Winter in Thailand

Hello! It has moved into winter here in Thailand, and that means...blue skies and sunny?! It is still about 25 degrees Celsius (like 70 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit), but you can tell a difference. I don't need the fan on as much in my room, and taking runs in the afternoon is less excruciating. But still, winter? It is especially funny when the students come to school in sweaters, jackets, parkas. and scarves. You would think we were in Chicago in January! And then they shiver when the fans are on in the classroom, so usually they turn them off and I am left to sweat it out while teaching. Goodness! As one of the teachers said, there are 3 seasons in Thailand - hot, hotter, and hottest...!

It is Wednesday afternoon here, and I just had a delicious lunch with some of the other English teachers. Per usual, I am "im maak ka"or very full! There are always a variety of snacks and fruit and sweets to enjoy! Today, one of the teachers baked little bananas. Bananas are huge in Thailand, and particularly in Sukhothai. You fry them, bake them, make them into chips, eat them fresh, cover them in sugar, etc. And like most food here, they are delicious in all the different forms! I try to convince myself that the "healthiness"of bananas offsets the "unhealthiness"of the frying/sugar part. Maybe?!

I was so excited that on Monday I received a postcard from my friend Cori in Scotland, and then yesterday I received a little package from my older sister, Beth, in Uganda. And just today I received a card from Kristin in the U.S. The teachers at the school are like "how do you know all these people from different countries?" :)

This weekend, I am meeting up with some people to study English and Thai. I met one lady last night at the pharmacy and she asked me if I could help her and her nine year old son practice English. I said "sure"and she asked how much it would cost for one hour. I was like "no cost, you help me with Thai and I can help you with English." I am interested to see how it goes!

And then in the mornings before school, I have started helping a M.3 or 9th grade student with her English skills because in a few weeks she will be representing the school in a speech competition. Her English is already awesome!

Well, I hope this note finds you happy and healthy! Sending some "winter" love from Thailand!

Kate