Hot Hot HOT!!!

Summer is here in Thailand (May, June to September, our summer is monsoon season), and man is it HOT! I was worried Id simply become a big wimp while in Malaysia with my airconditioned room but no even the locals have been declaring raawn maak! (very hot). I went out this afternoon with a Thai sister who stated she didnt like the hot-or dogs, but we both agreed that bananas were yummy. They have more varieties of bananas here, and I must admit I prefer them to those in the US. Theyre these cute little bananas and Saturday I bought a whole bunch for about 50 cents! The Thai sister, Wan (meaning sweet, and what a fitting name for this darling sister) was shocked to learn that in the US Id pay 60 baht for a bunch ($2)! So later she treated me to grilled bananas -only 20 baht, she told me :)
It was an interesting, but lovely afternoon with the Thai sister - curious because she speaks little English, and of course my Thai is severly limited (but hey I know the words for prayer, prophecy, volunteer, Bible Student, truth and just this morning I learned Creator. Im a total hit at parties :) ). But we got along just fine even if our conversation stayed very simple, and she had several very nice calls, one of which spoke quite a bit of english and was studying to be a doctor. (She looked young and I was curious as to her age, but though the Thai people dont consider it at all rude to ask age-or really anything youd like to know- Im still hesitant to pry).
Speaking of age, its been quite entertaining to hear what age people over here believe me to be - Ive gotten everything now from 16!!! to the more reasonable 26. And forgive me if Ive mentioned this before, but the compliment I received in Manila just amused me to no end - I was told I look young for a caucasian. First time Id ever been told that! Speaking of perspective, Ive learned since coming over here that most white people are, by Thai standards, fat, old looking, and have big noses! Ha! Dont feel bad for me here, because I personally find it hilarious. Additionally Ive been told to Thai people there is no distinction between Australian, American and European, were all the same, all farang, but according to Raywot considered to be more polite than Thai people. This was a relief because what I WAS worried about was being seen as the rude/obnoxious American (especially after having just met and spoken with one, yech he was such an arrogant know-it-all!!!).  I suppose this lack of distinction makes more sense of an earlier conversation I had with a couple of Thai sisters (with Alanna's help in this instance). They had been asking where I was from, to which I replied the USA, but this didnt suffice, they wanted to know my geneology apparently, to which I answered I was a little Native American, Part Italian and Part German. The answer was no to the first two (especially having Lidia around, a dark Italian girl whom looked nothing like me), but then suddenly a yes to German. Apparently I dont look American (What exactly American looks like I still dont know), but German, yes I was clearly German! I later learned Lidia had stopped saying she was from Australia and said she was from Italy as Australia was unsatisfactory. :) ) So apparently in manners all white persons are the same and where you come from is not in fact determined by where you were born, but what you look like. Its a funny world.
Also just one lasr cultural side note to all the Americans looking forward to suntanning this summer - here all the lotions have whiteners in them and pale is the fashion. Oh the irony.