Saturday I slept late. I was thinking I might get a massage, but they were closed. Again. Probably for the best considering I think the cost is a bit more geared towards tourists than locals. I picked up my batik (it had to dry, etc) and then went to lunch at a restaurant my batik master suggested. The restaurant was buffet style, like what I enjoy at school each day, only bigger. I opted for curried fish, veggies, and my favorite, milk tea. The restaurant was popular and the people watching fantastic. I went to the beach for the afternoon. I took a large bottle of water and a book with me. Of course, the day with the best weather, I didn't bring my camera and only had my phone. I walked across the white sand, ... read more

In the small town of Cherating there's a batik shop and art center on the main street. Since I've never tried to make a batik before, but have always liked looking at them, I decided to give it a try. The woman who runs/owns the shop is just the sweetest thing. She's kind, helpful, and has plenty of patience. Which is a lucky thing for me! I started out by tracing an elephant picture onto white cloth. Of course, I didn't realize at the time that I hadn't centered it. But that's one thing that you need to do, or else it throws off the border when you're painting, and later framing. She tried to assure me it wasn't a big deal, but I assured her that with my OCD it was a huge problem. If ... read more

House hunting when you live abroad is always a bit different than you're used to. In the US, I asked friends for recommendations of leasing companies that they liked, called one, and was shown an apartment or two. Not a lot of leg work required. In Bangkok, a Thai friend and I went door to door in a neighborhood I was interested in, asking to see apartments. More work than in the US, but, still, not too difficult. If I'd tried to do it on my own (ie, without a Thai friend) I most likely would have needed more time and spent more on the apartment. Malaysia is a whole different game. While I'm sure KL might actually have a similar process to Bangkok, outside KL the game has changed. For one, there are no apartments, ... read more

It's been a busy and hectic week. On top of all the training and running around needed, I also managed to not get a full night's sleep. Ever. Waking at 2-3 am became the norm and I somehow managed to stay awake until 10pm the next night, unable to even nap. Worst time adjustment ever. But at least I managed to stay awake all day! Monday we three new mentors were picked up at the resort and whisked across town to company headquarters for training. The first day they went pretty easy on us and even took us out to lunch! That evening they planned a nice night out at a local country club type venue with great food and beers. It was nice to be social and talk about things other than my new job. ... read more

I've spent the summer visiting my parents in Arizona again. After not making the trip last year, I was glad I could this year. There haven't been any big adventures or side trips, but it's been a nice trip none the less. I've gotten to spend time with my family, catch up on best sellers, eat my weight in cheese, enjoy a Law and Order marathon or two on cable, and of course, play with clay. My aunt and uncle also visited for my birthday, which was a special treat since I haven't seen them in a few years. But now it's time to head out for my next big adventure. Back to Asia, but not Thailand. I've found a really great job with better benefits and I'm on the move. Malaysia, here I come!... read more