Thursday, August 21, 2008

Because there's never any time!

Just a few quick notes to hold you over for now:
  • Work is moving along. We ran a teambuilding program for 105 7th- to 12th-graders on Friday. Our hours (and hours) of preparation were more or less squandered by the fact that we were drastically misinformed about the English language aptitude of our students. There may be nothing more exhausting than trying to corral, excite, instruct, and debrief hordes of middle schoolers who don't really know what you're saying and don't really want to try anything you ask them. Oh, and since this was at the American-Pacific International School, speaking Thai was outlawed.
  • Julia is in town, spending three weeks in Chiang Mai between meditating in southern Thailand and learning to be a yoga instructor in India. It's great to have her here - she's been in Thailand for quite a while, but we both know such different parts of the country. She teaches me about Bubble Tea, and I teach her about soda straws. We make a good team.
  • We just got back from a 4-night trip north, to Pai, Soppong, and Cave Lodge, just 3 kilometers from the Burmese border. This trip was really incredible and affected me quite a bit. I have a lot of thoughts that have been jotted in note form, and which I hope to turn into a post when I have some time in the coming days.
  • I bought a motor bike! She's a real beaute - a 10 year-old Honda Dream, with 125cc of unstoppable two-wheeled power. A post on my bike and my current living arrangements whenever more interesting things stop happening. At that time, I'll be holding a bike-naming contest, so get your creative juices ready.
I've spoken with some of you recently, and I've expressed that my only real disappointment thus far with my New Thai Life is that I haven't really had much time to just decompress, process, read, write, reflect, and keep in touch. I'm working on re-prioritizing.

See you back here soon.

4 comments:

  1. Again, I am your best & only commenter!

    Miss you! I just confirmed my days off with my boss for December... Watch out, here I come! Must purchase ticket and decide on itinerary... It is still far away, but I am so psyched! :)

    xoxo

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  2. I comment!
    Ted, I am back early from Mac's because I start yoga teacher training tonight (200+ hours thru December), so I had to smile when I read your post today about Julia. I went to her blog and enjoyed her post about the monastery, please tell her for me!
    Also: I am coming too, with my friend Price!! We are looking at some time in January/February, any time in there that you know is not good for you? Lets email about this. xoxo

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  3. Ted! I'm enjoying the blog! I can't say I'm not jealous of you climbing over there in Thailand.
    Check it -- I'm planning a visit to Nepal in late December to see Lena, and we're thinking a reunion of sorts somewhere in the Thailand/Vietnam area for new year's would be swell. nothing is definite, but I thought I'd give you heads up sooner rather than later.
    keep on rockin',
    J

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  4. congrats on the honda! but i thought italain-made bikes were the thing? i'm uber jealous of you and jules. and regarding the above post, i'm a pro at celebrating the American new year's eve in 'nam & highly recommend the experience :)

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