3 Months of Thaijinks

I admit I had to "borrow" this idea from my fellow ATI program friend, Sara Godlevsky. It was just too good not to spin into my own personal reflections of 3 months worth of experiences here in Thailand. (And thanks to Mia for the contributions!)

You Know You're Turning "Local" when.....

1. You stop, stare, and point with your friends when you see other foreigners that you do not know in your tiny town.
2. You assume these foreigners don't understand English, and thus talk about them in close proximity in raised tones, while they stare directly at you, clearly comprehending what you are saying.
3. The once rabid neighborhood dogs now wag their tails when they see you.
4. You see nothing wrong adopting what you think is a stray dog, taking it to the "vet" when it gets hit by a motorbike, paying to have it's ruined leg amputated, and then nurse it back to health, only to have it's true owner come claim it after the dirty work has been done.
5. You see the local Vet performing at a large concert in a town 5 hours away (dressed in the sparkliest outfit and in full make-up) and aren't phased.
6. Bugs fly into your food, you pause to pick them out, and continue eating without breaking conversation.
7. A giant roach scuttles across the floor at your favorite restaurant; you point, laugh, and continue the conversation. You continue to frequent this restaurant.
8. The local carryout's stoop is now the go-to for a hot Friday and Saturday night on the town.
9. The convenience store has begun to stock up on Coke Zero in preparation for our weekend festivities.
10. You travel to bigger towns/cities and continue to talk openly about the people around you, forgetting that it's not Chaiyaphum and that people do get what you are saying. This becomes awkward when it's clearly a tourist who's native language is English. For example: Julia - "That guy behind you guys keeps turning around and staring".
Me - (turning my head and pointing directly at him "What, this weirdo?". Oops.
11. The 7-11 crew cringes when they see your group stagger into the store and start prepping the ham & cheese sandwiches.
12. You're easily convert into Pakistan time.
13. You can hum the entire tune to the Bold & The Beautiful (and may know all the characters names).
14. You get excited about finding a coffee shop who's only menu items are coffee and toast.
15. Any meal over 35 baht is too pricey for you.
16. Your roommates go rat hunting with a local vendor who sells rat skewers, and, the only thing you see wrong with it is the fact that you weren't invited.
17. 70 and breezy gives you goosebumps.
18. A moquito buzzes by and you can single-handedly snatch it out of the air (and many of your weekend games incorporate extra points for killing them).
19. You've adopted Thai exclamations and use them along with your kids for everything to annoyance to happiness ("Oiiiiiiiiiiiiii" is awesomely universal).
20. 2-3 trips to the Tesco in one day are used to cure boredom.
21. Child-like giddiness ensues when the waffle-making lady decides to show up at the night bazaar.
22. Openly talking about murdering your landlord when she is standing right in front of you isn't weird to you at all.
23. At first you thought it was ridiculous that Thai people jump on their scooter to go 10 feet....you now partake in this activity.