Dreams...... I'm not on malaria medication. It was too expensive and I didn't want it to make me ill. It is a malaria area (ish) but not really at this time of year. So no! I think it's just the general uncomfortable sleeping conditions and the extreme hit, then coldness!! Or these weird tablets Sum-see gave me for my foot......... lol!
Hello Vivid dreams huh...? Are you on Larium against Malaria (or is it not a Malaria area?) Well, glad to know you were only ill one evening. It'll just be your body acclimatising.
On our trek, we stopped by a group of Karen people out in the paddy field and us big bulky westerners had a go at threshing the rice. Obviously, despite being twice their size, (as you know, I'm a tall guy), I was obviously put to shame by the villagers.
Thanks for another great update!
Whiteness Well if they are looking for white skin they have gone to the right place! Finally somewhere that values pale and wan! Enjoy having a fashionable look-even though the idea of whitening cream makes us squirm!!
King t-shirts!! Don't you just love them!! I have blue, yellow and pink. Awesome!! Nootsabar bought them because before I got out here the Karen thought that some of the other volunteers were smelly, so now we have to wear the King shirts 3 days of the week so they know we are changing because the colours are different. Hilarious! I've got used to the cockerel a bit more now, but the cats and dogs have taken to fighting alot which is rubbish. And no, I'm only teaching at the primary school in my village. It's got a bit more routine to it this week, as in I've taught all my lessons, but it's still crazy! I should see Nootsabar at the weekend though as I think I'm going to Khun Yuam so I'll say hi. There's a photo of you in the resource centre on the wall :-) Hopefully I'll see Padatoo too!!
Stuff Hello Sam my dear!
The Karen don't agree with public displays of affection between the different sexes no! So I think I am right that it is his mother. Also, the Karen tend not to show much emotion, hence the lack of smiling!! (that, or they didn't actually like each other) The toilet / bathroom is very unprivate, yes. Alas, I'm getting used to it now :-) And the foot.....no I haven't had it looked at properly, but I think we're finally getting there (I know I've said this 3 times already). My mum poked it with a needle last night, which was very painful so must be a good thing, and I think she put tiger balm on it as well...... but I promise it is better than it was. If it's still like this on Friday I will go see someone as I am entering civilisation on Friday anyway :-) Thankyou for your concern though!!
Mmmmm condensed milk fun! Yes Vikki, you should slink away in shame. Although having now been given them on 3 separate occasions, they are growing on me........ My love for bread means that I appreciate it on the rare occasions that I get it, whatever it comes with :-)
sandwiches I am so sorry for my sad life and I will try to keep away from you civilised bein's from t big cities but I often had condensed milk sandwiches when I was little. Sorry , I will slink away in shame now.
Also: Check out the wedding pics! I notice the bride and groom aren't actually touching. Is that because it's considered taboo for men and women to openly show affection in public (holding hands etc) like it often is elsewhere in Asia? If that's the case, that must be his mum, because that would probably be more acceptable.
It all sounds so awesome! Now I really am envious...
I do recall having conversations about how I was getting tanned in the sunshine with Asian people , then feeling a little bewildered when they said "don't worry, it'll wash off in no time!"
Gonna start sounding a bit parent-ish (as if I wasn't in my comment on you last blog), but have you had that foot looked at? I mean, professionally?
Anyway, keep having fun, and enjoy the fact that you don't have to work very hard/ It sounds like you're learning that pert very quickly. :-)
O yeah, and I'm sure you'll get used to the bathroom (although it doesn't look very private, with all those gaps in the timbers...)
Miss you! Looks like your having a fab time. Your experience of teaching sounds even more chaotic than when I taught in Malaysia. Go with the flow is probably the best approach :-) Careful of that foot old girl. The thai version of tiger balm is good stuff and you can use it for just about everything including on moquito bites. You can probably get it in markets or herbalist/chemist shops. We would quite like you back with two feet!!! It's cold and boring here and the economy is still going down the pan, so nothing has changed since you left. I'm sure we can make you condensed milk sandwiches for your welcome home party! I'm quite curious about them now, although I think I can live without trying them. Love and hugs xxxxxxxxx
I was when I was in Chiang Mai and Khun Yuam - 100 strength as well, whatever that means! But they STILL got me. They are pure evil. But up here in the village it isn't a problem anyway, so fear not...... once these are better I should be OK :-) Do not worry yourself young Sam :-P loves xxxx
re: Bites! Claire, are you using mosquito repellent? I mean, the hi-tech stuff, with DEET in it? It's absolutely horrible, but walking around with that on you all the time is arguably better than the alternative...
ok ok..... You win! You no longer need to be envious.......I have an infected foot, a swollen leg from a mosquito bite, and I'm showering in cold dirty water (I say showering...... throwing it over myself!) But, it's GREAT!!!!!! :-D
bites! Come on -we want to see you covered in bites! The only thing that stops us being green with envy is the thought that swarms of insects may be making your life a misery!
:-) So jealous! Bring back a lot of memories - I remember how annoying and how persistent those cycle-rickshaw drivers are. They are worse than the tuk-tuk drivers, I'm sure!
And your stories of transport in that part of the world are very familir to me. If you get the time, you might want to skim one of my old travelblog entries , mostly about trying to get from A to B : http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-98556.html
Glad you had a good new year. Good luck with your placement. Have a great time!
Hugs
Sam
Wow Amazing, you had better keep this up! Bad times for the mosquitoes, good times for embracing the rice so quickly!
And I'm well impressed by some of the temple pictures. Good luck for the teaching next week, and enjoy!
WooooHoooo! Glad you arrived safely Claire Bear! Peaky Owl didn't attempt another suicide then?! Have a wicked New Year poppet, I believe in about 30 minutes you end...look forward to hearing from you soon,
love xxxxx
Woo! Exciting, isn't it? You've definitely got the right idea if you're looking at temples already. Have a great time and take lots of pictures, but don't forget to put the camera away for a while and really enjoy the place as well.
Look forward to reading your next blog!
-S
Happy New Year! You'll be glad to know that it's freezing cold here!
Have a fab New Year, I'll drink an extra glass of bubbly just for you :-)
Big love, hugs and kisses!
My Thailand Adventure with the Karen Hilltribes Trust - December 2008 to March 2009.
and now...........
My Move to South Korea - August 2012... full info
Claire G
Claire G
Dreams......
I'm not on malaria medication. It was too expensive and I didn't want it to make me ill. It is a malaria area (ish) but not really at this time of year. So no! I think it's just the general uncomfortable sleeping conditions and the extreme hit, then coldness!! Or these weird tablets Sum-see gave me for my foot......... lol!