoever on this girl to attend church. If she genuinely wants to go,that's fine, but it would be completely unacceptable for a Buddhist visitor in that situation to be made to feel that she "had to" attend a Christian church. Quite apart from anything else, it would demonstrate extreme arrogance on your part! As Richard says, Thais are very tolerant of other religions but that does not necessarily mean they are receptive to adopting Christianity and if that is your motivation I suggest you seriously consider not proceeding.

[easypokergonj]

We are not bringing the young lady to America in order to convert her to our faith. Part of the program, as I understand it, is for them to see our way of life. Church is a huge part of our life. To participate with us is expected. That being said, if she is uncomfortable we would not force her. I don't want her to hate her experience here. There is a Peace Pagoda being constructed here in Cocke County. I don't know a great deal about it, but evidently it is a Buddhist operation. If she has a desire to attend services, perhaps that can be accommodated.

Jim Hekel
Newport, Tennessee

[easypokergonj]

Also, the youth group does a lot of neat things. It's a good group of kids close to her age. I think she will enjoy the experience.

Jim Hekel
Newport, Tennessee