Hello!

This morning, I rose to the sight of Bangkok outside my window after a scant three hours of sleep.  Using the logic of, “We just slept 18 hours on a plane, we don’t need to sleep tonight”, we all decided a good use of our time not sleeping was to go up on the roof of the hotel and swim in the pool.  We experienced a beautiful view of the city lights and some great conversation while sitting around a table at 3 AM (felt like 4 PM).  Despite Bangkok’s immense size and how incredibly busy and loud the city is, it was remarkably peaceful sixteen stories up. 

After I got up, I found I did not regret my decision to stay up as much as I thought I would.  Happy in that fact, I joined some of my fellow cadets for one of the best breakfasts I can remember.  It fused traditional American and Thai breakfasts, and I ate french toast, rice with egg, garlic chicken, and bacon.  I unfortunately was too late in arriving at breakfast to be able to order and enjoy an omelet, but the group members who had one raved about them as well.  The highlight of the meal, however, was the fresh fruit.   I had never had dragon fruit before and I was not disappointed.  They also had berries in syrup, papaya, and another fruit that I did not recognize.

We got in the van and careened through chaotic traffic towards the JUSMAGTHAI (Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group Thailand) compound.   There we met the U.S. organizers of our trip, got a more detailed briefing on Thai culture, and learned about international relations and the men and women who work in that field.   We cadets left that compound with a new potential Army career in foreign affairs.  Also contained in the compound was a tailor shop that had opened in the 1950s with the compound itself and was sponsored by both the U.S. government and the Thai monarchy.  The shop owners may have also convinced me to buy a suit!

We left JUSMAGTHAI and headed for AFAPS (the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School).  The drive there was an adventure in itself.  I spent most of the ride terrified of the swerving, driving in multiple lanes, and speeding Thai drivers.  In addition, there were hundreds of mopeds and bikes that weaved through the pandemonium.  I find it a miracle that there are any living drivers left in Thailand, but apparently the population is in firm control of the vehicle, because we didn’t see any wrecks.  Our driver got us safely through.

On the way, we stopped at a small, open-air restaurant for our first taste of true Thai food.  There was a family who tended the grill and served the patrons simultaneously.   As we were served (without ordering), we hungrily dug into soups and dishes that we did not recognize.  Slurping our noodles (it’s good manners in Asia, right?) and fumbling with chopsticks, we devoured almost all of the numerous dishes that were brought out.  Our table looked like a warzone.  After eating our fill, MAJ Glassman took one of the small peppers and bit off half of it.  As he turned to say “that isn’t bad”, sweat started beading on his forehead and lip and his nose began to run.  He took a gulp of water, but then dutifully finished the pepper.  Eating mint leaves and rice, he began to visibly cool down in order to start raving about how good the pepper was (apparently not good enough to eat another).  Then, in the impeccable logic of “if the Ranger did it…”, Ben grabs one of the peppers and eats it himself.  As the sweat poured off his face, I could hardly muster sympathy, but he, too, toughed it out.  Kelsey finished half of one.  The rest of us were either too cowardly or too smart (I prefer to think the latter) to attempt the feat ourselves. 

We got back in the van and arrived at AFAPS.  We were put up in the officers’ quarters, giving us two houses to live in for our stay.  After moving our bags in, we met with some of the teachers and officers at the school to discuss the plan for our mission and to show off our newly learned Thai greetings and customs.  We’re going to have long days, but they will certainly be worthwhile.  After that, we got a small break to move in and rest, followed by a bike (which is our primary means of transportation at the academy) tour of campus and dinner in the chow hall.  As we witnessed the first year cadets get smoked for offenses earlier in the day, we took our seats with cadre and some of the second and third year cadets (it is only a three year school).  The sight of hundreds of first year cadets running and yelling in unison was impressive, as was the precision with which they sat and crossed their arms at attention whenever someone addressed the class.  They ate quickly and uncomfortably (one is reminded of our own service academies), while we took advantage of our first opportunity to speak with some of the cadets were there to teach.  I sat next to Wisan (if you ever read this, forgive me for my likely gross misspelling of your name) and discussed our purpose in being there, physical training, clubs, our countries, food, and the prep school.  Wisan is one of the cadets destined for the police academy and is a company commander at the school.  He showed me the school tradition of using a straw folded in half to slice into the pouches of chocolate milk and make a hole for said straw, as opposed to cutting open the top of the pouch.  After our meal of tiny, spicy fried fish, some sort of steamed green vegetable, watermelon, and rice, I said goodbye to Wisan as he left for his battalion’s barracks.  We left for a grocery store to stock up on snacks, bottled water, and soap.  Then we came back to our rooms to fix our uniforms for tomorrow and go to sleep, excited for our time at the Academy to begin in earnest.

-Andrew

On the roof of our hotel. 

Good morning Bangkok!

Our group in the JUSMAGTHAI compound.

CDT Winne with our cook.

Welcome to Thai cuisine!

Entering our home for the first time.

Our group discussing clubs and schedules.

Nihal discussing our teaching plan with some Thai officers.

The first year cadets at AFAPS.