This week was full of the same school stuff.  I struggle to get the lesson plans done for next week. Then it’s Science Day so half my classes are canceled for that day.  A lot of my lesson plans for the next week get done because the class was canceled this week and I just move the lesson plan back.  Science day involved a lot of class plays about science or songs or experiment demonstrations.  There was also a fashion show that didn’t appear to have anything to do with science.  There were boys dressed like girls dancing like working girls, there were girls in dresses made from garbage bags, boys and girls dressed in traditional Thai dress, a guy in his military clothes with a girl in a plaid shirt, a girl in a hoochie mama dress and one Michael Jackson.  As usual, I sat there not quite understanding what was going on, but they were having a fabulous time and that’s fun to watch!

I had planned to take a day off work in a couple weeks to go get my China visa.  When I was talking with Noi about it, she said no, I had to go next week.  Next week is Sports Day and there will be no classes for 3 days so I have to go then.  So, I went to Pat to see if she could help me get a message to the monk that I would have to postpone his last two classes.  As usual, all of this is happening at the last moment.  As usual, when I tell Pat, her response is “up to you”.  No, Noi didn’t paint the picture of me having a choice.  It’s not up to me.  Once again, I get two different stories from two different people.  So now I’m stressing to pull everything together to be able to go to Chaing Mai this weekend so I can be there bright and early Monday morning with the Chinese embassy opens.  But, it needs to be done and I’m glad I’m able to take any days off work to do this.  And it will be one stress off my mind once it’s done.  In order to get the visa I have to show proof of booked hotel rooms and flights, but I’m not guaranteed a visa.  And of course, the hotel and flights are not refundable. It usually takes 4 days to get a visa, but you can pay extra to have it done faster.  You have no idea if they will let you pay to expedite it until you get there and then you don’t know if it will be same day or 3 days or no visa for you.  This could be a very expensive weekend so I will be glad to have it done and not sitting in the back of my brain.  Yes, Sports Day is 3 days long.

This morning I planned to get up early, do laundry and pack for Chiang Mai.  No matter what time I set my alarm for, the birds wake me up at least an hour before that and I lay there trying to convince my body to go back to sleep.  Laundry done.  Packing done.  I saw Ton as I was walking to take the garbage out.  He is the Chinese teacher I use to share an office with.  He is always so sweet.  Sometimes I think he is hitting on me, but I can’t tell.  Someone told me they thought he was gay.  It’s hard to tell who’s gay since most Thai men have a lot of feminine energy.  He asked if I wanted to do something today.  I’m not sure if he was asking me to do something with him or if he was asking what am I doing today.  I told him about Chiang Mai and trying to get my China visa.  Of course this interested him since he’s a Chinese language teacher.  I still have no idea if a 25 year old “gay” guy just hit on me or is just being nice.

Ging, her husband and Tent picked me up at 11:00 and we went to lunch.  Then they took me to the highway to catch the bus.  The car lot across from where we ate was playing bad techno dance music so loud.  It made you feel nervous.  I wonder if the people that work there go home wondering why they feel so awful.  Ging’s daughter, Tent has never liked me much and usually ignores me when I say hi to her.  Today she decided I might be ok.  I’m not sure if that is her final decision.  While waiting for lunch, she asked her dad to draw birds for her.  He would draw a hen and a duck.  Then she’d draw poop coming from the hen and duck.  This went on for about 4 hens and ducks.  After that she wanted me to draw an owl.  My owl was pretty good.  I also drew a cat.  Her next request was a cat family which was easy.  Then she wanted a dog family.  I have no idea how to draw a dog.  By then, lunch was over and it was time to go.  I think if I can figure out how to draw a dog family by the next time I see her, I’ll be golden.

(c) All rights reserved Kimberly Fiore