"Life is Flowing like a River"

Sa-was-dee-ka (“Hello” in Thai), my name is Voonyin Leow, and I am from Malaysia. I am going into my third year as a graduate student in Music Therapy at the University of Kansas. I am so excited by this opportunity to study aboard in Thailand. This is my first time exploring Thailand. The Thai culture is quite similar to Malaysia, with the only main difference being the language. A lot of people say “when tourists are looking for a beautiful place to travel, Thailand is one of the sites that you have to bear in mind.” It is true; Thailand is a beautiful country in South East Asia. It also known as ‘The Golden Land’ and ‘Land of Smiles’. There are many wonderful aspects of Thailand, including the view of beautiful landscapes, delicious cuisine, and a rich culture and beautiful language.

What I admire most about the Thai people is their unique life style. Here is one of the quotes that I think of when regarding Thai people:

“Life is flowing like a River with Unexpected Turns. May be good, may be bad. Learn to enjoy each turn, because these turns will never RETURN!”

Thai people always have a smile on their face no matter how hard their life is. In every place, I always hear Thai people saying Sa-bai, Sa-bai (do not worry and be happy). This mantra influences the Thai people’s daily lives, making them flexible and at ease with the stressors of life.

In regards to “life is a flowing like a river”, Thailand has 46 rivers in the country. Most of the rivers support the irrigation for Thailand's agricultural economy. The architecture and the way of life along the river and canals continue to remain true to Thailand’s beginnings. Floating markets are an enduring symbol of what life was like in days gone by to the Thai people (even though many have been replaced by supermarkets and shopping malls in the more “metropolitan” areas of Thailand).

The floating market Dumnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi is one of the famous floating markets and is also known as the largest floating market in Thailand. Dumnoen Saduak Floating Market was a colorful scene that I will never forget. The farmers and merchants arrive early in their boats laden with tropical fruits, flowers, fresh produce, and souvenirs to sell by boat or beside the river. They also cook noodle soup or fried noodles on the boat. It is one of the rare places where you can find a fresh-made lunch for about $0.75 or less, cooked in minutes. The image of food boats, merchants selling handicrafts, and colorful umbrellas blocking the bright sun provides an exuberant and vividly colorful scene that I have never experienced before.

While there are many similarities between Thailand and Malaysia, there are many parts of this trip that have opened my eyes and broadened my perspective in ways unimagined. In particular, the colorful and busy floating market will forever be an image that is attached to my memory of Thailand. Not only are the rivers important for irrigation and travel, they are the center of some of the most lucrative shopping areas in Thailand. The river of life has brought me to Thailand this summer to study music therapy, and it is truly an experience I will never forget. 

Thai-wan…?

Hi! My name is Vivian Shih-Yun, Hsu and I’m from Taiwan. I just finished my first year as a graduate Music Therapy student at the University of Kansas. I enjoy music, reading, photography, and traveling to new places. I also love to help other people. I never thought I would study abroad in other countries before I came to the United States, but I guess I should never say never because now I’m studying abroad…abroad.  A few months ago Dr. Register shared her clinical and traveling experiences of Thailand in our Principles of Music Therapy class at KU. I knew facilitating a session using only the music and no language would be very challenging yet rewarding, so I decided this would be an excellent opportunity for me to develop my skills as a music therapist.

  

KU Music Therapy Students @ Grand Palace

As an Asian student, I have less difficulty than my U.S. peers adapting to the lifestyle and culture in Thailand. Thailand is very warm and humid, with temperatures averaging 31°C (85°F) all year round, which is more similar to Taiwan than the U.S. My skin gets dark quickly in the tropical sun, and often I am mistaken as a native Thai. Sometimes there are implications that I can speak Thai faster and better than all my American peers because of my facial resemblance to the Thai people. Most Thai people are very friendly and willing to interact with my classmates and me. In their desire to talk to my classmates they turn to me as a translator. Unfortunately, I am no help in this situation. In fact, the first day I got here, I only knew “sawasdee ka”, which means hello. 

Special Cab- Tuk Tuk 

One day, we took a cab back to our apartment from Bangkok; I guess the driver wanted to explain why he chose a different route. He began to speak to me in Thai as if I understood every word that was coming out of his mouth. After five minutes, he was still talking, but we all sat in the backseat silent and confused. No one responded to him. "Phuud Thai dai mai?" (You can’t speak Thai) he asked me. I gave a smile, shaking my head and said, “Sorry, No Thai”. “Hah? Mai Thai? You look like Thai…how come you don’t speak Thai?” (I guessed that’s what he was saying.) We all burst in laughter, including the driver and he couldn’t stop for several minutes.

Learning Traditional Thai Instruments

When people come to a new country, the first thing they try to learn is how to communicate. In Thailand, I’ve learned a lesson from the Thai people: if there is a language barrier, we should still try to communicate without feeling embarrassed or unsure. Effort will always be appreciated and in the event of a misunderstanding, we will at least have a good laugh together.

There are a lot of benefits when being mistaken for a Thai girl.  I often receive better price at night markets, free tickets for tourist attractions, and people are more willing to engage with me. The bargains at night markets are the best incentive for acting like a Thai girl. Last week, I met a young woman who was selling elephant bags at a night market, “Tao rai ka? (How much?)” I asked. The woman answered me, “Neung roi bpairt sip baht” (One hundred eighty baht). I struggled to translate the words in my head. It took a while to figure out the correct English number because my Thai consists of simple numbers, food, a couple of adjectives and “toilet”. I then asked her if she had more colors or other sizes in English. She bowed to me and felt very sorry that she could not speak English.

Shopping @ Krabi Night Market

At that moment, I understood what she was feeling. When I studied in the United States, I often felt shame or embarrassment when I said something incorrectly or when I was unable to understand others’ questions. I felt bad that I could not speak her language and I may have hurt her feelings. So, I pointed to another color and tried to make her understand I wanted that color. In the end, I got a really nice price from her just for trying to speak her language. We both ended up happy and said thank you and goodbye with our smiles. I showed this woman that I respected her language and she appreciated my effort. “Trying is the best effort to foster understanding and communication.” 

Sing something for me!

Do you ever get nervous standing in front of a crowd?  have you ever felt your heart rate increase before you have to give a presentation?  I feel that way every time I am about to perform.  I find performing in front of crowds incredibly awkward. It doesn't matter the size of the crowd, it is always slightly uncomfortable.  For me, the worst part is waiting to begin.  You have nothing to do but think about what you are about to do.  You suddenly find yourself furiously going over the lyrics in your head, perhaps you even begin saying the lyrics out loud. This is always an embarrassing realization because  not only are you nervous, but those around you think you might be insane.  You just want to give the audience your best, but what happens when you feel like your best isn't good enough? 

Fearless four year old

I have spent most of my life performing for people.  I grew up singing in church, participated in school choirs, and I have sung solos for various performances and competitions.  You would think I would be comfortable performing in front of people, but I am not. I still get butterflies in my stomach that seem to be fluttering so fast they might burst forth. Don't get me wrong, I can rock 90s pop and dance like a fool at karaoke without a problem.  Hand me a guitar and ask me to play, and I feel like crawling into a hole.

In my desire to show people my best I begin to fear my best isn't good enough.  I can play the guitar, but I am no B.B. King, and I never will be.  I have been to some really incredible concerts that have stirred my soul and brought tears to my eyes.  These incredible concerts have left me so mesmerized that it is hard to listen to any recorded music because it just doesn't measure up. As a performer I want to leave that kind of impression. Unfortunately I get so nervous about mistakes I have made or could make that I am a little dull to watch.  No one likes boring musicians, especially not me.

Thankfully, my goal in life is not to be a famous musician.  I just want to work with people to make their lives better. As a music therapist I need to be completely focused on the client and their needs.  I should not be worried that I might miss a chord or forget a word. Our current professor Dr. Register, often reminds us that "we are all doing the best we can, with what we've got, at that moment."  This is such a wonderful mantra that can easily be forgotten with the stressors of life, but it is important to cut yourself and those around you a little slack.  Life isn't perfect, performances won't always be perfect, and mistakes are going to be made. It is important to recognize that those mistakes do not define you.   Being able to perform any type of music in any situation is important as a music therapist.  While we aren't here to perform for the client, we must be comfortable using our skills in individual or group sessions. The question though, is how can I be the best music therapist, if I get so distracted by mistakes?  How can I be a great music therapist if I am not completely comfortable and confident in my music abilities?  How can I effectively lead a group music therapy session if I can't even perform for a group of strangers?

My time here has made me realize that I really need to let go of this fear.  The Thai people love music, especially singing along to both Thai and western music. They aren't worried about the timbre of their voice or if they are clapping on the correct beat. They are just wholly invested in the music and having a good time. The Thai people have made me come to understand that everyone is just looking to live a full and happy life.  It is hard to be unhappy around people who are genuinely enjoying themselves.  Clearly I am taking myself a little too seriously when it comes to music.

This summer I plan on overcoming my fears when performing.  I hope my family, friends, and probably a few strangers are ready to hear and see me often.  With the help and support of my friend Ronette, I have already started performing for strangers.  On Friday June 8, our group went to dinner at a restaurant that had a live band.  This was no ordinary live band because they also would accompany  anyone who wanted to sing.  It was live karaoke! Ronette and I sang Landslide by Stevie Nicks and Ronette convinced me to play the guitar.  I was much too nervous and embarrassed to ask for the guitar  myself, so she had to ask for me as I silently prayed he would say no. Of course the Thai's are much too kind and he handed me his guitar.  The performance wasn't perfect, chords were botched, pitches were missed, I even shortened the song  because of nerves, but I did it!! I played the guitar and I sang into a microphone to my incredibly talented classmates, faculty, and some strangers.  I figure if I can sing to people who I admire and respect, I should be able to sing for anyone.

Erawan Museum Epiphany

Sa wa dee ka from Thailand!  My name is Taylor Woodruff and I will be a junior in the Music Therapy program at the University of Kansas this fall.  Coming on this trip has been a dream of mine since before I even came to KU, so the fact that I am here now is truly a dream come true.  The Thai people are incredibly hospitable and friendly, which makes getting around this unfamiliar place much easier.  Even if they do not speak English they will talk your ear off and help you to the best of their ability.  If all else fails, they smile and laugh.  

This sort of carefree attitude, which the Thais call mai pen rai, or no worries, has made adjusting to this new environment monumentally simpler.  Although the language has been difficult to master, I have successfully mastered eating the food (it’s delicious and cheap)!  It seems that many aspects of life in Thailand are different, but I have been continually surprised by how much is similar.  My everyday routine is still the same; I go to school during the week, I shop and sleep in during the weekend, and eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, although sometimes all three of these meals include rice.  

One aspect of Thai life that is very prevalent is religion.  I have drawn some parallels in my own life that are similar to the way the Thai’s and their surroundings are influenced by religion.  Buddhism is the most prominent religion in the country, with Hindu influences. All around the country there are images and statues of Buddha and spirit houses can be found at almost every site.  The spirit houses serve the purpose of housing the spirits after a structure or building is constructed where the spirits resided.  There are spirit houses at schools, apartment complexes, and shopping centers. The prevalence of spirit houses and religious images around the Mahidol College campus remind me of my grade school and high school experience at Catholic schools.  There is always an underlying presence of spirituality and religious iconography.  

 This is the spirit house at the Mahidol school of music.

What I found most interesting about religion here is the perceptions of hell, earth, and heaven.  Although in Buddhism hell is not the same as the Christian perception of hell, there are parallels.  The focus in life is in good karma and deeds instead of avoiding sin.  I gained a deeper appreciation and understanding for the Buddhist interpretation of life and afterlife after visiting the Erawan Museum. The Erawan Museum is a showcase of Asiatic religions, cultures, and artifacts.  On top of the museum stands a gargantuan three-headed elephant.  This elephant is Erawan, an avatar that goes throughout the three spheres (hell, earth, and heaven).  

Each floor of the Erawan Museum correlates to one of the three spheres.  Although the lowest level is not strictly a depiction of hell, it was the most plain and uninspiring.  This section of the museum was a display of different demons and villains in Asian folklore and religion.  There were also displays of different types of pottery from several eras, as well as a small-scale model of Thailand, which illustrated significant landmarks, monuments, and areas.  

The next floor was by far my favorite, and possibly my favorite sight so far in Thailand.  Earth was the next sphere and floor of the museum.  To say I was awestruck when I walked in would be a great understatement.  Upon entering the room, there is a staircase that leads up to a shrine to Buddha.  When walking around the staircase you are engrossed in the elaborate decoration of the walls and pillars.  Every surface in the room was covered in china and pottery that had been broken into pieces and mosaicked into ornamented flowers, fish, instrumentalist, and abstract designs. When the light came through the open doors and windows the walls sparkled.  The ceiling was a stained glass image of the world.  Everywhere I looked there was something new to take a picture of.  I then thought, “If this is earth, I wonder what heaven looks like…” imagining even more elaborate beauty. 

 The entrance of the earth level.

 Detail on the staircase of the museum. 

After climbing a spiraling narrow staircase, we reached the third floor, which was representative of heaven.  I was initially surprise by how it looked.  The walls and ceiling were varying shades of blue, with a large altar that had many steps up to a statue of Buddha.  There was very minimal lighting, and there were no overhead shinning lights.  The ceiling illustrated the universe and constellations.  At first I was confused by this depiction of heaven.  From my Catholic upbringing and background, I always imagined heaven as the most beautiful and splendid place, not even possible for the mind to imagine.  However, when I thought more about the way these two spheres looked I understood why they were imagined and shown in this way.  The beauty in earth was made up of simple things, such as pieces of china bowls and spoons.  This simplicity when viewed as a whole created a beautiful and intricate picture.  Heaven on the other hand was a peaceful and serene place that was calm and quiet.  This helped me further appreciate the imagery and depiction of the different spheres, and as cliché as it may sound, realize that beauty on earth may come from ordinary and unexpected things. 

 The heaven portion of the museum.

           

Detailed Beauty

        Sawadee ka readers! Morgan Skillett here, blogging from the beautiful country of Thailand. I just finished up my classwork at The University of Kansas studying music therapy and am preparing for my upcoming internship! Approximately 10 days after I get back to my family and friends in Kansas, I will be embarking on a new journey in Hayward, CA. Its hard to believe I only have one piece of the puzzle left before I can put those glorious four letters after my name, MT-BC.



       I have been fortunate enough to travel to some of the most beautiful and incredible places with my family, but none compare to Thailand. Thailand is truly one of the most breathtaking, exotic, and dynamic places I have ever been. The culture, food, people, language, kindness, and picture perfect views are like nothing I have experienced before. The "Land of Smiles" could not hold more true to it's name. Almost instantly, when we hit Thailand soil and dug into our "new" lives here, something unexplainable happened. I know I am halfway across the world, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Thailand truly has something special about it to make a Kansas girl feel at ease, peaceful, and comfortable. 


        While wandering around in Bangkok on a free weekend day, Rebecca and I discovered the Siam Paragon Mall. Malls are numerous throughout the city, but Siam Paragon was quite a sight for sore eyes. This is a very ritzy mall, home to many high end shops and exquisite restaurants. When first stepping foot into the mall, one can see the massive crowd hastily grabbing their cameras to take a picture of something interesting. Getting in a bit closer and having a better look, we discovered this enormous display of elephants and women in elaborate dresses and beautiful scenery. All of the figures and displays were covered in orchid flowers! Rebecca and I had found ourselves smack dab in the middle of the Orchid Show. Throughout multiple levels of the malls were various displays of these beautiful flowers, making the mall smell like a greenhouse.

        One aspect of Thailand of which I am truly enamored with is how elaborate everything is. Attention to detail seems to be a large and unique part about their culture, that is truly a sight to see. The Erwan Museum is a giant three-headed elephant art display. Just taking a picture of the outside could have shocked a whole town due to its beauty and enormity. The sculpture is 43 meters tall and the elephants body is made of pure bronze. When stepping inside the museum, I was in awe of how breathtaking it was. Inside are invaluable reminders of Thailand's beautiful ancient heritage, combined with pieces of contemporary art.
      

       There are three separate floors, designed to illustrate the three-tiered cosmology of the concept of Tribhumi. The basement level represents the underworld, middle floor represents the human world and the top level represents the second heaven where many relics and Buddha's are kept. The basement level was my favorite, and was decorated with ceramics and pottery. All of the work, design and decoration was done by hand to make this truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. There was such obvious attention to detail and thought in every tiny piece of ceramic tile that went on this level, one can only imagine the man power it took to make this possible. I probably could have stayed in there for days discovering new things, but lucky for the rest of the group, my thirst got the best of me and had to venture out for a cool drink.

     Everywhere you travel, the type of decoration or display may vary but one can always find similarities. There are similarities in the ways temples are constructed and decorated, how flowers are decorated at a table or in front of a restaurant or how the koi ponds are created. There is something comforting about being able to travel from Krabi to Bangkok and still see some of the same special and beautiful flower decorations or hand crafted goods. It is a cultural aspect of Thailand that brings it together as one, promoting unity. That togetherness within the country through outdoor decorations and flower displays is something that I will miss when I return to the states.

      As you can tell, all is well here at the Bundit Home in Salaya, and am truly having the time of my life. Bring on the next two weeks, Thailand.

In Search of Happiness

Hello from Thailand! My name is Rebecca Townsend and I am going into my senior year as a music therapy student at the University of Kansas. I love traveling, and this is my 3^rd time outside of the US. I always imagined studying abroad would be part of my college experience and I just couldn’t pass up this incredible opportunity. I am so thankful to be here!

I hoped this trip would be a healing process for me, and so far, this has proven true. I had a very rough spring semester and was in a bad emotional place. I was struggling with defining who I am and determining what my happiness is. I was lost and wandering. I needed time away from the people, the environment, and the headspace that I had come to associate with my depression and anxiety. This opportunity came at the perfect time.

The culture of Thailand has been very refreshing. Being immersed in a culture so incredibly different from what I am used to is cleansing, healing, and eye opening all at once. Throwing myself into new experiences every day is how I commit myself to continue working toward my “new leaf” and new perspective that will ultimately raise my spirits. Things that are very different from American culture, like Waiing (bowing slightly with palms together in greeting), taking shoes off when entering rooms, bartering for a cheaper price at a market, eating squid, whole fish, and unbelievably spicy things, and using squat pots are ordinary everyday occurrences for Thais. It is incredible to think that this is how they live. None of these things are awkward or uncomfortable – it’s just daily life. Putting myself in this mindset of a new normal is slowly but surely helping to morph my outlook into something more positive. While I wouldn’t say I have culture shock, immersing myself in these very different practices is very far outside my comfort zone. People find out who they are by being out of their comfort zone, so I feel that this is a necessary part of my healing process.

To me, the most inspirational cultural aspect is that Thai people are very welcoming and courteous to each other and to foreigners. Laughter and smiles are abundant, even among strangers. They are very happy people, and minimize worries and problems as much as possible. It is exceptionally encouraging to me to know that so many people are able to fully embrace happiness.

Last weekend at the beach, for the first time in a long time I was enlightened to the beauty that surrounded me. This realization in and of itself was a great step forward. I took many moments to close my eyes and deeply breathe in the salty air. I was continuously flooded with disbelief, wonder, gratefulness and other emotions I can’t exactly define. It was incredible. I began thinking through all the things that are beautiful that I haven’t been able to see as I worked within myself to reach a new equilibrium of satisfaction, happiness, and self-acceptance.

There is the very obvious beauty of the crystal clear blue-green water, white sand, blue skies, aged rock formations shaped by weather. There is also the beauty in meaningful conversation that builds friendships, which I have had the pleasure of taking part in with several members of the group. There is beauty in watching the bustle of the city and in all cultural differences – big and small. There is beauty in simple things like those icy washcloths we get on the bus after being outside in the heat, or seeing the word “connecting” when attempting to FaceTime my loved ones on the other side of the world. Noticing these tiny things, and reminding myself to look for the beauty everywhere, is slowly paving my way to happiness and helping me to find myself.  

Through all of this, I am also realizing there is beauty in the struggles. When we climbed up the mountain to the Tiger Temple (1237 steps!), I never doubted I could make it to the top. Each step was progress, and each bead of sweat was proof that I was actively working towards my goal. My perseverance created at least part of the incredulousness of the experience. In direct correlation to this, when looking back at last semester, I am in disbelief that I made it through, yet this experience of struggle is still valuable to me... The beauty was imbedded in my ability to ask for help, but even more so in the willingness of my friends, family, and counselors to show me unconditional love and support without judgment. This realization, again, is important to my healing: without the struggles, I wouldn’t have had to embark on this journey to find myself; I wouldn’t have had needed to force myself to look beyond my problems to realize the beauty that has always been there.

            As a result of being exposed to the unmistakable gorgeousness of the scenery around me here in Thailand and numerous extraordinary cultural experiences am now realizing the true saturation of the beauty around me. I am thankful for the struggles and for my newly opened eyes. My healing process is well underway.

Honestly, what better place to discover my happiness than in the Land of Smiles?