I'm Back....

Before getting into all the photos and trip details, I need to write about what happened on the day I left. My cool brother, Taylor, received the Melchezidek priesthood and I was lucky enough to be there. We're all proud of him and what a good boy he is. He is so smart, loving, spiritual, funny and is an excellent uncle. Below are some pictures from the day (click on them to enlarge, if you so desire)

Trip blogging will happen this week. I'm exhausted.

I forgot to mention that the street we're staying on in Kuala Lumpur is basically the El Cajon Boulevard of Chinatown. Those of you from San Diego understand the reference, those of you not from San Diego should know that El Cajon Blvd is notorious for prostitution.

There are several ladies of the night who hang around all day. In fact, there is one who stays put all day just scanning for clientele. We believe her to be a lady boy, a shemale, a tranny of sorts. She's tall, wears a different colored sari everyday, wears WAY too much makeup and appears to do 12-16 hour shifts. Yesterday she was visited by a group of friends (?) and as we were walking by, one called out to me, "Where are your breasts?". Isn't that so lady like? I had several replies ready to go but I don't think it would be advisable to get in a fist fight with a tranny in a foreign country.

I have WAY too much to say...I should have been blogging everyday but there have been things I have wanted to do other than be in some internet cafe for an hour. I'm currently in Kuala Lumpur at a hostel in Chinatown. I absolutely love it!

Britta and I hae been traveling with Clarke, a Welsh fellow we met while in Phuket, and we have been with him for about 6 days now. He is a laugh and a half and is teaching us all about life in the UK. By the way....the UK has WAY better slang than we do! They really know how to make full use of their adjectives!

I will post pictures and things when I get home next weekend, I have already taken several hundred. Yesterday on a bus trip an old man in front of me came seriously close to falling on the floor several times as he kept nodding off. It was awesome. Also yesterday, Clarke was ever so kind about letting us cut his long hair into a mullet, he bought a beer tank top and we went out to dinner. It was quite a fantastic evening. I learned I have a talent for sculpting mullets!

On this trip we have met people from all over the world and most of them have been traveling for several months already and will continue to travel for several more. Apparently it is common (especially in Europe) to do this sort of world trip several times in your lifer. Everyone has been astounded that we are only out for 19 days, it's basically a long weekend to them! I feel like I've been gone forever but I like the way they think. None of them are in debt over it, they saved and are living frugally so they can afford this incredible experience. I find it inspiring!

More later,
R

Saturday 10am - Ao Nang

Britta and I stopped into an internet cafe so I thought I'd throw out a quick update for ya'll. We left the Phi Phi Islands yesterday afternoon and made our way to Krabi, by ways of a 2 hour long ferry ride along the most breathtaking part of the ocean I have ever been able to float on. We then took a quick car trip to Ao Nang and have decided to settle here for a few days.

This city is awesome! The shopping is incredible, the people are friendly, the food....I'm not sure. We decided on pizza last night and not local cuisine. How very American of us ;) We will be checking into different lodgings tonight. It is a resort with a pool and full spa service. We wanted a day or so of pampering before we scurry off to Cambodia. The room will cost 600 baht per night and hour long massages are about 200 baht. Just for a little insight into our checkbooks, 32 baht = 1 American dollar. Yes, we will be getting massages for about $6 and paying about $9 each for our room. Life is tough, don't I know it!

Backpacking is a cool and interesting experience and I definitely plan to see Europe this way. Tough it is difficult when it comes to shopping! I want to buy soooooo many things but I have such limited space. So far we have met some pretty cool people, including 2 Welsh men who met while traveling and figured out that they're from the same town, went to the same school and were only a year apart. Truly, what a small world!

More to come later! I miss you all!

For those of you curious about the blogging hiatus and who aren't in regular contact with me......


I'm in Thailand!!! It has been incredible so far, we got here on Tuesday (it is now Friday the 11th at 9:30am). We landed in Bangkok, immediately flew to Phuket (pronounced Poo-get) and the next day took a ferry to Phi Phi Island (pronounced pee pee) (seriously). We went on an amazing adventure yesterday that included feeding monkeys at Monkey Beach, snorkeling in the Andoman Sea and racing a rainstorm in a long boat. Terrifying but probably the most fun I have ever had.

More to come later! I'll be here until the 25th and I'm traveling with my good friend, Britta Larsen who I know from San Diego. I miss you all!

Thoughts on Interpreting

I'm going through some sort of quarter life crisis right now. School started last week and this is my first time in six years not being there on the first day with my pencil case, Hello Kitty backpack and schedule tightly clutched in my hand. I realized that about 90% of my friends are currently enrolled and the other 10% are moms. Meaning that they are busy, not that they are lame and don't want to hang out (except for you, Julie. Lame).

The crisis part is that I miss it!  I miss school.  There - I said it.  I have visited UVU twice already and I plan on more visits.  It doesn't hurt that I am treated a bit like a rockstar either :)  I love learning, writing papers and having the discussions/arguments with some of my professors that always got me fired up and doubly motivated.  Blah.  I never expected to miss it.

I am now working as a freelance interpreter and it is wonderful! I love driving around and doing a variety of appointments. I love meeting new Deaf clients and new interpreters. I love the challenges I face linguistically and ethically. In general, I love it.  I was made for interpreting (or law, medicine or politics but since this is what I do I'm saying I was made for interpreting).

Something I have only recently come to realize is how much I am in awe of my profession. I am so honored to be privy to the best and worst moments of people's lives and absolutely everything in between. It is such a privilege to be an interpreter and it is something I take very seriously. There is so much at stake and I am so grateful to have the ability that I do to be allowed to be a part of the delicate balance of this profession.  

For anyone who is not as familiar with ASL or interpreting, I can tell you it is not a charity service I do.  I do not help Deaf people.  Both Deaf and hearing people are my clients.  Often I am thanked for the "service" I perform or complimented on the beautiful language or asked a million questions about my background.  I know there is a lot of curiosity regarding ASL and it is much easier and more comfortable to ask the hearing person, not the Deaf, all these questions.  I do not interpret out of the goodness of my heart, I get paid.  It can be tiring but it can also be a great opportunity to quickly dole out some education to the otherwise ignorant public.

Anyway, I know that there are some interpreting students who check out my blog from time to time and I encourage all of you to not give up.  It is a crazy cool profession and it is so worth it!  I promise!