Super Special Day!

Today I had a very special surprise. I was teaching, just starting our day with the students all on the rug....and in walks our school mainainance man with a beautiful bouquet of red roses. I read the card, and couldn't hold it together. I started to cry, and the kiddos were wondering what was wrong with me. I told them it was happy tears. And then Pascale came in and I started to cry again. My brother and sister-in-law are super amazing people. It completely made my day. The pictures say it all. :D

WARNING: Graphic contents, not for the faint of stomach.....The crazy "baba babo ding dong" soi dogs

Well, this week, I got my "injury" story from my time in Thailand....I have an injury story from each major place I've lived....the nail in my foot at Uncle's house.....the deep cut on my leg from hunting down the perfect Christmas tree...the snake bite and boil in Madagascar....I have just come to realize that every adventure comes with a price....it's just part of the life... :)

My little side street has some neighbor dogs that are pretty mean. I can't ever tell if their bark is worse than their bite, but I have had three times where they have gotten out of their fenced cage and scared me so badly I have screamed bloody murder. Well, one late night, I was riding home on my bicycle and the dogs all started chasing after me. I screamed bloody murder once again, and swirved over to the side by the cement curb. Well, my foot got caught in the way between my pedal and the cement curb...and let's just say my foot lost. I was in so much pain, I was shaken up pretty badly. My middle three toes on my right foot were pretty scraped up and really nasty looking. I came inside and put rubbing alcohol and iodine on them and left them over night. It was quite painful. The next morning, they were so swollen I could hardly get out of bed. I couldn't put my toes down, my foot had swelled so much. I took off of work and went to see the doctor....the doctor was NOT very gentle and pushed and pulled my toes like they weren't in serious pain. I screamed at him and told him in Thai that it hurt really badly, but he paid no heed and just kept right on at it. He gave me some medicine to cut back the swelling and some antibiodics because the streets here are not very clean. He also gave me some pain medication, but it wasn't that effective, so I went back to good 'ol ibiprofen. I was so disappointed because I was looking forward to the trip to the mountians this weekend with all of my friends, but I made the decision not to go, because it would probably not be great for an open wound...hiking, dirt, and open water....probably not the best combination. Needless to say, my foot is getting much better each and every day. But it was very painful in the beginning. Here are some pictures.....Please, if your name happens to be Christy Schwenky.....proceed with caution....it is VERY gross!!!! :)

Life Update

Things are going well here, I'm settling in to my new townhouse and having fun in the moobaan. Tonight I have Thai with a very fun, very strict Thai teacher....heehee...she also happens to be my roommate, and I was just joking about the strictness. :) We are going on a trip to the rainforest this upcoming weekend, as we have Monday off because of Chinese New Year. I swear it is spring because the flowers are blooming and the trees are blossoming. Ja says they don't have spring, but I think so....

Yesterday was Natalie's 2nd birthday. I went over to the Thomas household and we had a very tasty dinner of spaghetti and meat sauce with cheese!!!! Yum!!!! Also, Pascale made cupcakes and they were delicious! I gave Natalie a little blue traditional thai dress. I painted her toes and then Etienne painted my fingers....lol not my nails, my whole tips of my fingers. It was great fun!

I'm still not sure where I am going for spring break. I'll keep ya posted! :)

Where to go for April Break?

Okay, readers, now is your time to speak up!!!! I'm taking a poll because I don't know where I want to go for April Break....some people are "trekking in Nepal", others are going to Bali, and I really want to also go to Laos and travel up the river on a fishing boat...OR I could visit Hosie and Marci in Chang Mai. So please, give me your thoughts. AND you are NOT allowed to say they all sound good....you HAVE to pick one!!!!

Time Flies!!!!

Wow! It's been a whirlwind of the last month, and I can't believe it's already February! Happy Groundhog's Day and I always remember it's Bret Cain's birthday today too....my head is full of random knowledge. (Bret Cain was my middle school youth pastor). I have had a hard time adjusting back to Bangkok life, but great friends have helped, as well as a trip to one of my favorite beaches....Ko Samed. I also have a big change....I'm moving to a townhouse!!!! It's pretty fun and I get a super cool roommate, too! Ja is movin in today, and I moved all my stuff yesterday. It's crazy, considering the last time I moved (in June) it took multiple car loads and two (or was it three?) truck loads to bring all of my things home. Yesterday, it took me an hour and a half to move 3 boxes and two suitcases. I love the simple life! It's pretty cool to not feel so bound by material possessions AND to know that I can flee the country if I have to, with all of my life in 3 boxes and two suitcases. Pictures will come of this new amazing townhouse....it's already a blast because we have super cool neighbors, Bobbie and Andrew, and our friends Bill and Kristin and Bari and Dennis can shout out their windows from the condos at us. I'm trying to fung suey this place, to make it feel peaceful and cozy. I think I'm going to go to the market tomorrow to see what I can find....