We are three weeks into the new school year at Kasintorn St. Peter School. John is loving third grade. He has a wonderful Thai teacher to help him with classroom control, and his kids are really great. After his struggle with his fifth graders last year, he is so glad for this pleasant teaching experience. There is a great support system among the teachers at our new school, so he is becoming friends with our coworkers and they like to bounce ideas around. It's so refreshing to work in a creative environment this year. I am still plugging away with my Preschoolers. I really love the kids and the K2 teacher from the other class, but the system is frustrating and stressful. The poor kids have to complete worksheets and workbooks all day long, and don't have time built in their schedule for play or for conversation. I am doing the best that I can, but I would appreciate your prayers.
We have met some wonderful people through the school, and are really enjoying having people over for dinner and getting to know them better. We have become friends with a great Christian couple, and they invited us to their church last Sunday. They are connected with a small Thai church. They have a Thai service and an English service separately, but they meet in between for lunch together. We felt very much at home and will definitely go again. We have also started attending a Bible study at a Philipina teacher's house. There are four people (plus us), three of which are our colleagues. That group already has been a big encouragement to us. We are so grateful for these people God has brought into our lives.
Another incredible blessing has come through the form of one of John's students, Alan. If some of you are thinking the name sounds Hispanic, you are right. His Mom is Spanish and his Dad is Thai. We got together with his folks and him last Sunday and spoke rapid Spanish for four blissful hours. They have a cute Castillian accent and are wonderful people. Even the Dad speaks Spanish. What a random, awesome blessing for us!! We miss speaking Spanish, but more than that, we miss being able to communicate with people! We are slowly building up our Thai vocabulary, but still, our Thai is limited to taxis, markets, and food. Honestly, once you've said "hello, how are you, I would like one phad thai with chicken and lime, how much is it, thanks" you don't feel like a life-long friendship is forming, especially when you know that the next time, you will only be able to say the same thing again.
On another note, another exciting thing for us is our motorbike. We "bought" it from a friend who was moving back to the US, and we have saved a ton of money on transportation already. Plus, it's just a lot of fun. Maybe more for me than for John, since he has to deal with driving in traffic, and I just have to sit on the back holding our stuff and enjoying the ride. But seriously, we love it! For the boys reading this blog, I better say that it's a Honda Wave, 110cc, I guess they don't sell them in the US, but this sort of scooter is the minivan of Asia. We have actually seen up to five people, a dog, and a bunch of groceries on these things. For the girls, I can mention that it's a cute red color.
Last weekend, we made a trip we never would have without the bike. We went 50 km away to a place called Nakhon Pathom. It claims to be the oldest city in Thailand, and according to our Lonely Planet guidebook, the chedi at the temple is the tallest Buddhist monument in the world, rising to an impressive 127 meters.
That's enough for today, I think. I still haven't brought you up to date, but that gives you something to read, and I'll post more later, including some pictures. We love you guys and hope you're doing well. Stay in touch!
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