So another 2 weeks have passed, and although last time I wrote, I said "back to normal", that wasn't the case! Things always change round here!

So the Friday after New Year, I didn't have to go to school - so I went to Anuban Prakhonchai (the Primary school) for the afternoon, where they were having a teacher sports day. Basically, a load of small Thai children running around and doing what they want, while watching the teachers all playing sports! Tug of war, football, volleyball, and the boules-type-thing (forgot the name) all going on, in the baking hot sun. Meanwhile, there are hyper Thai kids running up to me saying "hello, hello, hello, hello!" and "shake hands, shake hands", and then I proceed to have a line of kids wanting to shake hands with me, which they find hilarious! So funny. The odd one will then ask me what my name is. Because they're younger than my students, I think they're yet to get to that age where they're shy and worried about being wrong, so they are all intrigued about a new farang in town!

That evening, I was invited to join all the teachers from their school for their New Year's party. It went much the same as the one at my school the week before. We all sat round and had buffet food, then there were some prizes for the winners of the sports day, and they gave out presents to all the teachers. Some of the teachers were on stage singing and playing music, while the rest of us are (attempting!) Thai dancing! Oh, and how can I forget to mention that at this point, we are all in cowboy fancydress. For me, this went as far as a checked shirt, but there were some good hats, and holsters, and even boots going on (though quite who has a need for cowboy boots in this weather, I'll never know).

That weekend, we had a quiet one - I think the highlight was going to the pizza place in Prakhonchai for a french bread pizza, which was incredible! We also got taken to a snooker place in town. When we got there, it looked a bit dodgy, down a little alleyway in the market, but it was quite a good find! Snooker is not really the game for me, because the table is just too big (!), but it was nice to find somewhere different to go, and we always get a few looks when we turn up somewhere new!

The following week, was a relatively ordinary week at school, except missing a few lessons for exams (after 11 weeks teaching at this school, there are a couple of classes I have still only seen 4 times, and that includes the introduction lesson, so needless to say they've not learnt much from me!). More Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Simon Says and asking for directions - mostly the students are really good at this.

Wednesday was Sam's birthday, so in the evening, Kru At took us out for dinner, to Ban Peet, which is probably the nicest restaurant in Prakhonchai, and is always busy. We normally have steak when we go there! Some of our Thai friends came along - Mr Wit, Wave, some school girls whose father is friends with Kru At (Beam and Pam - their English was quite good too), Mee, his wife and 5 month old baby Almon (who is adorable!), Foon, and some others too. It's always good when we get a load of us together, and we had a nice evening. After, we headed home and I was getting ready to go to bed, when I get a knock on my door - it was the Thai guys ready to go out - they wanted to go to Nang Rong to party! I was already in my pyjamas, and had work the next day, so didn't join them, but love the fact that we have friends who don't all speak English but want to include us in everything!

Anyway, that week, on the Friday, some of our TTT friends (other TEFL teachers in Thailand) came to visit us, so we went to the snooker place again, and had a few drinks. I was developing a cold, so went to bed early-ish, as the following day, we were to have a long day.

On the Saturday, we were heading to the zoo, so went to the market to get some food for breakfast. I can't remember the last time I heard the word "farang" so many times in such a short space of time, and got stared at so much. It was a little intimidating actually, as we aren't used to it quite that much any more - most people in Prakhonchai are used to seeing us about now!

Anyway, we got a bus to Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima), to go to the zoo. The bus was very busy, and some people had to stand or sit on the floor, but I managed to claim a seat! About 2 hours later, we were told to get off. Not knowing where we were, we tried to figure out where to go, asking a tuktuk driver, but in the end, one of the other girls called a friend to speak to him! Eventually, we established that the zoo was about 20km away, and yes, we could get a tuktuk for the day for 1000 baht (split between 4) but that it would take a long time. Basically, it was "children's day" in Thailand, so lots of families would be taking their children to the zoo. I think it was about 2 uncomfortable hours in traffic, 4 of us squished into a tuktuk (Niall sat on the floor, who is over 6 foot tall...), with families sitting in the back of pickup trucks, also stuck in traffic, giving us more stares and giggling! We just wanted to get there!

The zoo was interesting! We got there, and there were people EVERYWHERE. Cars driving round the site, not just in the car park, almost like a safari - I don't think it's meant to be like that, they just ran out of space for people to park their cars! The food wasn't much to go for either, so I opted for some ice cream and crips to keep me going.

Anyway, the zoo: some of the enclosures didn't appear to be very secure! I would have liked if if the fence on the tiger enclosure was a little higher, put it that way! But we saw some good animals - I liked the monkeys and giraffes best.

The journey back to Korat city was not nearly as long as the journey there. But we did a lot of wandering, not knowing where we were! A few tuktuk journeys later, and we had dinner at a restaurant. I had weird twig/chicken salad thing, and some chips (ok, so mostly just the chips). There was a guy singing live music and playing guitar, which was really good though, so that was fun! Some of us eventually went to a club too, where there was a band playing, and dancing. It was fun, and strange to see a few other white people in there too!

We left at about 2am, to go to get a train home. Our 2.31 train eventually turned up at about 3.45...! Me and Alex got off at Buriram at 5.30, then had to find the bus station, where the first bus of the day was at 7am, so finally made it home at 8... Needless to say, I slept most of the day!

In the evening, we went for dinner at Ban Peet again, as they were showing the Man Utd v Liverpool match, which is a big deal in these parts! As the British people in the place, we were definitely the ones who cared the least, which was quite funny! Was a fun night though, and there were quite a few of our friends there.

This week, we have had midterm tests at school, so on Monday I had to invigilate. Interesting when the students have a question! Clearly, I don't understand. But it went ok!

Tuesday, the police came into school to do drug checks on all the students, so no lessons again. I went to teach my class in the afternoon, but only about 10 of them were there, so I asked where everyone was and was told "go home". "Do we have a class then?" "No teacher, no!" Haha. The girls were revising for their tests, and so I tested some of the boys on the periodic table (the only part of their Science book I could read/understand!).

Yesterday was Wan Kru (Teacher's day) - I was originally told I'd have to go to another school and listen to a 3 hour talk on government policy and prizes for teachers, but then was told (luckily!) that it'd be boring for me as I wouldn't understand, so I had a lie in instead.

In the afternoon, all over Prakhonchai, they had sports at each of the schools, between the teachers. I went to watch some football and got chatting to a girl, who speaks really good English because she spent a year as an exchange student in California. Her parents run a private school, and her brother and mum are both English teachers, so I had people to speak to! It's nice to not have to talk in foreigner-speak, and just talk normally. I find myself saying things like "yesterday, we win" instead of "we won" because it's easier for them to understand, but it's so bad because then they learn it wrong!

After, I went for a haircut. I had meant to get one in the morning, but most of the hairdressers were closed - apparently, it's bad luck to get your haircut on a Wednesday though noone can tell me why! Anyway, I went in, and signalled that I wanted it cut, and she started just cutting bits off... no separating, no water, no washing! I was so confused! And then she washed it after it was already cut. Weirdest haircut I've had. But she gave me a head massage while she washed it, and I have less split ends, so I guess it's ok!

In the evening, we went back to Anuban Prakhonchai, where teachers from all the schools in Prakhonchai went for a big party. There were lots of tables all over, and a big stage for the band, as well as lights everywhere. It's quite a big deal apparently! We had some food (though it was a little weird), and there was live music and dancing all night. We saw lots of the teachers we know from our schools, and other people we've met in town, as well as meeting new ones too, so it was good. Had a really fun night! The UK definitely has something to learn - Thailand have realised that teaching is important, and so is morale between colleagues, and so they give us a big party every year!

Today, I turned up to school, expecting to invigilate exams again, but I went to the classroom, and there was another teacher... so I have a free day. Should be lesson planning, but find myself catching up on blogs, and researching travel instead...!

Until next time...... hope you're all enjoying 2013 as much as me xxxx