American Politics Abroad: 2020

I woke to the news Saturday morning that one of the biggest activists for women's, LGBTQIA+, and basic human rights has passed away. My first thought was sadness for her family, death is never easy to cope with for the living. 

My second thought...shit. 

I am a worst-case scenario thinker. Always thinking ahead to what-ifs so I can try to be prepared for the inevitable. It never really prepares me because reality always seems to think of that one scenario I hadn't. 

Worst case scenario: 45 and his team will rush to pick a new appointee and the Republicans will quickly approve, thus having a Republican leaning Supreme Court that will overturn the rights of so many American citizens. 

We all know that the current political leaders are going to push to fill her vacancy before November 3rd. The same leaders who were adamantly against letting Obama replace Scalla's successor will rush the process so that the 45th president will get to replace three Supreme Court Justices in his one term. I know that the Democrats in office will do everything they can to prevent this but only time will tell how this will play out. I have a feeling the next few weeks are going to be tumultuous. 

I am relieved that I am from Minnesota because I know Senators Klobuchur and Smith will fight. You go girls!

As a U.S. citizen living abroad, I sometimes feel like I'm watching a reality TV show, "America: 2020". I have a feeling the ratings would be pretty high because you can't make up this plot line. You can't script this.

When we moved to Thailand seventeen months ago, my students' first question after finding out that I was from the U.S. was if I voted for Trump. They all received a resounding no from me and I was met with smiles. Majority of Thais are not Trump fans.

As the fight for a Democratic Party Nominee started ramping up a year ago my co-workers would ask me who I thought could beat Trump. I had my favorites, and yes one of them is on the ticket, but I always told them that I would vote for whomever the DFL nominee would be. 

Genie and I did vote in the Citizens Abroad Primary last March. It was an exciting and hopeful experience. It was heartening to see other politically-like minded people gather together. 

We watched as one by one the potential candidates dropped out of the race. Each time my Italian co-worker would say something along the lines of "Oh I see, another one left. I bet it'll be Biden...but I think he will lose, which I'm ok with because a Republican president is better for the world because there will be no terrorist attacks." I don't understand his logic and there's a reason I leave the lunch table when he joins it. My co-workers would also ask me how Trump got elected, how America could let that happen. I would usually begin with the fact that he lost the popular vote and then explain the archaic electoral college. So, did America 'let it happen'? 

Then the world shut down, well most of it. 

After two months of lockdown, Thailand slowly began opening up and we returned to school my conversations with my co-workers about the U.S. shifted from politics to Covid...but I would remind the ones that would listen that that is a political issues. If those that had been voted in would have listened to science maybe America wouldn't be in the situation it is in now.  

Once a week I teach an advanced English club for six of my 7th graders (okay in reality I teach this class to the two students who are leaps and bounds ahead of their classmates and the three of us talk about whatever we want and the other four just sit there trying to catch up but still take notes as I explain how to outline a paper). I was explaining that one should have an unbiased opinion when expressing opposing views in a paper and neither of them knew what unbiased meant. I decided to use politics as my example, it worked, but they could see how hard it would be for me to be neutral. They did ask who I was voting for and were relieved with me fervent support for Biden and Harris with one of them telling me that I would lose my moniker as their favorite teacher if I were to vote for Trump. I have also informed them that I will be a nervous wreck on November 4 as I watch the voting results roll in. 

Despite the chaos going on, many of my students still see America as some sort of 'Holy Grail' and dream of some day 'making it there'. 

I fear for the future of my home country if this path continues. I fear that there might not be a country to come home to. 

Here we are, less that 50 days away from the election and I am nervous but am doing my best to remain optimistic. 

I received my ballot this weekend and all I can do, once filling out the appropriate bubbles, is hope that my ballot makes it home. That my vote will count. That I can exercise my right as a citizen of the United States before any of that is taken away from me.

Please vote. That right was fought for. Don't let their battles be for naught. 

A Night Above

This past weekend we decided to have a little getaway from our studio in Min Buri and venture to downtown Bangkok.

A few weeks ago, I saw an instagram ad for a sky bar and restaurant called Above 11. The ambiance, food, and drinks all looked incredible. Plus, I hadn't been to a sky bar yet and wanted to go. 

We thought it would be a great place to go to celebrate our anniversary and Genie's upcoming birthday. I made a reservation and we also realized that they were on the rooftop of a hotel. 

We booked that too.

Saturday we left at about 2:30 for our hour and 40 minute commute to go just under 16 miles. 

Yea for traffic. 

Genie dropped me off to go check in while she parked. We were met with the usual, quizzical eyebrow lift when we said that we didn't make a mistake about booking a room with one bed. During the concierge's spiel, she also informed us that the gym was open 24/7, glanced at us, and said, "Oh, never mind." Of course, I pipped in with "I've already been to the gym today," which I had. 

We were situated on the 10th floor and in a room bigger than our studio apartment. The shower itself was as big as our entire bathroom. 

The view wasn't too shabby either.

We both wished that we had left earlier so we could have enjoyed this room for the entirety of the time we payed for it.

Our reservations were at 6:00 so we started getting ready a little before 5:00. 

Okay, it might have been a little too early as we then had about 30 minutes to dink around.

Genie always manages to take the best photos of me.

We were not able to access the restaurant via the hotel elevator so we had to go down to the lobby level where a nice Thai man pointed us in the right direction. We had to take a left, a right, follow the yellow-brick road, answer a sphinx's riddle, deliver a ring to Mordor, clean out a hoarder's basement, and divide by zero to find the elevator.






We were met by a host who was the first Thai to ever attempt to say my last name. Props for trying Pyfferoen. After the requisite, temperature scan and metal detector check we were pointed to the elevator that did go to the 33rd floor. This was no ordinary elevator, this was a party elevator. There was dance music blaring and we were surrounded by video footage of the views waiting us.

The view was stunning!

We had a hightop table along the rail next to the bar. We both would occasionally watch the bartenders try out their tricks. The sky was overcast so we were unable to see the sunset...darn, we will have to go again sometime. (wink, wink) However, we did get to see a lightning storm in the distance and that was incredible to watch. 

Our lovely server for the evening, Tina, was great. She checked in periodically, gave us great recommendations, and bemoaned her abilities at math with us.

We started the evening with some speciality cocktails. Genie had a lychee, orange and rum cocktail while I had a whiskey ginger beer.

                Above 11 is a Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant, so obviously we had to try the mix.

Our sushi platter consisted of three different rolls: a traditional shrimp tempura was in the middle, on the right is a sea-bass with onion, carrots, and a lime aioli, and on the left, our personal favorite, was a salmon with a chimichurri sauce on top. The orange 'flower' you see there is a carrot. Genie wants to work on creating these now.

For our second plate, we opted for their classico ceviche, which they affectionately spell as cebiche. This was my first ceviche. According to Genie, my face lit up like fireworks on the fourth of July. There was a dance party in my mouth. Their ceviche was simple, rustic, and I'd order it again. The sea-bass was marinated in leche de tigre and had a scrupulous amount of shallots. We both made sure to save our last piece to enjoy at the very end.

Our second round of drinks arrived as well. Genie opted for a reprise of her Act 1 drink and I went for "Winter BKK" which was an apple and thyme themed cocktail. 

For our final plate of the evening we knew we wanted some meat. We are Minnesota girls after all and do enjoy our meat and potato dishes. The 48 Hour Seco Beef was the obvious choice. This slab of meat had been stewing for 48 hours and was served with white beans, steamed rice, an onion salad and topped with a chalaca sauce. Genie has now had this dish on two continents and says this one was the best. The beef was so tender we only needed a spoon to enjoy it.

We were two very full but very content ladies. 

After a much needed break we obviously ordered dessert. I already knew that I was ordering their tres leches cake and a Moscow mule. Genie got a panna cotta with a strawberry coolie and a mojito. Genie mentioned to Tina that I make tres leches back home so after my first bite she came to see if their's lived up to mine. Verdict: 7/10. The panna cotta had a sprig of dill on it for some reason...aesthetics yo. 

The evening was perfect. Scrumptious food, refreshing spirits, and wonderful company.

Quarantine Edition - Amanda

So what's quarantine been like for Genie and me in Thailand? I thought I would give you a glimpse of what our days look like and how Thailand has dealt with the global pandemic.

We were still on vacation with Kathy down in Koh Lanta when the first changes began. Thailand started by closing all public facilities (malls, markets, movie theatres, gyms, pools, etc). This included a vast majority of street food vendors, our primary source of food. Luckily, we had purchased a toaster oven in February so we had a few kitchen gadgets with which to make things. 

Here is what an average day has looked like for us

- sometime between 11am and 2pm I would get up

- I would usually make some breakfast or watch an episode on Netflix

- do 30-45 mins of zumba (the only exercise I can get currently)

- after showering I would return to Netflix unless I had power points to work on for school

- Genie would usually get up sometime between 4:30pm and 7:00pm (unless she has pulled an all nighter the night before playing Elder Scrolls)

- we'd have something to eat and I usually made coffee/tea for both of us

- we'd watch more Netflix but pause between episodes and do something physical (we created a yahtzee workout game - I actually find it really fun and will often still do it between episodes while she's sleeping)

- we might play a round of chess, Genie's been teaching me, I haven't won yet, we also haven't played in a while so hopefully we get back to that soon cuz I was getting better

- our evening would consist of her either playing more ESO or editing the gagillion videos she has to make and me picking what we were going to watch (Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, RuPaul's Drag Race, Call the Midwife, Brooklyn 99, and Hollywood are some of the things we've watched together ~ I finished Orange is the New Black, Grace and Frankie, and am rewatching Once Upon a Time) 

- then I'd usually stay up until 1-3 in the morning and Genie would usually continue playing ESO til 6 or so

-Rinse and repeat

Other tidbits

- we go out very seldomly for food but we can get things at Big C, Tesco Lotus, and a few of the markets that are still open

-when we get home we take all of our clothes off, put them in our washer, and hop immediately in the shower. 

- Genie has gotten really good at making chicken and shrimp in our toaster oven (massamam curry and a shrimp alfredo have been my favorites so far)

- I have made some fantastic cookies! (I think I might call them Thai Monster Cookies - they have bananas, peanut butter, dark chocolate chunks, salt, vanilla, a little bit of chocolate chip cookie mix, and sometimes peanuts)

-there was a booze ban for most of the month of April, it was to try an limit social gatherings - okay I guess I understand that but sometimes you just want a cocktail

-  there's a lockdown order from 10 pm until 4 am, if you are on the road without a reason you could face jail time or a 40,000 baht fine (my month's salary)

- schools officially can't reopen until July 1st - my school has us making power points and quizzes for the kids and next week, in order to keep our full pay, we will be going into school two days a week and working from home the other three ~ Genie' school isn't opening until August and their teachers have to make videos for their students and were required to take a salary deduction until they go back.to school) 

- about once a week we have ordered food (Indian is our favorite and lasts us three days, we've also found a great Chinese soup place, a new burger place, and Dairy Queen delivers)

- I usually clean the apartment a couple of times a week, might as well have a spotless place

- we occasionally make our own butter...yes you read that right...Tesco sometimes has heavy cream and then shaking the shit out of it in an old peanut butter jar until we have butter (it's great on toast and on Ritz crackers)

I miss the gym. I never thought I'd be someone who would say that but I do. Zumba and yoga are ok but I miss the treadmill. Somehow I still managed to lose about 10 pounds this last month (30 to go until I can have my first surgery) 

I am very thankful for Genie. We both have understood that we need alone time, luckily our sleep schedules have allowed us that opportunity. She's helped to keep me sane and I fall even more in love with her everyday. And too think we've managed to survive in our small apartment. 

I look forward to returning back to 'normal' but I am in no rush. Health is the most important thing right now.

Thanks for reading this one, sorry there aren't any pictures.

Stay healthy my friends.

Elephant Sanctuary! - Genie

We've already posted pictures from our big day with the big mammals, but here's the tea!

It all started very early in the morning - before even complimentary breakfast had started! Amanda got me a piece of toast while I braided my mom's hair. Then a truck arrived to bring us to the Elephant Sanctuary! There were already two people in the back so we climbed aboard with them and off we went.

About 30 minutes into the drive, we stopped at a 7-11/gas station to fuel up and get coffee. Then we were off again.

I was not ready for the car ride that was to come. I knew it was about an hour on Thai roads to the sanctuary, but OH BOY was I not ready for the twisting, turning, and hairpin turns that were to come.

To say this place was "in the mountains" was an understatement. It was near the top of the fourth mountain we drove through. My carsick body was not ready. On the second mountain, we stopped for giant bags of sugar cane. They sloshed around in the back of the truck with the three of us and two Poles.

By the time we reached the sanctuary, I was never more excited to see an elephant in my life. It meant I was getting out of the back of the truck.

I found the nearest bathroom and lost the entire contents of my stomach. I then took a Dramamine for the return trip.

When I exited what I then realized was the "employees only" bathroom, I was greeted by Jacky (our guide) who was handing out our elephant shirts and giving everyone the run down on what would happen throughout the day.

As soon as we were changed, we snapped a quick picture and headed down to meet the elephants!

They were... magnificant.

I don't have a lot of words for what the next three hours were... but there was feeding, there were mud baths, and there were shenanigans. Mom got a boyfriend (Jacky). There was a waterfall.

Just... follow the pictures.

Then we moved down to the water with our elephant friends!

After about 10 minutes in the water, the elephants collectively decided "it's too cold for this shit" and went back home. We carried onto see the beautiful waterfall about a mile hike through the woods!

They cute.

We ship it.

We stayed and waded for about an hour before heading back to the main cabin for lunch.

Lunch was a delicious curry, mixed vegetables, rice, fresh fruit, and as much ice water as we could drink. It was fantastic and I definitely needed the food after all of the hiking and swimming!

We spent the next hour lounging, snacking, and watching the elephants wander around their home.

When lunch was over, we didn't know it, but we were done with the elephants! :(

We took off for the river to go on a raft ride.

I also found this cool bug.

Then back in the truck and back to our hotel. It was a long, exhausting day. And it was worth every minute.

Also look how cute my mom is...

Go team elephants!