blues, what blues?
Today we got up early, 6:45 in order to be here at school for a flagpole ceremony at which they were going to present us with some sort of certificate. Except it is raining a little bit, so that got cancelled, so the four of us are at school three hours before our classes, trying to email/IM on computers slower than it takes Ms. Bethany to get ready to go out on a Friday night.
I don't really have that much to say, but its either update or sit around. So geeeeeeeet reaaaady.
I can't believe I've already been here a whole month. Time is flying, and I am not sure that I like that so much. Before I know it, I'll be back at ND, then in London, then graduation, then DEATH. That's how it goes in my head, at least. I guess there might be a few kids in the middle, along with some membership cards to the AARP. I am going to hate to leave here, we are finally, finally, getting through to some of those kids at the camp who have been tough to reach before. I feel like a failure for not getting to them earlier, but I guess I can't be too hard on myself, I think time is what it takes for them to break through their shyness. Anyways, some of you might have smiled at the picture we made last night...the four of us sitting on the sala by the pond, Christa and Tim teaching a loud and rowdy game of spoons to five boys in one corner, and me in another helping a little bit with homework but then mostly just sitting there drawing pictures to amuse two little boys and watching them draw. Then it started raining and we all huddled in the middle and had run running and yelling through the rain to get to our dorm/huts. I was so dang happy about then.
Christa and I had a long conversation yesterday at breakfast about the small changes in perspective being here has given us. Its different, people here don't live in the American way, their lives are slower and their focus is different. IT seems that when you don't have that much in the way of possessions, the only thing left are the relationships you have with others and your interactions with them. I sort of wish I could take some of this it back to the states with me, but I know that as soon as I get home I'm going to get caught up again in the more more more than has been the focus of my life for too long. More work=more success=more money, I see this game people play about who can be the busiest, and I realize how pointless that can be. These kids here, they are happy. They are pleasant and helpful and kind and I think they are so lucky to be able to be removed from the rat race that I tend to get caught up in, being an American, living as I do. Its the camel and the eye of the needle thing, I think.
OK enough of that. Although I'm sad to leave, I'm looking forward to our three day vacation on the white white sands of Ko Samet (an island in the gulf of Thailand). The boys have a very strict schedule planned, with drinking and tanning and coconut-alcohol making and french student-picking-up (Just Andy, not Tim, Liz, don't worry) and boogie boarding. Christa's and my itinerary consists only of getting to the beach before 10 am each day and only moving to even out our tan that we shall be getting if it kills us. We are now working on our base tan, however, the slight problem is that our bathing suits are WAY too scandalous to wear in front of anyone, so we have a two hour window after class but before the kids come home where we can go out back by the squatter toilets and bathing trough and lay on our towels by the gravel on the side of a building. Classy, and pretty damn sexy, wish you could see us.
After Ko Samet, I'm flying straight to Denver for the family reunion, and plans are in the works for me to fly to Philly straight from there to visit my Pop Pop. He's not doing too well, and I'm afraid if I don't go see him now I might not get another chance. I guess its growing-up time, things that I always took so for granted are changing more quickly than I like and might not be here in a short time. the Souder children are gradually starting their dispersal, Dom and Clare are the only ones home right now. I'm here, Johnny is in Chicago working at a camp for inner-city kids, Mary is at Governor's school, living by herself on a college campus and dancing for a whole month, and Annie is in the mountains of Colorado with her cousins living at their cabin. The first taste I have had of my family not all being at home where I expect them to be. strange. But it makes me realize how much I love them and am so proud of all of them, I have five beautiful and smart and successful siblings that are growing up so well.
I'll have my cell in Denver so you guys should expect some calls :).
Love
Kathleen
P.S. Christa wishes me to mention that she has a useful travel tip for anyone planning to travel to Thailand: beware, if you leave your underwear in your suitcase, you might just find it the next day with holes chewed in it by the rats that run through our rooms at night.
I don't really have that much to say, but its either update or sit around. So geeeeeeeet reaaaady.
I can't believe I've already been here a whole month. Time is flying, and I am not sure that I like that so much. Before I know it, I'll be back at ND, then in London, then graduation, then DEATH. That's how it goes in my head, at least. I guess there might be a few kids in the middle, along with some membership cards to the AARP. I am going to hate to leave here, we are finally, finally, getting through to some of those kids at the camp who have been tough to reach before. I feel like a failure for not getting to them earlier, but I guess I can't be too hard on myself, I think time is what it takes for them to break through their shyness. Anyways, some of you might have smiled at the picture we made last night...the four of us sitting on the sala by the pond, Christa and Tim teaching a loud and rowdy game of spoons to five boys in one corner, and me in another helping a little bit with homework but then mostly just sitting there drawing pictures to amuse two little boys and watching them draw. Then it started raining and we all huddled in the middle and had run running and yelling through the rain to get to our dorm/huts. I was so dang happy about then.
Christa and I had a long conversation yesterday at breakfast about the small changes in perspective being here has given us. Its different, people here don't live in the American way, their lives are slower and their focus is different. IT seems that when you don't have that much in the way of possessions, the only thing left are the relationships you have with others and your interactions with them. I sort of wish I could take some of this it back to the states with me, but I know that as soon as I get home I'm going to get caught up again in the more more more than has been the focus of my life for too long. More work=more success=more money, I see this game people play about who can be the busiest, and I realize how pointless that can be. These kids here, they are happy. They are pleasant and helpful and kind and I think they are so lucky to be able to be removed from the rat race that I tend to get caught up in, being an American, living as I do. Its the camel and the eye of the needle thing, I think.
OK enough of that. Although I'm sad to leave, I'm looking forward to our three day vacation on the white white sands of Ko Samet (an island in the gulf of Thailand). The boys have a very strict schedule planned, with drinking and tanning and coconut-alcohol making and french student-picking-up (Just Andy, not Tim, Liz, don't worry) and boogie boarding. Christa's and my itinerary consists only of getting to the beach before 10 am each day and only moving to even out our tan that we shall be getting if it kills us. We are now working on our base tan, however, the slight problem is that our bathing suits are WAY too scandalous to wear in front of anyone, so we have a two hour window after class but before the kids come home where we can go out back by the squatter toilets and bathing trough and lay on our towels by the gravel on the side of a building. Classy, and pretty damn sexy, wish you could see us.
After Ko Samet, I'm flying straight to Denver for the family reunion, and plans are in the works for me to fly to Philly straight from there to visit my Pop Pop. He's not doing too well, and I'm afraid if I don't go see him now I might not get another chance. I guess its growing-up time, things that I always took so for granted are changing more quickly than I like and might not be here in a short time. the Souder children are gradually starting their dispersal, Dom and Clare are the only ones home right now. I'm here, Johnny is in Chicago working at a camp for inner-city kids, Mary is at Governor's school, living by herself on a college campus and dancing for a whole month, and Annie is in the mountains of Colorado with her cousins living at their cabin. The first taste I have had of my family not all being at home where I expect them to be. strange. But it makes me realize how much I love them and am so proud of all of them, I have five beautiful and smart and successful siblings that are growing up so well.
I'll have my cell in Denver so you guys should expect some calls :).
Love
Kathleen
P.S. Christa wishes me to mention that she has a useful travel tip for anyone planning to travel to Thailand: beware, if you leave your underwear in your suitcase, you might just find it the next day with holes chewed in it by the rats that run through our rooms at night.