Almost Summer!

Well this semester is coming to a close. I'm very happy to hopefully relinquish my duties as faux-department head. This week is finals and Thursday is my last class at the Anuban (pre-school). Then I'm off to Chiang Mai for 2 yoga classes and a women's worshop on Sunday. The workshop is entitled "Beginnings" and it's supposed to incorporate art, movement and spoken word. I think it will be really cool. Next week i'm turning in my grades and then I'm off to Pai for a couple days. Some friends of mine are here on their annual trip so I want to see them before they head back. March 7 and 8 I will be back in Chiang Mai to see a play called "That Takes Ovaries." Some of my friends are performing in it and it seems similar to the Vagina Monologues in that it recounts women's experiences. That weekend is also the Chiang Mai Heritage Festival so there will be lots of cultural shows and demonstrations around the city.

On March 9, Hilary, Rick, Chan and I are off on a trip to Issan which is the Northeast section of Thailand. We are taking their car so we will be able to create our own schedule. A friend of ours has done a lot of travel writing about Southeast Asia so he was able to recommend some cool places to visit. We will be gone for 2 weeks. Some of the highlights will include a national park in the mountains, driving along the Mekong River, a temple that Buddhist Thais make a pilgrimage to once in their lives, some Khmer ruins (similar to Angkor Wat) and lots of sleepy little towns with very few tourists! And hopefully we will get the chance to travel to Otto's hometown of Ubon Ratchathani though it's a shame he won't be with us. Here is a map of the area we will be driving around:

After our trip I will start teaching a summer course at Yonok. It's only 8 weeks long and 2 hours a day. And I will still get paid my full salary so I figure it's a good opportunity. I will also be teaching a special class for the municipality of Lampang so I can make some extra cash. During the summer we will have the Songkran Celebration which will be fun. Sadly, I will have to say goodbye to Hilary, Becky and Shawn. Honestly I'm trying not to think about it too much. But at least I will have my family's trip to look forward to. Yes, mom, dad, Amy and Ryan will all be here in mid-May. I'm so excited for them to see and experience this country that I love so much and also to meet Otto. I know it will be a blast. So there are many good time to come!