Journal#20

In Thialand we cared a lot about the behavior between male and female. For example we do not hug or kiss in public. If you do that it will considerd not appropriate. We usually just hold hands. However nowadays our society has many influences from Westren countries. Teenagers started to express their feeling toward their lover more but Older people still hold on to the old rules of keeping distance.
When I came to America I saw a lot of people kiss and hug. I felt really uncomfortable and akward that I have to see people kissing in the public. In Thialand people just don't do that. Moreover in America between male and famale friends they sometimes hug. I was really uncomfortable with that becuase I don't really like other men to touch me, accept for my boyfriend. So I tried really hard to accept that is an American culture. Two months pass now I almost feel nothing about people kissing or hugging in public. I'm starting to accept more about this customs and tired not to pay attention too much when I see them which is very helpful. So I think as time pass I will be able to handle this kind of situations more effectively.

Journal#19

When I have leisure time I love to watch movies. I like to watch them and try to improve my vocabularies if I watch American films. But Thai films are also good there are lots of good independent flims that I like. The second things I like to do is to play music instruments such as piano and now I'm starting to learn how to play guitar. I started to play the piano since I was eight, so it's my custom that everytime I feel stresst out I will rest myself by palying the piano which helps me a lot. Last thing is to go out and take photos of the thing I found interesting I haven't done this a lot because I usually go with my friends so I have to see if my friends are free. These are all the things I love to do and help me relaxing when I have free time.

Journal#18

I would have gone to the Universial Studio If I had more time and energy. I heard it is a very nice and exciting place. Since I was very tried and hurt form snowbording I have no energy to go there. My friend who went there said it was awsome they had so much fun while I was staying home in pain T__T. They also went to Japanese resturant which I love. I was very jealous of them. I really want to go there so next time I wouldn't miss it for the world!

Journal#17

This Spring break I went to LA and Big Bear for snowboarding. Last Monday I went shopping and sightseeing in LA which was very cool. I can find lots cheap colthes in Fashion district, so I bought a lot!. After shopping we just walking around take some pictures and ate our dinner there. I was really nice. Last Thursday I went to Big Bear, this was my first time I went for snowboarding so I fell a lot. But I was fun and exciting. The weather was nice and not too many people that day. I enjoyed it so much that I'm thinking of going there again. After that me and my friends ate our dinner at The Bolling Crab it was my first time there, the food was great I love it!!. I hope you guys enjoy your Spring break like I do!

Journal#16

Since I've been living with a home stay family so my first strategy is talking with my host family everyday. Usually every dinner we talk and my host dad and mom will give my new vocabularies. It is a very effective way to keep up with language. The other strategy I think is watching movies with english subtitle. Everytime I find an unknow words I'll look them up in a dictionary. I think these strategy will work because I have a chance to listen to english conversation and also have a chance to learn new vocabularies too.

Journal#15

I have a lot of places I want to go on Spring Break but I decided to go to Laguna Beach. I think it's going to be exciting and fun. Also I think that I'm going to snow boarding with my Thai friends, I've never snow boarding before, so you better wish me luck!!. Now I'm so excited about spring break. But I also have lots of homeworks to do, so I spare days for homeworks and I think I will finish them. Also if I have time left I will go to disney land and play lots of Rollercoaster eventhough I would make me a little dizzy but I don't care it's SPRING BREAK! and I really hope I do have time left. In the end hopefully I won't lose all my money on this break because if that happen my mom is going to be very angry, So I have to be very careful. Lastly I hope everyone have fun this spring break and see you guys when we back. ENJOY!!

Journal#14 Cultural Identity

I think thing that make me different from others is that I like old fashion stuffs such as clothes, bags and shoes or even songs. Usually teenagers like brand name clothes or expensive bag but I don't. When I was I Thailand I like to go to weekend market that they sell antiques or second hand bag and cheap clothes. I don't mind having second hand bags or shoes as long as they look good on me.

Usually families in Thailand are extended family and grandparents have a chance to take care of their grandchildren, so they inherit old lifestlye values for example you have to respect your elder. In the other hand most of American's families are single family so childen are very independent, they don't have to respect the elder so much like we do in Asia. I have the thai lifestlye in me so when I arrived here I felt a little funny. My host mom and dad always let me be the first one to start eating or bring me water which is usually my job to do. Also we don't hug in Thailand we "Wai" each other. At first I felt uncomfortable to hug people I didn't know them very well but I'm doing better now.

In conclusion I think different countries means different cultures, so if you are in Rome do what the Romans do but the most important thng is don't forget who you are.