Transformers is the coolest movie EVER

i am so "high" on the movie Transformers since i saw it last night. it was, truly, the most incredible movie for special effects EVER ever!! i highly recommend it and plan to see it again at least twice more in the theater. unbelievable! check it out... it's a must-see in-theatre. call me a nerd or whatever, i don't mind. i have fond memories of trying in earnest to play Transformers with my dear brother. i don't remember being aloud to actually touch his toy heroes, but i really wanted to. i know he had the semi truck guy. anyhow. i felt a little piece of home last night and am loving the feeling!

what's new lately in bangkok you might be wondering... why haven't you written lately? i see only ONE post for June! wellll, i've been really busy being really sick. it was long-time coming, three weeks, with the third week being pretty full-on. i took a half day off work to go home and rest. i "lost" all of my interior digestions (if i can say it politely) and was on empty for a couple days. i had that terrible metallic feeling where your skin feels tingly. i was in fear to eat because it was so painful to digest and this bug is a dairy-loving bacteria. i had spent plenty of baht and time eating all the pizza i could manage. turns out the bacteria must have been sending "daaaaiiirrrryyyyy, dairy!!!" messages to my brain or something because ALL i craved was dairy this or dairy that. i'm off pizza (it's really expensive anyway) for as long as possible. (i should mention that it's the best way to fill my cravings and cheese is my favorite food. it's been said, to me directly actually, that the thai don't care for dairy... and it's true. their milk is sweetened condensed or coconut. cheese here is processed AND disgusting. pizza hut has "real" mozzarella at least... explaining the pizza phenomena in mine life.)
so, the dairy bug was pummeled with my Traveler's Diarrhea pills and now i'm back in working condition! seems that i must have caught it from a student as many boys were sick in the room, as well as my thai co-teacher. she was gone that same day i went home early. EEK! i guess i can check it off my to-do list: get sick, check. get better, check. EXcellent!

amongst the sickness was planning for Parent Day at school. it's similar to Open House only more structured and less personal to each child. i had to give a 20 minute presentation to my boys' parents and BOY was i nervous. i tend to get nervous about things that i've not done before and don't know what to expect. it was all in vain and turned out better than normal. i really enjoyed meeting the parents (as i always do) because you can see their child in them... looks, personality, facial and body expressions. it's a lot of fun. they were, of course, very interested in meeting me because it was the first time for most of them to talk with me. they are a serious group when it comes to education, so we had a nice chat in fairly good English. after i spoke, my thai co-teacher did her own presentation about various things and set-up a PTA for our class. it was a wonderful Saturday at school!

besides working and being sick (just that few weeks), i've been lounging at home to rest, working out at the club and seeing a movie here and there. a couple friends and i went bowling last weekend and i pretty much kicked their you-know-whats. apparently they (aussies and s.africans) didn't have Bowling taught in gym class like i did in middle school. my experience as the bowling coach must have really brought out my skills. PFF. yeah right. i barely bowl over 100. still... i'll roll with it, i WAS the winner. haha. (i can quote anelda here: oh get over yourself, beth.)

Mom is coming to visit me!! i'm so excited! she'll come during my school break and i'll play tour guide a bit and then we'll discover some new ground together! i can't wait! i have some planning to get done!! Dad will stay home and keep close tabs on my cat. they're old friends by now and i am so glad. i just want to put it on record that he said he might not give her back because I've raised such a nice feline. haha, just try it. (can you tell i'm missing home these days?! how silly when i'm really not away that long! oh well.) i just can't wait to see photos of the cat with goggles and a little helmet riding Dad's motorcycle with him. hehehe. jokes and laughs dad, jokes and laughs.

anyway. it's a quiet saturday in the office. i have it all to myself. aaaahhhh, just how i like it! school... the boys are busy learning about weather, adding numbers up to 50, including carrying. they've just learned about our three main meals and the names of foods. i think it's their favorite unit so far. we finished our short unit on the calendar (days, months, year, etc.) and our 5 senses. we've gotten through most of the 42 sounds in jolly phonics (their reading curriculum) and they're reading new words each day. also, every day it seems like someone new is approaching me cautiously but excitedly to tell me something in English. they are always very pleased with themselves when i can understand their words and respond with joy. they are learning so much so quickly. i am really proud of them. i've posted some new photos of them in their too cute for words Boy Scouts uniforms. they even have a little hat... it's really cute. of course, remember that you have to sign in to see the private photos and the school photos are private.

as is customary here, i receive gifts from the students and their families from time to time. it's almost always something sweet to eat. on Wai Kru Day (Teacher Respect Day) i received a beautiful flower arrangement. mostly, though, it's cake or nuts or some form of sugared something-or-other. i decided if i write a book about this adventure i'll title it : My Year in Sugar. the thais love their sugar and it's in EVERYTHING. in bread, in milk, in vegetables, in all their main dishes... i'd be surprised to find out it's not in the water. . . and i don't believe it is, but i wouldn't be surprised. all this sweet stuff must be what keeps them such a happy and kind people! toothpaste and flouride rinse are a definite must!

this weekend i'm having some alone time and catching up on rest. the week went quickly last week and i feel so good about working here. teaching here is just very different and i love it. every day i come here very excited and leave here very satisfied. no stress.

i realized last night at the movies just how organized this society keeps themselves. for almost every job it seems they have and wear a specific fansy uniform... as you've seen mine (i'm not super fancy.). i should start a photo-log of all the uniforms of thailand. everyone seems to have one. the kids, the teachers, the brothers (like principles... they wear long white robes.), the movie theater workers, the doorman at each building, the police (the police wear a very nice-looking uniform if i may say so), the nurses (they wear the traditional white uniform with the white nurse hats that we don't see anymore in america), the motorbike drivers, the grocery store clerks... everyone. that's the first thing. the second thing is, now this is serious, when you go to the movie theater you buy your ticket for the seat you chose specifically. the back is more exspensive than the middle or the front. your seat is assigned by lettered row and numbered seat and you must sit in it. if you don't, they will ask you to move... it's happened to me before. it's just customary to them. i've adjusted and it doesn't bother me. even their insane traffic is organized. people cut each other off constantly but no one gets enraged because they all do it at some time or another so no one bothers to get upset. they are organized in more ways... maybe i'll add a part two to the next blog for those interested. i find it really nice. others may not. i like the order.

the side of thailand that i do not often see is the touristy side. i don't visit the tourist area much anymore and don't see foreigners much either. my collegues, of course, but mostly just see the thais. my life seems much calmer and more stable. it's good. i am glad.

well, since i've had my coffee and haven't blogged in quite a while this is getting too long. i'll duck out and let you ponder all my thoughts. i always really really love getting emails and especially photos from you all. . . of your children or your backyard or my CAT (DAD!! :->) or your new house or condo you're buying or new bicycle or new outfit or awesome meal you just cooked or your camping adventure or just you sitting watching tv. i love it all! so thank you, in advance, for sending me some lovely messages.

i love you all and miss you!!!!!!!!!