Happy New Year!

     Its a new year and a new semester.  Its amazing that I'm halfway through my school year now.  My little kitties are growing and are quite popular with the neighborhood kids.  Unfortunately they haven't yet figured out that if they don't want to be puppets, they should run to the roof when the kids come to play.  Smokey has made friends with a girl cat in the neighborhood who thinks she lives here.  Ya Ya has made it clear that she doesn't like her.  Ya Ya told another cat in the neighborhood the same thing.  Funny thing is, although they are at least twice her size, they know she means business.
      I'm feeling pretty settled here in Chiang Mai.  I've begun meeting more neighbors.  I have a pretty family centered neighborhood.  Its interesting the freedom that the parents give their kids though.  In the states, parents would never let their child hang out in a stranger's house.  But the kids in my neighborhood come in-apparently walking right in is normal to them, and sometimes they come on their own.  I only see their parents if they want their child to come.  But mostly the parents just call and the kids return home.  I'm trying to use the little thai that I've learned so I can remember it better.  But they don't always understand me.  Some of them speak some English though.  I think they feel comfortable with me.
    Just recently I was given a great offer.  My professor from grad school asked me if I wanted to do an article with her on special ed in Thailand for a journal.  So very cool!  Not to mention great experience.  I can't wait to see how it turns out. Keep you posted.

Traditional flowers presented to the teachers at the ceremony

Secondary teachers being presented with flowers

Secondary teacher presentation-the 4th graders are coming in on their knees

    Last week was teacher appreciation week.  The Korean parents brought us lunch one day.  The PTG brought snacks another and the Thai parents brought lunch another day.  The weekend ended with a half day which included an assembly.  In the assembly, the teachers were presented with a traditional bunch of flowers in banana leaves brought to us by the fourth graders who walked on their knees.  It is a sign of respect when someone walks on their knees.  Its done in the temple as well.  We had short little conversations with our 4th grade presenter and gave them a blessing.  They walked off-on their knees.