Tina in Thailand

World's Best Pad Thai is Made With Friends You may have eaten Pad Thai* at a restaurant in your neighborhood; it is considered the national dish of Thailand and has been promoted worldwide by the Thai government. You may have also enjoyed Pad Thai at a restaurant in Thailand. But have you ever made Pad Thai at home, alongside dear Thai friends? Recently, Leah, Jessica, and I had that opportunity. Our friend Nok invited us to their family home for a hands-on experience making Pad Thai, and it was the very best Pad Thai we have ever had! Cooking and eating together delight the taste buds and the soul. So gather your friends and family, and enjoy spending time together cooking, laughing, and eating the world’s best Pad Thai! Here's the family recipe along with video instructions. Thanks to Jessica and Leah for cooking and writing the recipe to share with you!   Ingredients: Crushed peanuts (for best results, roast fresh, unsalted peanuts for ~30 minutes, then rub to remove husks a...

You may know that cougars are typically found in the Americas. But did you know that there are two cougars in Thailand? They are Jessica and Leah, two BYU Cougars, undergraduate students studying Communication Disorders.   I received a grant from the BYU McKay School of Education to provide an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about conducting research, teaching, and being immersed in a new culture. Of the many students who applied and qualified for this experience, Jessica and Leah rose to the top. They arrived in May and have been amazing with their ability to understand and embrace the culture, try exotic food, flexibly accept changes in our schedule, and enjoy every minute of their time here. Our motto for this experience is “A new day, a new adventure!”     Their primary responsibilities thus far have been to teach the neurodiverse students and the children from the homeless shelter. They have also taught students from the Foundati...

Thai people are known for being kind (“jai dee”   ใจดี ). Thai tennis players are kind, even when they are losing. I have played at the CV Tennis Club with an adult recreational group several times since arriving in Nakhon Pathom. The leader, P’Tum, is a charismatic lady in her 70s who moves like she’s 50 and has a wicked slice like Carrie Jensen’s! Having worked with American soldiers in the 1970s, P’Tum speaks English fluently and has welcomed me heartily into the group. The other 10-12 players are between 25-60+ years old, most are in their 50s and 60s. One lady is a Thailand tennis champion. This group’s style of play has been so fun for me to observe and to participate in. However, I have had to adjust my style to fit in with the Thai tennis culture.     Normally, I’m a bit of a talker on the court. I like to chat with my partner, compliment them on good shots, hit our racquets together after exciting points, call balls in/out, call the score loud enough for everyone...

You should be anxiously engaged in a good cause,   and do many things of your own free will,   and bring to pass much righteousness;   For the power is in you,   wherein you are an agent unto yourself.   And inasmuch as you do good   you shall in nowise lose your reward.   (Doctrine & Covenants 58:27-28, alt.) As I sat down to craft this week’s blog post, this scripture came to my mind. Before my Fulbright Scholar assignment, I had resolved to engage myself in various worthy causes while in Thailand, embracing every meaningful opportunity presented to me beyond the scope of my primary purpose (research). Since my arrival, I've enthusiastically said “yes” to numerous causes, including teaching assignments, volunteering at the orphanage, and even joining the volleyball team. I didn't anticipate, however, that amidst these amazing opportunities, I would be invited to embark on a new kind of engagement. Two weeks ago, Chris Smith proposed to ...

Hello everyone.  My name is Chris Smith.  I live in Provo and have been dating Tina for ten months.  A very enjoyable ten months.  She was kind enough to invite me to visit her in Thailand.  I spent 17 days with her and have just returned to Utah.     This was my first visit to Thailand.  Little did I know that April is their hottest month of the year. Temperatures were consistently above 100 degrees, with high humidity.  We didn’t complain though, nor do the Thai people, many without air conditioning in their homes.   I’m not a big seafood lover, nor do I typically eat spicy food.  On both accounts, I quickly learned I needed to embrace Thai cuisine or go hungry.  Somehow squid seemed to show up at every meal.   Tom Yum Soup With Seafood (including squid) Tina and I thought we might rent a car during my stay, but we quickly realized that it was not needed.  Taxi service is readily available and very inexpensive....

Back in the 1960s, the Tourism Authority of Thailand affectionately dubbed its country as “The Land of Smiles” to attract tourists. This campaign worked its magic swiftly, alongside other initiatives such as the 2002 Global Thai Program, a remarkably successful endeavor in gastrodiplomacy – involving government support to establish Thai restaurants worldwide, boosting brand recognition, and fostering diplomatic ties. Annually, tourism in Thailand has soared exponentially, from approximately 1 million international tourists in 1970 to a whopping 40 million in 2022. However, for me, Pad Thai and Gaeng Massaman are secondary reasons for falling in love with Thailand. It's the people who steal the show. Ever wondered why the Tourism Authority chose “The Land of Smiles” as its moniker? Perhaps it’s because of the people: their hospitality, gratitude, kindness, respect for others, peaceful ways of living in the world, and their inherent friendliness. And as I mentioned in an earlier blog...