Hello all!

Wednesday appears to have become update day for me!

Currently sat at school, awaiting Loi Krathong celebrations but it's absolutely pouring with rain, so not sure how that will go!

Anyway, will start where I left off. Last wednesday, we were going to a birthday party. We went to meet our friend Kru Ed (Kru means teacher, and I'm not sure if Ed is his name, but that's what it sounds like!) at the place opposite our house, where we always go for a drink with him. We had a drink there, and the birthday boy was nowhere to be seen. Turns out he had been away in Ubon Ratchatani all week, and just got back, so the party wasn't really prepared. Anyway, it worked out ok, because he took us out for dinner and drinks (and paid for everything!).

We got a lift down to the lake, to a nice restaurant called Ban Peet (we're going back there tonight for Loi Krathong) - they do steaks, which went down well with us Brits! And had some chicken nugget type things to start, and some fruit, and Kru Ed kept telliing us we need to order more because we're not paying! We didn't though. Instead, they kept the beers and cocktails flowing. We also sang a traditional 'Happy Birthday' to the guy whose birthday it was, with a cake and candles. There was a bit of a murmur when it got to the line where we had to say his name, haha! His nickname is Thai for 'dirt' and it's something like "foon" but not 100%!

The evening was good though, and we got introduced to lots of people - pretty much everyone in Prakonchai is an ex-student of Kru Ed! Then we all got a lift back on the back of mopeds. I opted to get a lift with Dirt's brother, seeing as he was the one who hadn't been drinking!

...I stopped writing, so it's now Friday and I have more to write! I'll continue where I left off...

The rest of the week went by, teaching and whatnot! My teacher wasn't in school on Thursday, as her brother-in-law is a policeman and had been called to Bangkok to help out as there were protests against the government. Anyway, this meant she had to help out with her family, and so I was at work without her. It was good, because it meant I spent time with other teachers - there's one (who's Ni's cousin), Rid, and she always comes to speak to me, and when we go for lunch, they all make sure they order me food which isn't spicy! It's a big thing here - apparently if Thai food isn't spicy, then it's not delicious... but their "not spicy" is still pretty hot for me!

Friday night, I stayed in, so we all went for farang food (I had quesadillas!) and enjoyed a bit of a lie-in in my own bed, for the first time since being here in Prakonchai! On Saturday, Ni came to pick me up in the morning, as she'd invited me to spend the day at her house, as I had no other plans.

I got in her car, and she had her niece (Sanwa) and nephew (Title) with her - she's single, so spends a lot of time helping out with her sisters' kids! Anyway, got to her house, which is lovely, in a little village nearby. It's quite big too - they seem to all have good jobs. When I got there, her 2 sisters, brother-in-law, another 2 nieces and her mother were all there. Their English was quite good compared to a lot of Thai people, but obviously conversation is still quite limited! They're all lovely though.

Pi Ni's 3 week old niece (Sin) had apparently been up all night crying, and kept her parents awake, so we had to make these things from banana leaves, rice and banana, which are then tied together with elastic bands. These are then boiled, at a ceremony, held by a local elder man, and this gets rid of the evil spirits. This way, she should sleep at night. It's strange to see the mix of these old beliefs, alongside the modern ways of life (with wifi, smartphones, and flatscreen TVs), but really nice too.

I went out with Rid on her moped, and Sanwa, and we had a little tour of the village, and then got some lunch. Bought some Somtam (papaya salad - as always, one without chillies for me!) and I tried an insect... surprisingly quite nice! While we were out, I saw a monk in the back of a pick up truck, with a buddha statue. He was being driven around the village, and people were praying at the back of the truck, and giving their donations to the temple. Quite a different site to what you get back home, but their religion is very respected over here (particularly by the older generations), and so I guess if you can't get to the temple, that's the next best thing!

Anyway, went back for lunch, where we all sat round on the floor in the living room. They put out lots of different dishes, and share everything, and apparently they always eat on the floor. Not because they don't have tables and chairs, but just because this is the Thai way. It was really nice, everyone eating together!

I spent the afternoon at their house too, and got to hold the baby, which they took photos of - one for the family album, the baby with the farang (white girl!). Very cute, and she didn't cry at all, but she did then wee on me, so was perhaps a little too relaxed!

Watched a bit of Thai Harry Potter, while the little ceremony was going on, and then headed home, after it stopped raining!

Saturday night, a group of us all headed over to Nang Rong, where there are 7 other English teachers, so we stayed with them. We went out for dinner, and did it Thai style, ordering LOADS of thai dishes, and digging in. It was lovely, and we got some chips alongside it too, which went down well! Had some drinks back at their apartment, and a quick game of 'Ring of fire' before heading to bed!

Sunday, went for lunch at headed back to Prakonchai.

This week, I've been teaching shopping conversations, and one lesson in particular, which I loved! I gave half the class some pictures of food, and the others a shopping list, and they had to go out and get the right things. The class got really into it, and when I asked them to do a role play, they were speaking in English, even if I wasn't listening (generally, they tend to only do it, if I'm hovering over them!), and fighting over the last carrot! Very funny.

Wednesday this week was Loi Krathong, as I said. It's a day when they say thank you to the river goddess for providing for the fields and the forests, and say sorry for any pollution caused by humans. It's celebrated on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, at the end of the rainy season, when there is plenty of water. They all make (or buy) little boats made from banana trees and leaves, decorated with flowers, candles and incense, and put them on the water. You have to make a wish for a boy/girl apparently, and also you put in some money, and some of your hair/nails, so that the evil spirits leave you.

All quite exciting! Wednesday morning, I spoke about it on stage at assembly, in English. Had a couple lessons in the morning, then just before lunch, I was in a lesson, and 3 people in uniforms strolled in along with the Head of Academics at school! Luckily, I was half expecting people from the labour office in Buriram to be checking up on me anyway (about my work permit) but it was all very odd. They took photos of me teaching, and then stopped the class, so they could have a group picture with me! Noone spoke English, and the teacher who does, wasn't in, so I had to call someone from IES to speak to them, as they were asking about my visa... Turns out, it was all fine though!

After lunch, we didn't have any lessons (though I had frees anyway!) - first we went over to look at each class's gra-tongs (the decorated boats for the river). They were really beautiful!

Then there is a beauty contest, with one representative from each class. I was one of the judges! Except that I couldn't understand them, so couldn't judge on 'personality' and 'talent' so just copied one of the other teachers, and judged on 'beauty' and 'costume' instead! Haha! After, all the students have to line up in front of their favourite entrant, to see who is the most popular...

Anyway, after, we had to listen to a monk speech for a bit (not that fun for me, having no idea what he's chatting about), and then went to put all the gra-tongs on the little lake by the school entrance. It was really lovely to see, with all the flowers and candles! There had been really heavy rain in the afternoon, but luckily, it stopped for this.

That evening, there were more Loi Krathong celebrations! We went out to meet Kru Ed, and had some drinks at our normal spot. We set off some chinese lanterns here, which was really cool. Then headed down to the lake, where there were fairy lights everywhere! It looked really beautiful, and there were so many people and families, all putting their gra-tongs on the lake, and setting off their own lanterns. There were also fair ground games and rides, and water boxing - where boys are on a wooden bar above the lake, and fight until someone falls in!

We went for dinner at Ban Peet, with Kru Ed, and his friend Wit, and Wit's soon Wave. Wave was introduced to us as "a lovely boy. He's quite fat, but strong and plays sport". He really is very cute, but he does eat a LOT for a 9 year old boy! So funny!

Anyway, nearly upto date! Today is Friday, and I am having another relaxed weekend! Normally Friday is my busy day, but today the M3 and M6's (year 3 and 6) have tests, so I only had 2 lessons. Should be planning for next week really!

We just had a good lunch put on for us - or rather, for the teachers who are invigilating the tests - but I got in on it as well. Oh, and there's a new teacher today, so I am not the newbie anymore (except that the new teacher is Thai, so I think she'll fit in a bit more!).

Anyway, that's all for now.... Tomorrow is December, and I'm yet to feel even a tiny bit Christmassy! Very strange being in the hot weather at this time of year! (And being in a Buddhist country probably isn't helping...) xxx