Now that we are in a routine, one day seems much like another, but this is always against the background of the excitement and sense of adventure of being in a foreign land. That we always like.
Judy is teaching full time, but despite the pleasure teaching brings, she might like to be somewhat less busy. I still have more free time on my hands than in a perfect world but an trying to reduce that. All together we are enjoying things.
Our friend and great Thai fan, Karen Click, from Dallas is visiting her “Thai family” with whom she stayed for a summer years ago. While in Thailand, Karen is coming to see us in Khon Kaen for a day next week. We look forward to that.
Judy and I have joined a fitness club in the Sofitel Hotel. It has a great pool, pictured above, and there’s nothing like a few minutes in the water in this weather. We have also begun a weekly aerobics class. Aerobics is a little different here. Rather than using step boards like in the US, they do mini dance routines at a very fast, sweat-dripping hup 2,3,4 pace. Judy and I both enjoy the aerobics. Then there are the free weights and machines, and various treadmills and elliptical walkers and sauna (as if Thailand itself isn’t a sauna!). We’ve met a few young American teachers at the fitness club.
We are still enjoying Thai cuisine. The picture with the stalls and palms shows the outside of an excellent beer garden and restaurant. We’ll eat there when Olivia and Aaron come for Christmas. Too bad that it is located just outside the Sofitel. The temptation to drop in for a pitcher after working out is usually great!
We are still impressed with our hotel’s location. It’s almost exactly an 8-minute walk to school through a busy street scene, as Asians wake to greet the day. Songthaews clatter down the street, stopping at the school to belch out the cutest scrubbed children in their uniforms. Stalls are coming to life. One of these stalls mass-produces soup at a bowl a minute. People are sloshing water on the sidewalks, where a level surface is rare. With the puddles, cracks in the concrete and staggered levels (as if every slab of sidewalk was poured separately) you have to get used to walking safely and without stumbling.
The sister of the owner of our hotel is married and lives near Austin. But she comes to Thailand several months a year and brings her five-year-old daughter, Megan, with her. Megan is very cute, friendly, and energetic. She makes us think of Gabe and Cecile.
Tags: Thailand