Christmas Day!

It's Christmas!!! haha. I can't believe it's christmas...it's so surreal to me. It doesn't feel like it being thousands of miles away but it helps that I have amazing friends here. We all woke us this morning at the marriot early. Maybe its just a thing about christmas you automatically wake up early, I don't know but we did. After a wonderful breakfast buffet, we all headed to Pratunam to shop. Even though we are in a primarlily buddhist country christmas is still very much around. Decorations and many different types of christmas trees were everywhere around the city. Ones made of coke cans and another made of CD's. So even though I was away from home, it was comforting to see the christmas spirit around town. After shopping we watch the movie 'Australia'. It was such a good movie, but it made me cry so much. It was quite a long movie, so after we decided we should find a place to eat. We decided that christmas night would be our chance to go to the Hard Rock Cafe.
It felt good being in a familiar restaurant and not to mention the food was so good! Outside the restaurant stood a giant pink christmas tree with giant presents all around. We took the opportunity and took some holiday photos with each other.

I honestly thought that christmas here wouldn't be a big deal, and even though we spontaneously went through the day it ended up being a great day!!

Experiencing Kanchanaburi

Today me, Stephani, Ashley, and Erin left for kanchanaburi for our mini holiday vacation. more than anything it was our getaway from the city life. after a long and expensive taxi ride we had made it to the bus terminal. as we were making our way to buy a ticket, a bus pulls up and the attendant swings open the door and yells out, "kanchanaburi?" and we were like YEAH! as we loaded the bus, we agreed how easy that was. the bus ride would have been nice except for the fact that i had to pee since the moment i boarded the bus. it was horrible, cause the bus was taking forever. finally three hours had passed, and we arrived to our desintation. all i could think was, THANK GOD!!! i rushed passed a mob of tuk tuk drivers with on mission to pee!!

After checking in to our guesthouse, we decided to explore the city. After a trial run with renting motorbikes, we decided to be more logical and got bicycles. We had a blast riding around town. We biked down to River Kwai Bridge, and after taking a million pictures decided to go back to guest house. The next day we took a tour to the tiger temple, where we got to get up close to tigers.
The only part that I could have done without, was a tiger peeing on me! We had the chance to walk with a monk and a tiger, but as the tiger walks it marks it's territory. Unfortunately his aim was a little off, and it got on me. It was disgusting!

Everyone told us, we couldn't leave Kanchanaburi without visiting the Erawan waterfall. So the following day we booked a tour to spend half a day there. I have never seen a water like this before; it was absolutely breathtaking!
The erawan waterfall consists of seven tiers and it was such a hike to get to the top. After climbing down we decided to take a swim at tier 3. The water was cold but refreshing and there were a ton of fish nibbling on my feet. They didn't hurt, but it felt really strange. After we went down to tier 2 and there we were met by wild monkeys. Before we started the day the tour guide told us to beware of the monkeys because they often tend to steal peoples belongings. At this tier we decided to swim underneath the waterfall...it was so much fun!!



After our trip to the waterfall we visited the 'death railway' and took train down it. It was really nice to see the countryside. Even though this trip was only four days, it was four days away from Bangkok's busyness and polluation!

'Backpackers Alley'

The highlight of being back in the city has definitely been that I get spend time with my fellow missionary friends. The first day back, they took us to Khoasan Road also known as 'backpackers alley.' We went by river taxi, a form of transportation I've only experience once before. It was good to refresh myself with Bangkok's variety of transportation. Khoasan Road delievered in its reputation of cheap shopping. It also was a total foreginer spot. As me and the other girls were bargining for some clothes it hit; it's not fair. These venders just think of us as just another tourist. But in reality we've been here for five months. We aren't just passing through. We're actually living and working in thailand...living off the thai baht. What seems cheap to the tourist is a weeks worth of meals for us. But I guess it's all part of the experience. 

Back in the big city...

Well I'm back in Bangkok! And let me say, first of all I don't miss it. Although it's nice to come and visit our fellow missionary friends, I don't miss the craziness of the city. Just this morning I was on an overnight train from Ubon. All through night I would wake up scared...the train would be going so fast and then coming to quick halt. It was very unpleasant. And then making our way from the train to the taxi stand was another battle. Tuk Tuk drivers trying  to persuade us to give them our business. But I knew what I wanted: a metered taxi! And I made sure they knew it!! They kept saying, "Taxi in Thailand!" All I could think was, ' duh! we're in Thailand, I've been here for five months, leave me alone!' When Erin and I finally got a taxi we got on our way. The taxi driver seemed to know where we wanted to go, and only ended up getting a little bit lost. But it was okay we made it. Despite his crazy driving maneuvers. I'm just glad to be here and done with traveling. I can't wait to start our holiday adventure!

Concluding Part 1

So I always knew that the time would fly by...but I'm still surprised that it's already Christmas time. At the beginning of every month I think....'wow I can't believe it's already a new month' and then before I know it, the month is over! Sometimes it's really incomprehensible. 

In a few days, Erin and I will be leaving for Bangkok to begin our Christmas vacation. We've been counting down this date since the beginning of December and now that it's actually here I'm even more anxious. For many reasons, one being we get to hang out with our fellow missionary friends; we always have blast together. hehe ;] Second, Erin's family will be visiting. A little piece of home in Thailand, even if it's just for a week is super. And finally embarking on this vacation means we are half way. I'm excited for the chance to begin our second half of living here and at the same time excited that after a few months home will be in sight. So many things to look forward to, I can hardly contain myself. 

Elementary Teacher? I think not...

The experience in Thailand so far has been amazing, even though half the time I have no idea what I'm doing. At times teaching is challenging, especially teaching ESL. But for the most part I enjoy it. But I will say teaching children is not my thing. I've always wanted be a teacher and I've always wanted to be a high school English teacher. With my situation here, I've been teaching all different ages. This term I acquired a children's beginners class. For the first week, things were great. But lately I feel like I don't have any control. Part of the problem is their ages. My class consists of two eleven year olds, a seven year old, a four year old, and a three year old. I don't really have any problems with the two older ones, but the younger kids are a different story. Especially the three year old, he is just too young to be in a classroom setting; therefore he distracts the others kids which leads to my mental breakdown of frustration. It's a one day at a time kind of thing, I go into the classroom with that mindset. I want the majority of the children to learn all that they can, and I pray that I can handle the frustration.