Things are beginning to wind things down here as the hot season approaches. School closes formally next Friday.  Judy’s exams are over, and she’s been working hard to finagle her grade books, as every student—whatever their academic grade—must pass: It’s the Thai way.  My final is tomorrow.  So, this week and next we say good-bye to our group of friends here in KK and particularly those at our school.  Between the close of school and our departure on April 8 we have some fabulous plans.  

First, we are going to Hua Hin, a gulf coast town where the king keeps a formal residence, to visit our friend Nigel, the renowned fungus scientist and author of the dark novel that Judy, Olivia and I have read. He and Rung, his female partner of 15 years, own property there that they are beginning to develop, envisioning a group of Thai houses around a lake.  We thought seriously of building a vacation place there on their property ourselves, but decided it would be a bit too far in the future for people our age.  With the recent debauching of the dollar, a nice little cottage in Hua Hin would have been a good investment.  Ah well …

On March 10, we go from Hua Hin to Vietnam.  We’ll spend a few days checking out Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) as a place to live for a few months next fall.  I have met with Dr. Nho, the head of Neurosurgery at the major hospital there, on several occasions and he is interested in having a volunteer to work with him.  We also have an American ex-pat acquaintance in Saigon who is well-connected (she’s a lawyer, businesswoman, and part owner of a trendy restaurant) and are hoping to get advice from her also. 

We will then go to Nha Trang for some sightseeing and more beach time.  Nha Trang is supposed to be beautiful.  We return to Thailand March 16.

Shortly after that, on March 21, our friend, Mary Jalonick, is coming to visit and tour.   Mary will be in Thailand until March 31 and we are looking forward to traveling with her. We have really enjoyed visits from Olivia and Aaron, Gene, Susan, and Ginia, Peter and Robyn Heilbrun, Bill and Sherry May, and Karen Click.  Mary will leave just over a week before we head back to Dallas ourselves on April 8.  And our BKK friend, Ray Pearce.  We will fill those days with a trip to Phuket and a visit to Bangkok to see all our friends there one more time. 

After that, we’re off for home.

Judy and I have made many friends and some close acquaintances in Khon Kaen. So, we’ve been having farewell evening meals with different folks and this week is booked, too.  We recently hosted a good-bye cocktail (actually beer) party for all the English Program teachers at a very sunny bar/restaurant that one of our teachers partly owns.   Next week, the head of our English Program is hosting a dinner in our honor at a Thai restaurant.

Before we leave, we’ll be attending our fifth wedding, this of a young, convivial British man and his Thai fiancée.  Three of the weddings we have attended were those of Thai couples and two of Thai-Western couples.  One ceremony was Thai Catholic, one Thai Protestant, one Chinese, and the other two Buddhist: quite a mix!!  All lovely.  There is also always a gala evening party, some larger than others.  The most spectacular of these for us was a seated dinner for 4,500 people – no joke!!   That one was the party of the son of the owner of our hotel.  And I thought some of the Dallas weddings were over the top!

We have been to only one funeral, however.  It too was lovely and very different from what we are used to in the West.

Appropriately enough, our last event is Khon Kaen will be with Duncan, our first friend and acquaintance in KK.  Duncan is the proprietor of Leo’s bar and he is going to throw a going away happy hour for us, with Thai food and snacks.  So it seems this jam-packed year is coming to an end.

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