Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Sawatdee kah. Happy Summer (Officially) to all of you at home. I hope your summer has gotten off to a good start, the grass is green and the lakes are warming up! It's hard to dislike a Minnesota summer. There is always something fun to do outside or a nice comfy chair to sit in and just enjoy. Welcome to warmer weather, yay!

All is very well here in Bangkok. The political storm is over (as far as I'm concerned) and school is in full swing. The boys are wonderful and wonderfully challenging. I love all their charm and character but some days I just wish they'd sit still and listen like proper college students, ha! I'm once again very attached to them and enjoy all the joy that children bring. They are a more advanced group as far as the English skills they had before Grade One. Many have attended an English Kindergarten or other camps and programs.

On another note, H1N1 finally arrived here and masks are seen throughout the school. The novelty of it wore off by Thursday last week and no one in my class is wearing them anymore. Poor little fellas all had to have mandatory flu shots. (Don't ask why, it's just Thailand. It makes sense to them.) There were tears and looks of fear. I did feel for them. It's a "little boy becomes Big Boy" moment. They try to hold a brave face for their friends. *sigh* I love my job.

There was a special Teacher Day in Thailand two weeks ago. It's called Wai Kru Day, literally Respect Teacher Day. There was a big whole school assembly and we were honored with flowers from the boys and their families. It's a nice holiday, something very different from home. I took photos and some video to show how many boys there are sitting all in perfect lines with their identical uniforms and haircuts. It's quite a spectacle. The video was meant to show the traditions (bowing at the feet of the Brothers) and the music. It's a touching part of their culture, I think.

The last time I wrote was about Songkran in April. Since then I was able to travel south to the island that I love, called Koh Pha gnan. I went with a colleague and we stayed in our own little bungalows and rented motorbikes to mosey around the island. The guesthouse owner was very kind and the food was good. They call grilled cheese "cheese toast"... I still dream of that cheese toast. It was SO stinking good. I ate it at least once a day. I noticed that a lot has changed throughout the island. Some streets I hardly recognized because of all the new construction. I mentioned the changes to a local and he told me that the limit for development has been met and the projects in progress now should be the last. Then he repeated "should be the last. It depends how much money you have."

I was pretty disappointed because the island used to be so much more natural and more beautiful. It still has the best roads and view for motor biking (at the speed that I'm willing to drive). I will return again and again. This time around I attended the Half Moon party and it was in the jungle, not on the beach. It was one stage with a concert of reggae music and then a DJ. Fun time. If you know me well, you know I love to dance. I enjoyed it and made new friends from Sweden, France and Germany that night. I hope to stay in touch with the couple I met from Sweden. They were two of the kindest, most caring people I've met. Who knows, maybe they can help me get a job to teach in Sweden next!? It was a super fun six days.

School began shortly after the trip and I was excited to get into the curriculum and routine of regular school year. Everything has been going pretty well and late May we had Open House where I met all the parents. They are really great, very involved and dedicated to their sons' education. Many of the parents have been to the U.S. for more than just a visit and were happy that I’m American. It feels nice to be more understood by the parents this time around. Their English is notably more advanced. I’ve already established nice relationships with most of the mothers and a couple fathers. They visit and say hello every morning. I just feel so lucky, they are so kind.

Other than working, I’ve been attending lots of birthday events. One friend turned 30 this month and we had a couple nice birthday dinners for her and couple others from work. It was many people’s birthday at home also, so Happy Birthday to you all!! I toasted my morning coffee to each of you. :o) I did. Really.

I’ve also decided to get back in shape and took up a regular running routine at the park on weekends and the gym throughout the week. It feels good to use these old muscles. Ha ha. The weekend before this one, I ran a 5k and I was top-to-bottom unimpressed with myself but it gives me the two things I needed: a goal and MO-TI-VATION!

Running in the park has been glorious. There are so many different activities going on and people of all ages walking, chatting, lounging, doing tai chi, doing Japanese fan dancing (is it dancing?), playing checkers (older men mostly), gossiping about the farang (me) who wears *GASP* sleeveless running shirts, some sort of martial art, a big crowd does techno-style aerobics at the entrance to the park and more activities that can’t even be described properly. It’s a wonderful mix of cultures and people exercising. Elderly people in Thailand are still quite active, though slow. They are really fun to watch. Their traditions are amazing. One group of people do this arm shaking thing and randomly shout out “arrrrrr” “rraarrrr”… quite entertaining to say the least. Every time I get there I kick myself for not bringing my camera and vow to go one weekend just to take photos and videos to share with you all. It’s a really special break from my work week and weekend activities.

My American friend Janine and I were up early Sat. (yesterday) and took a river boat to Chinatown to have a look around since she’d never been. Then grabbed a taxi to the backpacker area as I hadn’t been there since I’ve returned and have been wanting to eat at this great Israeli restaurant that a friend got me hooked on. I found Khao San (this area) a bit changed, the same as the rest of the city… it’s something in the air… the attitude of the people, really. I actually enjoyed my day there. Janine and I ate lunch, she got a massage and I did some mental work at the coffee shop, lists and things… and then we went home to watch a newly purchased movie. He's Just Not That Into You, funny and frustrating all at once. I liked it.

Today I was able to see my friend Nina who works at another school now but who used to work at Assumption. We had a fun makeover session and some lunch. My eyes are still burning from all the makeup they put on me. It wasn’t my favorite look but it was really fun! I hope to do more outings on the weekends. I just haven’t been out of the area much since school started, so this weekend was a nice change. And that brings us up to the future. I look forward to a 5-day weekend in July (in two weeks, actually) which Angus, Janine and I will go to Chiang Mai. I’m very excited about that trip! I’m excited about the guesthouse where we’ll stay, they have cats!! Then in August I’ve booked a flight to Hong Kong for our second 5-day weekend and also really look forward to that. I’ve been wanting to see Hong Kong for a long while since I really wanted to move there, so I’ll have a good look around!

I hope all is well on your side of the globe. Congratulations to my cousin who is getting married and my cousin who just had her first child. I am really ecstatic for you both and sad to miss such important events. My heart is with you and I send you BIG cyber hugs. Congratulations to a good friend who recently purchased her first home. LUCKY! Also to a friend who showed his great art for the first time at a couple art fairs in the city. That is so cool!

Lastly, a Very Happy Father’s Day to my Pappy. I will look forward to a nice long bike ride when I return (maybe not at Christmas, though) and a good brunch somewhere to celebrate you. Lots of love, Dad. I miss you!! Not to give you jobs on Father’s day, but hug my cat and mother please. :o)

Love you all.

Email me to say how you’re doing and what’s new with you!!