Run, Archer, Run!!!

Teacher Archer races against thin air to the temple on the mountain in Hua Hin, Thailand.



He's so far zoom doesn't even work!!!

I Was On a Mission

...A recruiting mission.

I tried recruiting 4 or 5 of my closest friends to come live and work in Thailand. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. But then, just as I was about to give up, my long lost childhood friend Veronica asked me about coming over. And within the next month she'll be here. This is excellent news!

Mission: Completed

Soi 38

Sukhumvit Soi 38 (Street 38) is a famous street in Bangkok; it's even referenced in the Lonely Planet guidebooks. Soi 38, directly outside of my apartment complex, comes alive at night when over 20 vendors serve Thai food favorites: fried rice, mango and sticky rice, pad thai, spicy papaya salad, fried noodles, smoothies... you name it- it's here. Almost all dinners are less than 50 THB... which is about $1.50. The food here is so good that I don't ever want to eat from any other street vendor in Bangkok.

Heaven on Earth

Literally. Koh Samet is my favorite place in the world, even when it rains for the entire weekend, or a firework explodes in my hand. The island, unlike many other "touristy" locations in Thailand, is untouched. Only part of one road is paved, and the rest are winding, pothole-filled, muddy roads traveled by a few motorbikes. The bungalows are cheap, the locals are friendly, the sand is white, the water is gorgeous, and the food is true island Thai food.



Ocean view during my beach-front breakfast

Tid Bit on Thai Culture

It is really bizarre when my students have birthdays.

The conversations go something like this...

3rd grade students: Teacher, happy birthday me. Gift.
4th grade students: Today is my birthday. This is for you.

And then I'm handed a notepad, a gel pen, or (my favorite) a boutique, made to order cake with cream and fresh blueberries.

Why am I getting the gifts? It's your birthday, not mine.

Come to find out, in Thai culture, when it's your birthday you give everyone else gifts. When you go out for dinner or drinks on your birthday... you pay.

Now I've got to think of something cool to give my students for my birthday coming up on the 23rd!!!

Go explore the mountains,
The jungles and the seas.
You'll find new life in all the things,
Your eyes have never seen.
Don't forget its beauty;
Embrace its every scent.
For after all is gone you will
Decipher what it meant.
Pennies grow to dollars,
And dollars turn to dirt.
When you can't predict the future,
You'll never know their worth.
Constant climbing, reaching,
Always trying to overcome.
But when you finally stop you'll see
You've only just begun.