Parinya's space

Today is one of the happiest day of mine because I pass my PhD oral defense which mean now I earn the title "Dr." infront of my name. After the long month, now my work pay off. Today I woke up 5:30 am just to prepare and practive for my presentation. For my presentation at 2pm, Not many audiences which is good for me. Today I dress up with formal suit. I remember that one my committee complement my look which make me glad.

The presentation went fine and also answering session. Then when they announce the result I remember hugging my advisor with happiness.

28/2/2008

Today, there was a special event for students and local in my town. It was time of "Parade of Nations" . This event was simply the chance for the international students to present their culture to the local people and other students. This event start with the parade with the participants from various countries walking begin from A to Z. The parade started at Hancock Middle School in Hancock and finish at Dee Stadium in Houghton. Other event are food and goods selling from various nations. This was my 8th Parade of Nations since I came here. In the past, when we had lot of Thai students, we prepared Pad Thai, and Por Pia for selling in this event. However, when the number of Thai students reduced significantly in the past few year, we no longer sell any food. I think since 2005. Last night I was thinking when the time all Thai students came to my house to prepare the food. Beside food selling, there were the performance from various nations. Below are some of pictures from this event,

 

 

Ahmeek

• At 11 a.m., a children’s bicycle parade will start at the fire hall and run for a block.

• There will be games and food all day in the village park.

• At 2 p.m., Country Drifters and Country Connection will play, also in the park. In case of rain, all events will take place in the fire hall.



Baraga

• A Lions Club pancake breakfast will take place from 8 a.m. to noon in the Baraga schools cafeteria.

• The children’s parade starts at noon at the American Legion Hall.

• Children’s games will start after the children’s parade at the corner of M-38 and Superior Avenue.

• The main parade line up and float judging will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the armory.

• The Inflatable Carnival will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. at Community Hill.

• The main parade will start at 3 p.m. on Superior Avenue.

• After the parade, teen and adult games and the tug-of-war finals will take place at the corner of M-38 and Superior Avenue.

• DJ Express will play music from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Community Hill.

• At 10:15 p.m., the Ray Dompier Memorial Nite Shirt Parade participants will assemble at the American Legion Hall and the parade will start at 10:30 p.m.

• At dusk, the Baraga Fire Department fireworks display will take place over Keweenaw Bay.

Copper Harbor



• The parade starts at 10 a.m. on the east end of U.S. Highway 41. It will run through the community to the west before exiting at Lake Fanny Hoe then to Fort Wilkins.

• At 1 p.m., children’s games will take place at Gratiot Township Park on U.S. Highway 41.

• Copper Harbor firefighters will be selling brats and hotdogs throughout the day in the park.

• The fireworks display will start at 11 p.m. They will be to the north, and there are many viewing points from where they can be seen.



Dollar Bay



• The day starts at 10:30 a.m. with the opening of the fire department snack and refreshment stand at the fire hall and the Order of Runeberg Lodge pasty sale at Runeberg Hall.

• At 11 a.m., the VFW memorial service and dedication will take place at Veteran’s Park.

• The Fourth of July parade begins at noon in front of Dollar Bay High School. Parade directors will be posted to assist participants and observers.

• From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., a chicken barbecue will take place at the Veteran’s Park baseball field.

• At 2 p.m., children’s games will take place behind the fire hall, and the Franz Family Ministries will present gospel music in Pioneer Park.

• The Bay Area Artists will present an Independence Day Art Exhibit in honor of the late Denny Lahikainen, former director of the group, Thursday through Saturday at the schools’ multi-purpose room.



Gay



• The parade starts at 2 p.m. in front of the Gay Bar and runs through downtown making a loop.

• Following the parade, there will be children’s games in the ball field across from the bar.

• At the same time as the games, there will be a chicken barbecue and music at the Kauppi Docks about one mile from downtown Gay.

• Fireworks will take place at dusk, also at Kauppi Docks.



Hubbell, Mason and Tamarack City



• The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. in front of Peninsula Copper Industries.

• Kids games start at 1 p.m. and will take place in Hubbell at the Lake Front Park and in Tamarack City at the fire hall.

• The Over the Hill Boys will perform music in the Lake Front Park in Hubbell from 4 p.m. until whenever.



Lake Linden



• A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lions Club will take place in the elementary school from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

• Participants will line up for the parade at 8:45 a.m. at the north end of Calumet Street between 10th and 14th streets. It will get going at 9:30 a.m. sharp. It will head south through the village then connect with the Hubbell, Mason and Tamarack City parade.

• Following the parade, several games for adults and children will take place in the park. Children’s races start at about 1:15 p.m.

• Various contests for children will take place at 3 p.m. in the village park. There will be cash awards for the top three finishers.

• The Decorated Bicycle Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. The route will pass from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church to the village park. Prizes for best decorated bicycles are: First $20; Second $15; Third and Fourth $10; Fifth through Tenth $5.



Mohawk



• There will be a children’s bicycle parade starting at 10:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 41 to Allouez Township Park.

• There will be children’s games in the park with no entry fee. There will also be bingo for adults.

• There will be no alcohol allowed during the events, which should finish about 2 p.m.



South Range



• The day will start at 8 a.m. with a flag raising at the community hall.

• At 10:30 a.m., children’s races will take place at the Range Town Veterans Park. There will be prizes awarded.

• Food will be served throughout the day at several locations.

• Fireworks will take place at dusk in the park.

For the third day, I had a seminar at 12pm at my dept so I need to go and came back right after 2pm because I stop by at the annual book selling of MTU library. I took my brother around downtown and I took him to Subway to try one of american symbol; submarine sandwich which people called sub sandwich. After that wee need to rush back to my house to wait for Dr Sripaipan. They would come to pick us up at 6pm for special dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Calumet.

 

 Downtown with the background of Mt Ripley Ski Hill...There is still snow up on the Mt

 

 

 Downtown parking area

 

 

 Only one out of Two Traffic Light in Town (another one is at my school)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello

 

Last month my brother from Thailand came to visit. I was so excited. He arrived Houghton Airport on Apr at around 5pm. Actually a week before his arival, Houghton was hit by the blizzard. I was worried that my brother may had the hard time with cold weather. Fortunately, when he arrived, the weather was warmer but still cold. Let's say 32F or 0 C. However, it was better than -15C. When he first arrived, we took a lot of pictures around the airport until the manager of the airport asked the purpose of us taking pictures. I told him that my brother just came from Thailand which was about 120 F and arrived in Houghton which was 32F and still ton of snow around. Therefore, we took a lot of pictures. Then he said ok. Wow what's a relief......

My Brother and me

 My Brother

 

 

 

Then rather than taking him home, I took him to McDonald to try the American fast food especially french fried which was my brother favorite. Then I took him to the shopping mall of my town . My brother was surprised that the mall was so quiet and it was only 7pm. I said it was typical for a small town. After that we went to Walmart. Later I drove him through downtown of Houghton. Then we arrive at my house at about 10pm just before mom gave us a call. You may thought that I was so cruel that I took him around rather than took him straight home. I learnt by myself that , to cure the symptom of jet lag fast, u must stay awake until the sunset. The sunset in my town was after 8pm. Threfore I must keep him awake later than 8pm.

 

On the second day, we mostly stay home. What we do was just simply having the meal I made for him which were noodle stir fried with fried egg and grilled pork.

 

 

 

Then we walked around downtown of Hancock. The temperature was still at the freezing point (33F or about 0 C)

 

 

 

After that I took him to McNair where I had my partitme job. I introduced him to everyone over there. Then after my job was over, I took my brother to see Dr. Pichai and Rajanee Sripaipan, who were the Thai doctors who working in Houghton for at least 30 yrs. After the visit to the doctor, I took him home which was after 11pm. But before we left, the doctors told us that they would took us to the mexican restaurant in Calumet.