Absolut Cities :: 02

This set of Absolut cities is related to the period in which I spent my time studying in the US from 1995 to 2000.  That is my most enjoyable time of my life.
	I remembered that it was pretty busy preparing all the documents needed for going to the States and I was lucky enough to have my aunt and uncle who lived there for many years.  So it was the most easiest choice for me to choose Texas as my first destination in USA.  I decided to enter the English Institute first because I thought I needed some adjustment and I had not decided yet where I wanted to do my degree.  It was a very long flight to Dallas-Ft. Worth and I sat in the plane with mixed feelings of excitement, high-hope, and worry.  Well, Dallas here I came.
	My aunt and uncle were kind enough to give me such a warm welcome and it made me feel less lonely.  Off course, what I thought was that there was a long way for me ahead and I did not have time to be that way.  When I got a bit use to the way of American life and got my rhythm back, I started to focus on my study.  I lived with them for about one month before moving to the dorm at University of North Texas in Denton, where I spent one summer taking the English course.  Then I moved back to Dallas living with them again and now I had to decide where I wanted to go next.
At that time, one of my best friend from Thailand would come to the States and he already applied and got accepted to the University of Denver; and he asked me if I wanted to go there and shared the apartment with him.  I thought that it might be a good choice so I discussed it with my aunt and uncle.  They were not as thrilled as I was expected; however they said that in the end it’s up to me to decide my future.  And to explore other option, my aunt was kindly enough to drive with me to Denver and checked out the school.
The trip to Denver was kind of a vacation for my aunt as well.  It was a very fun trip.  We went white water rafting and visiting Coors Brewing Company.  On that trip we had to spend the night at the Walmart’s parking lot because we could not find any vacant hotels or motels, not even Motel 6.  It’s quite an experience. Off course, we visited University of Denver and checked out the apartment where I might have to stay.  Weighting my options were a very headache task.  Anyway, finally I decided to stay in Dallas and went to University of Dallas.  With this option, I could save some money on the apartment and might be useful for my aunt and uncle when they needed me to run some errands.
At the end of the day, I still loved Dallas and considered it as my second home.  It’s such a fun and smooth time for me living in Dallas.  Whenever I could, I would go and gave them a hand at their grocery store in downtown.  What I remembered the most was a Christmas week on December 1995, almost midnight, and I was still at the grocery shop helping my aunt taking the trash out.  Suddenly, the snow was falling.  I was so excited to see snow for the first time.  I was standing there with my aunt watching snowflakes falling from the sky at the back alley of the store.  It’s just simply incredible. That might be a gift for me from Santa Claus.
Living and studying in Dallas-Ft.Worth area were enjoyable and fun since I had my undergrad friends from Thailand.  However, I felt like it’s not worth my time and did not get much from the program I studied so I applied for another graduate school.  This time I got into the CIS-Program at University of North Texas.  I spent one semester there and later I changed my course again. (To be continued.)
All ads are taken from www.absolutad.com

Absolut Cities :: 01

There was a time when I was crazy about the “Absolut” printed ads.  That was the time when I was in the U.S. and found those ads in many magazines very unique.  From then on, I collected as many ads as possible, categorized and put them into a couple of big folders.
Well, I feel like sharing some of those ads in a series called “Cities”, where there are 122 of them but here I select only those where I relate.
:: Absolut BANGKOK :: This is the city where I was born and grew up.  So, I can say that it is everything in my life.  When I look at the ad, I wondered if this is what Bangkok stands for.  However, from the creativity point of view, I think it is executed quite well.  At the end, it still makes me smile. By the way, from all over the world, I still believe that Thai food is the best!
	:: Absolut BEIJING :: Beijing-China is my first visiting foreign city.  It was the trip that I traveled with my grandparents and siblings.  I remembered that we all were very excited.  That was one of the wonderful time that I had with my family. What I liked the most from the trip was the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.  I could not imagine that they would be that huge and complex. By the way, do you notice the Absolut logo?  Neat, isn’t it?
	:: Absolut AUCKLAND :: Later on, upon my graduation and before leaving for USA, our parents took us for a holiday in New Zealand.  We traveled throughout all big cities and tourist places in both North and South Island.  It was really a great and adventurous trip.  There were all kinds of outdoor and exciting activities such as speed boat ride and bungee jump, which we did not dare to do it.
Another thing that still impressed me about New Zealand until today are its nature and cleanliness.  The first city that we spent the night was Christchurch.  Through the city, you would see Avon River, which was so clear that you could see its bottom.  It would have been the greatest gift from heaven if Bangkok would have such a river. Auckland, the city in the ad, is the metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand.
Well, I think I leave my journey here.  Let’s see where I will take you next time.
All ads are taken from www.absolutad.com