Christmas in Thailand

Its amazing how much time flies.  Its been 5 months now since I arrived.  Another 2 months and I will have been out of the US the longest I've ever been.  People say its hard to tell where time goes here because seasons are not so well defined.  Its cold in the morning and evening here but still can get up to 90 during the day and it can start when the sun comes up.  It is very cold being a motorbike driver in the mornings however.  I was excited to find mittens.  However my Christmas vacation officially started 4 days ago, so I won't be able to try out my mittens for 2 weeks.  For Christmas break, I actually didn't make any official plans.  I went to my first wedding in Thailand on Friday.  It was for my coworker and all the staff were invited.  It was a nice, small gathering.

House of Hope kids singing for us

On Christmas eve, I was invited to another coworker's house for an Indian/American feast.  It was nice being able to meet some new people and enjoy good food although I seriously ate too much.  Afterwards, most of us headed to the international church for their 11pm candelight service.  The Christmas choir that I have been a part of, reprised one of the songs that we had sung the weekend before at the church.  The service reminded me a lot of the Methodist church although we took our candles outside and sang carols around the tree there.  My regular church had service this morning and afterwards we headed over to the children's home House of Hope for home cooked thai food and gift exchange.  It was more like all the gifts were numbered and we picked a number when our name was called.  Then we got the gift with that number.  No gift swapping or fighting.  I didn't unwrap my gift til I got home.  It is totally customary to open your gifts on your own and not in front of your giver.  I got a nice glass pitcher with 4 matching glasses.  Definitely an addition to my dishes.
Its weird being in a country where Christmas is not everywhere.  I saw some people working today and businesses are still open.  Another reminder that I'm in Thailand is that I drank coconut juice through a straw straight out of the fresh coconut.  Definitely tropical land!

Mona was determined to open the coconut and get the fruit out.  She did succeed.

I'm halfway through my school year now.  So hard to believe.  In 5 more months, I will be back in the states.  I am anticipating only spending June in the states and then returning to Thailand and hopefully getting a little traveling in.
Merry Christmas or Suk San Wan Christmas!