Today I am Thankful

Today was an emotional day. I got to go to Lampang and see my fellow teachers (really for my work permit). It was such a tearful reunion (though no,I was not one of the wet eyed). Everyone hugged everyone and it was so good to speak English. And tackle hugs were totally appropriate. Some of my teachers have had a really rough time. In fact, out of everyone I am the happiest. My fellow American teachers have now dubbed me the princess of the group because of the way I am treated and my situation in general. My heart really hurts for my fellow teachers and friends. Some of them are seriously miserable. One teacher left yesterday and another leaves in the next two days. Three more are considering that option quite seriously. We all spilled about our various situations over a four hour meal lol. They loved my comment about my "companion" that was essentially assigned to be my friend. Of course most minds went dirty on the fact that I have a female companion and one even thought about it in terms of a Firefly reference, which is why I love her.

I have at least ones person visiting me next weekend and many more promise to come. I really do want my friends to come since they are unhappy in their situations. The mining town group has no less than seven kinds of deadly snakes, another group has to go to the train station for internet, and another group has no control over their students and little help from their community. All of us found it amusing because everyone was worried about me and it turns out that I have the best situation and I also got the director to add 300 baht to my monthly stipend to put on my phone to call my fellow teachers more often.

Besides being by myself I really am lucky and at least I have three people in my town who speak English. Many of us are starting to talk in broken English because it is better for communicating here. I even conversed with the guy at Lotus, a Walmart type place, when I got a new converter. Yeah, today was the first time I used my straightener and it busted my converter, but thankfully not the outlet. When I got back to my flat, a teacher showed me where I can put my trash and arranged for me to have a laundry service. So no more motorcycle rides with my laundry, but near room service every Wed and Sat. Oh and all of us are going to Bangkok for a concert in two weeks to meet a whole bunch of puyaih. So two weeks and more hugs from my friends who have braved through their situations. One last thing. The cuts on my legs from the waterfall yesterday are 95% healed and the cut on my hand looks two to three days old. I repeat, that waterfall is magic. Or my immune system, but it has never acted like this before. Okay got to go. There is some kind of festival with lots of festivities tonight if I can figure out where....