Oh, Thai Babies!!!

Well, I guess it's been quite a while since I wrote on this thing, so maybe it's time for an update, eh? Well, I'm living in Chiang Mai and teaching Kindergarten English. So far, things have been kind of slow, I don't really do that much. I'm a 'shadow' to one of the kindgarten teachers, and have been feeling pretty useless... I just watch. Which is good, I've been learning a lot about how to teach young children, and I get lots of hugs, and the kids say good morning to me every morning, and they're all SOOOOO cute, but I just wish I could do my own thing sometimes.
For awhile, the homesickness was REALLY bad (most of my trip, actually...) and I was being a completely different person. Someone I didn't know I was capable of being, and though I have fond memories of the past 3 months, I realize that for most of it, I was a very very different person... I wasn't the person I want to be, nor was I the person that most people KNOW me to be. So, that was hard... but now I'm feeling a LOT more like myself, laughing a lot more, starting to feel comfortable being here. It's starting to feel like home, and that's a good feeling. I'm learning my way around, getting more familiar with the area and such. I rented a motorcycle for a week, and have been driving that around, though I haven't explored as much as I wish I had, I have gone further than I usually would, and hopefully tomorrow before I return it, I'll get to the mall and the grocery store, so I know how to get there without calling a taxi! I'm planning on buying a motorcycle after a couple of paychecks! WHAAAAT!?!??! haha. So cool.
Sunday was what's called "Sports day" for my school, so they rent out this MASSIVE stadium, and they have cheer leaders, and drummers and crazy costumes and... it's INSANE, and they race, they have relay races and 800 meter races and, it's nuts. I thought I was going to hate being there, but it was actually kind'a fun to watch them all... they are SOOOOO fast! It's unreal. I was NEVER fast like that... haha. I was like the slow kid that always got picked last in gym class. But they're ALL fast!
So, as of now, things are going well. I'm learning. I spend a LOT of time alone, which I'm starting to be okay with... I think. I get frustrated all the time because I haven't been trying very hard with my Thai, because it's so hard... and so much easier just to speak English, and speak to English speaking people... which is stupid, because I'm in THAILAND, and I love Thai people, I'm just afraid of looking like a moron, maybe? I don't know.
I got asked to start tutoring two Korean kids this month, which is really exciting... and kind of scary! I've never tutored anyone, so, we'll see how that goes. But, I think it will be good for me! I'll have something to WORK on, and work for. I'm also in charge of the next 2 weeks lesson plans, Winter, and Air. But, I really only have to do 2 lesson plans, because one of them will be handwriting, so I don't have to plan much for that... just make them write a C, and color a car. Anyway, I'm in about knee deep so far. Part of me wishes that I could've just dived in, but maybe taking it slow is better in the long run. It's really given me the opportunity to observe someone that knows what they're doing, and to note things I like about the way she does things... and things I will want to do differently. And that's important. I wouldn't have known where to start... but now, I'm ready to get going on SOMETHING.
I think this week I'll buy a bicycle, because this whole weight loss thing just isn't happening! haha. Thailand has become a lot more "westernized" than it was when I was here before. Actually, I think I just lived in a less touristy area before... I have access to ice cream, starbucks, all of it is like a 10 minute walk away, so naturally, I walk it. haha. But, I will do better, I have to. HAVE to.
Alright, I miss you all, but it doesn't hurt as much anymore, which is good. Write me though? Okay.

Just some pictures...

Monkey on my LEG!!!
And my first day as a teacher... a HOT teacher... haha. The rest of these pictures are just dancing, good times, laughing and one from the top of a BEAUTIFUL temple in Krabi that I'm quite proud of!









Things are good... I will write more later, but I'm homesick lately, seeing as how my birthday is monday. It's just a really lonely time, that's all. BUT, I'm doing my best to have a blast, and succeeding for the most part. I hope all of you are doing well. I miss you all, every single day.

Life is Peachy

Oh goodness, where do I even BEGIN! What a crazy crazy few weeks it's been. I just finished my travels and am now in Chiang Mai. Last weekend was spent on an island called Koh Pang-Gnan where they have what's called the "full-moon" party, which is a massive alcohol fest, basically. You get a bucket, which is a bucket about the size of a small sand-bucket (that's what it IS actually), and they fill it with ice, an entire bottle (the mid-sized kind) of alcohol... your choice, you can have Thai whiskey, vodka, tequila... you name it, soda of your choice (if they have it) and/or redbull... and you drink it. SO, basically, it becomes about 20,000 SMASHED people-- most of them attempting to have sex with anything that walks (don't worry, I wasn't one of them...) haha. It was a good time, I drank too much, but now I'm sobering up and starting to feel better (it's almost thursday...) As much fun as I had, I was glad to leave and get a proper shower! mmm.
As I said, I am now in Chiang Mai, and I will start teaching, officially on monday. I have to be in at 7am tomorrow... a lovely little Thai woman offered to show me around the school and everything, which was really nice of her. And then at 8:30 I have to meet with some guy named Norman. I was supposed to meet with the dean of the English department today, but I showed up and he was in Bangkok, which was nice. haha. So, this wonderful woman took me under her wing, and has said she will take care of me and make sure I'm okay. She's lovely. Her name is (you ready for this?) Hu Thai Won. I just kind'a stared at her the first time she said it.. haha. But she's so nice. She's 53 and has 2 sons, 25 & 26 and... I'm glad she was there.
I'm staying at a guest house in Chiang Mai, near the mote which is pretty central. I'm in an almost completely Thai area, which is great cause I'll get to work on my Thai-- which has improved SO much in the past 8 weeks! YAY! The owner's are wonderful and I'm really excited to hang out with them...
Chiang Mai is still the best place on earth, but I don't like being alone. I've been here for 3 full days... alone. I traveled all day Sunday and Monday alone, and I'm just bored and in desperate need of company, but it will come. I was going to put pictures on here, but my computer won't let me... so, again... pictures to come. haha.
Remember, my birthday is in 1.5 weeks! I'll be 22... what the CRAP!

I won't hesitate...

This picture was taken on the last night of the course, a bunch of us went out and had an ABSOLUTE BLAST... and now...

I finished my certification, and after that had 3 weeks to travel (which I am not on week 2 of) so, for the past week.5 I've been bustling about on islands, seeing the most amazing places ever and hanging out with people that I'm growing to love a great deal. Most days I wake up and can't believe how stinkin' lucky I am to have these experiences... seriously.

So, I'm sure most of you know that I'm a HUGE fan of Jason Mraz... my friends and I have had this obsession with the song called "I'm yours" for about 2.5 years and it reminds me of sooo many things and people and moments. This last week I traveled to Phi Phi island with a group of people from my course and one of the bars that we went to played the song "I'm yours" and NOW my entire group is in LOVE with it. It's funny how such random amazing songs can follow you into so many different experiences. So cool. After a few days on Phi Phi we headed to Krabi, where my friend David and I went Kayaking through mangroves. A Monkey sat ON MY LEG (scariest thing ever). The mangroves were beautiful though, I was in awe the entire time.

After Krabi we headed to a very very remote island called Ko Jum, which was AMAZING. Absolutely beautiful. I rode a motorcycle on the BEACH at sunset (yes, I DROVE it. BAM!) and.. seriously, one of the best things ever. I don't have any pictures of this uploaded yet, but we'll get there. Now we're back in Krabi, and planning on heading to some island to go on this 3 day canoeing thing, but we'll see where the wind takes us. Initially I was traveling with 2 other people, Lisa and David, but now Lisa has buggered off, and I won't see her for awhile, so David and I met up with a group of 4 girls... oh, and we picked up a canadian guy on Phi Phi that's tagging along with us too. So, we've got a pretty solid group, which is nice.

I'm still having a rough time with homesickness... I find that the LESS I get online, the less homesick I get. So, I'm trying to keep my internet time to a minimum, but I thought that I should put an update on here. I miss you all a lot. PLEASE take care, and be in touch.

I

In my defense, I'd do it again...

Things in my neck of the woods have been good! I've had my days where I've been down, and thinking "Paige, why the HELL did you do this?" and then I ask myself... "well, the real question is... would you do it again?" and the answer is always "yes, most DEFINITELY" so, then... what's the problem? and the answer to that one is... me. I am the problem, and now... I'm over it.

sweet.

On another note: I have my huge exam tomorrow, that I've probably studied for about an hour for... total. So, I'm flipping out a little, but I'm sure I'll be okay (hopefully). I usually do alright, so we'll see. I would like to get an A, and I'm capable of it but I have no motivation. I'm just ready to get up north and play with babies! MAN. I can't WAIT.
Anyway... I'm going to miss the beach dreadfully though. Good thing I have a 3 week stint of beaching before I start work *wooooord*. Okay, I have to study. I love you and miss you all... everyday.

hakuna mattatta

No worries. Hmmm... if I could master that, I'd be set. What's interesting is that I worry about the things that I shouldn't CARE about and don't worry about the things that I really SHOULD care about. I'm not worried about the massive exam that will determine whether or not I'm qualified to teach English. I'm not worried about the homework, I'm not worried about much. But I worry about whether people that I am only going to be around for a month (2 weeks now) like me or not, when I have people at home that love me more than life... and I'm worried about people that I will probably never see again in my life. I haven't been myself, I've been over sensitive (more than usual) and I've isolated myself at least 4 times a day, while everyone else sits in groups laughing and talking. I just feel so naive with all of these people. They're all older, and they've all been to so many places and through so many things, while I'm sitting here, a stupid 21 year old girl that's insecure in who she is and is just here because she didn't know what else to do... I feel out of place, which isn't atypical of me, but it is stupid because... well, none of these people know me. I'm not certain that I even know me, so how could anyone else?
On a brighter note: This weekend I went to an island called Koh Yao Noy, which is exactly what Thailand should be. Palm trees, ocean and peace. It was absolutely GORGEOUS. I rented a motorcycle and drove all over the island (scary, I know, but I did really well!) And i had a blast! The ferry rides were probably my favorite part though... being on a motorised long boat in the middle of the ocean, seeing all of these massive islands in the distance... mountains that barely find their way out of the ocean. It is beautiful. The sky in Thailand seems so much bigger than anywhere else. I decided that it's because there is a freedom about Thailand that you can't find anywhere else... and because there aren't as many massive buildings, but I like the other explaination better. haha.
Anyway, Things are okay, you could even say great because the good definitely outweighs the bad... but, I have been homesick... I have been sick... but I have also been here, which is the best place to be. ever.

well well well. I guess it's about time that I updated this thing huh? So much is happening and so quickly that I"m not really sure where to begin. I'm pretty sure that very very few people bother to read this... they just send me emails asking me to repeat everything, lol, but that's okay.
Well, this week has been awesome! We started teaching, first we observed teachers in action.. monday and tuesday and then on wednesday we taught our first lesson. I think I did really well. I was pretty proud of myself. I made the students laugh, was able, with some difficulty, to communicate my points. The tough thing is that even if I did speak Thai, I wouldn't be able to in the classroom. It's required that we use only english to communicate, which makes things really difficult. Yesterday we had our first Thai lesson in the same format, all in Thai, and I understand now how hard it is to understand what the hell we're saying. haha. But it was helpful, though I already knew what we learned.
I've made some friends, and am laughing quite a bit. I haven't been myself completley, but I'm getting there.
I have a cold that is NO FUN, particularly since several people went out last night, and I couldn't because I was snotting all over the place. (gross). But you can bet that my little butt went to the beach yesterday and laid in the sun (I even used sunscreen!!). Anyway, I'm keeping busy and trying not to get too sick, though it's a tendency of mine. Alright, let me know what's going on with all of you! I miss you!