New blog entry just because I can!

So last Thursday, had my day at school, with everyone doing tests, and me sitting around planning lessons/writing blogs/listening to Scott Mills podcast, as is becoming a daily activity now! After school, went to Pi Ni's house, along with all the other teachers. They had big marquees up, loads of food and drink, all being made by the women in her extended family, with people everywhere (probably wondering who the farang in their house was), and big speakers and stuff ready for a party. Basically, it was 100 days since her older sister died, which they celebrate with the monks and a party.. That's about as much as I know, but it seemed like a big event!

Friday, I did have to invigilate exams, but the day went quite quickly, and managed to read lots of my book in between giving out papers and collecting them in! Left school early again, too!

At the weekend, the others were all away, but I stayed in Prakhonchai. On the Friday night, me and Alex had a beer at Mr Kom's, before being joined by Kru At - we all went to a little party at Jeans' house, who is a teacher at another school in Prakhonchai. Him and his sister have a really nice house, near the swimming pool (apparently 2 years ago, it was all rice fields in that area, but now it's a massive residential area). Had a barbecue, so good food, beers, music, with friends - most of them play basketball together, and they'd had a match, so that was the reason for the party I think. It got a bit chilly in the evening, and even had to borrow a coat to wear! (Not sure how often Thai people even have a need for coats, and why they even own them, but hey!)

Saturday, I watched a film, did my washing, treated myself to pie and mash at 'Coffee Corner' (the farang restaurant), caught up with my journal. In the evening, went for dinner with Kru At, Wit, Wave and Rung (Wave's mum/Wit's wife). Then, Sunday, was even less eventful than Saturday, but always enjoy a bit of an easy weekend, just relaxing!

Monday morning, I woke up to the chickens being chased by the dogs, and the cockerel going for it at 4am, and couldn't get back to sleep! Always random things going on in Thailand...

Anyway, this week, I've been teaching about ordering food at a restaurant to the older ones, and describing appearance to the younger ones. There's not many variations in class though, with the majority of girls having "short, straight, black hair!" so I have to print pictures for examples! Also, this week, Pi A has moved upstairs to the English office with me, so she can practise speaking with me more, which is quite sweet! And she wants to go for lunch with me everyday too!

Had a few more evenings learning new Thai words with Mr Kom, and Wednesday, there was quite a group of us there! A few new people, and a few old favourites. Thai people laugh a LOT, so it's always fun meeting new people, and even better if they can speak just a bit of English, so you can vaguely understand what's going on!

Then, Thursday was my birthday! I woke up and had a couple of cards to open, as well as balloons, banners and some goodies outside from my friends in Prakhonchai, then headed to school. My classes knew it was my birthday, so both my lessons started with a rendition of their funky version of 'happy birthday to you', along with clapping, which was lovely! They seemed very excited by it too, but they're always happy anyway, so it was really nice.

In the morning, I'd heard Pi A talking to the students in 5/3 about my birthday (I understand enough Thai to get the basis of it - 'wan ni'...'wan ker'... 'kru Nic'.... - today... birthday ... teacher Nic!) and something "top secret"! Haha. After lunch, she told me to go and sit in the office, and wait for her. A little while later, she came and sat with me, and all of 5/3 students came in with a cake for me, singing! So sweet of them! And then one of the girls, said something like "we wish you very happy because we love you"! So cute. We then had some photos, and between us, we ate all the cake, and some meatballs they'd bought too.

Got a lift home early, and went swimming in the afternoon, because it was super hot and humid this week! On the walk back, saw a herd of cows walking down the middle of the road, being herded up by a man on a moped (only in Thailand), then saw Jew (apparently not spelt Dew!), who offered to give us a lift home despite driving the other way, and us being soaking wet!

In the evening, we had a couple drinks, before heading over to Baan Peet restaurant, as is customary for a special occasion! Had Thai food, and ate Thai style, sharing everything, and a few of our Thai friends popped in as the night went by. Had more cake and singing too! A few of us stayed till about 12.30am, and was a nice chilled out, but fun evening! The restaurant is normally really full, but there were a couple of wedding parties in town, so everyone was there apparently! (Yes, everyone really does know everyone!)

Friday, I was a bit tired from the late night. Highlight of the day was when I taught LD - I'd given them a worksheet to complete, of bodyparts, and then they had to do a wordsearch if they finished. Mek (Cloud) was very keen to do the wordsearch, and at the end of the class, he asked me something in Thai, but I didn't understand. So he drew a picture of a house on the board, and drew an arrow. He was asking if he could take it home with him to finish. So cute!!

Then in the late afternoon, me and Alex headed over to the private school where Bomb (and Kru At) works, and his parents are the directors. Really nice school! We saw Wave, so went to say hello, but he looked so confused that we were at his school, and his friends ran away!!

Anyway, Bomb set up the projector in the lecture theatre type room, so we could watch the Australian Open semi-final with Murray v Federer. It was like being at the cinema! Don't think he realised how long we might be there watching it... the match was 4 hours!! He brought us snacks too! Very nice. We're headed back tomorrow for the final, seeing as Murray (eventually!) won!

I was going to go to Khon Kaen with some of the others this weekend, but it is a long way for just a day, and seeing as I wanted to be here for the tennis, decided to stay. Plus the fact, when I woke up to decide whether to go, it was tipping it down with rain, which put me off... The first time I can remember hearing/seeing rain since November...?!

A lie in was much appreciated. Then walked to the Post Office (few stares along the way, not sure if that was because I had my shorts on and my white legs were on show, or because I look disease-ridden with the number of mosquito bites I seem to have got in the last 48 hours!), on the off chance that my birthday parcels might have arrived. And they had!! Very exciting! And Yasmin and Niall had left a birthday present for me too, which was sweet - they had come here on their way to Khon Kaen with Sylvia, but they left early, so never caught them!

Anyway, pizza treat tonight I think... Bets on another lazy Sunday tomorrow too! Followed by tennis. Fingers crossed for another British win! :D

Love to all, and thanks especially to everyone who sent birthday chocolates/sweets, cards (even if they didn't make it jjust yet, I know your sentiments were there, and it's only the fault of the international postal system!), texts, messages etc etc! xxxxx