First conversation with an alumni

I finally talked with Mona today, the girl who volunteered at PKBI a couple years ago through VIA (Volunteers in Asia). I have been trying to expect the unexpected but am pretty glad I did talk to her because some of her advice really threw me for a loop. I can now look forward to: bathing by ladling water over my head, having to sneakily purchase single beers in the Chinese market areas only, have strangers line up to take pictures of me, work in an office with barefoot co-workers, eat with my fingers, and not use toilet paper... Still, I am even more excited in anticipation of this different experience. Easily said, it really will be nothing like living in Kyoto. I was also told there will be three, maximum four other Westerners in the entire city. Of course, I am sure knowing this in advance won't change my experience or my planning much. I still have neglected to begin learning much Bahasa Indonesia and have weeks of "training" before I set foot in the provincial capital of Jambi. Plus, my five weeks in Thailand begins in only a few days!