Decision2008

After working in Brooklyn Center on Election Day I hitched a ride to St. Paul for the DFL party at the Crown Plaza Hotel. There were as many screens with election updates as cash bars. My group and I were lucky to get invited into a private room with free food and booze with a group called “America Votes.” After being on my feet all day a few drinks were exactly what I needed. I was confidant Obama would win. The people around me said it’s hard for them to be optimistic after working elections that they were also confident about only to lose in the end. I remember telling my dad that I didn’t understand why the Democratics wouldn’t win this presidential race many months ago while my dad responded, “People are stupid Janelle.” After canvassing for almost 3 weeks and talking to so many people, I couldn’t agree more. I honestly think most people are stupid. Political races are jokes. They are insulting to people’s intelligence. People complain so much about rumors and aggressive slanted commercials, but they would never have all these things if they didn’t work. Most people don’t really know what they believe in. Most people didn’t know who they were voting for in the Senate race up until the day. One woman I talked to canvassing in Brooklyn Park got the giggles on Halloween after I asked her who she was voting for in the Presidential and Senate races. When I asked her why she was laughing she said she was embarrassed she didn’t know. I assured her she was not the only one that didn’t know. They say ignorance is bliss, but I don’t believe this. There would be an insane amount of happy people if this were true.
When Obama was announced President Elect everyone went wild. People were jumping up and down giving high fives and hugs to strangers. It was amazing celebrating the moment with so many passionate people. “Celebrate” was playing loudly and people were chanting, “Yes we can!” After McCain gave his surprisingly impressive concession speech, Obama came on. From the moment he walked out onto the stage in front of thousands celebrating people in Chicago, I had chills. I knew it was one of those moments that I would look back on for the rest of my life. I think his speech gave hope to everyone around the world, even his critics.
Not only did it give me hope, but for the first time in a long while, I felt proud to be American.

Being apart of something big

Who of thought that I'd be in the good ol' U.S. of A right now? When I left for Thailand I had a million ideas of what to do with my life following my travels, but none of them included returning to Minnesota.. but the health and well being of my family is very important to me so my decision to come back makes sense. I can even say I'm happy to be here right now. A fews days after I returned I got involved with Working America, a non-profit AFL-CIO affiliated organization. I've canvassed now for over 2 weeks including the last 7 days in a row, with today and tomorrow still ahead. I've been living and dreaming politics. I have been keeping up to date on as much as possible. I've met interesting people from all kinds of backgrounds. I've knocked on nearly 1,000 doors and had hundreds of conversations with people about issues that directly effect them. I've never felt this passionate and involved in something and I love it.
So now, with less than 48 hours to go.. I'm anxious and excited and I hope all my hard work as paid off.
I'm hoping to do some celebrating tomorrow night.

The Trek Home

In the end it was really hard to leave Thailand. I loved the people, the food, and the beautiful beaches. I fell in love with the the scenery and relaxed atmostphere of Tonsai beach.. my last stop in Thailand... a true backpackers paradise. There was no electricity on the beach during the day... no atms. If you didn't have money to pay a restaraunt, you could tell them you'd pay them back later. the Tai people living ther were complete hippies. I loved it. But I did leave one night earlier to spend a night in Bangkok so I could finally meet up with my German friend that was living there. I got a facial and a massage before I left.. and 4 flights later I was back in Spain- Bangkok, Thailand- Doha, Qatar- Istanbul, Turkey- Prauge, Czech Republic- Madrid, Spain.. I think it's taken me almost 2 days, but I went back in time, so it's kind of confusing. They announced it's Ramadan in Qatar and in Turkey.. no eating, drinking, or smoking during daylight hours. I've eaten 5 meals on the plane. I really don't mind flight food, but 5 is a little too much. I ate a bean burger in Turkey at Burger King that cost $12. I feel like Turkey should be cheaper than it is. My bag broke somewhere in between Bangkok and Istanbul.. and my friends were expecting me a day later than I showed up. I got to Madrid confused, cold and tired.. but made it. Now the question is.. now what do I do with my life?

Full Moon Party

5 stitches later... broken camera... 24 hours of partying.. eventful to say the least.

Thai Cooking Course 101

We learned to cook 5 new Thai dishes today in a cook course. I think our instructor was Chinese, but she knew what she was doing. We got full right away, but it was really interesting to see how everything is made. I'm ready to make Pahtthai on demand when anyone wants it!

Jungle Trek

We went on a 2 day 1 night jungle trek.. that included a 6 mile hike, swimming in waterfalls, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, and whitewater rafting. The 1st day we spent most of our time walking.. 6 miles doesn't sound like alot, but when it's up and down hills in the jungle, it is. We made our way through small villages of tribes to our final tribe where we spent the night in a bamboo hut. There were 6 of us in all, 2 Aussie guys, Italian gal, and a guy from Costa Rica. In the village they made us dinner and we sang songs and drank something that tasted like vodka. It was all fun and games until the morning when I started to feel ill. After the elephant trek I was really feeling it. Whitewater rafting was the most difficult for me because I kept gaging and thinking I was going to shit myself. I luckily made it through and back to civilzation. I don't remember being that dirty for that long. 2 days was long enough for my jungle experience.
Yesterday Elissa and I got teeth cleanings for $15. She had 5 cavities so she got them filled after. Then we got peticures for $3 each.. Then went to a massive night market where we bought loads of jewelry and got $4 massages. Life is good.. and cheap.
We were going to go to Loas, but the thought of going to a less developed country then Thailand makes me want to vomit again.. so we are headed down to the coast, Pattaya. I miss Paradise.

First week in Thailand

On my way to Bangkok I started to wonder if I should have had plans for my landing. I talked to a few people already that had plans right down to the taxi picking them up at the airport. I decided to leech on to one of the people and follow their plans... and as I say, things always work themselves out.
I went with Lucy, English gal, in her taxi and stayed in a guesthouse near hers. A friend of hers lives in Bangkok so he showed us a good night out.. including buckets and ladyboys.
Bangkok is a big dirty city.
Thats all there really is to say about it. It was exciting to see all the other backpackers, but overwhelming at the same time. After 2 nights we decided to get out of there. We packed out bags and tried to go to the coast nearest to Bangkok, but after taxi drivers quoting outragous prices we decided to go further down south on a bus that left that day.
We arrived to Ko Samui the next day with some girls we had met on the way. 5 girls together got to be too much to me so when some guys at the bar asked if I wanted to get my scub diving certification on Ko Tao I left that next morning.
I spent the next 5 days with these 3 English guys. The 4 day course was a struggle for me with little sleep.. but it was alot of fun too. Ko Tao was paradise. I would have stayed there longer if I didn't have to meet Elissa in dirty Bangkok. We luckily found each other on the streets early this morning. She hates it here too, so we booked a tribal trek up north of Chaing Mai for 2 nights... elephants and all.

On a side note....I was trying to find a shirt that fit me today in the street markets. I tried on 3 shirts, each being too small for me. (I'm not as small as these asian girls in the chest area.) After the last one the Thai woman looked at me and said..
"You have a bad body. You ugly. You have a bad body. You need go to tailor. You friend look at you. You ugly."

huh.....

Istanbul, Turkey

3 nights, 4 days.
I feel as though I got a true turkish experience staying with a turkish girl I had met through couchsurfing. Even after she learned I was American she was very welcoming. She spoke very quickly but our communication was not perfect. After the first day she still had thought I was Spanish.
I did the typical site seeing. I had some tea near the sea front at night. I went to a turkish bath. I didn't do all the things my host wanted me to, but at the end of the day I didn't care. It was too much to do.
One of the days I walked by the sea and took a nap on the bench. When I woke up I there was a group of people gathering not far away from me. I walked over there to find a body face down in the water. Everyone watched as the waves moved it back and forth. I'm assuming they thought the guy was dead already because no one went in or tried to bring the body to shore... just stared. That was morbid fasination at the extreme. I finally walked away after getting the chills from it all.
On a brighter note, the Turks have a good sense of humor and try to be very helpful with directions... in fact many times I was told to go in the wrong direction when people said they were sure. I was told they don't want to look stupid so they will just take a guess to help you. The traffic also does not stop for pedestians. I can see where this country has some things to work on before they become part of the EU.. if ever. In one respect the city is modern and trendy.. and in the other.. it's 3rd world.
Apparently the current government is trying to take rights away from women. Although Turkey is a muslin country, it is not an Arab country. The country says it allows other religions to practice there and it permits the use of alcohol. I feel like it has this internal struggle caught between two worlds. One of the things it needs to change to get considered be apart of the EU is the use of intestines as casing for sausages. Even though they wash it first before eating, the EU believes this is bad practice and could get people sick.
Overall Istanbul was interesting to say the least. One thing I didn't experience was the nightlife.. may have to go back, but not anytime soon.