It’s Raining Elephants and Water Buffalo

Yeah, this post is a few days old but I wrote it on the laptop at home and am just now at a place where I can upload it to the blog.

Well, I’m stuck here at home tonight (Saturday) – not that I had plans to do anything but I was going to get a bite to eat – on account of a torrential downpour. This is way beyond cats and dogs – elephants and water buffalo. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE thunder and lightning. I used to stay up nights in Houston just watching the lightning and waiting for the thunder. This storm has had a lot of good thunder and lightning but a couple of times I froke out and almost wet myself because the lightning was so dang close.

It’s a good thing that my kitchen is semi-detached from the rest of the house because it leaks like a sieve and it’s pretty much a swimming pool right now. I’m not too happy about that either because I spent the better part of my morning cleaning it. On the bright side, the heaviest leak drains right into the kitchen sink. It’s like someone took a hose draped it over a rafter, pointed it at the sink (which is metal, by the way) and turned it on full blast. It was like that for a half hour straight.

I had a really productive Saturday. I got nearly all of the house clean for Kristen’s arrival on Friday, did the laundry (which I fortunately hung up to dry in the closets because had I put it outside to dry it would be soaked right now), got a haircut, and bought some food for tomorrow. I may end up eating it tonight though. It’s funny, this morning I was sweeping the patio out front and the neighbor was so impressed that I was cleaning. I can’t figure out if it’s because I’m a Farang (the Thai equivalent of gringo or howlie) or because I’m a man. I get the impression that her husband doesn’t do much around the house but that’s actually pretty normal for Thailand. Then, when I was bringing the laundry in the lady across the street was impressed that I did that myself. Man, if only they could see what I can do with a broom and a mop!! Speaking of cleaning: they have a bathroom cleaner here that is way better than anything I’ve seen in the states and it’s made by SE Johnson (how ironic is that). I wonder if they can’t make anything like it in the states because of safety regulations and such. I couldn’t read the label but I could tell it was dangerous if swallowed and corrosive (symbols). It works amazing but I was afraid to get too close because I thought it might melt my hand or something.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to Udorn Thani (about an hour north) to get my visa extended for a year. It was a nice drive and I’m glad everything went smooth. I’ve heard horror stories about that place – just think of how pleasant the DMV is every time you go there. It’s kind of like that. I’m just glad the school has someone go with you who knows the routine and can speak the language. I can’t even imagine going there by myself.

Well, right now Kristen is in Utah for her sister’s wedding. I guess she’s probably awake and doing her hair or something to get ready. I can’t remember exactly what time the wedding is at. We talk almost every night but since she left for Utah she hasn’t called. I assume she’s pretty busy. In fact, I think she told me not to expect any calls until after the wedding. I’m so happy that the week has finally arrived. Everyone here has been asking when she’s going to come. I fly down to Bangkok on Wed. evening and then pick Kristen and Trea up at the airport on Thursday morning. We fly back to Khon Kaen on Friday afternoon. Saturday and Sunday we are attending a regional conference of the church in Mahasarakham (about a half hour to an hour east). The church is also celebrating 40 years in Thailand so they’re having some festivities for that on Saturday. I’m actually singing with the branch choir (in Thai) which is quite fun. Kristen will take Trea to the nursery on Monday and Tuesday and start work on Wednesday (the 28th). So, as you can see, things are going to be really busy. I’m so excited for them to share this experience with me. It’s been great so far but the missing pieces will be put into place.

-- Monday:

I got a couple of leaks fixed today in the upstairs bathroom. Nothing a whole lot of plumbers tape couldn't fix. The landlord called and had someone come and fix them. He just wrapped a ton of plumbing tape and reconnected everything. There's no such thing as upkeep here. Things just break down and are put together "with duct tape" so to speak. I'm sure the leaks will most likely return as he just kind of put a patch on a larger problem but whatever.

Exciting Times Going on Here

Well, I don't have any new pictures to share just yet but I will. Still haven't got internet at the house yet. I'm beginning to wonder if I ever will. I'm at the school computer lab. Today is a holiday. The King of Thailand is celebrating 60 years on the throne (it's kind of like 50 years in the west because they go by 12-year cycles). Anyway, they've been having celebrations in Bangkok for about two weeks and then on Tuesday, parliament decides that they are declaring Friday a national holiday. Gotta love Thailand. One would think that they would declare this months in advance not a few days. Either way, I was happy to hear that I would have a three day weekend.

Anyway, I'm here at the school with about four other kids playing video games with the sound way up and it's driving me crazy. Yesterday was Wai Kruu Day (honor teachers day). The school had an assembly where students were given awards for the best drawings about teachers, and poems and essays about teachers. The students then present the teachers with these beautiful flower arrangements (they made on Wed.) -- I'll try to post some pictures later. It's kind of cool just to see how different holidays are celebrated.

Things are going much the same. I still have a few students that I want to punt but otherwise things are good. I'm really ready to have the family here. Just two more weeks and they'll be here. I know, I always mention how much I miss them or can't wait until they get here but come on you'd all do the same if you were in my position.

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of reliving a memorable experience from my past :-(. I was watching a movie (I rented four last Friday for 90 baht - about $1.25) and noticed a little spider in the air dangling from a web. I killed it and kept on watching the movie. A few minutes later another one. I looked up at the ceiling and there were probably a hundred of those little chumps up there. There were probably about 1 cm across (the leg span - not the body) and they were everywhere. So, I paused the movie and grabbed the can of bug fumigant (I had purchased this in a pinch because I couldn't find regular spray). So, I spray the room for 15 secs. as per the directions and close the door and leave the room. Oh, I must mention that when I looked up at the ceiling I had seen a gecko making a meal of the spiders but I knew that little guy couldn't finish the job by himself so I grabbed the spray. (If there had been five or six geckos I may have just let 'em feast. Anyway, back to the story; after 15 min. I go back in and start airing out the room. Now there are dead spiders all over my bed and probably half of the original population is still running around on the freaking ceiling. By this point I'm so ticked that I start yelling and mumbling at the spiders (as if they are doing this just to make my life difficult and can actually understand what I'm saying). I then spent the next half hour killing the little chumps one at a time by smashing them with a paper towel. GOOD TIMES!!!! Kristen and I had a similar if not quite as distressing experience in Provo a few years ago.

I don't know if I'll get used to the bugs. I'm just going to start using lots of sprays and traps and such. I think I've killed probably 4-5 roaches (and seen as many that were already dead). YUCK!!!

Well, that's the news on the eastern front for now.

Some more pictures

Well, I don't have all that much to say this time. Things are still going okay. My students are about the same -- I want to drop kick them most of the time but ... I refrain. Still loving it. I'm looking forward to getting internet at the house. That will hopefully happen in the next week but I'm not holding my breath. Seems like everything here takes a while to get done.

I found a great new restaurant about a three minute walk from my house. Last night I had a pork steak (they didn't have beef). It was served with a salad, french fries, and a slice of really good bread with really good real butter. Total cost - 40 baht. About a dollar. I was so impressed that I went back tonight and tried their spaghetti which was also very good. I'm also addicted to iced cocoa. It's so freaking good.

I can't wait until Kristen and Trea get here. These last 2 1/2 weeks are going to kill me. The first three went by so fast because everything was so new. Now I'm just counting the minutes until they get here. It's not that I'm bored I just want them to be here and be a part of all this.

Anyway, some more pictures (hopefully, I don't have broken sentences this time). Last time posting the pictures kind of messed everything up. This is called a songtaew. This is the public transportation around town. They've got a couple of different routes that go around town. The different routes have different colors. Fortunately, I have a map that shows where they all go, otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

Another way of getting around is by tuk-tuk (below). Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of one of these so I copied one from another site. They cost a bit more but are more direct in getting you where you want to go.

Here's a picture that I took on the branch activity. Just a serene little pond. Speaking of the branch, one of the missionaries came up to me on Sunday during choir practice and asked, "Are you ready for a calling?" I asked if he knew what they (the branch presidency) were thinking of calling me to. Hey said, "One of the counselors in the Elders Quorum presidency or maybe the president." Excuse me, I'm doing okay with the learning Thai but I don't speak that well. If I'm the pres. and my teacher doesn't show, I'm supposed to teach. I don't know how that's going to happen. Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.

I took this picture just because I get a kick out of these brightly colored and often animated (anime) tour buses.

You know what else is awesome; places like McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Co. (there isn't a Pizza Hut in Khon Kaen) deliver. I haven't yet taken advantage of this but it's nice because getting to these places takes a good 20 min. by songtaew and if I get a hankering for a burger or something else I can call and have it delivered (that is if I can explain what I want and give my address/directions over the phone). Well, that's all for now.

Yeah, I'm Hanging in There

Hey faithful readers (all 4 of you), sorry for leaving you all hanging for so long. I really was planning on posting a lot more than I have. You know, teaching takes a lot more work than you think. I think it would be a lot different had I known exactly I was going to teach and had a few weeks to get some preparation done. As it is now, I'm pretty much planning the next days lesson the night before -- hence the lack of posts. Hopefully, I'll be able to get ahead a bit but who knows. Overall, I' but grade four is pretty bad. I've already handed out about 10 detentions in two weeks. I'm really loving it here though. It's hot and I'm sweaty all the time but I LOVE being in Thailand. I just miss Kristen and Trea. I've only been gone for almost three weeks but it seems like Trea is learning m enjoying it. I'm teaching Math and English to 3rd and 4th graders. Grade three is pretty goodso many new words in just that short time. I got a cell phone and I talk to Kristen just about every night. She found some company that specializes in calling cards to Asia and she can call me for like three cents a minute so it's pretty nice that we can talk and hardly spend any more than we would be if I lived across the country.

Seemed like I had a million things to say but I never wrote them down so I'll just ramble. The school that I teach at is just an elementary school (with kindergarten) and nursery. I would guess that they have maybe 350 kids total. It's a private school and most of the kids come from families with money and are therefore pretty spoiled. My house is behind the school. It takes me like 20 secs to get to the school grounds and maybe a minute and a half to get to the teachers' room.
Here's a picture of the students(only the elementary students) lined up for our morning flag ceremony. You can see the far end of my townhouse building on the right hand side of the picture. The kindergarten director lives in the older style house behind the basketball standard. She's one of the owner's daughters and will be Kristen's boss. She's pretty cool.

Okay, I think I mentioned posting some pictures of our townhouse. I don't know if you've seen but Kristen beat me to the punch and posted some on her blog but I'm going to post some here anyway.

Here's what the place looks like from the front. Here's a shot from just inside the front door.



















And here's what our bedroom looks like.
















Yeah, the formatting of these pictures isn't the best but whatever. I've got a lot more pictures (not just of the place) but uploading them is kind of slow and I want to finish this post so maybe I'll just do another post after this one.

Last Saturday I went to an activity with the branch here. We met at the branch house at 8:00 and didn't get home until 5:00. I knew it was going to be an all day thing so it wasn't any surprise. We went up to a park near a dam and tried to find clues and do things along the way there (we were split into five teams in five vehicles). We couldn't find most of the things on the way there but we had a good time. The park was really pretty. It's differernt going to these kind of things and only being able to catch a few things here and there. I've been to church twice and I learn a TON of Thai but by the time it's over my head just hurts.

So, on Thursday of this week (two days ago) I was scheduled to see the kids off after school. (I do this every Thursday). Anyway, the Thai teachers had the front end taken care of (get the kids into the right car when their folks show up) so I was just supposed to walk around and make sure nobody is doing anything that will get them hurt. So, I play soccer with some of the kids for a while and then a bit later some of the kids ask me if I want to play basketball. I say okay and we start playing. About two minutes into the game I'm driving toward the hoop and roll my ankle. It didn't seem too bad but by the next morning I couldn't put any pressure on it at all. Fortunately, I had noticed upon moving into our new place a pair of crutches in the storage space under the stairs and I took those to school yesterday. Haven't even been at the school two weeks and I'm showing up injured. I'm feeling a bit better now. I can walk on it at least. Kind of a funny walk but whatever.

I love how you find different products made by American companies in different countries. I'm sure most of you have seen this to some extent. They have Lays potato chips here but they have flavors like Nori Seaweed, Grilled Lobster, and Salmon Teriyaki. I've tried them all and they're actually all pretty good. Why don't they have fun flavors like that in the States? I guess probably because there's not a great demand for them there.

Well, I'd better be going. Kristen should be calling soon.

Alive and Kicking

I made it!! Here is my first post from Thailand. The flight was actually pretty good. It went by rather quickly and I was able to get probably 4-5 hrs. of sleep which is pretty good for me. I watched King Kong and thoroughly enjoyed it too. I spent the night in Bangkok and then we travelled drove up to Khon Kaen today. I got here this afternoon at about 2:30. I have met with some of the teachers at the school but should meet most of the rest tomorrow morning.

The townhouse is pretty good. It's about what I expected. It's pretty basic but will meet our needs. I took some pictures and emailed them to Kristen. I'll have to post some of them here for all to see (I don't have them with me right now or I would).

It's great to be back in Thailand although I of course miss Kristen and Trea. I can't wait until they get here. Then the fun is really going to begin.

I have to admit that I'm still a little nervous about teaching. I think it's just one of those things that I think I will just have to give it a little while and then I'll get into it and be comfortable. The nice thing is that everyone here at the school is so friendly and helpful so I should always feel like I can go to them for help with teaching. From what I've heard it sounds like I can go to them for help with just about anything.

Anyway, just a quick update before I head home and crash for the evening. I haven't had a whole lot of jet-lag this trip which is nice (knock on wood).

I Hope to update often.