Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 6:48 pm | Updated: 7:48 pm, Wed Dec 15, 2010.
Benjaporn Boonlab is a slight girl with a quiet demeanor. However, her childhood nickname, "Mook" tells a slightly different story about the teenage from Thailand who is in Seaside on a yearlong Rotary Youth Exchange program.
"When I was born, I was fat and round like a pearl," she said. "Mook in Thai means pearl."
Mook, 17, arrived in the United States on Aug. 25. Shortly after coming to the North Coast, she started classes at Seaside High School. She is taking a variety of traditional high school courses. Her favorites are trigonometry and chemistry. Although it may be a big class load for some students, it is no struggle for Mook, who is taking a rigorous science and math program in Thailand. According to Mook, students in Thailand are required to choose a course of study by the time they reach sophomore year. When she completes her exchange program in June, Mook will return for two more years of high school at her home in Bangkok. After graduation from high school, she plans to attend Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok with the goal of becoming a pediatrician.
Serving as an exchange student could be called a family tradition in her household. Her older sister, Wanvisa was an exchange student in Eureka, Calif., seven years ago.
"She had a lot of great experiences and was able to share those with me," Mook said.
When the opportunity came up, Mook pursued her own exchange student opportunity to experience and learn about a new and different culture.
In Thailand, students attend first through sixth grade in one school, with seven to 12th grade at another school. Thai schools are large. Her school has 5,000 students including 800 members of her junior class.
Mook said students attend all their classes each day in a single classroom. Although they have cell phones, students are not allowed to have them on in class and teens are not allowed to drive until they are 18.
"The one classroom makes us closer, it creates stronger friendships," she said.
Comparing schools in Thailand and Seaside, Mook said teachers are stricter in Thailand. There is no talking in class, they don't use calculators in math classes and there are no open book tests.
During football season, Mook was named an honorary homecoming princess along with fellow Rotary exchange student Peer Capretti of Italy, who was selected as a homecoming honorary prince.
"I talked to my counselor and learned I have to go outside myself and talk with students," she said. "Now, everyone is very accepting and welcoming.
What are her favorite things in Seaside - pizza, spaghetti and pasta.
She also enjoys several other American traditions - especially football and teaching younger students at classes at the local Catholic church.
Although she admits she misses some Thai cuisine, her first host mother took her to Portland to an Asian market where she was able to purchase items to make her favorite dishes.
During her first week in Seaside, she met a Thai couple that operated a local restaurant, but unfortunately they moved to Portland shortly after she came.
Being able to converse with someone in her native language is something Mook said she misses.
Mook will be living with three host families during her year-long stay. Her first family was at the Ken Dickerson's home. Two weeks ago, she joined her second host family - John and Karen Chapman and their five children. Erin Chapman is a student at Seaside High School and served as an exchange student to Thailand last year. Mook said it's a nice transition. Both Erin and Carrisa Dickerson from her first host family have become Mook's close friends.
Mook attends Seaside Rotary meeting each week. During the club's annual auction fundraising event in November, Mook performed a traditional classic Thai dance. She has been dancing for seven years.
"I love to share my culture and things about my country," she said.
Learning and sharing cultures is part of her Rotary Youth Exchange experience. One tradition in her country is that older people walk first or ahead.
"I had learn to walk in step with family and friends," she said. I walk beside them not behind them."
Mook's father is Major General Jirasak Boonlab and her mother, Nuchanart is a teacher.
Her sister is studying economics at a University in England.
"I want to invite people to come to my country," she said. "Thailand is the land of smile and about being free. We have lots of freedom and lots of fun."
November was an exciting month for Mook. She traveled with 43 other Rotary Exchange students from Oregon and southern Washington to Disneyworld in Florida.
"We went to the Magic Kingdom," she said. "It was fun."
Thai students know about Mickey Mouse and Disneyland and Disney World.
Mook hopes to travel to California before she completes her exchange experience here to see some of the places her sister visited and to experience famous large California cities along with Disneyland.
November also brought a new American tradition - a traditional Thanksgiving feast.
"I love turkey and I like pumpkin pie," she said about the holiday.
Although they do have a Christmas holiday - Mook noted it lasted from Dec. 25 through New Year. Her culture does recognize Santa Claus.
Mook is looking forward to other American Christmas traditional and new holiday foods.
"It is going to be fun," she said. "I like to pass out presents and I like to eat new things."
Last fall, Mook traveled with her host family to Seattle where she saw the Space Needle. She also attended the Oregon State Fair.
"It was a favorite experience," she said with a smile. "All the fair food. There are no state fairs in Thailand."
At times, Mook said she misses her family and friends - especially her dog, Mini a poodle. At home, she enjoys caring for her dog, which had now become her mom's daily chore. When she arrived, Mook wasn't able to talk on the phone or see photos online for three months. When her mom was able, she used her laptop to show Mook's picture to her dog. "She jumped and turned around in circles and ran all around," Mook said.
When she returns to Thailand, she and her parents plan to visit her sister in England before Mook returns to classes.
"Some people think Thailand is poor and think of me as poor," she said when describing some perceptions of her native country. "I want everyone to know all the good things about my country."
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