Ko Samet

I've been to the island! Last Friday Ginger, Lisa, myself and two of our other co-workers left work and in two hours we were catching a speed boat to the most crystal clear aqua blue waters that I've ever seen. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I heart Thailand! We Rented a moped, ate fresh seafood (being from the landlocked Midwest I never truly understood the difference)swam in the salty sea, walked the white sand beach, stayed in a bungalow on stilts (with a Buddhist shrine out the front door), and of course received two...Ok three Thai massages on the beach. At night we danced until we couldn't dance anymore. Chris, my coworker who came with us knows many of the locals which was a nice way to meet people other than farangs (foreigner). I will admit that I'm still not acclimated to using the stand only toilets, without toilet paper and I have not yet used the hose to spray myself off afterwards...call me square, baby steps.

Work is good the students are interested in everything, my room is full of tropical plants and a student is setting up an aquarium. Now I just need to convince my 6th graders that watering the plants is their job and not the maids. Many of our students have maids and drivers that bring them to school. Cleaning up after themselves is not second nature to say the least.

I've heard it is getting cool in MN. I am already lonesome for the smell fall's leaves, the taste of bitter apples and bloody homemade salsa.

Here the weather is humid and hot with the sun always beating down. Everyone is dripping with sweat when they arrive at school. Lately I've found myself stopping by rooms just to feel the aircon on my body for a quick second. The rumor is it only gets hotter.

Today I buy my airline ticket home. I'll arrive around 2100 on the 21st of September.

I miss you all!

Love,

Jana

Week Sarm

Lisa and I went down to this huge market and bought orchids, bryophytes, 4 foot high bamboo and hibiscus plants for our apartment; which by the way has teak floors. We also started a water garden on our balcony with lotus plants and we are in the market for fish. The abundance of plants and flowers at the market was absolutely amazing. It felt like an endless supply of $1 to $2 exotic species. I guess I live in the tropics now, the gecko in my living room should have tipped me off.

I'm doing well the first week of classes has been hectic, I have to beg to get masking tape and fill out an order form for files which I was told not to hold my breath for. The excellent news is my students are fabulous (I'm not yet sure if they measure up to my ARTech students though). They are interesting and diverse. I have students from Korea, Holland, Borneo, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Italy, Japan, I have a lot to learn from them....And hope to teach a thing or two also =)

In my personal life I'm doing ok, well better now. My brother Josh and my close friend Christa decided to get married September 24th. I'm incredibly happy for them but at the same time thinking about missing their union...aaggh, awful. I was feeling sad, disappointed and lonely. I started to rethink my decision to travel so far from home. Why am I doing this, is it selfish, will I gain more than I lose? Then I thought of my dear friend Annie who would ask me to think about what my original intentions were and Rob sent me supportive emails. After a few days of pondering, everything was very clear. I need to be home for Josh and Christa. Individually they are unique, interesting people who have always supported, encouraged and sparked my crazy ideas and together they share a bond that I have looked up to and modeled my own relationships after. So.............I booked a ticket and will be home the 21st of September and fly out the 25th. Christa, what colour dress should I buy? =) I love you guys. See you soon!!!!!

I have attached a few photos the pool is what we see off our living room balcony.

All for now

Jana

Week 2

Ok, so here is the situation at work. Similar to Ginger's experience, I have no classroom. In fact, the entire science wing is under construction. It does have walls and today we were notified that it does have a ceiling and desks will be there by Monday when the students arrive???? So what will we do until it is completed, not sure and none of the admin seem to worried about it (Mai Pen Rai). It is very good for me to have helped Ginger live through the same experience a year ago. Because of that I am not feeling as intense as one would guess....well perhaps by the end of the day my intensity level will rise, I'll keep you informed.

Ginger and our other roomie, Lisa arrived at midnight on Sunday. It is great to have them here. I aspire to speak Taxi Thai as well as they do! Ginger and I have not had a dance session for over a year. As some of you may know, when we were all in MPLS together our dancing plans were foiled. DANCE is on our to do list now that we are reunited and living in the same hemisphere.

We have been busy with orientation the last couple of days. Our school is owned by a Thai family who is very well known in the country. We had a two hour presentation on their family history. The power structure of the school is very interesting and quite different from schools back home. Thailand operates on a cast system and it is very apparent among the Thai staff both at work and at my apartment. I will add that the family who owns the school is wonderful and I am lucky to work for them...

Oh...I had mango and sticky rice with coconut milk, Misty is right it is absolutely aroi (delicious)!

One more exciting adventure, I unexpectedly ran into the Sisons. A family from ARTech. How crazy in a city of 10 million to just bump into each other. I was waiting out a down pour and they were fleeing a traffic jam caused by the rain and BAM! There we were. It was wonderful to see Andi and Alyssa. Thank you Siri for the dinner treat and your knowledge of Bangkok, have a safe flight home!

Jana

more pictures coming soon....

Check List/Strange Encounter

Reflexology and massage CHECK
1 hr 30 min massage for $20 and this was at a posh spa. Ask me about it sometime as it was INCREDIBLE!!!

Menthol Inhaler CHECK
Gives one the illusion of coolness and rids the senses of Bangkok's aroma.

Cafe Yen Check
Iced Thai coffee made with sweetened condensed milk and served in a plastic bag (good call Alyssa).

Sarm Lor CHECK
Sarm (three) Lor (wheel)A great way to get around as long as you are ready to wrinkle up your face and counter there 40 baht with 20 baht (I need to practice this as usually I end up laughing before I get to the wrinkle and just pay whatever they ask).

The most unusual encounter I've had is looking at a bra in a department store and a worker comes up to me, sizes me up and the next thing I know she is putting the bra on me. All this happened right in the middle of the store I was totally stunned and just went with it...What's a girl to do?

China Town

On my first day in Bangkok the two women I met from my school and I rode the sky train to China town. I'm attaching pictures of gorgeous flowers, scrumptious fruit and the beautiful people who work with them everyday.

Also you'll see a pic taken on a tuk tuk, quite the experience....Imagine hearing screams and nervous laughter as a bus charges toward us at a 45 degree angle. Smell exhaust and damp garbage, then inhale menthol through your nostrils. Don't forget to notice the newly manicured toe nails =)

Lah Kron Kah,

Jana

Teachings From Thailand

Teachings From Thailand

I Heart Thailand

Phrase of the day: Mai Pen Rai (No Worries)

I moved into my new apartment. Chris, my new co-worker and I went for a swim in our pool, a perfect way to cool down after and hot and humid day. The apartment is posh; as soon as I find a place to upload my pics I will attach a few.

I was in a state of euphoria as I walked to work this morning. The 3 doormen doted on us as we left, opening doors and lifting up the car park arm as we walked past, "Saw Wha Dee Kah".."Saw Wha Dee Kup". It seems so strange to have all these people waiting on us. Chris and I walked down our street buying strange looking red, hairy fruit (Ngaa), Thai Coffee out of a plastic bag that you drink with a straw and some interesting hot milky soup with unrecognizable contents.

School is a bit disorganized the science department is completely under construction and without walls. They say it will be completed by the 15th when our students arrive? I have been given last year’s syllabus and a copy of the text books our students will use so I am able to begin planning. I sense that I will have freedom to be creative with my teaching and not tied down to a set curriculum and am happy about that.

Lah Khron Kah,

Jana