Tidings from Udon

Wow, looks like it’s been a whole month since the last time I put up an update here, eh?

As you might guess, a lot has been going on, but now I finally have the time to sit down and type out about how things have been since my arrival here in Thailand. Navigating the airport at Bangkok felt a lot easier this time around, and getting through customs was a breeze. After a short wait for my luggage, I was greeted by the hubby on the other side of the gates and we were off to the hotel.

The D&D Inn is a bit of a well-known site for the tourists in Bangkok, nicely nestled in the bustling Khao San Road. The rooms are modest but comfortable, and well worth the affordable price. We stayed there for about ten days, while getting my school paperwork sorted out as well as just enjoying ourselves in Bangkok. Didn’t do very much sightseeing, as our stay in Bangkok at that moment wasn’t really tourist in nature, but we got to enjoy some nice local sights. There was a nice amount of beefcake and eyecandy strolling around, I must say, though we’re still not as skilled as some in the art of taking surreptitious photographs. Which is a pity, because damn would I have liked to have some pictures of some of the lookers we spotted.

We took a bus out of Bangkok to head back to where we’d be living, Udon Thani. Chan Tours is a really nice bus company, and for 500 Baht you get to ride in luxury with massaging seats, video screens and in-trip meals on a double decker bus with bathrooms. We will definitely be making Chan Tours our default bus company for long trips, at least until we find a company with even better offers.

Once in Udon Thani, we got to settling into the place we were renting. Since money is a tad tight, we’re staying in a bit of a small place for now, but its workable. Purchased the necessary electronics and kitchen gear, and did repairs where needed. Honestly, it’s a place that works wonderfully for a single person, but definitely is a bit cramped for a couple. Setting up the kitchen has been somewhat annoying, since we have to place it outside on the balcony, and it’s the start of the rainy season, which means we’ve also had to set up a tarp for when it rains. But well, necessity is the mother of invention, and we’re already implementing a few “creative” solutions for our little space issues.

Other than that, the local atmosphere seems very quiet and enjoyable in the neighborhood. We’re within walking distance of a local outdoor mall with many varied and interesting stores and stalls, and a longer walk away from the larger shopping centers. Prices for food and day to day items are quite acceptable, though obviously, import items will always be relatively expensive. So it’s all a matter of putting together a diet that works with the current selection that is available and affordable. Adaptation as always. It’s been going well so far.

Classes so far have been rather informal, since the group class that is ongoing still has to finish its current circuit before it comes back round again to the first beginner’s lessons, which is where I’ll join in. The teacher I have been practicing with is quite patient, and definitely a very enjoyable person to work with, and I am slowly building up my thai vocabulary. I must admit that the thai alphabet and syntax are intimidating to me, but I suppose it’s nothing that some diligent study and application can’t handle.

I’ll do more updates as things happen. You cats stay chill!

It is time

Hey there dear friends.
So anyway, in a matter of a few hours I'm going to be flying out to Thailand to start out a new life. The Spain chapter of my life thus draws to a close, having taught me many many things. I have to admit I do feel a bit numb as I write this. Perhaps its just combination of nerves and restlessness and all other feelings associated with an international move.
This time, I am finally striking out entirely on my own, as far as family is concerned. They'll be staying in Spain, dealing with their own matters, but finally I feel that I no longer need to worry about them. They are stable, and they are safe, and I have done my duty enough. Its my turn now.
I should be arriving in Bangkok at around 9:40 a.m. on Thursday. Will be spending several days there, getting paperwork finalized for my classes, as well as just unwinding and spending time with my hubby. Then after that its off to getting settled in the appartment.
Wish me luck, guys! Should be updating with more info as I get the chance.
I'm not very good at keeping journals, but I hope I can do a better job of it this time around.

Start of a Process

Kal here, reporting in.

Introductions out of the way, I suppose the next thing of interest I can share with you is a little bit of the process which I'm going through to get myself into Thailand.
For starters, it always helps to have someone you know wherever it is that you want to go.
In my case, I have the great fortune of having a loving boyfriend awaiting me, and embodying the majority of the reason why I'm heading for this country. If you ever try moving to another place, or wish to in the future, my recommendation would be to try getting to know some of the people that live there, if only online. The internet is a great tool for this. If you are skillful enough, you may just find yourself with friends willing to take you in, if only for a while, or at least show you the ropes upon your arrival.
Also, if you are going to a place where the language is one you're not familiar with, and its going to be a long-term stay, I HEAVILY encourage you to learn the language. It is a good way of showing you have serious intentions, and the locals will likely be pleased to see your efforts, even if they are dismal. Its the thought that matters. Few people like the overseas tourist who's only there to live it up, take advantage of low prices, and be a general party-mongering twat. That is, except for the people who sell things to said tourists.
Anyway, in my case, I'm entering Thailand on a Non-Immigrant Education Visa. Currently, the most recommendable way to access one of these visas is to enroll in a one-year language program with a renowned language school. You should check general forums to find out what the general public opinion is on any school you are interested in attending. That way, you can weight its reputation, and find out whether or not the place is genuine. Be very wary of scams, since the investment you are making is nothing to sneeze at. If something seems too good to be true, IT USUALLY IS. Don't be afraid to ask questions, send out emails, and make phone calls. Skype rates aren't that bad.
I personally ended up going with the Walen School. They are a long time institution with a good reputation and a 10-year history of activity. Dealing with them I found them professional and very amiable, and my questions were always answered with patience and as thoroughly as possible. I very much look forward to classes with their staff.
Rates will probably vary, depending on when you read this post, but a one-year course usually goes for the same rate as the plane ticket you'll be purchasing to fly over, if you are in America or Europe.
Which of course, means that you need to save a good deal of funds to have available to you, both for the process of getting in, as well for your living expenses while in the country. Fortunately, as stated before, Thailand has very low prices.
Once you have paid for your enrollment, your school will mail you the paperwork you need to present to the Thai Embassy in your country. You -could- opt for entering Thailand with a round-trip ticked on a 30-day tourist visa, and processing all of this while in Thailand directly with the school, leaving Thailand for a neighboring country to process your education visa in the embassy there, then re-entering on your new ED visa, but its up to you. Personally, I found that process a bit stressful, expensive, and plenty can go wrong, but it IS a workable option if you're there for a long haul anyway, and want to see the neighboring countries as well. To each their own.
Processing times at the embassies vary. In the Thai Embassy in Spain, their website advertises 2-3 business days to process the visa if there are no mistakes. It took mine a little over 2 weeks to be processed, but granted, there was a field I missed filling in on my application. So, rule of thumb, look your application over as carefully as possible, call if you have questions, and get your paperwork together WELL IN ADVANCE. I did mine 1 1/2 months before my set flight date, and let me tell you, the next few days are going to be a lot less stressful because of this.
The next step would be arriving in Thailand, reporting in at your school, and setting up your class schedule. Some of you will also opt for having the school help you with living arrangements, but as I said before, if you have friends in the area, they are a big help in that respect. If you want to set up something beforehand, give the forums a try as well. Local expats usually have good advice. I would, however, again recommend you have enough funds. Plan for at least a 2 week hotel stay in case something goes wrong. That way you have enough time to panic, calm down, and then find a solution to your problem.
Anyway, I guess that's all I have to share with you folks for now. I leave you with a little scan of what my visa looks like. Relevant ID markers have been blurred out, but you still get a good idea of its current appearance. I do say, it looks quite pretty. :)

Token Introduction

First of all, hello and welcome.
I do not know who you are or where you are from, but I greatly appreciate your interest in perusing this blog.
Perhaps you are wondering what exactly you can expect to find here, now and in the future? Well, then, gentle reader, I shall tell you.
I've created this online journal of sorts because I find myself about to embark in a new phase of my life, and several of my friends have encouraged, nay, urged me to create a written account of the things that will transpire from here on out. Now, I do have to admit that I'm quite new to this whole "blogging" concept, at least in terms of its execution. I attempted to keep journals during my childhood, but alas, I must admit I had a rather boring childhood in terms of what could have been shared with a theoretical reader. Hence, my journals were few, and seldom updated. It is my hope that the following years of my life will prove to hold far more entertainment value, and possibly, get you to learn a new thing or two in various areas. I'm a fellow of rather broad interests, you'll find.
And well, since I've already rudely started yammering on about things and myself, let me correct this slip in manners. My real name... is, well, inconsequential to you, dear reader, as chances of us meeting in the Real World, as it were, are most likely slim. If you were so inclined to try to actually forge a friendship of such value with me that a real-life meeting is mutually desired, then I suppose you would find out my real name eventually. That is, the full real name. I'm not so stingy as to leave you with no actual information, dear reader.
My first name, by birth, is simply Jordi. It is a Spanish name, and indeed, I am Spanish, on my mother's side. It is, however, not a name I am entirely too fond of, and since we are here in the Internet, the land of usernames and nicknames and avatars, I would much prefer to simply go by my nickname, Kal.
Alright, names out of the way. But I suppose you want to know more, yes? Brave on, then.
As I stated before, part of my family came from Spain. Myself, I was born in a small central american country called Honduras, specifically, in the coastal city of La Ceiba. You may now consult your map if you want.

Back already? Splendid.
Tiny little place wasn't it? Anyhow, that's where I grew up until the age of 19. I won't bore you with details about that, since this is not the purpose of this blog, and chances are you will learn more about me in time as I share it here. Patience is a virtue, gentle reader.
Anyhow, because of my family's origins in Spain, I was able to acquire a dual Honduran/Spanish nationality, and moved to Spain when I was a few months away from turning 20, in June of 2006. I spent the remainder of that year hopping about from one place to another with my aunt, who received me and helped me settle into the country. I ended up putting down some roots in the city of Valencia. I suppose I do like coastal cities quite a lot, and Valencia was a place with very nice offers in terms of features.
Now, the reason why I moved to Spain was quite simply due to money. There was less and less of it to be had in Honduras, and frankly, things sucked there. It had gotten to the point where it wasn't even allowing me to pursue a higher education, so I decided to give Spain a whirl and see what I could improve for myself and my family. This ended up with rather mixed results, I will admit.
The issue was timing and ignorance. And well, immaturity and naivete. Then again, I'm in my early 20's, I think it kind of goes hand  in hand. At any rate, Spain's economy was also starting to flounder, and if you keep up with world news to any point, I'm sure you've heard some about how bad things have been getting here. Fortunately, in the years leading up to this point, my family was able to gain enough stability here in terms of work and money, so while we're not swimming in money, we're not as badly off as many other working-class families are. However, I would not say I'm exactly happy with the prospects here.
I wanted to pursue a higher education, and instead ended up stuck with drone jobs simply to make ends meet. Immigration is a long, expensive affair, especially when it involves bringing in several family members, and you are required to make a few moves. It is also easy to be taken advantage of in a new country. However, I was lucky enough to land in a stable enough job, for a while, and started to put away funds. I ended up losing that stable job in 2008, but recovered it in a non-permanent basis in 2009. Working on and off is a rather stressful affair. And now, even that option is gone.
So, circumstances being what they are, I've decided to take all my funds and pursue a new life for myself, yet again, overseas. This time however, I have only myself to look out for. Well, myself and my boyfriend, whom I am very happy to have along for this adventure.
And believe me, it should prove to be something of an adventure.
The destination? Thailand. The final goal? Australia, gainful employment, and a peaceful life with the man I love.
I will be letting you all know exactly how it goes, step by step, event by event.
I hope you will find it of interest.