I picked up W & N from the airport around midnight. I was on a roll of late nights. The first thing W wanted to do was get Som Tum from a street vendor and get a massage. Amazingly enough you can get both at 1am on Soi 22.
The next day we had a great time relaxing and catching up. It's so great to have friends visit!!!!!
Just before W & N headed south to Phuket, they painted some of my apartment. In my living room they painted one wall a soft yellow. It looks really great with a painting I have with lots of bright colors. I was able to help with the next project of painting the patio walls a bright yellow. They're not quite 6 ft tall so it wasn't too big of a job, but what a difference! It looks amazing! We moved some plants around and I feel like I have a whole other room. N posted the before and after shots on her blog. Check it out.
I bought the train tickets for Chiang Mai today. We leave next Saturday. I'm so excited to be cold up in the mountains!!!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Fun Has Begun!!
It began Sunday when a South African couple who is a friend of a friend of a friend stayed with me. They just left for the beach this morning. They are awesome! I've only known a few people from South Africa so it was neat to hear about what it was like. They also had spent 10 years in Namibia. They are now involved in the sign-language work in George, South Africa. I'm sleep deprived from all the great conversations. Of course it was totally worth it. I'll need to get a good night sleep tonight because tomorrow I'll be picking up W & N from the airport around midnight. I'll be bouncing off the walls with excitement anyways.
Then Sunday K joins us for a night. She's here from southern Thailand for a wedding. She'll head back Monday, W & N head to Phuket Tuesday for a week. The fun continues on the 19th when we head to Chiang Mai!
Then Sunday K joins us for a night. She's here from southern Thailand for a wedding. She'll head back Monday, W & N head to Phuket Tuesday for a week. The fun continues on the 19th when we head to Chiang Mai!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Winter is here!
Finally...the cold season! My favorite time of year. It was 70F one morning, love it! It's much more pleasant to run and I don't sweat as much in general. It also means drier weather. During the rainy season my back patio (made of concrete) is always damp and grows mold and a bit of moss in some spots. The dampness also means lots of mosquitoes. I've spent some time this week cleaning things up a bit and making it more inviting. I always enjoy sitting outside to read in the morning but haven't done that in months.
It's funny how Thais react to the cooler weather. Everyone has a sweater and scarf on. Most of them don't have hot water for showers, that would be unpleasant. I must admit that I've been wearing long sleeves and a scarf. Ironically most places keep the AC on same as usual which makes things even cooler than outside. The sky train is especially frigid. So my scarf stays with me for the day. In a few weeks I'm heading up to Chiang Mai where it's even colder!!!!
It's funny how Thais react to the cooler weather. Everyone has a sweater and scarf on. Most of them don't have hot water for showers, that would be unpleasant. I must admit that I've been wearing long sleeves and a scarf. Ironically most places keep the AC on same as usual which makes things even cooler than outside. The sky train is especially frigid. So my scarf stays with me for the day. In a few weeks I'm heading up to Chiang Mai where it's even colder!!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Checking Back In
I checked out for a bit...just got consumed with things going on. It's always a busy time at school with the end of the term coming up. Today was also Sports Day at school. Four years ago we had a Sports Day during summer school. It was such a hit that the school implemented it into the regular school year. I volunteered to organize it and have been in charge each year since then. I enjoy doing it. The teachers run an event for the teams. The teacher assistants take the teams around to the different events and the parents follow along cheering on their kids. Everyone gets really into it. The TAs will put face paint on the kids and bring along drums and tambourines to help with cheering. Some parents even made signs and pom poms. Everyone had a great time.
In three weeks is the Christmas Concert. I rack my brain every year to choose a song that's not about Christmas but relates to snow. I've done every song about snowmen and snow flakes. It's even harder with nursery (2 years old) because they can't really perform. The important thing for them is their costume, they have to look cute and no one will care that they can't perform. So this year I chose a song that doesn't have any words. It's just music and the kids will shake bells. BUT I'm having really cute costumes made. They'll wear a white t-shirt, silver vest and different colored pants. The costume is what will make this years performance.
In three weeks is the Christmas Concert. I rack my brain every year to choose a song that's not about Christmas but relates to snow. I've done every song about snowmen and snow flakes. It's even harder with nursery (2 years old) because they can't really perform. The important thing for them is their costume, they have to look cute and no one will care that they can't perform. So this year I chose a song that doesn't have any words. It's just music and the kids will shake bells. BUT I'm having really cute costumes made. They'll wear a white t-shirt, silver vest and different colored pants. The costume is what will make this years performance.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Face Lift
Not literally, of course. Although I sure live in the right place if I wanted one. Just thought the blog could use a new look.
I was completely lazy in October. Well, maybe just consumed with lots going on. I attended 3 conventions during the month. The final one was the most fun because it was the least amount of work. It was the English DC with all the English speaking expats living in and around Thailand. So there was lots of hanging out...so much so that I think I was on a social buzz. It took me several days to come down, so much fun!!
Now it's back to normal and I'm going to focus on running. Depending on how training goes this month, I might sign up for the 10k rather than the half marathon. We'll see. If you have a good run please share it!!
I was completely lazy in October. Well, maybe just consumed with lots going on. I attended 3 conventions during the month. The final one was the most fun because it was the least amount of work. It was the English DC with all the English speaking expats living in and around Thailand. So there was lots of hanging out...so much so that I think I was on a social buzz. It took me several days to come down, so much fun!!
Now it's back to normal and I'm going to focus on running. Depending on how training goes this month, I might sign up for the 10k rather than the half marathon. We'll see. If you have a good run please share it!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
School
I have 9 students this year. Everyone was settled into school within a few weeks. (Last year there were a few kids who cried every morning for 3 months.) Now we're all very comfortable with each other.
Our class is quite international. We have kids from Russia, Poland, Sweden, Australia, America, Thailand, India and Japan. The kids are starting to say each others names and form friendships which is really cute to watch. There's one little boy who is quite a chatterbox but he mostly speaks in Swedish or Polish, little English. So we never know what he's saying but it's so cute to listen to him. He's now starting to repeat words we use at school. The first word he learned was 'no'.
Our class is quite international. We have kids from Russia, Poland, Sweden, Australia, America, Thailand, India and Japan. The kids are starting to say each others names and form friendships which is really cute to watch. There's one little boy who is quite a chatterbox but he mostly speaks in Swedish or Polish, little English. So we never know what he's saying but it's so cute to listen to him. He's now starting to repeat words we use at school. The first word he learned was 'no'.
Monday, October 5, 2009
DC in the South
I wanted to write last week but I was having internet problems for a few days and then left for the south Wed on the night train. I just got back this morning, took the night train back. Not sure if anyone saw the news about a train wreck outside Hua Hin that happened early this morning. There were 4 of us who left on the 6:30 train. There were 11 on the train that crashed, many who work at Bethel. Fortunately only 2 of them were injured but ok. The branch sent a van down to pick them up. I must say I'm quite shaken by it. But I'm sure a good nights sleep will help.
The DC itself was really good. All the new releases were also released in Thai. I had my doubts about the new book, seems like it'd be the biggest job. But we have it! There were about 360 people in attendance. There are 5 circuits in Thailand (South, North, Northeast and 2 in Bkk). Each has it's own DC except for Bkk which combines the 2. The South is the smallest but too far from anywhere else to combine. I'm really impressed at the effort everyone puts into having the DC. Most speakers had 2-4 talks in addition to demos. So much work!
In sign, our highest number of deaf was 6. But 4 of them that came are progressive students and regular meeting attenders. That makes all the effort worth it. It was also nice to see about 30 others who sat in the sign language section wanting to learn sign.
I also interpreted talks for the first time. I usually just help out with interviews and demos. So I was really nervous about being able to understand Thai clearly. Things went ok. I was able to prepare well and listen to talks someone recorded from DCs in the states. So I knew the info well enough to understand what the speaker was saying. It's not over though, I have some more interpreting at the DC in Bkk in 2 weeks.
The DC itself was really good. All the new releases were also released in Thai. I had my doubts about the new book, seems like it'd be the biggest job. But we have it! There were about 360 people in attendance. There are 5 circuits in Thailand (South, North, Northeast and 2 in Bkk). Each has it's own DC except for Bkk which combines the 2. The South is the smallest but too far from anywhere else to combine. I'm really impressed at the effort everyone puts into having the DC. Most speakers had 2-4 talks in addition to demos. So much work!
In sign, our highest number of deaf was 6. But 4 of them that came are progressive students and regular meeting attenders. That makes all the effort worth it. It was also nice to see about 30 others who sat in the sign language section wanting to learn sign.
I also interpreted talks for the first time. I usually just help out with interviews and demos. So I was really nervous about being able to understand Thai clearly. Things went ok. I was able to prepare well and listen to talks someone recorded from DCs in the states. So I knew the info well enough to understand what the speaker was saying. It's not over though, I have some more interpreting at the DC in Bkk in 2 weeks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
