this is the statement that most Thai people i encounter lately love to close with, "happy new year!" i also keep receiving New Year gifts from my students. it's fantastically different than home. though, they don't celebrate Christmas... so... our way is good, too. i like the "happy new year" touch a week after the actual date.
2008. it should prove to be a good year. 2007 was pretty spectacular so if 2008 is better, well i'm one lucky gal! i'm so grateful.
i'm writing to send out a quick update. i've been getting such kind, awesome emails for holiday cheer and haven't been quick to respond. my friends from home, Barb and Sarah D are visting me! they've taken a plane to see chiang mai while i work this week. i'm so happy they've gone to see such a great place! i wish i was there, too! so, if you're someone who emailed me and has been waiting... i'm sorry i've been playing hostess and it won't slow down any time soon. my sister, Kate, arrives tomorrow night! i'm so excited to finally show her some of asia!! i will, however, do my best to reply to all of your fantastic messages, just give me a day or two. THanks!
since Barb arrived just after Christmas, she and i spent New Year's on the island of phuket. it was AMAzing! we met anelda down there and enjoyed time at the beach the first day. the second day barb and i joined a guided snorkeling adventure and had a blast! i've never snorkeled before and i have to say it was a little intense for me. i'm not super coordinated yet and blush a little at the "heavy breather" i was the majority of the time. it was a bit of a panic to see SO many fish and creatures that you'd never notice from just normal swimming. we were in the middle of schools of small and mediums sized fish. i opted not to buy the underwater camera but will splurge next time i snorkel. it's amazingly beautiful.
we were able to snorkel at three different locations and made many stops. first we stopped on a small island near phuket and snorkeled in very shallow water. we didn't last long after i spotted a sea urchin (large black ball with MASSIVE spikes that will hurt you. HURT you.) just below our feet. that was the first time i gurgled sea water. what a gag-alicious experience that is. Blech! (i'm such a klutz.)
the second stop was in a deeper location and we really enjoyed diving down under the water and doing the whale-blow thing upon returning to the surface. i laugh at the thought of shooting that water behind us to land on... who knows who. ooops! BUT, it was also where i got a little cocky and ended up SWALLOWING an entire tube full of salty sea water (and i saw fish poop floating around everywhere). i still gag at the memory and it took a few minutes of spitting and gagging to recover. *shiver* that was the most memorable stop for snorkeling. it was deep enough to float on the surface and enjoy immense beauty. i had no idea!! (i didn't see it happen, but barb also swallowed and gagged on the water. i giggle at the thought of hearing her gagging behind me and saying "oof." ah ha ha.)
our lunch stop was on koh phi phi (phi phi island) which is where we had intended to spend new year's and couldn't get a place to stay. everything was overbooked or they raised the prices to ridiculous heights. peak season, who knew?? however, upon wandering after lunch (they made me special vegetarian dishes. how nice!) i realized that i much preffered phuket as it had more than the "scuba dude" atmosphere to offer. phi phi was gorgeous for views and amazing dark teal waters. WOW! i hope i never forget it.
after lunch, or maybe before?, we visited Monkey beach and saw the monkeys (gibbons) that live there and which you can feed. we laughed because this one fat one just sat on a log and people would sit next to it and take a picture. just like my cat does, it would look up at you and just look away. i wonder what on earth it was thinking. the other monkeys were playing with each other or eating the many gifts that tourists were chucking their way (how lame!). that was a short stop but very fun.
there might have been another stop that i'm forgetting but i will not forget the hour we were able to spend on Leonardo's "Beach" beach... it's called Ma Ya beach and it is stunning. white, powdery beach and unbelievable teal waters. i walked around (ever the celeb/movie obsessed) and searched for the evidence of a movie set. there was none, but there were really nice bathrooms and several trails. it was overcrowded with people from other tour boats, but still fun. i have to watch the movie again to recognize where i was. it was very beautiful. (we snorkeled there but there wasn't much to see other than a scary looking cave entrance underwater.)
an excellent and recommended adventure should you find yourself in phuket (which i hope you do). phuket and phi phi were severely hit by the tsunami however the only remaining evidence are the "tsunami evacuation route" signs. i can't imagine what that was like, though i tried. oye.
after the snorkeling (on new year's eve day) we met up with anelda to celebrate on the busy street and have dinner. it WAS INSANE! i have to say that my safety was compromised many times. illegal fireworks (the big ones) were sold to send off from the beach ... for anyone who would buy them and people could buy these long lines of cracker-things. and they were stupid enough to set them off in the MIDDLE of a very crowded street. silly string and foam spray were some people's idea of entertainment and we were innocently sprayed several times. i ended up in a foul mood for a while after i was giddy to light and send off a beautiful glowing lantern and almost had my head burned off by IDIOT australians who found it very hilarious. jerks! i dropped to my knees and saved thine head of hair. grrrrrr. the mood was over for me after that. although the night was still fun and we met lots of new people.
the next day we returned to BKK and i had to get back to work (on the 2nd - teachers don't always have so much time off). barb was able to see a little bit of bkk on her own and i enjoyed seeing my boys again. they are so adorable!! (barb even said so. i made her come to school to meet them.) Sarah D. arrived last Friday and we spent the weekend in Hua Hin, the beach town just south of Bangkok. it was super fun and relaxing. i love having my friends here!!!! can't wait to have the sis here, too!
that brings us to now, today. monday night. it's been a wonderful few weeks for the holidays. i'll never forget it, though missed all the traditions and food from home. i missed my family and friends. holidays are meant to be with the ones you love.
quickly, christmas was fun and action packed. Anelda, Luke (passing through to India again) and I went to brunch buffet (mmmm), ice skating (melty ice but FUU-UN!) and a movie. (Golden Compass. i liked it. it's a fantasy story with lots of details. i'm not sure what people are complaining about. it's also a the first in a trilogy, which many don't know.) it was a long, full day and we enjoyed it all. i was glad to have friends to spend it with and many things to do. luke gifted me a "Bad Cat" book and we laughed over the pictures and sayings for days. Thanks Lucas!
i hope this finds you well and with many of your own great holiday memories! i love seeing your photos, thanks for sending them! i plan to be home around April/May-ish. (for at least a visit... i choose not to go back to my school for a second year but hope to find another school to try another year in Thailand... we'll see, maybe.) i look forward to being home very very much! MEOWSERS, momma's coming hoooome... soon (put your party hat away for another few months). (i will miss Thailand/Asia which is why i hope to return for a second year. it's a wonderful, wonderful place.)
have a great day! i miss you!!
so it wasn't such a "quick" update. i'm known for my non-short short stories. the details are important! haha
Monday, January 7, 2008
Monday, December 24, 2007
happy holidays!!
"We can always be happier; no person experiences perfect bliss at all times and has nothing more to which he can aspire. Therefore, rather than asking myself whether I am happy or not, a more helpful question is, 'How can I become happier?' This question acknowledges the nature of happiness and the fact that its pursuit is an ongoing process best represented by an infinite continuum, not by a finite point. I am happier today than I was five years ago, and I hope to be happier five years from now than I am today.
Rather than feeling despondent because we have not yet reached the point of perfect happiness, rather than squandering our energies trying to gauge how happy we are, we need to recognize that happiness is an unlimited resource and then focus on ways in which we can attain more of it. Becoming happier is a lifelong pursuit."
-Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. HAPPIER (my latest "fun" reading selection)
life has been very kind to me, if i really consider it. what have i truly got to complain about? i am so grateful for all of you in my life. i learn from you constantly. i appreciate all that you have done and will do for me and allow me to do for you. i feel very blessed this holiday, even being so far away. i don't forget how great i really have it.
what an impactful year for me and many around me. stay warm and safe, those of you with the snowswirls going on outside. (and before christmas this year. i'm astonished!)
i will update the blog from the last post until this one. until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I love you and miss you tremendously! if you see my cat, by chance, squeeze, cuddle, shove, twirl, dance, and chat with her. she will eat it all up.
thailand is gaining degrees... slowly but surely the air con is wistling back into action. can't wait for barb, sarah d. and katie to get here!!! yippy!!
Rather than feeling despondent because we have not yet reached the point of perfect happiness, rather than squandering our energies trying to gauge how happy we are, we need to recognize that happiness is an unlimited resource and then focus on ways in which we can attain more of it. Becoming happier is a lifelong pursuit."
-Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. HAPPIER (my latest "fun" reading selection)
life has been very kind to me, if i really consider it. what have i truly got to complain about? i am so grateful for all of you in my life. i learn from you constantly. i appreciate all that you have done and will do for me and allow me to do for you. i feel very blessed this holiday, even being so far away. i don't forget how great i really have it.
what an impactful year for me and many around me. stay warm and safe, those of you with the snowswirls going on outside. (and before christmas this year. i'm astonished!)
i will update the blog from the last post until this one. until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I love you and miss you tremendously! if you see my cat, by chance, squeeze, cuddle, shove, twirl, dance, and chat with her. she will eat it all up.
thailand is gaining degrees... slowly but surely the air con is wistling back into action. can't wait for barb, sarah d. and katie to get here!!! yippy!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
mom is visiting!
hello from chiang mai, north of bangkok. my mom is visiting me! she's been here since october 1st (wow, it's october! it's stillll summer, though!) and we've kept ourselves quite busy. i met her at the airport at midnight on sept. 30... so techincally the 1st, and we spent the first two days of her visit seeing some sights in bangkok and doing some mild shopping. thailand is a lot to take in at first... the heat, the smells, the heat, the culture... but mom took it in stride. she's a trooper.
after two days in bangkok, we took a (public) bus and shuttle ferry to an amazing resort on koh samet (Samet Island), which is a bit southeast from bkk. we spent three days there and really enjoyed the pool, the beach, the food, the service, and the room. everything is very nice there. it's called Samed Club, great place. highly recommend it.
koh samet is a smaller island than the ones i've been to before, so renting motorbikes proved to be a bit boring. we were able to scoot into the little town and a bigger beach, though, so they were nice to have. we had fun! i love motorbiking!
after koh samet, we headed back to bangkok and hung out for two days to recoup and figure out our next move. mom was able to meet my friend anelda and we had fun. mom and i went to the grand palace which is SO hot but so worth it, an amazing place. it's definitely good to be king! (even though he doesn't live there anymore. he lives in a different palace somewhere else in the city.)
we're in chiang mai, now, for three days. the place we're staying isn't quite as nice as koh samet, but it's a good place near plenty of interesting things to do... there's SO much to do and see here! it's amazing! we just wandered around a little bit (to be honest, we were looking for starbucks. i know, i know.) and then headed back to the guesthouse because i was too tired from all that sitting and sleeping on our fourteen hour train ride (which was overnight... but very LONG!). funny, we'll fly home and it will only take an hour and a half. hmpt.
anyway, after my nap, we had a fantastic dinner at a place called art cafe. we ate breakfast there this morning. it's awesome! great food and very clean!
that leaves us here, at the internet cafe. i hope to meet up with my friend angela, who is doing fantastic mission work here, but we'll see... i was ill-prepared with the "hey, we're coming!" email.
next, we're off to the markets!! ha! never fear, father, things are "like, like totally a dollar or something. like it's like so awesome!" (we had the pleasure to be in the presence of some very valley-esque american girls, in their tight shirts, short shorts and giant sunglasses, in the cafe this morning. geez, it had been a while. i had forgotten. and how?)
off we go! more soon....
after two days in bangkok, we took a (public) bus and shuttle ferry to an amazing resort on koh samet (Samet Island), which is a bit southeast from bkk. we spent three days there and really enjoyed the pool, the beach, the food, the service, and the room. everything is very nice there. it's called Samed Club, great place. highly recommend it.
koh samet is a smaller island than the ones i've been to before, so renting motorbikes proved to be a bit boring. we were able to scoot into the little town and a bigger beach, though, so they were nice to have. we had fun! i love motorbiking!
after koh samet, we headed back to bangkok and hung out for two days to recoup and figure out our next move. mom was able to meet my friend anelda and we had fun. mom and i went to the grand palace which is SO hot but so worth it, an amazing place. it's definitely good to be king! (even though he doesn't live there anymore. he lives in a different palace somewhere else in the city.)
we're in chiang mai, now, for three days. the place we're staying isn't quite as nice as koh samet, but it's a good place near plenty of interesting things to do... there's SO much to do and see here! it's amazing! we just wandered around a little bit (to be honest, we were looking for starbucks. i know, i know.) and then headed back to the guesthouse because i was too tired from all that sitting and sleeping on our fourteen hour train ride (which was overnight... but very LONG!). funny, we'll fly home and it will only take an hour and a half. hmpt.
anyway, after my nap, we had a fantastic dinner at a place called art cafe. we ate breakfast there this morning. it's awesome! great food and very clean!
that leaves us here, at the internet cafe. i hope to meet up with my friend angela, who is doing fantastic mission work here, but we'll see... i was ill-prepared with the "hey, we're coming!" email.
next, we're off to the markets!! ha! never fear, father, things are "like, like totally a dollar or something. like it's like so awesome!" (we had the pleasure to be in the presence of some very valley-esque american girls, in their tight shirts, short shorts and giant sunglasses, in the cafe this morning. geez, it had been a while. i had forgotten. and how?)
off we go! more soon....
Saturday, September 15, 2007
photos and food
i have a LOT of photos to add to flickr and it's more than i thought. it will take a couple of hours... so stay tuned and be patient, sorry.
photos i'll add:
futon,
grand palace, (some were added but i had to stop)
gwen stefani show,
boys
maybe something else...?
my apologies.
sat. sept. 15.
have a little taste of life in thailand: Pizza Company
turn on your volume and have a look around and what constitutes pizza in thailand.
it isn't too bad. i eat cheese only, of course.
photos i'll add:
futon,
grand palace, (some were added but i had to stop)
gwen stefani show,
boys
maybe something else...?
my apologies.
sat. sept. 15.
have a little taste of life in thailand: Pizza Company
turn on your volume and have a look around and what constitutes pizza in thailand.
it isn't too bad. i eat cheese only, of course.
Friday, September 14, 2007
alright alright alright
i gotta let it out. i'm sorry not to have written. i've been sadly full of sorrow lately. with the passing of a friend's parent, i was reminded how precious and short life is and how our loved ones, that we cherish so much, will not be with us forever, nor we with them. it was a troubling time and i am grateful to have gone through it whilst here in thailand. the idea that parents and friends won't be around forever to share laughs and meals and movies and joy with is almost literally earth-shattering to ponder. a precious little break of the heart each time i put myself through it.
times have been tough. and times have been good. school moves along here and school just started there! we're mid-year for 2007 - 2008 school year and yet america's has only just begun. it's strange to think that the season hasn't really changed from summer to fall or summer to anything. it's just been summer! we went from extremely hot and humid summer to very hot and rainy and humid summer. i giggle at the thought of you back home possibly taking out the sweaters and fall jackets, shoes and socks. (one thing i don't miss is socks. fun fact, beth hates wearing socks.) it feels almost as if time hasn't passed by as my mind is stretching and reaching for that cool fall breeze out the window. i don't think such a breeze will find me here. maybe you could jar it up and send it to me, that's as close as i can get to that wonderful air of change. fall is a great time.
46 days until i turn 30. it is a birthday of the golden kind, turning 30 on the 30th. is there some sort of ceremony where i wear a gold crown and gold bracelets and temporary gold teeth? there really should be. if only. so i guess i'll decide to skip 30 and go right to 31. we can celebrate 30 next year when i'm (possibly) closer to home on that date.
boss man says we have to have a 51% decision about staying another year or... not by nov. 1st. i've been asked many times, again and again, how i lean. and today, i lean towards 51% not staying. maybe another country... i'm not sure i'm done "being away" yet. i miss the kittle bit (my cat) tremendously. i miss my family and friends heart-achingly. all of this i planned for yet all of it is a lot. somehow i want to be in both places. so i try.
i didn't get the best sleep last night. i'm very tired today. some woman kept waking me up. i don't know who she was but i'd see her just as i was opening my eyes to wake up and it was HER who was waking me in my dreams. she did it three times. she was wearing bright fuscia. she's in DEEP trouble when i figure out who she is. Miss Beth is crabby today and i'm sure there are several people who'd ALSO like to have a word with her when i figure out who she is. haha.
this has made my day today: Exploding Dog
what a great sentence: "i will not should on myself today." wish i could claim it as my own. i cannot. (sorry, mccoy, i just like it so much i had to share)
looking at the last post being august 15th there's a lot to catch up on. gwen stefani was fun! super fun! we weren't close but we weren't TOO far. she was about a centimeter tall. she has designed her show so that she comes off stage to greet the fans sitting waaaaAaay back. she didn't see us with our BANANAS shirts and we didn't go backstage. it was sort of a whirlwind show. quick, energetic and fun. i bought a t-shirt to commemorate the event. the tickets to get in were in the form of a plastic card, like a gift card or credit card. interesting souvenior!
very shortly after the gwen concert my friend had to go back home to south africa for her father's funeral. i miss her dearly as she's my partner in crime. she arrives back to bangkok on sunday morning! i look forward to having her back in town.
in my friend's absense, i've gotten to know some of the others on staff better and have enjoyed going out to clubs for music and dancing, having fun dinners and wandering streets i haven't wandered before.
the boys have been doing swimming in gym class and it cracks me up to such an extent that i feel guilty. to start, they all wear matching "swimmers" (speedos), goggles, swim caps, robes, and flip flops. some of the boys are like fish, a couple of the boys are scared but still try, and a couple are terrified and cry at the mention of "come to miss beth. i won't let you get hurt." once in my arms it's a death grip hold until they are safely back on the edge of the pool. i guess one of the boys fell into some water as a toddler and was found by his mother... the other two just sink and can't even hold their breath... who wouldn't be terrified if that happened!??!! so i get the daily report: Miss Beth I cannot swim. I don't swimming.
it's really adorable and such a great memory to have. see pictures here if you log in.
another "fun" event we were required to attend last saturday (yes, saturday and we were expected to be across town by 7:30 am and stayed all day in the heat, not to complain because it was "fine") is called AC Sports Day. it involved the grade 4 - 6 boys doing a mass cheer on the field as the opening ceremony, a marching band playing such classics as the olympic song and that one song they play when people run in slow motion on movies... don't know the name. it was classic. one event to make note of was the one-boy race. one boy raced... himself? i wonder who won...?
funny stuff. our presence seemed unnecessary but it was an interesting experience to have. the thai staff spent the entire day cheering their GUTS out with their "section". it was noisy and hot, but fun and funny. it definitely puts me on the 51% not stay next year. haha, i'm joking. it wasn't that bad.
i received a massive box from my beloved Book Club and i want to say thank you again!!! i ate all of the cheetos and dots and hot tamales and am enjoying the other fun stuff you sent! thank you all so much! (I KNOW rach, no worries, mate!! i still love ya!)
otherwise... just gearing up for exams in two weeks and a nice three week "holiday" (we say vacation) from school. Mom will be visiting and i cannot waIT!!! it will be so good to have MOM here and to get out of town! anyone wishing to send me things like gold bracelets and gold teeth can get in touch with her here-->. just kidding.
congratulations to my cousin who had a baby and to my cousin who got married! how exciting!! so sad i couldn't be there, but i am there in spirit. i love seeing pictures of what i'm missing, everyone!
dad finally snapped some "candids" of my cat posing and rolling around like a fat supermodel. she is TOO much! i miss her cuddles and squawks when i've "hugged and loved" her too tightly. heheheheeeee. the kit. little monster. mommy's coming home SOME day! you would hate thailand anyway! it's too hot for all that fur.
OOOooOOOOoooOOO! cockroach story? are you ready?? *shiver* the other night, i shut my windows (which requires that i open the screens and reach my hand out to pull the window in) and put on the air (it's been humid... too humid some days when there aren't clouds or rain) (i use commas and parentheses a LOT!).
cut to an hour later and i'm sitting at my computer, basking in the glory of cool air and chatting online with my friend anelda. i hear this noise and there's been talk of ghosts in our building... so i'm looking around and thinking... someone is SCRATCHING the screen! is it a ghost?? because i can see nothing causing this racket. upon closer inspection and a slight jump in my heart i discover that it's a *gag* fourteen inch cockroach (okay, four inch) flailing itself around BETWEEN the screen and the window that i had closed earlier. (how had I missed such a creature's presence?!)
i panicked. WHAT TO DO?! leave it? no, that sucker was causing SUCH a fuss (drama queen!) kill it!?!? yea! kill it! ... how? stick my hand in there? it might touch me!! pffft. right, no. then my tree-hugging vegetarian side spoke to me and told me to muster up the courage to open (yes OPEN) the screen and unLOCK the window and release this monster back into the wild kingdom of thailand. *shiver again and a BIG one*... i jumped around a bit singing "ooOOOoo that is so gross!!! OOooOOOo it is so NAAAASTy!!" then i did my blubber face shaky thing to get rid of the ewwy gewwies i was suffering at the mere sight of this nasty brown creature with 500 legs and WINGS!? who'd've thunk it?! ISH!
pan back to ms. cockroach, and her drama queen self, flying around banging herself again and again... on the screen... no the window... no the screen... the screen again... then the window. ... UUUGggh, she is SO noisy!
i turned the locks on the screen and opened it when she was "resting" on the upper part of the window (away from my hand) and got my hand in maybe four inches to unlock the window, turned it and WHAM! she flew RIGHT AT MY HAND !!!!! i SLAMMED that screen shut and sCreamed really, embarrassingly loud. (my next immediate thought "what a NINNY! i hope the neighbors don't think i'm being robbed or beaten or kidnapped. no, it's just stupid me and drama queen cockroach flier thing." haha. *SHIVER*. (it should be noted that i went to my purse to find my camera because i know no one will believe the atrocity of this creature. but i left my camera at school. dang! still no evidence of thailand drama.)
cut back to cockroach. she's REALLY upset now. i teased her with the opening of that screen and an escape INTO my apt! she was crazy to think i'd let her IN my apt to fly around and take my sleep away from me. HHHHeck no!
she flew around like a mad cow and i eventually figured out the silent, movement-free maneuvers to release/push-quickly the window to free her. the second time she flew at my hand again and i had only gotten the window open an inch before slamming the screen on her again. even with me flicking her off the screen 20 times, she wouldn't go OUT through that small of an opening. she was probably dizzy and blind from me slamming her around that window. eventually she went back to the top of the window and i opened the window farther and she flew out, back to the sewer or garbage pile that she lives on. bottom line: SHE WAS MASSIVE! i bet a rat would hesitate in eating her and my own cat might rip her into seven smaller pieces before consumption is possible. I-I-ICK! however, lesson learned Ms. Cockroach, Beth rules apt. 404 yet again.
did you EVER imagine that they would FLY into my apt?!!? wwOOOOooo. let's hope it was a first AND a last. MOM: prepare yourself.
guess i'll leave you with that little tidbit of Life and Times in Thailand.
hope to hear good news from you soon and MISS you dearly! keep in TOUCH!
times have been tough. and times have been good. school moves along here and school just started there! we're mid-year for 2007 - 2008 school year and yet america's has only just begun. it's strange to think that the season hasn't really changed from summer to fall or summer to anything. it's just been summer! we went from extremely hot and humid summer to very hot and rainy and humid summer. i giggle at the thought of you back home possibly taking out the sweaters and fall jackets, shoes and socks. (one thing i don't miss is socks. fun fact, beth hates wearing socks.) it feels almost as if time hasn't passed by as my mind is stretching and reaching for that cool fall breeze out the window. i don't think such a breeze will find me here. maybe you could jar it up and send it to me, that's as close as i can get to that wonderful air of change. fall is a great time.
46 days until i turn 30. it is a birthday of the golden kind, turning 30 on the 30th. is there some sort of ceremony where i wear a gold crown and gold bracelets and temporary gold teeth? there really should be. if only. so i guess i'll decide to skip 30 and go right to 31. we can celebrate 30 next year when i'm (possibly) closer to home on that date.
boss man says we have to have a 51% decision about staying another year or... not by nov. 1st. i've been asked many times, again and again, how i lean. and today, i lean towards 51% not staying. maybe another country... i'm not sure i'm done "being away" yet. i miss the kittle bit (my cat) tremendously. i miss my family and friends heart-achingly. all of this i planned for yet all of it is a lot. somehow i want to be in both places. so i try.
i didn't get the best sleep last night. i'm very tired today. some woman kept waking me up. i don't know who she was but i'd see her just as i was opening my eyes to wake up and it was HER who was waking me in my dreams. she did it three times. she was wearing bright fuscia. she's in DEEP trouble when i figure out who she is. Miss Beth is crabby today and i'm sure there are several people who'd ALSO like to have a word with her when i figure out who she is. haha.
this has made my day today: Exploding Dog
what a great sentence: "i will not should on myself today." wish i could claim it as my own. i cannot. (sorry, mccoy, i just like it so much i had to share)
looking at the last post being august 15th there's a lot to catch up on. gwen stefani was fun! super fun! we weren't close but we weren't TOO far. she was about a centimeter tall. she has designed her show so that she comes off stage to greet the fans sitting waaaaAaay back. she didn't see us with our BANANAS shirts and we didn't go backstage. it was sort of a whirlwind show. quick, energetic and fun. i bought a t-shirt to commemorate the event. the tickets to get in were in the form of a plastic card, like a gift card or credit card. interesting souvenior!
very shortly after the gwen concert my friend had to go back home to south africa for her father's funeral. i miss her dearly as she's my partner in crime. she arrives back to bangkok on sunday morning! i look forward to having her back in town.
in my friend's absense, i've gotten to know some of the others on staff better and have enjoyed going out to clubs for music and dancing, having fun dinners and wandering streets i haven't wandered before.
the boys have been doing swimming in gym class and it cracks me up to such an extent that i feel guilty. to start, they all wear matching "swimmers" (speedos), goggles, swim caps, robes, and flip flops. some of the boys are like fish, a couple of the boys are scared but still try, and a couple are terrified and cry at the mention of "come to miss beth. i won't let you get hurt." once in my arms it's a death grip hold until they are safely back on the edge of the pool. i guess one of the boys fell into some water as a toddler and was found by his mother... the other two just sink and can't even hold their breath... who wouldn't be terrified if that happened!??!! so i get the daily report: Miss Beth I cannot swim. I don't swimming.
it's really adorable and such a great memory to have. see pictures here if you log in.
another "fun" event we were required to attend last saturday (yes, saturday and we were expected to be across town by 7:30 am and stayed all day in the heat, not to complain because it was "fine") is called AC Sports Day. it involved the grade 4 - 6 boys doing a mass cheer on the field as the opening ceremony, a marching band playing such classics as the olympic song and that one song they play when people run in slow motion on movies... don't know the name. it was classic. one event to make note of was the one-boy race. one boy raced... himself? i wonder who won...?
funny stuff. our presence seemed unnecessary but it was an interesting experience to have. the thai staff spent the entire day cheering their GUTS out with their "section". it was noisy and hot, but fun and funny. it definitely puts me on the 51% not stay next year. haha, i'm joking. it wasn't that bad.
i received a massive box from my beloved Book Club and i want to say thank you again!!! i ate all of the cheetos and dots and hot tamales and am enjoying the other fun stuff you sent! thank you all so much! (I KNOW rach, no worries, mate!! i still love ya!)
otherwise... just gearing up for exams in two weeks and a nice three week "holiday" (we say vacation) from school. Mom will be visiting and i cannot waIT!!! it will be so good to have MOM here and to get out of town! anyone wishing to send me things like gold bracelets and gold teeth can get in touch with her here-->. just kidding.
congratulations to my cousin who had a baby and to my cousin who got married! how exciting!! so sad i couldn't be there, but i am there in spirit. i love seeing pictures of what i'm missing, everyone!
dad finally snapped some "candids" of my cat posing and rolling around like a fat supermodel. she is TOO much! i miss her cuddles and squawks when i've "hugged and loved" her too tightly. heheheheeeee. the kit. little monster. mommy's coming home SOME day! you would hate thailand anyway! it's too hot for all that fur.
OOOooOOOOoooOOO! cockroach story? are you ready?? *shiver* the other night, i shut my windows (which requires that i open the screens and reach my hand out to pull the window in) and put on the air (it's been humid... too humid some days when there aren't clouds or rain) (i use commas and parentheses a LOT!).
cut to an hour later and i'm sitting at my computer, basking in the glory of cool air and chatting online with my friend anelda. i hear this noise and there's been talk of ghosts in our building... so i'm looking around and thinking... someone is SCRATCHING the screen! is it a ghost?? because i can see nothing causing this racket. upon closer inspection and a slight jump in my heart i discover that it's a *gag* fourteen inch cockroach (okay, four inch) flailing itself around BETWEEN the screen and the window that i had closed earlier. (how had I missed such a creature's presence?!)
i panicked. WHAT TO DO?! leave it? no, that sucker was causing SUCH a fuss (drama queen!) kill it!?!? yea! kill it! ... how? stick my hand in there? it might touch me!! pffft. right, no. then my tree-hugging vegetarian side spoke to me and told me to muster up the courage to open (yes OPEN) the screen and unLOCK the window and release this monster back into the wild kingdom of thailand. *shiver again and a BIG one*... i jumped around a bit singing "ooOOOoo that is so gross!!! OOooOOOo it is so NAAAASTy!!" then i did my blubber face shaky thing to get rid of the ewwy gewwies i was suffering at the mere sight of this nasty brown creature with 500 legs and WINGS!? who'd've thunk it?! ISH!
pan back to ms. cockroach, and her drama queen self, flying around banging herself again and again... on the screen... no the window... no the screen... the screen again... then the window. ... UUUGggh, she is SO noisy!
i turned the locks on the screen and opened it when she was "resting" on the upper part of the window (away from my hand) and got my hand in maybe four inches to unlock the window, turned it and WHAM! she flew RIGHT AT MY HAND !!!!! i SLAMMED that screen shut and sCreamed really, embarrassingly loud. (my next immediate thought "what a NINNY! i hope the neighbors don't think i'm being robbed or beaten or kidnapped. no, it's just stupid me and drama queen cockroach flier thing." haha. *SHIVER*. (it should be noted that i went to my purse to find my camera because i know no one will believe the atrocity of this creature. but i left my camera at school. dang! still no evidence of thailand drama.)
cut back to cockroach. she's REALLY upset now. i teased her with the opening of that screen and an escape INTO my apt! she was crazy to think i'd let her IN my apt to fly around and take my sleep away from me. HHHHeck no!
she flew around like a mad cow and i eventually figured out the silent, movement-free maneuvers to release/push-quickly the window to free her. the second time she flew at my hand again and i had only gotten the window open an inch before slamming the screen on her again. even with me flicking her off the screen 20 times, she wouldn't go OUT through that small of an opening. she was probably dizzy and blind from me slamming her around that window. eventually she went back to the top of the window and i opened the window farther and she flew out, back to the sewer or garbage pile that she lives on. bottom line: SHE WAS MASSIVE! i bet a rat would hesitate in eating her and my own cat might rip her into seven smaller pieces before consumption is possible. I-I-ICK! however, lesson learned Ms. Cockroach, Beth rules apt. 404 yet again.
did you EVER imagine that they would FLY into my apt?!!? wwOOOOooo. let's hope it was a first AND a last. MOM: prepare yourself.
guess i'll leave you with that little tidbit of Life and Times in Thailand.
hope to hear good news from you soon and MISS you dearly! keep in TOUCH!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
happy mother's day in thailand!
this week has been a wonderful, restful week at home in bangkok. we had three days off of school this week for the mother's day holiday (Happy Mother's Day, MOm!), we're back to school tomorrow. i hemmed and hawed about going somewhere for the five-day break, but decided to stay in town and see some sights. i saw a lot of the malls (free air con!), i saw a movie (Bourne Ultimatum... the second one was better), i got a one-cup COFFEE MAKER for my apt (score!!), bought an external hard drive, saw the gym several times, saw an awesome band called Futon (and made friends with them, they're SWEET!), made some new thai friends, and finally (finally) went to the Grand Palace (it was really hot and hugely beautiful)... not too shabby! i messed with my sleep schedule so much that i'm giving myself a bed time tonight. 11 pm. i'm firm on this because i stayed up until 3 am the other nights. RiDICulous! i had to peel myself out of bed three times this morning... and ended up going back for "another half hour"... made it to the gym by noon... not too bad. i'm pumping, like, 180 at the gym these days... you won't even recognize me when i get back to MN. kidding. they have an awesome training staff that keeps us all in tune with a good program and i'm no longer afraid of the weights/machines... but still get weirded out by the huge weightlifter guys (they make the STRANGest noises when they Pump Iron. *shiver*)
i'm really looking forward to all the visits from various friends and family over the next six months. mom comes first and i'm beaming with joy! i can't WAIT!
this coming weekend i will attend the Gwen Stefani show with some friends/collegues!!! i'm so pumped! we went and had shirts made... one letter each to spell BANANAS. (refers to one of her songs). she's an old favorite of mine from the days of No Doubt, so i'm excited to see her live again (for the fourth time!!)... this will be the first time i've seen her solo act. i'll have a full report of costume and set changes. she's so cool. i should figure out how to get backstage! *yea, put that on the to-do list!*
still praying for everyone at home. it makes me feel more and more relieved with every body and vehicle removed from the river. bless you all!! did you see that a bridge collapsed in china and another one somewhere else prior to mpls collapse?? seems a little strange to me. somethings not right there....
much love. enjoy the day!
i'm really looking forward to all the visits from various friends and family over the next six months. mom comes first and i'm beaming with joy! i can't WAIT!
this coming weekend i will attend the Gwen Stefani show with some friends/collegues!!! i'm so pumped! we went and had shirts made... one letter each to spell BANANAS. (refers to one of her songs). she's an old favorite of mine from the days of No Doubt, so i'm excited to see her live again (for the fourth time!!)... this will be the first time i've seen her solo act. i'll have a full report of costume and set changes. she's so cool. i should figure out how to get backstage! *yea, put that on the to-do list!*
still praying for everyone at home. it makes me feel more and more relieved with every body and vehicle removed from the river. bless you all!! did you see that a bridge collapsed in china and another one somewhere else prior to mpls collapse?? seems a little strange to me. somethings not right there....
much love. enjoy the day!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
thoughts of gratitude and comfort
what a shock to receive news of "a bridge collapsed in minneapolis, beth. you're from minnesota right? you might want to check that out." my american friend, mike, told me on (our) wednesday morning as i entered the teacher's room. he'd seen the story online and let me know as soon as he saw me. he was then kind enough to stay with me while i panicked as my mobile phone claimed every one of my family and friend's phone numbers were busy. luckily i caught my best friend online, thank god for skype ANd nicolle! she was kind enough to phone my parents and my anxiety was dimly relieved. there were still so many questions and just the general shock, which remained with me for days. how? why? wHA-?
i still haven't heard from all of my friends and family to know if anyone was hurt... but i can rest assured that they are accounted for from the news stories and videos that i obsessively watch to catch the names of the perished. it is beyond the scope of my mind to understand what all of the most important people in my world are dealing with... my mind has trouble wrapping around what happened. like the rest of you, i'm sure. however, other than the internet news that i read, it effects my life not at all. my commute to work is uneffected. my trip to that cozy restaurant over the river is uninterrupted. i love being here, but all week what i wanted (and still would like) is to be there to share hugs and show support. so instead, i send out an imaginary hug to every one who reads this and i am so grateful you are safe. please send me a little message if you haven't already, just so i will know you're okay. i love you! can't say it enough!
let's lighten things up a bit! thailand is good. i'm still in 'holiday' mode... choosing to remain in a state of bliss about the ease of my days. the work week was short, as you know, and i enjoyed seeing the boys again. we have so much fun. i love work! it is utternly enjoyable to witness the boys gaining confidence in their English abilities. their personalities are coming out ten-fold and i enjoy every moment. i have to announce that i have a teacher's pet... or more like a wannabe. he's the second smallest boy in the class and the most precise child i have ever met. he is SURE to let me know, at 7 in the morning in my office, if i have forgotten even the slightest detail of his day... whether it be to change the schedule or that we didn't do the calendar and the date is wrong... he will let me know of any part of his routine that i have interrupted or forgotten. he is darling and it always makes me chuckle to see the top of his little head trying to peer into the teacher's room window to find me. he is the same boy who spends a chunk of his worktime "informing" me of the other boys' misbehaviors... "miss beth, green group is talking. talking a little loud. should be quiet workers. green group," with discrete hand gestures towards poor green group who's just helping each other with their assignment.
he is the same boy, i may have told you about, whose father told me, on parent day, that his son "talks like you at home. he stands at our whiteboard and says 'orange group? are you ready orange group? okay, they're ready, good job, one point for orange group. oh, yellow group is talking. they're not ready. green group, good boys! green group is ready, they get a point!'" i had such a laugh with his dad because that IS how i talk to the boys, it was so accurate! he also told me that his son "makes his grandfather sit in front of the whiteboard and do math problems, so i know how you teach math, too." i asked his father if T.P., we'll call him, wants to be a teacher and he answered, "i don't know but it seems like it!"
the same boy declared to me on friday that he is only interested in speaking English all day, at school and home. "no thai for me speaking. i only speak English. only thai for thai class and chinese in chinese class. i speak English." it is extremely difficult not to take him into my grips and squeeze the breath out of him with a hug. he's just so darling and so excited about what i'm selling! i've had to nip the bossy thing in the bud, though. I... I Miss Beth am the teacher and will decide when green group is talking too loudly. i did go to college, T.P., and that degree in my desk was rightly earned, thank you very much. haha. it's nice to have a protege. i would give my kidney for a video of him in action at home... hey, i should request such a video... hmmm.
next, my fellow americans. next. have i got a treat for you! i have discovered australian football (footie as those silly aussies call it) and i am ALL about it! mmm hmm, it's AWESome! it's not american football, it's not soccer, it's not rugby, not basketball, not dodgeball... but seems to be all of them in one. it's almost, at some points, like watching the four year old boys on the soccer field all chasing the ball when you know they have positions (but they don't)... and they're just following that ball around. it's action-packed, fast paced.. and these fellas tackle.. withOUT pads.
since we're now on the topic of their uniforms i must admit (i can admit it) that the uniform is what motivates me to watch in the first and last place. it is decidedly the best uniform in any sport, on any planet. it's HOT. sleeveless shirts and short shorts. no helmet, no pads. it's delightful! see for yourself. . . merely because you are interested in this game and how could it exist without your knowledge? (because i don't know any american who knows anything about aussie football... and if you did already know about it and were keeping it from me, it's best not to admit it.) joking aside, it's a fast-paced game that is really interesting to watch... they have a circular field with odd rules. what's not to love? really>!?
i'm currently reading bill bryson's (hysterical) book about australia (one of the top ten best authors ever). i've come to the assumption that i purchased the aussie or british translation of the book because he keeps spelling words with the british ou... like harboUr, neighboUrhood, and coloUr... and there are phrases here and there that just aren't quite right. (i tried to find them, but it seems impossibly too much re-reading). anyhow, i'm learning so much about australia's history (they were founded by the british who used australia (the world's largest island) to dump their criminals so they would be rid of them. so historically, austrailians are criminals. put that one in the memory bank for mr DAVE! the aborigines were there first and i learned that they now "own sydney", i just heard from a collegue on friday.)
i'm not on a quest to "sell" australia, not by any means, but i thought i should educate myself about them since they claim to "know" so much about us americans. pff. they've got another thing coming! (did you know that they lost a prime minister??! he "vanished" into the water one night walking along the beach... in 1967. they LOST their president!? huh. i wonder how we could do that...? kidding.)
i hope that you are all well and good. off to another great week in thailand!
i still haven't heard from all of my friends and family to know if anyone was hurt... but i can rest assured that they are accounted for from the news stories and videos that i obsessively watch to catch the names of the perished. it is beyond the scope of my mind to understand what all of the most important people in my world are dealing with... my mind has trouble wrapping around what happened. like the rest of you, i'm sure. however, other than the internet news that i read, it effects my life not at all. my commute to work is uneffected. my trip to that cozy restaurant over the river is uninterrupted. i love being here, but all week what i wanted (and still would like) is to be there to share hugs and show support. so instead, i send out an imaginary hug to every one who reads this and i am so grateful you are safe. please send me a little message if you haven't already, just so i will know you're okay. i love you! can't say it enough!
let's lighten things up a bit! thailand is good. i'm still in 'holiday' mode... choosing to remain in a state of bliss about the ease of my days. the work week was short, as you know, and i enjoyed seeing the boys again. we have so much fun. i love work! it is utternly enjoyable to witness the boys gaining confidence in their English abilities. their personalities are coming out ten-fold and i enjoy every moment. i have to announce that i have a teacher's pet... or more like a wannabe. he's the second smallest boy in the class and the most precise child i have ever met. he is SURE to let me know, at 7 in the morning in my office, if i have forgotten even the slightest detail of his day... whether it be to change the schedule or that we didn't do the calendar and the date is wrong... he will let me know of any part of his routine that i have interrupted or forgotten. he is darling and it always makes me chuckle to see the top of his little head trying to peer into the teacher's room window to find me. he is the same boy who spends a chunk of his worktime "informing" me of the other boys' misbehaviors... "miss beth, green group is talking. talking a little loud. should be quiet workers. green group," with discrete hand gestures towards poor green group who's just helping each other with their assignment.
he is the same boy, i may have told you about, whose father told me, on parent day, that his son "talks like you at home. he stands at our whiteboard and says 'orange group? are you ready orange group? okay, they're ready, good job, one point for orange group. oh, yellow group is talking. they're not ready. green group, good boys! green group is ready, they get a point!'" i had such a laugh with his dad because that IS how i talk to the boys, it was so accurate! he also told me that his son "makes his grandfather sit in front of the whiteboard and do math problems, so i know how you teach math, too." i asked his father if T.P., we'll call him, wants to be a teacher and he answered, "i don't know but it seems like it!"
the same boy declared to me on friday that he is only interested in speaking English all day, at school and home. "no thai for me speaking. i only speak English. only thai for thai class and chinese in chinese class. i speak English." it is extremely difficult not to take him into my grips and squeeze the breath out of him with a hug. he's just so darling and so excited about what i'm selling! i've had to nip the bossy thing in the bud, though. I... I Miss Beth am the teacher and will decide when green group is talking too loudly. i did go to college, T.P., and that degree in my desk was rightly earned, thank you very much. haha. it's nice to have a protege. i would give my kidney for a video of him in action at home... hey, i should request such a video... hmmm.
next, my fellow americans. next. have i got a treat for you! i have discovered australian football (footie as those silly aussies call it) and i am ALL about it! mmm hmm, it's AWESome! it's not american football, it's not soccer, it's not rugby, not basketball, not dodgeball... but seems to be all of them in one. it's almost, at some points, like watching the four year old boys on the soccer field all chasing the ball when you know they have positions (but they don't)... and they're just following that ball around. it's action-packed, fast paced.. and these fellas tackle.. withOUT pads.
since we're now on the topic of their uniforms i must admit (i can admit it) that the uniform is what motivates me to watch in the first and last place. it is decidedly the best uniform in any sport, on any planet. it's HOT. sleeveless shirts and short shorts. no helmet, no pads. it's delightful! see for yourself. . . merely because you are interested in this game and how could it exist without your knowledge? (because i don't know any american who knows anything about aussie football... and if you did already know about it and were keeping it from me, it's best not to admit it.) joking aside, it's a fast-paced game that is really interesting to watch... they have a circular field with odd rules. what's not to love? really>!?
i'm currently reading bill bryson's (hysterical) book about australia (one of the top ten best authors ever). i've come to the assumption that i purchased the aussie or british translation of the book because he keeps spelling words with the british ou... like harboUr, neighboUrhood, and coloUr... and there are phrases here and there that just aren't quite right. (i tried to find them, but it seems impossibly too much re-reading). anyhow, i'm learning so much about australia's history (they were founded by the british who used australia (the world's largest island) to dump their criminals so they would be rid of them. so historically, austrailians are criminals. put that one in the memory bank for mr DAVE! the aborigines were there first and i learned that they now "own sydney", i just heard from a collegue on friday.)
i'm not on a quest to "sell" australia, not by any means, but i thought i should educate myself about them since they claim to "know" so much about us americans. pff. they've got another thing coming! (did you know that they lost a prime minister??! he "vanished" into the water one night walking along the beach... in 1967. they LOST their president!? huh. i wonder how we could do that...? kidding.)
i hope that you are all well and good. off to another great week in thailand!
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