It snowed a ton last night and I woke up to a white world that looked a bit more like December than early October, but what can you expect in MN... At first I was a little upset, but realized I probably won't be seeing much snow for the next year as the lowest Thailand averages in temp is about 70 (and that's only 1 month out of the year!) I can't say that I really missed the snow when I studied in Spain, but then again I got to see it in a bunch of places I visited, but I'm not so sure that's going to be the case in Asia. I even took some pictures of the yard/house to bring to show my students (most of whom have probably never seen snow.)
So it's starting to hit me that 1 week is really not that long and I have A LOT to do! I have a huge checklist of stuff to do and a huge list of what I need to buy (and will soon have a 'what I need to pack' list). I've knocked some of the stuff off, but feel like the list never ends and that I keep adding to it. I finally put in my notice at both of my jobs and my bosses took it much better than I had anticipated. I feel bad only having worked for a month and quitting, but I'm very happy in the end that I kept myself busy and earned some $$ for the year (aka money for trips/adventures). My last day is Thursday.
I'm realizing too that it's not the end of the world if I forget something, because I can always buy it there so as of right now the only thing I need is my visa which is supposed to come Wednesday; then it's off to orientation.
I got my schedule a few days ago for orientation and it seems like it's going to be a jam-packed time filled with info sessions on Thai culture/history, language lessons and lessons on how to teach English. I'm currently learning Thai via an audio program I got at the library and am really looking forward to improving on it and (hopefully) coming back tri-lingual!! We spend our last few days of orientation at a resort in a different province where we will see the Bridge over the River Kwae (pronunced Kware--not Kwai like we think because of the movie), raft down the river on a bamboo raft and trek the jungles on the backs of elephants! I'm so pumped.
Had dinner with Dad and Pete tonight and then went to make sure our tuxes fit correctly (of course my pants/jacket need altering). My pants were too short so when I wore them where they covered my socks it looked like I had on MC Hammer parachute pants--they will be fixed by Saturday. Then went to Pete and Michelle's to hang for a bit (and help move a love seat to their bedroom which was quite the fiasco...but we did it!) Really looking forward to this weekend.
So it's starting to hit me that 1 week is really not that long and I have A LOT to do! I have a huge checklist of stuff to do and a huge list of what I need to buy (and will soon have a 'what I need to pack' list). I've knocked some of the stuff off, but feel like the list never ends and that I keep adding to it. I finally put in my notice at both of my jobs and my bosses took it much better than I had anticipated. I feel bad only having worked for a month and quitting, but I'm very happy in the end that I kept myself busy and earned some $$ for the year (aka money for trips/adventures). My last day is Thursday.
I'm realizing too that it's not the end of the world if I forget something, because I can always buy it there so as of right now the only thing I need is my visa which is supposed to come Wednesday; then it's off to orientation.
I got my schedule a few days ago for orientation and it seems like it's going to be a jam-packed time filled with info sessions on Thai culture/history, language lessons and lessons on how to teach English. I'm currently learning Thai via an audio program I got at the library and am really looking forward to improving on it and (hopefully) coming back tri-lingual!! We spend our last few days of orientation at a resort in a different province where we will see the Bridge over the River Kwae (pronunced Kware--not Kwai like we think because of the movie), raft down the river on a bamboo raft and trek the jungles on the backs of elephants! I'm so pumped.
Had dinner with Dad and Pete tonight and then went to make sure our tuxes fit correctly (of course my pants/jacket need altering). My pants were too short so when I wore them where they covered my socks it looked like I had on MC Hammer parachute pants--they will be fixed by Saturday. Then went to Pete and Michelle's to hang for a bit (and help move a love seat to their bedroom which was quite the fiasco...but we did it!) Really looking forward to this weekend.
