Back in Thailand

I've been back in Thailand now for 4 days now after spending a month in China.  My cats let me sleep in 1 of those days.  I've been back at work for 2 days now.  I have a new appreciation for what I have here.  China was both a rewarding and challenging experience.  I was ready to go home by the second week because I missed my cats and my space.  In China, I was sharing a small space with 5 girls- 4 of whom were close to 20 years younger than me.  And we didn't speak each other's language.  But they were nice to me and me to them and we tried not to be too loud when people were sleeping.  But I missed having a large bed to myself that didn't move everytime I did.  I missed having my own bathroom with a toilet that flushed.  The one I used for 3 weeks required the user to run water in a bucket while doing business and then dump it in the whole in the floor when finished.  I spent the evenings that i wasn't visiting friends, in the office where there was internet, a flushing toilet and a couch.

Damaris and I- former housemate reunited

I did get to visit my former housemate from when I lived in China 6 years ago.  She had me over 3 times for dinner with her family.  I appreciated the change from the cafeteria food that I usually ate.  The only challenge was getting home as taxi drivers didn't seem to know where the center was.  I also think that they were confused that a foreigner would want to go there at night.  My 2nd to last night in the center, I ended up in a taxi that took me part way and then quit.  Literally wanted me out of the taxi and I had no idea where I was.  Thankfully there was a hotel nearby and helpful staff and I had my English speaking colleagues number with me.  She walked over and walked me back to the center.  Apparently I was quite close.

fun in the office

getting my hair done

Over all, despite nearly cutting my trip short but choosing to stay put and little inconveniences, I did enjoy teaching the kids.  I was there long enough to start building a relationship with them.  Some of them I remember from my trip 4 years ago.  I can't even imagine what's it like to live in a center every day and not see hardly any of the outside world.  The kids do get outings from time to time but not like what the rest of us are used to.  Hopefully many of them will be adopted this year.  There are so many cool kids there.
I'm also appreciative of the directors-Amanda that I worked with and the one who took me to her home on weekends and the other one-Julia was in the room that I shared.  And for the assistant director with his humor.


Hopefully next summer I can plan another trip.  Its much easier to make the trip from Thailand than from America.