Puddles

well everyone i'm here, and i haven't yet melted away into one big puddle, but it's pretty darn close. the airplane ride was long, long, long. i only slept about two hours or so, and that was on the second flight. we got into bangkok about 2pm vancouver time, and so we has been on planes or at airports for about 24 hours. yuk. the students were great though. and man oh man does japan airline know how to fly. i don't know what we would have done if we all didn't have our own private tv with a selection of about 15 movies and 10 or so video games to play!! i watched three movies on that first flight!

when we arrived in bangkok we were all very tired and very warm. it was about 11:30pm here. we all got in line to go through passport check when jessica informed me that she did not get an "arrival" card, as she had been sleeping the whole time on the plane. so off i went in search of a card. one person misunderstood and said "you're on your way." i think he thought i was asking where i was supposed to go with the card. another lady at a desk pointed in the direction of a hall, but there was nothing there. so i continued to wander and finally decided to ask a police officer, though i felt like a tool bothering him. a man beside him offered to show me and then asked me if i was from canada and if i had andy with me. who knew!! andy's homestay family soon swarmed around me and we went to grab the students and got to fast track it through passport check. not bad hey?

i met my homestay family. the daughter, kwang, speaks english very well. the parents not so much, so much is done through her. apparently the father used to, but he has not practiced for a long long time. they actually apologised for not being able to speak english and it was at that point that i apologised for not speaking thai. i mean, imagine that! did i mention it was warm warm warm. or should i say hot hot hot! it was 28 degrees when i arrived last night, i can't imagine what it is going to get up to today. last i heard, 38 degrees!!!

it's really not a joke that i might be coming home as one big puddle in a zip lock bag. thank goodness my bedroom had airconditioning. the thai teacher called this morning and told me that the father put it in especially for me! i got up this morning around 8:30, feeling great. within two minutes in the kitchen, i was sweating from every pore!! the maid, mo, showed me all the things i needed to make coffee and then i got myself outside as quick as i could. the mother came out and put a fan on for me as well. as i sit here on the computer, there are three fans going. somehow i don't think they would be going if i weren't here! while i was sitting outside having my coffee, the thai teacher called to ask how i was and told me that my homestay family would be taking me out to the country this evening to a relative's house. shortly after that, a bangkok post newspaper, in ENGLISH, was hand delivered to the house!! they even made a "canadian" breakfast of eggs, ham, sausgae, tomatoes, toast. however that didn't stop me from having some of the mushroom soup. i also told them that i eat anything, so please don't worry. i have been assurred that tomorrow i will have a more traditional breakfast!

oh...kwang's dad works for the government, something to do with "all the thai soldiers" (though i didn't quite understand). the mom has a shop (kwang is taking me to visit it today). there is a brother who is twelve. i forget his name already. and kwang is 16. oh...and there are four maids...all of whom are wonderfully nice.

and now i am dreading leaving this room! i am going to hop in the shower. kwang is going to take me shopping for some "light" clothing. she has gone back to bed for a bit though. i will keep you all updated of course, but i mostly wanted to let everyone know that i am here and i am "melting....melting....melting" lol. love you all.