9 MONTHS!!!!!!

Today is my 9 month anniversary with Thailand... and I will only have 1 month anniversary left before I head back to Canada... here is a funny list of how to know when you've been an exchange student in Thailand: (oh, and also, I uploaded pictures from my families visit.. just go to the photopage link on the right)

You know you've been an exchange student in Thailand when..

You've mastered the 'Wai' and laugh when you see other 'farangs' try to use it.
You don't mind peoples stares when you're walking down the street in the school uniform. In fact you encourage it, so the taxis will stop for you.
You know what a thai barbeque is, and will beat anyone over the head with your chopsticks who tries to steal that slice of fish your grilling.
You know how to maneuver through the mazes of all the Soi's to get home. 'Take a left, then another, three rights, a u-turn, go down the darkest alley possible, then another left...'
You don't use just a fork anymore, and don't know how you ever ate without a spoon. In fact, when you try using a fork again you just end up with food on your lap.
You get a break from that shitty rules about dress code in school, just because you are a 'farang'.
You discovered not every dog is touchable, and have the shot scars to prove it.
If you have a cold, you don't tell your host-parents, because you know they will just make you go to the hospital for no reason.
You can speak thai, even just a little. And laugh in the face of those who can't.
You can sing atleast one song in thai, even if it's as lame as 'Loy Loy Krattong' or your school song.
You've learned how to bargain, and damn, can you bargain good. Shop owners suddenly realize they are selling a 300 baht item for only 50 baht.
You finally understand whats expensive and whats not. And find yourself buying a good meal for the low cost of $1.00 US.
You don't buy at the Malls or Department stores anymore because everyone tells you that it's cheaper to go to JJ Market, even the salespeople.
You don't mind someone handing on your arm or holding your hand anymore, and find yourself doing it to them because it seems weird not to.
You wear a pair of jeans, shoes and socks, a long sleeve shirt, and use an umbrella; all in 90 degree sunny weather.
You know the tones, and ignore them completely anyways.
You find riding in Tuk-Tuks are a lot more fun to use, and know how to not get ripped off by them.
You have the King's shirt, the Queen's shirt, the wristband, and the bumpersticker because you love the King just as much as the Thais do.
You happen to mention to your family that you maybe have the sniffles and end up suffering because you have to drink warm water (absolutely NO ice!) for at least 2 weeks.
You have ever warned someone that you will, and I mean will, kill them if they try to bend your hand back for thai dancing.
You know what the BTS is, and know that standing is cooler and more fun then sitting any day.
You often say "I don't like that 7-11, let's go to the one over there" while pointing a mere 10 feet down the street.
You're soo good, you only need one bowl of water to flush a squattie pottie.
You know the toilet paper is for the dinner table, and it is a sin against all thais to use it for the bathroom.
You know that karaoke is always just a trap for thai people to mock you openly.
When you see a white person you point and yell 'Falang' just like the Thai people do.
It doesn't matter if the foreigner teachers at school are from England or Australia, if they speak english, then you two are practically related.
When you've had (on more than one occasion) to explain what "555" means to someone back home.
When you are used to weird questions such as "what day of the week were you born on?" or "what is your blood type?"
When you can eat pizza with ketchup, sugar on ramon noodles, fruit dipped in hot sauce, and not throw up.
You take 'eat the spicy stuff' challenges, and usually just to break the ice and make people laugh when they meet you.
You totally ignore that those DVDs and CDs are pirated, and buy them anyways, because even thai people don't know where the nearest video store is.
You get really excited when you get to eat McDonalds or KFC because you haven't eaten 'farang food in a month.
You hate family gathering because they all speak a dialect together (like the Southern language) and you have no idea what's going on.
You're used to being complimented on you're extremely white skin.
You have been called and frequently call others 'uan' or 'chaang.'
You know that 'taai ruup mai' means that you could be taking pictures for an hour.
You know of and can sing songs by Bodyslam, Endorphine, Hangman, Potato, and Big Ass.
You know that Bangkok's real name is Krungtep (Maha nakaun....) and will not let someone punch you in the nuts if they ask you...
You can now sit cross-legged for hours."
You couldn't remember the names or faces of people you met when you first arrived because 'they all look the same' and you've never heard their names before.
You knew how to speak about food in Thai before pretty much anything else.
You're used to being force fed by Thai people so matter how "im" you insist that you already are.
You hate farangs, with a passion.
When you actually find a cute thai boy you must tell all your exchange friends to get them to see him, since it is quite rare where ever you live.
Baby powder will never be used in the same way again.
When you look down and see that there isn't a spoon among the silverware, you begin to seriously panic.
When you can fit 10 people in a taxi/tuktuk and 5 people on a motorcycle, without flinching.
When You know a movie is dubbed in thai because it's always the same two people/voices doing it.
The only reason you carry around a backpack for school is to hold the clothes you are going to change into when you skip and go to the mall instead.
It doesn't matter if your the skinniest person in the world, you will always be fat in Thailand.
You don't understand how there are no places to buy sunscreen because everyone in thailand loves white skin.
When you feel like doing the wai to beg or apologize your foreigner friends.
When you have used the 1 baht weight machines as a way to get rid of spare change.
When you recognize your friends not by their faces, but by the bag their carrying.
When you still bow at cars when they stop for you to let you cross (or, at least, when you've forced it by being halfway across the street already).
When you can't help but keep your head ducked when two older people, or teachers are talking and you have to walk past them.
When you got some gifts and ended up in a five-hour "the-act-of-receiving-presents-photoshoot" with the biggest fake smile EVER on your face and the face of the present-giver!
When you think staying out till 9 is a late night out, or atleast your host-parents do.
When your friends invite you to go out and drink some "milk" and you really go out to drink milk.
When it being your birthday means you dont get the first slice of cake anymore.