Picture a day July 31

This is my lovely Thai clothes dryer, which I adore. They do make electric dryers here, but they are expensive and rare. Air drying my clothes is something I really enjoy about life here. The year round warmth makes things dry quickly, even if I hang them in my living room during rainy season instead of on the balcony. This particular sight, of the rack filled with clean clothes, is one of my favorite things to come home to on the day that my helper (maid) comes! 

Resettling

I've been back in Bangkok for about eight days now- five days of freedom and then back at work for the last three. It's always an adjustment coming back, and the first week is the worst of it. When you live in another country, you always keep your big toe back at home- a small connection and a vague of awareness of what is going on. But that first week of transition it's not a big toe, it's your whole foot still in that world, and it takes time to pick up the rhythm of the new place again.

But the last few days have been good in several ways. First, I've been able to connect with friends in real and meaningful ways that remind me that even if my family is far away I do have friends and people here who love, care, listen, share, laugh, and invest. Second, I get a chance to remember why I am here and why I believe in the mission and vision and philosophy if my school. We are able to pray as a staff for our school, our students, and the year ahead. I get to remember that this thing I do, teaching, I love it for all it sucks out of me, and I'm good at it. 

There are still things to figure out of course, and I have my goals and things I want to work on this semester, but it's a good start and a good place to be. Now if someone could just get this Tigers game online to stop pausing and freezing and restarting we'd be all set! 

Picture a day July 30

This flower vendor is frequently parked across from my apartment complex. The flowers and flower chains he sells are primarily related to Buddhism, though I don't fully know their significance. For me, it mostly reminds me that I miss the corner flower vendors on the streets in San Isidro, though I doubt I could get a decent bouquet for 10 pesos anymore! 

Picture a day July 29

First day back at work includes a big lunch for all the families, so I got a few minutes with my favorite munchkins. Maybe not the best picture, but it was the best we could do with a squirrelly 10 month old, and true to this blog experiment, it's real life! 

Picture a day July 28

Signs in Michigan ask motorists to share the road with bicyclists. In Bangkok they often share the road with food carts, motos, bikes, pedestrians, and of course, oncoming traffic. This is a back street near my house- I was quite impressed with my friend who was driving for one of her first times in Thailand, and in a stick shift no less! 

Picture a day July 27

Passed by McDonalds while doing errands today. I love that all the Thai Ronald McDonalds do the Thai greeting, called a wai. 

Picture a day July 26

I went to Amphawa floating market, which doesn't really float so much, but is a nice canal side market. We went on a boat ride which ended up being a temple tour, the last of which had a zoo/petting farm on its grounds. Strange, so strange. It was a nice way to use my last weekday before work begins!