I LOVE MY CRAZIES =) GROUP 125! ( short blog and msg to my fellow volunteers)

**HELLLOOO!! =) today I am posting an early blog I wrote ( about two days ago! I woke up super early and decided to write instead of going back to sleep haha) after 2 weeks of spending quality time with my PC family!**

        As most of you may know or simply assume, being in they peace corps is JUST like living in a fish bowl except the fish get more of a break than we do.  Being a volunteer is a 24/7 job. For example, I wake up around 530 each morning to prepare for my morning workout and out of the house by 6:15 while its still cool. One day out of the plenty, I woke up off schedule and headed out about 6:45 instead of the usual 6:15. On my way to work a number of people were asking why I exercised late coupled with their assumption that it is because I went to bed late or did not eat dinner. This is just one example of how we are watched all day everyday. From January 28th to March 28th I stayed at site everyday with no trips, saw no other volunteers, just me and my village, day in and day out.  I had never done that before due to medical or dental trips to the city, meetings and/ or holidays. I can honestly say that was not a walk in the park.  I love my village and the people in it dearly and would not change them for the world but imagine 90 straight days of constantly living in that fishbowl, 90 days of people constantly asking you where you are going and why, even though they know because you have been going to the same places everyday for a year now,  90 days of those adorable kids jumping over your gate on your off day and screaming P som nonstop, 90 days of going to "meetings" events, and work trips and being stared at or asked to do impromptu speeches or games. Typically, I can handle all of the above with a great big smile, but towards the end of the 90 days I was on the brink of losing it lol.  (I was close to using my ninja moves on any and all)  I never realized how vital those random meet ups with my fellow volunteers really were until now.  March 28th I left my village and headed to Bangkok to find some of my amazing friends and relax.  This was just what the doctor ordered. All the volunteers would come on the 30th for midservice conference. ( Meaning we have completed half of our commitment here in Thailand!!!!! Yayyy us!)

        Midservice was much needed and right on time.   It was great to laugh and not have to think through the joke or break it down first.  It was great to speak English, which now sounds like my second language, all broken, choppy, not grammatically correct at all lol. It was just nice to see all of their faces.  Multiple nights of hanging out, playing games, movies, TONS OF EATING haha and just catching up, oh and a little conferencing too! Wouldn't trade these crazies for the world.

       Midservice also brought some tears.  It was announced during midservice that a very good friend would be heading home.  You don't realize how much a person really means to you until situations like this. Although, It is sad to watch him go, I'm not worried because I know we will meet again.  Before coming to peace corps I thought it was virtually impossible to build these types of strong beautiful relationships in such a short span of time but i was completely wrong. On Wednesday, a couple of friends and I decided to have a little surprise shindig for our good friend before he heads out.  I sent a text telling the other volunteers to come to our hotel the next day for the surprise. As last minute as it was, the next day I walk in (after the surprise due to a late dentist appointment ha) filled with joy. The majority of the group came out. It just showed me what we have all gained here. I am beyond blessed.  Although it was such a sad day it clarified one thing, no matter if we talk to each other everyday or once every few months, we have each others back.  This is so important when your family/support is so far away.  With that said, I have an absolutely amazing family right here in Thailand; it even includes all the components of a real family. Good times, bad times, fun times, sad times but in the end we are all in this together and we are all there for one another just as a family.

       I believe in giving people flowers in the present not waiting til its too late so I would like to say thank you to each of my fellow volunteers, all who came in on that plane Jan 11th, 2013. Although I still question how only one sane person made it into group 125 ( yes me) I would not trade you guys for a 100,000 baht (quite possibly some spinach, feta, and raspberry vinaigrette, I would definitely have to think that through) You don't know how much you have changed me for the better! You guys accept me even though I'm not quite on y'all's crazy level(quite far in fact lol). You all make it so easy to love and be loved!  You guys have really made this experience that much more amazing. I would not be here without each and everyone of you! (Ok enough sappy stuff back to G sash ) 

Ok now here are some pictures of the past two weeks enjoy! I think I might have two blog post this month yay for early blog post!

Me and my p'yeelor haha

MIDSERVICE PICS!!! 

 THE CRAZIES THEMSELVES! minus me of course haha 

PARTY IN SAPHAIPAE

3D WITH GLASSES!!! 

 MIDSERVICE WIND DOWN!!! 

RIAP ROY!!! 

FUN TIMES!!! 

MARCH MADNESS!!! =)

*Disclaimer* THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BASKETBALL JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A CUTE TITLE SINCE ITS MARCH AND I HAD ALOT GOING ON HAHA! 

Helloooo!  Its the end of March already and I am back!!!! Everything is going pretty smoothly.  'I Love You' Group is still coming consistently and progressing very well, which I am very excited about.  School is out which means the kids have found themselves at my house more often but I love it.  The majority of my day is spent at the school, now that school is out, most of my time is spent at the SAO, Sub district Administration Organization, the village government office.  Although I love the people here, I have never been one to simply sit.  I don't think I know how.  I think it is more exhausting then running a 1 million mile race. I dread it.  This has definitely been a major struggle thus far and it has only been 2 weeks ha, i cant imagine a month more.  The great news is next week is Midservice Conference!!! We have been here for a whole year and now we will all connect and discuss our experiences at site.  Most importantly, Ill be out and about, not sitting at a desk!!!! EXCITED does not explain the way I am feeling haha.
      This month I feel like I have been 'thai-napped'( when a Thai person comes, picks you up with either partial knowledge or no knowledge at all about what is about to happen, where you are going, or how long you will be gone)  about 10000 times.  Since they were 'Thai-nappings' I was not prepared and did not have my camera.  I went to a number of great places.  Although this is true, this month has been filled with fun  and some cultural events that I did catch on camera!  In this blog, I will post pictures of the events I went to and try to explain a little about each! I will see you all next month! With an update on Midservice Conference, Son Kran ( Thai New Year) and much more! As always thanks sooo much for all your support! All the emails, calls, texts, videos, skypes, letter,cards, and packages!!!! If you would like to send me something or call shoot me a message and ill send the contact info!

This is the wedding of P' Kat and P'Art ( some of my favorite people) 

 The grooms family and the brides family come together.  The grooms family enters the brides family home bearing gifts. 

Close up! lots of people and P' Art was crying it was sooo sweet because I have never seen a man cry since I have been here. 

The groom must present a 'gift' to the brides family that was agreed upon prior to. As a thank you for allowing me your daughter and taking care of her all of these years.  This is 800,000 baht which equals almost 25,000 dollars  

Family and friends are praying for them and send well wishes

This is sports day! this is a major part of Thai culture it happens on different levels A LOT throughout the year.  I also realized sports day pretty much trumps all other events that may be going on at the same time haha.

Sports day! each school entered in this manner! everything must start with a parade! 

At sports day with some of the little dancers

Getting made up... yes these are 1st and 2nd graders 

One of the activities I do here is visiting all the kids 0-14 with any disability .. He loves me now haha

Playing with my Ipad 

'I LOVE YOU" KING AND QUEEN.  Have not missed one classed and answered all their test questions without assistance! Queen Nong Porn  and King Nong Six

Little trophies! haha

FUN DAY!!!! Reward day for the kids who came to a majority of the classes and tested well! Baking! Only english! They had to retrieve the ingredients by saying may I please have _____? By the end of class they were using the sentence in other ways without me asking! They are great!  

Group 1 made cookies 

Group 2 Brownies!! 

DONE! 

This was the 5 day monk coronation.  In Thai culture, 21 yo males must become a monk for a varying amount of time.  This was very interesting to watch.  First family and friends came to cut a piece of their hair 

 

and then the monk cleaned them up shaving all the hair of their heads 

including eyebrows 

Random pic of me and my babies ( note the people in the back staring and pointing that is pretty much my life here lol ) 

Parade time!!! We are dancing our way to the temple where the 3 males will pray as well as a monk will pray for them and with them.

Walking and dancing around the temple

us again haha

Praying at the temple

And he is ready!! 

The end of night 4! 

PARTYYY TIMEEE 

Randomness again! I YouTube'd how to braid my own hair!! WOOT WOOT! saved about 60 dollars! it will get better with time this is only my 2nd time! 

and me again!!! love you all see you next month