Happy Thanksgiving!

For the past few years I have made it a tradition to go through the past year, month by month, and list the things I am thankful for.  I always find it refreshing to look back through the pages of my journal to see where I was a year ago or even a few months ago.  Sometimes its the things that hurt or I hated the most are the things I am most thankful for today. The past few months are great examples of short lists that make this months list more extensive. Simple things like air conditioning, having a refrigerator, knowing who my boss is, and being able to communicate with both coworkers and my students are luxuries I was used to not having, but am very thankful to welcome back into my life. I am thankful for the past few months in Bangkok, for they are making the present seem like a vacation.

On a weather note, it's finally getting a tad cooler in Bangkok- meaning its usually around 80 by noon. Nevertheless there are sweaters and beanies for sale, just in case the temperature decides to drop below 70. I can't wait to see people wearing earmuffs in the tropics, and I thought texans overreacted to cool weather. At least it freezes there and occasionally snows. Speaking of garments- pink polos are taking over! The king wore a pink jacket on his way home from the hospital, which translates into an entire nation crazy about the color. Supposedly pink helps cure yellow people (those born on Monday- i.e. the king). So next year, instead of wearing yellow polos every Monday (or any day), pink might take its place. They are already being sold everywhere, I was in a department store and the whole mens section had manikins in pink. I'm sure my dad is glad he came for the yellow year. Oh what a place.

I'm lovin' it.

As of late I have been spending a lot of time at the local MeDonald's studying my SAT book, I feel like I’m 16. I am not a fan of either, but one provides me with free wifi, while the other provides an income. Last night I made it back to Bangkok after a four-day trip to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand; very similar to how Concepción is in Chile. The city was more laid back, cooler and walk-able in comparison to BKK, allowing it to make the cut of places I could live in the future. I took the night bus up on Thursday, had most of Friday to recover at the hotel and then went to the ACE office to meet the staff and do a “walk through” of Monday’s events. Mike, my new boss met me there and gave me a better picture as to what the weekend was about. He is an energetic, classy Singaporean businessman in his early 40’s, it’s nice know who my boss actually is and being able to communicate with him.

Saturday morning we built check dams. Basically they are small dams set up along the course of a river in order to better regulate the flow of water between the wet and dry season. There were four groups involved in the project; students from University of Calgary, Fulbright/Princeton/ACE interns, and then two local high school groups. It was really nice spending most of the day in the middle of the nowhere, breathing fresh air, meeting new people, and of course- building a dam with my bare hands.

Sunday was a free day, so I took advantage and did some sight seeing in the city. Being able to walk until I was tired instead of until I was overheated was great. The cooler season has arrived! (it’s still in the 80’s). That night we all went to a welcome cocktail party for the new American Consul General to Chiang Mai. After hearing the life story of a 65+ man from Utah, I opted to float between my five new friends instead of “mingling.” Cocktail parties usually have great food, and of course the free cocktails, but aside from that they usually involve a lot of surface conversation.

Monday was a day long English conference at one of the local high schools. There were workshops on SAT, TOFEL and how to apply to US universities. The best part was the entertainment- Thai high school cover bands singing songs ranging from the Beatles to Oasis to Blink182. The cherry on top of the weekend events: a Thai high school dance troupe (3 girls, 4 “guys”) dancing to some new Beyonce song. Oh yes they dropped it several times, inspiring young Thai’s to learn English and study in the land of pop music.

morning has broken.

Life can get a little bit crazy. Whether it's people, their actions, circumstances or timing that cause the chaos, we have the ability to choose how much we can and should put up with. When you arrive at a point where you think that you are the one that is going to end up crazy- things need to change. At 22, I really am not ready to let chaos make me crazy. Therefore I opted to make some changes.

Even though making the choice to be unemployed and homeless (at the same time), while living in a foreign country could seem crazy- it felt like the most sane decision I have made in the past 5 months. In the past few days I have moved into a new apartment and started a new job. I barely had time to freak out about my decisions. God is Good and in the craziness provides a sense of security that no job or structure could ever insure. I am amazed at how fast everything fell into place. One day.

Since everything is a bit new I can't give too many details, other than how grateful I am that things changed. Christina and I are still in shock that we put up with things for as long as we did. Thankfully we both have found great places to work, live, and actually enjoy being in Bangkok.

In a brief, my job (well, internship- I should consider a career in interning) is with Ace! The Academy for EducationUSA. My new boss, Mike is very professional and wants me to work on a variety of things. I will be tutoring students for SAT and TOFEL, promoting student exchange between Thailand and US, and working on projects with their social entrepreneurship in northern Thailand. He said I would get to travel up there quite a bit to understand the issues we are working with. I am excited to take on new responsibilities and meet new people through the internship. The office is in an excellent part of town, only a 15 minute commute from my apartment (all on train). The area I moved to is also very convenient- all modern conveniences at my fingertips. The guard who wears a face mask, at the building next to me has yet to miss greeting me as I walk by- he blows his whistle if I don't at least give him a smile. I'm trying to take this as being friendly- but considering the guard at my last apt. showered on the roof and I saw him in his bright blue speedo more than once- I am a bit hesitant to befriend guards here. I must go sign my new lease.

To those of you - thank you for your support and prayers. I'll keep you posted on life here...BKK phase II.