An update already!

So at the weekend, the others who I live with went away for the weekend, but I fancied a quiet one, as I had been yet to spend a weekend here in my new hometown! So I got up early on Saturday morning, and went for a walk around the town. Stocked up on some essentials at the supermarket, had a drink, and also did a little bit of shopping!

Then decided to head over to the bus station, and go on a solo adventure to Buriram. I tried to ask the person behind the ticket counter what time the next bus would be, but all I could gather from his was "afternoon" - at the time, it was about 11.20am, so "afternoon" pretty much could have been any time for the rest of the day! Luckily for me, a random man (who I think was another bus driver) came over and asked if he could help, and told me when the next bus was, and where it would leave from! Thai people really are very friendly and helpful, and they always do this when they can, but sometimes there is just too much of a language barrier, and it doesn't work...!

Anyway, I had some time to kill, and was getting a lot of stares at the bus station, so I wandered over the road to a local farang place, and got myself a takeaway pizza for lunch (always exciting when it isn't rice or noodles, even if it is 5 times the price of any other meal!). This is when I spotted the cider in the fridge, but resisted until the next time!

Anyway, got my bus to Buriram successfully and had a wander around. This in itself is a shocker, because people don't walk over here - they ALL have mopeds, and use them to just go a 2 minute walk down the road, so we stand out even more when we walk everywhere! I found an expat place, where they gave me a map, and then just wandered. Saw the university, and a couple of other nice looking buildings (can't read the signs, so never know what they are!), then just went with the flow. Ended up on some random little streets, but always nice to see Thai lifestyle.

Got myself a drink and an icecream, and wandered back to the bus station, where I got on a tuktuk. I showed them the map, and told them I wanted to go to the post office... but it took 2 of them a really long time to figure out where it was.... Anyway, eventually made it to the post office, with the tuktuk half-breaking-down along the way, and making very dodgy sounds! And it was closed. I only wanted to find out how it all works, but no luck, so I got the driver to take me to the market instead. It was quite small, but good to have a little look.

Then I jumped on a songtaew (pick up truck, with seats down either side) to go somewhere else (it was too hot to walk at this point!). I had no idea where it was going, so asked the driver, but knowing that they wouldn't understand much English, I repeated what we get asked every day, everywhere we go: "Where you go?!" You can;t really stop, and tell them, "actually, it's 'where ARE you goING?" Anyway, I decided, just talk like a Thai person, and they'll understand. And they did! So I made it to the Big C safely. Except there was one person on there (I don't know if it was male or female) who did not stop staring at me the whole way - I know I'm interesting round here, but honestly, it gets a bit creepy if you don't look away! I should probably mention than I am the only white girl anywhere I go at this point. There are white (mostly middle-aged) men here, who are mostly married to Thai women, but no white girls.

Got to Big C, which is basically just a big supermarket, and turns out the whole of Buriram were there as well! It was mental! But seeing as I hadn't been to a normal supermarket for a month, decided I'd get some things anyway: a duvet for my bed, some fruit, donuts and cookies. Oh and some fairy lights! I got in line, which didn't seem too organised, but despite there being about 10 people in front of me, I didn't have to wait too long.

Anyway, then got myself another songtaew back to the bus station, and then got a bus back to Prakhonchai. (If you're wondering why the spelling changes every time I write anything Thai, including the town I live in - it's because there is no direct translation from the Thai alphabet to the latin one, so they just write it however they want. This means that even tourist books, road signs etc vary from one to the next!)

Sunday I had a relaxing day at the apartment, and spoke to Mum on the phone in the evening. Was nice just to have a chill day!

Monday back to school and teaching! I have 3 of the bottom sets on Monday, so it's always a bit of a struggle, when I am trying to test out my new lesson plans for the week! Tough crowd and all that.

Tuesday morning, I get to school, only to realise that EVERYONE is wearing yellow - students and teachers. Yellow is the King's colour, and because we have today off (Wednesday) for the King's birthday, they celebrated it at school yesterday. At this point, I should mention that I am wearing black and grey! Haha. Noone told me! (Not that I have any yellow clothes anyway!). Anyway, one of the teachers took me to the front of the assembly with her, and the rest of the teachers, in front of all the students. We are all facing the flags, and the picture of the King, there are some speeches (which I obviously don't understand), and then some music comes on, and everyone starts singing! I just stand there in my black clothes, not singing, but trying to look respectful, while they're singing away in yellow! Never a dull day....

In the morning, in the middle of my 1st lesson (which was quite late anyway, because assembly finished late), I got a call from Khim at IES, to say that we were going to town to set up a bank account. So I missed my second lesson, and went back to Prakonchai to go to the bank. On the journey there, I was introduced to a new member of IES staff (the company we are here with) called Nun - Khim said to me "not a he, not a she"! Apparently in Thai, there are 4 different pronouns, so one for men (he), one for women (she), and then also one for ladyboys and tomboys. Nun is the latter I believe. Interesting though that they actually have a different word to use in these situations!

Anyway, set up our bank accounts, and then had to go back to school. For lunch, a group of teachers were going out to a restaurant, so I went too. This time though, the teacher who normally looks after me wasn't there, and neither was the other one who speaks a bit of English! So it's just me and Thai people, but we get by, and it was quite nice!

Then, last night we went to the pizza place for food, and I had a cider! :)

Today is the King's birthday, so we have a day off school. Going to see if there's anything going on in town, then later, we are going to a historical site nearby, called Phanom Rung... will keep you updated!

Much love to all xxx