From Where I Stand

As I am coming down from my day, listening to Bruno Mars' new song,  Treasure  thinking of the treasures (college housemates) I find a cock roach crawling on the adjacent wall... You have GOT to be freaking kidding me. You have got to be kidding me. You have got to be kidding me. Pacing Music on full blast I grab the flimsy broom- the only thing I have as a tool to do the deed first swing I missed ear piecing scream WHERE DID IT GOOO?! reacted by pulling the collar of my t-shirt over my head (I have an irrational fear of insects ambiguously flying around my head and worst, going in my ears) do cock roaches fly???? WHERE IS IT?!  I spot it on the floor. broom raised high, curdling screammmmm          WACK. "you are my treasha, you are my treasha "  is still on full blast playing in the background I cover my mouth ashamed of how loud I screamed and started laughing...  with out a doubt I jus...

Happy Hump Day!  - I am in a good mood. -I am stinky, sweaty and dirty and sitting on my clean bed. -I feel nourished, I am gaining weight, I feel healthy, I am eating on a schedule. -just got back from a run with the other english teacher, Arsenio. -we ran 2 miles and walked 2 miles back. -A thai couple smiled at us so big on our run. it was AWESOME. -listened to kid kudi's "Up Up and Away" that janks was on repeeeeat. -I still got the run in me. Can I just say, for a lanky white girl I can run damn well. Arsenio is black and he had to take a break. I out ran a black maaaan. chica chica yeaaaaa. - I'll say it again, I still got the run in meeeeeeeee. I could've run the entire four miles- cake, cake, cake. -Arsenio and I have formed a great, supportive and respectful kinship. Dude you're awesome. We lift each others spirits up to get through our days. TEACHING: -Today was another great day at school. Less crying involved. Bee, Cee and I are the ...

School started this past Thursday. Let's just say, I came home and had no idea what just happened. It was a whirlwind. I didn't know my place.  It included lots of observing and helping the other teachers and playing with the kids. Day by day the pieces of the puzzle will come together- adaptation is messy. I work with wonderful Thai teachers. It truly is a team effort at this school to create the best learning environment. For the most part I will be in MEP 1 (Mini Education Program 1; 2 1/2-3 year olds) but may teach other levels in the months to come. Perspective change: Imagine being a 3 year old and going to school for the very first time with 19 other peers.  You might only have to interact with one or two siblings at home or none and all of sudden you are placed in an enclosed area to some how get along with 19 others, follow directions, pay attention and establish routine. All of this at once. Without a doubt that has to be daunting and overwhelming....

Today, I drove a motor cyc all by myself! It was not the first time (I've been practicing) but for the first time on the main road which is six lanes of traffic. I went to the tesco and to the park! Complete and utter joy ride. Since I don't have a radio, I make my own music which includes singing the same chorus of one song over and over again. Belt it through the wind. I need to create music som e how for a substitution!  Mental notes while driving: -don't look back. (metaphor for my lyfe!) use and trust your rear view mirrors. adjust them if you have to. -when you get scared ease off the accelerator the opposite way. simple terms LET GO of handle. a little twirk goes a longggg way. -it helps to dangle my legs like a bird when accelerating, then huddle them on deck. 

My stomach was churning all day. Arsenio, the other english teacher and I had been eating food from markets, restaurants and venders for the past few days with Bee- our friend, fellow Thai teacher and the only Thai person I know who speaks english. My stomach was finally having a say in the matter... I needed to eat desperately. I was caught between the feeling of starving and no appetite...? The last time I ate was lunch time and it was 8pm. Both Arsenio and I needed something substantial other than food we could not recognize or put a name too. FRUIT is what we were after. Your basic shoppers-food-warehouse apples and bananas. We hopped on the motor cyc and zipped down the main road. You can tell when someone is getting more comfortable driving a motor bike while riding on the back of it. you just can. the combination of their speed, turning, merging, braking, space between other vehicles and flow of timing of motions are happening naturally. All the person can do on the back...

When you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, nothing nothing can take that away from you. Romans 5:5 says hope does not put us to shame for God's love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Any condemnation is not of Christ. Read Romans 8- life in the spirit.

At the airport, I locked my hands around his waist closed my eyes and held on.... and held on to the person who has established right relationship in my life. Words cannot express- gosh I can't even write right now... words cannot express how much I value our friendship.  I can remember the first time I met you. I was six? seven? I had just woken up from a nap in the front seat of the car, turned to my right and there you were nervously smiling and waiving through the window. I wanted nothing to do with you, really.  At an early age, the fairytale mindset was proven unlikely. I didn't know it at the time, but my parental circumstances were not as similar to Cinderella's like I thought they were. My Mirror Mirror on the wall reflected the 'evil' step parent to be, kind, respectful, charismatic, compassionate, funny (understatement), Godly, giving, intuitive, selfless, warm, strong in spirit and a straight up honest human being. With each kiss-and-ride,...