Three weeks in Thailand and I am finally getting around to posting my first blog. No idea really what to say, but here I go...

Thailand is absolutely beautiful. The people I have met have big welcoming hearts. Even with the language barrier, they have made me feel at home. People are so alive with spirituality and I feel blessed that I am here to experience it.

I am lucky in that I have been staying with a "local" since I got here. I haven't had to be much of a tourist, and the language hasn't been much of a problem. Tomorrow, I embark upon the next stage of my journey. I move into my own apartment. It's cute, quiet, and less than $100/month. No fridge, but that's okay. The restaurant downstairs will prepare meals for me and even bring them to my door - all for under a dollar. Hunting for the apartment was an experience. A motorcyle taxi drove my friend and I around from apartment to apartment for a couple of hours. Yes... three people to a motorcycle, riding the streets of Bangkok... and I wouldn't even ride around Terrace with my dad on his motorcycle!

I am scheduled to start work on the 1st of October. I've had a tour of the school where I will be teaching English to 4-11 year olds. I will also be teaching a few music classes and starting a choir.

I hadn't expected to get to use my musical abilities as soon as I got here, but not only will I be teaching music, but I am singing in a series of concerts with a natural healing centre with proceeds going to HIV research. It's a huge musical event that they had been planning for a long time, but were ecstatic when they found out I was a singer. The centre is an amazing place of healing. I've also been able to practice Reiki therapy there and will continue with further courses in Reiki as my stay here continues. The manager of the centre had never heard my name before, but automatically gave me a Thai name... so I now answer to Resa among other things. My landlord calls me Miss Resa, or Kun Resa.

Last week I went on a ten-day, silent meditation retreat. What an experience. There were 11 of us participating in the retreat, learning meditation from a Canadian monk who practices in the Burmese tradition in Thailand. Wrap your head around that one. The whole event started with me wandering around a bus terminal with every other person telling me a different place to go. Then a Thai man came up to me with the name of the meditation centre written on a piece of paper, took my bag, and got me to sit on the back of his motorcycle as he drove me through the boonies of Thailand. Helmet? I think not. Again.. I wouldn't even ride around Terrace with my dad. So yes, I went ten days without talking, except to the monk, and except for that period of time when I discovered that my wallet had been stolen. Sort of put a damper on the retreat, but I persevered. Everything will work out. What's done is done. It's a little hard getting around without a bank card, but I have been able to borrow money for the time being. Anyway, I would recommend meditation to anybody after spending ten days doing nothing but - however ten days is a long time. I must admit that I was slightly relieved when the whole thing was over.

So, I have rambled on and on... I should take better notes and start taking more pictures. I will - I promise. I do miss everyone back home, but now everyone has an excuse to travel. Until next time.