My House For Christmas

Here I am on Monday afternoon laughing because I am so happy. Why? Only because I got my site assignment. So where is it? Nakhon Si Thammarat. Where is that? Only on the beach in Southern Thailand. Well, about 15 miles from the beach, I think.
Yep, that’s right. Who would’ve thought I’d sign up for the Peace Corps thinking I’d be staying in a tent somewhere heating up my water because it turned to ice overnight, but then get to go to a coastal town in one of the most beautiful countries in the world?
Someone’s been stocking up on karma points apparently.
According to the travel website I looked at, this area has, “pristine jungles, picturesque beaches, and beautiful waterfalls”. It’s also surrounded by wildlife reserves and national parks. Plus, it’s close to Ko Samui and Ko Phan Ngan (famous for its full moon parties).

So when are you coming? I can start getting visitors at the beginning of June (Emily, Molly, Amanda, Lisa, and Todd – consider my house an extra honeymoon vacation spot should you want it).

I am going there next week to meet my teaching counterparts and some of the students. I also get to pick my house out. Currently there are 2 choices: both 1 bedroom houses, but one of them is on a coconut plantation. Ummm… did you just say, “Awesome” as you read that sentence? You should have. Please let there be a place for a hammock. Honestly I am not sure what to expect at this point, but by my next blog you will be clued in to what the area is actually like.

And if you don’t really want to come to Southern Thailand because you’re insane, then I have many friends that are north in areas like Chang Mai and Chang Rai where the mountains are supposed to be amazing. Some of us are planning on doing house swaps for vacations. Oh, and my place already got voted as the destination for Christmas.

OK so that was the most exciting news.

Other than that I went to visit an AIDS community today. I actually chose to stay outside the rooms rather than wander through them with 56 other foreigners. Call me crazy, but I thought it was a bit invasive. There were also two rooms committed to the preservation of human bodies and body parts that were affected by AIDS (some were in jars). To follow that up, we were treated to a dance performance by 5 ladies/transgenders who had adapted the dance from their aerobics routine. The headpieces were amazing.

I won’t have another blog for about 2 weeks because I’m heading off to Bangkok (Thai people call it Gruntep – it’s real name) tomorrow for 2 days, then to Trong on the southwest coast (95% Muslim) for 2 days to visit a current volunteer, and on to Nakhon Si Thammarat for 3 days. Oh, and my Thai language is geng maak ka (that’s really good).

Random info for the week:

-English Camp went well. I was a great lion and the kids learned how to sing, “Aweem away, aweem away”.

-I finished writing a Thai love song. It’s mainly to make my teacher laugh. I sang it to my Thai family tonight and they laughed, so I’m off to a good start.

-I thought “pooping my bicycle” was bad. My friend Roxy said she was, “Hungry for _____________(insert the dirtiest word you can think of for female genitalia here)” during language class. Our teacher almost died. Accidental tonal slips are ridiculous.

-Today I ate half a pepperoni pizza. Found it in the next town over. Heaven.

-Our phrase if you are running late: Ride your bike like you stole it!

-I’m not getting any letters. Get writing y’all – I gave tons of people addressed and stamped envelopes.