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hello, happy wednesday!

i'm writing during some major downtime at school. we are in our last week of the school year, exam week. there are many small projects here and there. i've done nearly all of them. this place is so organized, it's insane. like nothing else. very, very cool.

well, let's start with the "big" news. i was walking home with a friend around 10 pm on sunday night and two cowardly thai fellows drove by on a motorbike and snatched my purse out of my hand. the driver stopped, the guy got off the back of the bike (behind me), grabbed my purse and they zoomed off. i didn't even stand a chance. i, of course, ran behind them screaming at the top of my lungs, waking the entire neighborhood. they were long gone before two kind thai guys hopped on their own motorbike to chase down the criminals... but to no avail. it's gone. there wasn't much of value... cash ($30), money cards that can be replaced (which i cancelled immediately), cell phone (most annoying), lip gloss (a gift from student), a gift certificate worth 1500 baht (bummer), many business cards i wanted... and not much else to note. very, very luckily, i had emptied a lot of the other things i was carrying (ipod, camera, extra cash, some jewelry) that i would've really missed. i'm safe and life is moving forward.

school has been glorious, in the classroom. the staff room is a completely different, torturous story which i will spare you from. the boys have brought me so much joy on many levels. i wish i could have them all next year and years to come, but alas, i cannot. i'll move on to a new school, hopefully in bangkok, and new class. they have been so much fun and so adorable. some have taken to drawing steering wheels on paper and "driving" around school, they love cars. it's just too much. others are still into playfighting and running around like nutballs. all of them are speaking english enough to communicate most of their thoughts. they certainly know all that they've learned for school and they understand almost everything i say, if it's not complicated. they've also got classic american accents, thank you very much. none of this aussie mess, 'g'day mate.' pft. i'm very sad to say goodbye to them. i will see about seven or eight of them this coming weekend as the parents have organized a class trip for the families and have included me and the thai teacher. it will be great fun, i can't wait. on the itinerary i saw some "activities in the mud." need i say more? it's gonna be good.

my plan. boy oh boy. i'm still not locked into a set plan, but the general plan is to finish school next tuesday and then see cambodia that weekend. come back to see sister Katie off to america (and hopefully send some luggage home) then head out to vietnam for two weeks. after that, it's all a toss up. i'll get myself to some islands and beaches and chiang mai again... then plan to head home mid-april to see all of you!! i'm very excited to catch up with you all. i hope you are well! i will most likely be found in some sort of vehicle with cat in one arm and taco bell in the other. find it sick, i don't care, i have craved taco bell for an entire year. of course the cat will be loved beyond belief. she might even get sick of ME for a change. if you invite me over for dinner expect her to come along. just kidding. apparently she has 'taken' quite nicely to my parents and i "might not get her back." that is a direct quote from the least likely of my parents to say it. oops. i wasn't supposed to tell. tell who? all joking aside, my parents have made the cat more than comfortable, so she might just ignore me altogether. we'll see where her loyalties lie. haha.

in the past month i have been hanging out with many new friends. i took a trip back to koh samet (island i went to with my mom) with an aussie collegue and her german friends. it was a wonderful weekend away from the city. i've also recently made some israeli friends and enjoy spending time with them. they are really interesting and fiercely loyal. it's been so wonderful to see how people of other nationalities live and it can be tricky at times since we all tend to think the way we do things is "right" or automatic for everyone else. that has been a big lesson for me while away from home. i have enjoyed getting to know people from around the world and feel like i have many new places to visit.

my sister has been traveling all over SE asia. she started in bangkok, went north to chiang mai, then into laos, down to cambodia and back to bangkok. she's now down in southern thailand seeing the beautiful beaches and islands. she'll be around for another two weeks. i can tell that she has thoroughly enjoyed her trip. she is so happy. i love seeing such a big smile on her face. beautiful!! it's been wonderful having her close by and seeing her on the other side of the world. poor mom and dad are empty-nesters (but only temporarily as both katie and i will be home within the next two months). matt (my brother) is at sea on different missions with the navy, so none of us are even in the country! how funny. who would've ever thought such a thing? but why not?! we're lucky enough to have these experiences. it will, surely, be nice when the five of us are all back together. it's been a while!

as i finish this, it's pouring rain outside. the weather has been gloomy and rainy for about two weeks now. i guess bangkok has a second mild rainy season, according to someone's thai girlfriend. whatever, it's a nice break from the heat. it's been reasonably cool (80s) lately. i'm really going to miss the great weather. but, i'll be back home in time for spring and summer to apply for another job in thailand and come right back to bangkok. say a prayer and we'll see what i can score.

finally, a little request... i'll be looking for jobs when i get back (mid april), any jobs. i might also try to "rent" a car from someone instead of buying one straight away (i don't know how long i'm staying). if there is someone that you know who would be willing or able to provide either of these things, please let me know. i'd be so appreciative of any connections you might offer. thank you!!

lots of love, i'll sign off now. please keep in touch as i love hearing how things are going at home. i haven't forgotten a single one of you and very much look forward to seeing your beautiful face! smiles for everyone!!!!!