Hello all, It's been quite a while since my last email and I apologize, Ihaven't really left Bangkok for a couple weeks and didn't feel like Ihad much to write about, but here are a few things that have happened. Two weekends ago I took a trip to Dan Sai, which is almost to theborder of Laos. There was this festival there called Phi Takhon, "theghost festival". An ancient festival dedicated to the rainy seasonwith very early Buddhist roots. Peo...

Alright, about time for another group email.I've started teaching and have found it fun, difficult, sweaty,stressful, and inspiring. I hope that some of the kids areunderstanding what I'm saying and actually learning English, but I cannever tell for sure. I teach 14-18 year olds, and as with anywhereelse on the planet, this age group can be "a test of one's patience".But I cracked the whip today and made some of the Lady-Boys in myclasses sit in the f...

Stephen's Guide to Thailand:Alright, I thought I would explain that glorious thing called 'CultureShock'. Thailand is a little different from the USA and here's how:There's no toilet paper. None. Bathrooms here do not have toilets,either. It's a ceramic sink in the floor with a large hole, whichmeans you get to squat when nature calls. Next to the hole is a largebasin with a small bowl, and a small hose and nozzle. You literallyspray your ass as best you ca...

The Big Mango.I've just moved into my apartment in Bangkok, it's quite a sight tobehold. When it comes to roughing it, Bangkok deals it out lavishly.It's kinda like living in a linoleum prison cell that smells like atennis shoe that just came out of the oven, swarming with mosquitoes.Not to mention my bed is a piece of particle board with two blanketsdraped over it, I guess they call in a mattress.Alright, rewind to Ban Phe. So I was teaching at a Buddhist mona...