this is thailand.

Sometimes the only proper response to situations is, "This is Thailand." While the Thai people are incredibly friendly and generous and work hard to make us feel at home, there are still occasional reminders that this is Thailand... here are a couple of those moments:

- When you have to clarify which months you are referring to when you say "winter" (a foreign season to the Thais... and an inverse season to the Aussies)

- When the price of a small package of sliced cheese is more than a whole meal at Chipotle. (Cheese is an expensive commodity in Thailand... So no cheese for Liz!)

- When you plug in your alarm clock, and it gets fried. (Forgot to check the voltage. Whoops.)

- When you go back to the car and you've been blocked in by another car... and the solution is to push it out of the way. (People leave their cars in neutral for that purpose)

- When you go to a nice restaurant and no one tips.

- When there are signs posted throughout the market to beware of pick-pockets.

- When corn and beans are dessert... and popular flavors of ice-cream and yogurt.