Images to blow your mind!

The view from the bus coming back from Chiang Mai.

Heaven in my mouth=Chiang Mai Banana Pancake

Our Rooms in Chiang Mai for 200 baht ($6.30) per night!

Emily, Georgie, Laur, Me, Kel in Chiang Mai

AT

a painting shop built in a treehouse!

Georgie bought this beautiful painting behind us.

Myself, Kel and Lauren at a restaurant

called Riverside.

Live bands every night!

FREEDOM LET IT RING!!

We had the day off of teaching so we went to

Theeeeeeee ELEPHANT CONSERVATORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Typical Day

6:15 Wake up. Sleepily crawl to bathroom, brush teeth, get dressed, grab big water bottle.

6:50 Drink an iced coffee and make peanut butter sandwich for breakfast.

7:00 Meet downstairs with Georgie, Kel and Aoife (Efa).

7:40 Arrive at school drenched with sweat.

8:00-8:45 Work on Lesson Plan and dread the bell coming soon.

9:30 Start teaching.

11:30-12:30 Lunch. Silver jail tray slapped down on table with HUGE pot of rice and veggies.

12:30 Break/Teach depending on the day.

3:30 Start the trek home with no brain cells left.

4:15 Arrive back at apartment. Rest

4:45 Bowl of cereal.

6:00 Dinner somewhere with the rest of the teachers so we can talk about our day.

8:30 Come back, shower, get ready for bed. Watch Law & Order or Fox News (only English channels)

10:00 Go to bed.

Repeat Monday thru Friday.

Teacher J! Teacher J!

I have never been more exhausted in my whole life. This is the most difficult job I have ever had and couldn't be more excited to accept the challenge.

My 3rd & 4th graders barely speak English. These are the words they know: Good morning Teacher J, Thailand and America. Some even know how to count 1-10...that is about it.

After the first day of standing on my feet for about 5 hours after the 40 minute trek to school, I knew this wouldn't be easy. Fortunately, we found a shortcut to school and now it takes about 25 minutes to and from our school.

The school day is 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 50 students per class. My Oh My! The kids are as cute as can be and like to laugh and say Teacher J!

I'd love for you all to be a fly on the wall to watch me dripping sweat in the non-air-conditioned, no fan classrooms. I don't know how teachers do it; the energy required is insane and I now start the day off with 2 coffee's.

It's tough work, but rewarding!

-Teacher J

Words

Tomorrow we take the big trek to Lampang, about a 13 hour train ride.

If you don't hear from us by e-mail or phone for a couple days, it is because we are travelin' sista's!!!!

Thailand.

It's like looking at a picture over and over again and

seeing something new every time.

We had some free time today and ventured over to the cinema, where we saw,

The Haunting in Connecticut. Reached #1 on my list for scary movies...

Morning Insightfulness

(picture from the Grand Palace, Bangkok)

"It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come."

-Dalai Lama

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

STARBUCKS! With our journals Auntie Carolyn gave us ;)

At a Wat in Bangkok

In front of the 8 Story Mall!

Some of the girls at a jazz club!

Koh Samet

Crack Den

Koh Samet

Here I am in the lovely Koh Samet. Looking for relaxation, nice, white sandy beaches and clear water. This is what I get: white, beautiful beaches, 80 degree clear as crystal water and margaritas at our beck and call!

My oh my, if this ain't paradise, I don't know what is. I have never seen such pretty water surrounded by sand that creeps through your toes. The only downfall: It looks like Kel and I picked honeymoon week and all we see are couples. We go out to dinner by candlelight and mood music and say, "if our friends and family could see us now...."

Love to you all from the beautiful Koh Samet!!!

Lady Boy

You might be wondering what Lady Boy means??

Well this picture above is for your viewing pleasure of what a tranny in Thailand looks like and they are EVERYWHERE!

Our waitress, our teacher, a leader of a Talent Show we happened to stumble upon in Siam Paragon, (the 8 story mall in Bangkok)

We met a new friend named Lauren! She's from Columbus, Ohio and she fell asleep and didn't move on the airplane for 7 hours...hence the swollen legs and feet. We laughed pretty hard at those cankles!

Who makes Tomato Salsa pringles?

Only in Thailand.

It's a phrase that has become very common to us in this land of smiles.

Only in Thailand.

In the rear-view mirror of a tuk-tuk...whizzing through traffic.