Language exhaustion! Yes, it is a thing! What is it? Intense concentration on listening and trying to communicate with people who speak, pronounce, and use language differently!
I realize that is part of what happened on my brutal and extremely painful trekking experience. I communicated, clarified, made a video expressing my intentions and still…the experience was really challenging for me. Had it not been for the Advil I brought along, I’m not sure how I would have finished!
Be patient. Be aware of assumptions being made. Clarify key points. Make the most of it. Keep smiling. Be adaptive!
Savor the good stuff! Surprises happen as well. Connecting with Muklis was a tremendous bonus and such an uplifting experience! Random comments and connections! Listening. Paying attention. Being flexible. Adapting some more. Making the most of what happens. It is the same process that brought me to the Cow Racing. To Padi Ecolodge and that great experience. To the resort I’m staying in on the Thailand/Laos border. Flowing always works better in travel than rigidity!
Smile Cooking School cooking options
Smile Cooking School for example!
Two of my favorite cooking schools have closed, changed their format, or moved into the city. I selected Smile Cooking because it is in the countryside and I read they had small groups. My group was 9 people. That is small enough. However, there were 7 groups out there in total. All instructors are talking at the same time. Pounding noises. Stirring noises. Lots of voices. Etc.
Each person speaks with a slightly different accent and pronounces common words differently. Often, I heard a word I had never heard before. When I asked what they said, and they repeated, and I listened differently, I understood. It is ENORMOUSLY challenging doing that in a noisy environment with so much chaos happening simultaneously.
Compared to past cooking experiences that were less than 15 people, multiple instructors with assistants and a focus on learning how ingredients went together, this was quite different!
I would describe this as cooking “execution”. Below in the photo’s, you can see some of the process. There was another group immediately to the left of my green apron group.
Different and I still learned a couple things.
We were all cooking at the same time. Anya would shout directions based on what menu item you were making. I couldn’t hear great so I put in what I felt should go in. My peanuts went in very early so they were very crispy. There were a couple challenges. First, the noisy made hearing difficult so the instruction was abrupt. Second, we were told what ingredients to put in but not about the balance of flavors and that sort of thing.
I did make a desert with ripe bananas using the creamy coconut milk process. I always seem to have bananas about to go bad. This will be a great way to use them!
The tour of the market was really packed with so many groups of students from our school. We had to be careful in moving around each other. This market was outside the city and very clean and quiet compared to those in the city. I enjoyed looking around and seeing everything they had available. Especially the coffee made for me by a barista completely focused on making a good drink for me!
Market Coffee
Constant adjustment...
You can tell, from the experiences I’ve shared, that communication can take a continuous amount of attention and concentration! It can be exhausting. What helps it breathing, staying relaxed, being patient, knowing it is just as frustrating for them, and being willing to check multiple sources for verification.
And it helps to remember that things will always work out! It also helps to remember to take a day here and there to simply relax! I went to the coffee shop this morning. It opened before my favorite breakfast spot. I was the first customer! My favorite chair was open. I sat, didn’t read or use technology, savored my coffee and enjoyed myself! Perfect!
Travel day!
Tomorrow morning, I’ll be on the bus at 7:30 heading to Chiang Rai. I scheduled a GRAB to pick me up before 7:00 for the 15-minute ride to the bus station. I will arrive in Chiang Rai for the very first visit around 11:00. Fortunately, I booked a cool place that is within walking distance from the old bus station. Nice accidental planning!
I’ll explore there and head toward the border with Laos the next day. Once there, I’ll spend two nights at Namkhong Resort. Have a look: Namkhong Guesthouse & Resort.