Headbands!!

I put a headband on to go to aerobics and Nung Mein thought i looked funny so I put one on him. I thought it looked so cute so I needed a picture but he wouldn't open his eyes. Next he wanted to take a picture so I pulled his little eyes closed routine. I thought it was worth a blog post.

Graduation!

School ended this March and it meant my 6th graders were graduating from their village school and will be heading to the high school next year. I am going to be very sad to not have them next at school. 

The kids! 

11 of the 12 6th graders I have taught for the past year. 

The audience. 

Only Moms came.

I made all the students graduating a book of pictures I had taken. Like a mini photo albums.  The kids liked them but the other teachers at the school liked them more. 

The DANCERS

 

The pre-schoolers danced for everyone. They were sooo cute.

The first graders also graced us with a traditional Thai dance.

And it wouldn't be complete without a blessing. We tied strings around all the 6th graders wrists. The mothers also did this for me but they all asked that I be blessed with a nice Thai man so that I would never leave Thailand.

New Buddha

One day I came home from school and my Aunt Nang announced they were building a new Buddha at the temple. I decided I would check it out the next day and take pictures of its progress. But seriously guys this guy went up in a DAY. And it is HUGE!

They tell me it isn't finished yet because they are going to paint it gold but I like it how it is.

Walentine's Party

I wanted to throw a Valentines Day Party for my students so I told them they could come to my house on Saturday and experience Valentines-American style... This party was sponsored by my wonderful Aunt Alice who supplied me with the candy and entertainment! 

I decorated. I was pretty sure the hearts would fall from the ceiling during the night but they didn't and they ended up staying until April!

Snacks anyone? I had licorice and candy hearts (the students thought both were too sweet) and then I added all the stuff I have had forever in my cupboard.

I set up a little area where the students could pose for pictures with their sweethearts (or friends).

Day of the Party

I had about 25 students show up. They loved posing for pictures. 

They got to make their own chocolate chip cookie. (They did not think these were too sweet....)

They came up with desigining the hearts I had hung from the ceiling. Most of them ended up saying I Love Kate. Maybe part of the reason I left them hanging for so long.

I had a hard time thinking of activies we coudl play that were Valentine-themed. I made a pin the ears on the bunny game. They loved it! They especially loved directing their friends in the wrong direction.

The students also thought it was fun to play in Uncle Joe's car that is parked in my driveway.

These are a few of my favorite things.

My 6 favorite things in Thailand.

Stoney. He is wearing a traditional Thai outfit but I think he looks like a pirate!

Mancoot. My favorite fruit.

My neighborhood kiddos.

The monks. The sound of their chanting.

Adventures with my Peace Corps friends.

My Kittens!

One year anniversary!

Wow how the time has flown.

"Hiking"

I started teaching with the High School teachers in my free time and one day I showed up at the school and they told me I needed to go home and change. I asked what was wrong with my clothes, they told me they would not be appropriate for hiking. Admitting they were right I went home and changed.


The hiking expedition was part of the students' Boy Scout education. As they hiked up the mountain there were stations they stopped and learned at.





The mountain to be hiked...At this point they stopped me and asked if I would be able to hike it to the top. I said sure. Then another person asked me again. Starting to worry I asked how far it was up the mountain. 3 km. Yeah no problem. They continued to ask me over and over. I started to worry it was going to be hard.




At the bottom of the mountain we stopped to wait....for our ride. Yeah we were taking a tractor up the mountain. I think they were just trying to scare me with all the questioning. Those tricksters.








The ride up was beautiful and I decided I would walk down the mountain.













A view from the top! Everything looks so small and smokey. I want to go back when everything is green.


After I made it back down the mountain I discovered there were monkeys
in the trees!