I am a day and a half away from ordination in Thailand :)

[Chanh Dao]

Very excited about it. I'm 25 and from America. Living in a small monastery where not many monks speak any English!

Questions, advice, encouragement would all be appreciated!

[DarrenM]

That’s fantastic, I rejoice and wish the very best in your monastic life.

[Miroku]

Good luck, buddy! I am very glad you found the guts to do it!

[Manopubbangama]

Have a wonderful time.

This opportunity may not come again for millions of years so make the best of it and keep us updated!

[JamesTheGiant]

Wow congratulations! That was fast!
Remember to take it easy and not push too hard. It's easy to be very energetic and too enthusiastic at the start, and it's unhealthy for both body and mind.
You'll see what I'm talking about, but maybe only looking back on it.

How long will you stay at this monastery?
When it's time to renew your Visa, how will you do that?

And remember, if you disrobe it's not the end of the world. You can leave and then come back again seven times at least.

Best wishes with it.

[Polar Bear]

Congrats, dude! I wish you a fruitful monastic life.

[Chanh Dao]

Abbot has connections at Thai consulate or whatever it's called. For visa.

I'm getting ordained by a district Abbot who is in charge of a very large area in Thailand

[Virgo]

Best of luck Chanh Dao!

Kevin...

[JamesTheGiant]

Abbot has connections at Thai consulate or whatever it's called. For visa.

Oh that's very good, because it can be a real hassle for a farang bhikkhu.
And it's good that you are being ordained by a well known Ajahn, because other monasteries you may wish to visit or start at will have heard of him.

[xofz]

This will be fast progress. Remember, as a monk one is considered to be holy (and one might feel pressured to teach). Other than the reverence (and occasional outright worship), the life of a monk is quite pleasurable (or so this one has heard).

[mountainsandrivers]

Very excited about it. I'm 25 and from America. Living in a small monastery where not many monks speak any English!

Questions, advice, encouragement would all be appreciated!

Whereabouts is the monastery? I'm coming to Thailand in January and visiting a few. I'm curious what was the process to become ordained? Was there a waiting period? How did you build a relationship with this temple? What are the expectations for your practice while you're there?

All the best to you!

[Lonely upasaka]

Abbot has connections at Thai consulate or whatever it's called. For visa.

What the benefits? He will handle all your visa trouble? What about the future when you decide to leave this monastery, how will you handle visa?

[JamesTheGiant]

What the benefits? He will handle all your visa trouble?

Having connections means they smooth over most irregular problems with visas and paperwork. And sometimes it means the foreign monk can do it from their monastery, and doesn't have to go to Bangkok or Chiang Mai to do it.
Having important people as friends and connections in Thailand can make things much easier.
It's similar to corruption, but in a positive way. No money, just trust and social connection.

[Chanh Dao]

Just a quick update. I've come down with a serious fever and am in hospital for a few days.

Litterally from ordination to serious illness and than in hospital.
Ouch

[Polar Bear]

Just a quick update. I've come down with a serious fever and am in hospital for a few days.

Litterally from ordination to serious illness and than in hospital.
Ouch

I wish you a speedy recovery and hope you can use your illness as grist for the mill.