Happy

Well, this weekend had plenty of adventures, just as I thought. After my last post a friend called me up to go to lunch. We sat and talked about a wide ranger of things. Then he looks at me, completely serious and says, "Hey you want to go to Phitsanaluk?" "Now?" "Yeah, pack an overnight bag, go to Phitsanaluk see a movie and then meet up with some Thai friends I met." "Okay."

So yes, I took a spontaneous trip to Phitsanaluk. The weather was beautiful, the mountains and the fields were gorgeous. I laughed a lot and it was really fun. We had sushi and ended up not seeing a movie because they were all in Thai, unfortunately. I have great new memories and even some great quotes like "Stop laughing! We're harmonizing!" That would be us harmonizing Price Tag on a motorbike on a bumpy road. The bumps in road made our voices go up and down crazily and it was hilarious. I saw a snake on the side of the road that was very much alive. I also now know that an hour on a motorbike starts to hurt about 40 minutes in. Oh, and the man bought all the women (there were 3 of us) roses, like a good gentleman. What fun!

Then last night I had dinner with my new friend Sham poo and her English husband and son. It was nice and I learned a little more about English culture. I never thought I would be learning about more Thai culture when I got here. Then afterwards, I taught one of my friends some hustle so he can help me with my ballroom class today. The students do not know so it will a surprise for them and he speaks Thai so Mr. Tiny Casanova, you had better behave yourself now!

The last thing I want to mention is something I realized while we were driving back home from Phitsanaluk yesterday. I was really worried about getting Dengue fever. Two weeks in the hospital sounds awful and I looked up the disease and anything that gets into my skin, blood and bone marrow sounds really unpleasant. So for a day and a half I really was concerned. I knew that my first exposure would most likely be okay. It would suck but I would live. However, I have made the decision that if I get it, I have to go home afterwards because second exposure could kill you, especially if it one of the other 3 strains of Dengue. And yesterday I realized I would be really sad to go back to the U.S. now. I really am very happy here and though I have a rough plan of what I want when I get back to the states, I am not ready to go back now. So don't worry, I am doing my best to not catch that wretched disease. The teacher in the hospital was realized Friday so that is good. For now, that is all I have. Got to go to work and buy some traditional Thai clothes now.