the point is this...

I am currently sitting in an elementary school in which I will be working in for the coming two years of my life. directly across the street is my newly acquired two story house (the bottom, spacious and concrete, the upstairs, wooden and beautiful). I have already decided where i am going to put my three hammocks. My site is located in the Udon Thani province in Isan, and though it is flat, it is still beautiful. In fact, it is what I envisioned Thailand to be like. To be fair, the topography of Thailand varies from region to region, and I am ebullient to discover all of it, from the flat plateus to the mountains, from the dense forests to the warm white beaches. My village is surrounded by rice fields and trees, and has a very strong Isan culture. I was told I was placed here (among many other reasons) because I would get along with the Isan culture very well, which is to say, I too am outgoing and love to have my fun. I can see that. There have already been attempts to pawn me off to one of three sons of so and so, which is why I have decided to hold steadfast to telling anyone that'll listen i am in a VERY serious, committed relationship (when, of course, all evidence is to the contrary at the moment). Funny, how the village wanted a female volunteer, because they didn't want the village to get the idea that another male farang (foreigner) has come to marry a Thai woman. as seems to be the trend 'round these parts. Lucky for me, though, that one of the farangs that has settled in the area has a pool, which I can use! yay

ps, side note, sitting in a classroom at the school, and a rooster decides it would be a good idea to try and type something on my blog as well. I have officially turned into that person that chases chickens with a broom. awesome

anyway! I am here for one more day, which I thought I would mind, but in fact do not mind in the least. I am staying in the house of one of my co-teachers, who speaks a fair amount of english and is very determined to have me as a daughter. I have only been in the village for 24 hours, and already I have around 7 mothers. At least I will be well fed! I must say, though, that I am excited to be able to live on my own, in a place of my own. PLUS (for anyone who's reading this), if the desire to visit me in thailand is simply too overwheleming that you must indulge in said desire, then I have an extra room for you to stay in in my house! ah! how the wheel has turned again.

So! I must now make myself available for an array of questions from the students at the school (such as how old am I to do i have a boyfriend to do i like bananas)...

much love from isan!

a snake goes...

the other day, a few of us are riding our bikes to play volleyball at wat acruss the street from a friends house. suddenly we swerve out of the way, scared beyond belief, for only inches away from our legs, curled up in the middle of the road, and alive, is a 5 foot poisonous snake. awesome. we stop to take pictures, and also make sure no cars run over it. its simply too facinating. then, a man backs up on his moterbike, picks the damn thing up at its head with no second thought or hesitation, says "aloy maak maak " (delicious), and rides home to have his newly acquired dinner.

love thailand.

update more tomorrow