I was cold this morning...

I hate to admit it.... but as I walked out of my condo this morning... I was chilly and was wishing I had a sweater... granted it was only 6:30am and the sun hadn't been out for long and I quickly warmed up.... but what does this mean. Is part of me becoming Thai? I don't get it. It's hot out. What's with this being cold business? I can't be like the Thais who wear scarves and long sleeves and toques (not that they know what a toque is). I'm hoping it was just because I got up on the wrong side of the bed and tomorrow things will be back to normal.

Normal... that's another thing. I'm sure you have all heard about Thailand in the news. Frankly, you probably know more than I do. As it stands, we are here and not going anywhere fast. Nobody is in a hurry to solve a problem. The airport remains closed. For how long? I don't know - but I, as well as many other staff members, have a flight booked out of Bangkok on December 13th. Here's hoping...

Just what is cricket?

I realise that a cricket is an insect and in my head that was good enough.. but last week we had an inter-school cricket match... and it made me question... is cricket really a sport? I don't understand. I mean, I got the basic gist of it while watching.. and perhaps it's a spectator sport because there seemed to be more action coming from that side than there was from the field. Granted, we were playing cricket with a group of 7-11 year olds. Perhaps it would have been quite different if adults were playing. How did I, growing up in Canada, miss out on what is supposed to be a great sport? I need some answers here. Perhaps some confirmation that my life was completely satisfied playing soccer, basketball, volleyball... this cricket thing seems highly over-rated.

That is my thought of the day. I hesitate to publish this post in case some avid cricket player reads it... but they probably wouldn't know a hockey game if it stared them in the face.

Winter has arrived!

No - I'm not kidding.
No there is no snow.
But it's only 29 degrees today.
The children are freezing.
The parents are questioning how I could possibly be comfortable walking around in a short sleeved shirt.
Bring on the parkas!
It's bizarre. It's as if overnight everything changed. And it is cooler. I promise you that. 29 degrees is much cooler than 35. And there's a breeze. You'd think it was from the arctic.

In other news I did something crazy last week. I went on a class trip for three days and two nights with 30 children. Will I be doing that again anytime soon? No. Was it fun? Yes.
We took the kids, ages 7-12, to a National Park about 3 hours outside of Bangkok. There were deer right up close and monkeys. Gibbons swinging in the trees. Overall a good time. But I would like to say that trying to get 30 excited or hysterical kids to go to sleep is not fun. And it's not fun once they go to sleep either. They like to cry. And they like to get up. And they like to sleep with their parents. Children!

All else is well. The sights and sounds of Christmas are all around Bangkok. We're starting rehearsals for the Christmas play. I'll be in Canada before you know it... and I'll be bringing the Thai weather with me. (I have to work on a means of doing that)

Luxuries

I've just had my hair blow-dried. It's a beautiful thing. Walk in, ask for a blow dry... get a head massage and your hair shampooed and conditioned, and walk out with perfectly straight hair and a hair style that doesn't need to be re-done for three days. And what did this cost me??? about $3. I can't complain... although my Starbucks coffee still costs me a lot. I could complain about that but some would just say stop drinking Starbucks coffee. (but I like it too much). Other luxuries include manicures and pedicures. I don't remember the last time I did my own nails.
I'm sure there are many more.... but I am having thinking troubles right now.

I love yellow flags

Yellow flags. Good things. Amazing things. You'll never guess what they mean. They're everywhere. In the supermarket, on the street... unfortunatley only for a limited time, but.... they mean.... that the vegetarian festival is on in Banngkok - in all of Thailand in fact. So... you want some foood, you see a yellow flag, you can eat it without asking what's in it. It's beautiful.
There's a stand right outside of my school. Haven't seen anything close to home, but I can deal with that. So instead of my typical lunch of milk, or yogurt or something similar, I can have vegetarian food from the cross for less than $1. I realise that I could eat the lunches at the school... there is a vegetarian option.... but I'm protesting for whatever reason. I'm sure there was a good reason at some point and now I just stick with it.

Not much else to share. I've discovered that I have paid a bill late... well, I still haven't paid it. I don't know how to pay it now but they wouldn't let me pay it at the normal location. The last thing I want is for my electricity to be cut off. No A/C.... that would be treacherous.

That's a day in my life. Just a normal Monday.

Time flies

It was recently pointed out to me... thanks Paul... that I have not updated my blog in awhile. And it's true. I've definitely been lacking in the posting bussiness. So... I'm trying to start doing it again. Keep everyone updated about life in the BKK.

So... I have moved, I have started a new job, I haven't been anywhere, but life is good. Teaching year 4 is great. The kids are lovely and I'm settling into the profile of classroom teacher. I'm also teaching music throughout the school at a more intense level than last year. So... everyday is a challenge. Good challenge, but a challenge all the same.

It's rainy season in the lovely country of Thailand. One day I actually walked home in knee deep water. That's when you don't even let your mind think about what could be floating in the flooding waters of Bangkok. I won't even talk about the rat I saw floating by.

My thai is getting better and better and I do try a lot harder than I ever have before. It does make life so difficult, but I try to ask questions just for the sake of asking them, and hope that I can understand the responses.

There was a state of emergency declared in Bangkok a few weeks ago. Stupidly I assumed that mom and dad would have heard about it on the evening news. So, when I called them saying I was okay and nothing to worry about... I naturally started something. It was calm cool and collected. I saw no evidence of this state of emergency, but I also stayed clear of any area that could be problematic. Politics politics politics.

So... there you go.... a mini update and I promise to do a much better job in the future.

What's in a name?

I have been sleeping in my new flat for what will be my fourth night tonight, and I can't help but wonder... are the people who live on floor 12A really convinced that they live on 12A? I mean seriously between 12 and 14 comes 13 no matter which way you look at it. But in my new building, 13 does not exist, but 12A does. Luckily, I do not live on 12A. I live on the 15th floor. No superstitions to be worried about.

So, I have a new flat - all to myself. No flatmates. It's good though. I like it. It feels like home. Moving was a pain, but I am basically done. I will make one final stop tomorrow to pick up the last few things. Photos are to come including the semi-view that the 15th floor provides.

I have been back at school in this past week preparing for children on Monday. The thought sends shivers up my spine. Not ready... but I have to be. Seven children are in my future, plus a school filled with music students and a handful of students with English as an additional language. I'm in for a busy year.

Summer has come to an end all to quickly. 9 weeks of teaching before we get a break. I think we will create a weekend away. Or two... or.. many. Sanity is needed.