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Comic #10 – Baguettes

Comic #10 – Baguettes – 19 October 2016

We’ve recently returned from a nine-day holiday in Cambodia! Stay tuned for our upcoming videos and articles!

In the Cambodian countryside, halfway through a 15-hour bus ride, we had a rest stop at a place with a roadside bakery.

I went to the bakery to buy a baguette, since we hadn’t eaten all day.

“How much?” I asked, indicating the bread. The sales girl clearly didn’t understand English; she just looked confused and held up five fingers.

Cambodia uses two currencies. They have their own, the riel, which is worth 4000 to 1 US dollar. They also use the US dollar, which they prefer for larger transactions. The monetary system is a bit complicated. Basically, you can pay for things in USD, but your change will come back to you in a stack of riel.

5000r, I assumed – that’s $1.25. That’s a reasonable price for a few loaves of bread, even in a country where draught beer runs $0.50 per mug. I handed her a 5000r note. She took it, and looked even more confused.

So, long story short, I ended up with a massive sack full of baguettes, which would be breakfast and snacks for the next several days.

That’s fine though. They were delicious! Especially when they were hot and fresh.

Comic # 9 – T-Rex

Comic #9 – T-Rex – 12 October 2016

Learning a different language is hard.

You think that living in Bangkok, I’d be nearly fluent in Thai just by immersion, but it’s a lot harder than just that. Yes, I can speak a little bit. I have learned the alphabet. But I still find the proper intonation really difficult, and I can only really get by with simple conversations.

ที่รัก is pronounced “teerak” in Thai. It means “darling” or “the one I love”, or something like that. Anyway, the first time I heard the phrase, I thought she called me a “T-Rex”. I was pretty confused at first.

Oh, and by the way, the number 5 in Thai is pronounced “ha”, so in Thai texting lingo, 555 is “hahaha”. Just an extra cultural tidbit for ya!

Comic #8 – Chef Farang

Comic #8 – Chef Farang – 5 October 2016

It’s a funny thing, being the token “Farang” (foreign) English teacher in a Thai school.

For some reason, my Thai colleagues and students absolutely love when I am forced to dress up in some sort of outfit. Whether it’s a traditional Thai costume or a silly chef’s uniform, I know if there is dressing up involved, there is no way to get out of it!

I don’t mind, but I know that I’m going to be photographed hundreds of times throughout the day, by students and teachers on their phones, and even the official school photographer. I’m sure I’ll be in the newsletter. You just have to embrace these things!

Video: Golden Land – Burma (Myanmar)

Travelogue #2

Let’s go to Burma (Myanmar), a country which has only just begun to open up to outsiders after more than half-a-century of isolation. Burma is a beautiful, tragic land, full of mystery, sadness, and hope. On our one-week adventure, we travel overland from Yangon (Rangoon), the old British colonial capital, to Mandalay, and finally to the ancient pagoda-filled plains of Bagan. Mingalbar! It was a lot colder than we anticipated…

Visit our YouTube channel for more videos!

Video: “Oishi” Means “Delicious – Japan

Travelogue #1

“Oishi” Means “Delicious! Michael and Ryan, two English teachers working in Bangkok, Thailand, take a four-day stopover in Japan and visit the biggest sites in Tokyo and Kyoto. Join us, as we explore a country we know almost nothing about! Please excuse Michael’s terrible Japanese pronunciation.

Visit our YouTube channel for more videos!

Comic #7 – Cremia

©PINKY S. 2016

Cremia – Comic # 7 – 28 September 2016

We were in Osaka. We wanted to visit Osaka Castle early, so we arrived to get tickets before it opened. While we were looking for somewhere to eat breakfast, Pinky saw something that caught her eye…

That girl cannot pass up the chance to have an ice cream… even at 8 in the morning!

And this ice cream was special: it was our first CREMIA!

Cremia is a special kind of soft-serve known as “softcream”, popular in Japan. It’s made from a richer, higher-fat cream rather than with milk, giving it a smoother, richer, and creamier texture. Cremia is usually served in a sugar cookie cone. It’s kind of a “premium” brand, so it’s a bit more expensive than regular ice cream – about 500 yen.

Visit their website to learn more!

https://www.nissei-com.co.jp/cremia/en/

And visit us on Instagram

@beer_and_icecream

Comic #6 – Bobby

Bobby – Comic #6 – 21 September 2016

We have a lot of adventures in Thailand, but our daily lives are often funny too. While Michael is off fighting a losing a noble fight against the misuse of the Oxford Comma, Pinky is hard at work as a veterinarian.

Bobby is a pug, and one of Dr. Pinky’s patients. Bobby is not, however a very patient pug. He could not resist the smell of “khanom” (snacks), and mistook his own doctor’s finger for a treat! Fortunately, Bobby is a fast eater, and doesn’t like to chew his food! He didn’t bite down on Pinky’s finger, just tried to swallow it whole.

Bobby isn’t malicious though. He’s a good dog!

Comic #5 – 300 Meters

300 Meters – Comic #5 – 14 September 2016

The signs were misleading…

We spent a lovely weekend in the Laotian capital, Vientiane. All I wanted out of the weekend was a bit of sightseeing and a cup of that world-famous Lao Coffee.

After visiting Patuxai, the Laotian Arc de Triomphe, it seemed just a short walk down Lang Xang Avenue to the Pha That Luang Pagoda, the most important Buddhist holy site in Vientiane. After all, the signs said it was only 300 meters. Even though it was hot and humid, we could walk 300 meters, right?

After over half an hour of walking, That Luang still looked as far away in the distance as it had before we started. It certainly wasn’t 300 meters… maybe 3 Km.

We should have taken a tuk tuk. After we finally arrived, we were almost too exhausted to fully enjoy it. At least I finally got my coffee.

Pha That Luang is an impressive gold-covered stupa, and is located definitely more than 300 meters down the road from Patuxai. It is the national symbol of Laos, and its history dates back to the 3rd century.

Comic #4 – Pokestop

PokeStop – Comic #4 – 31 August 2016

Pokemon Go has finally come to Thailand. It’s a little later than the rest of the world, but it’s here, and it’s BIG!

All the students at school have been glued to their smartphones, and the school shrine, usually only visited before a big test or when the students need a little extra luck, has been very popular lately; it’s our local PokeStop!

It’s given me something to talk with the students about too. I can tell them how I got Pokemon Blue for my Gameboy Color at Christmas 1997. The students think it’s really retro and cool. That also makes me realize though, that they think I’m old… Sometimes I feel it too, when I realize that most of my students were born in the 21st century!

Yes, Pokemon is popular again. I’ve been really excited to show off the new LINE stickers I got. I get too excited about these things.

Comic #3 – Teacher Tomato

©PINKY S. 2016

Teacher Tomato – Comic #3 – 24 August 2016

The sunlight in Thailand is no joke!

I have to be very careful if I’m out in the sun for more than half an hour. Sometimes, even if I try to regularly re-apply sunscreen, I’ll still come into work the next Monday looking like a lobster.

The students think it’s hilarious. The first time I came to work with a bad sunburn, I was immediately nicknamed “Teacher Tomato”.