Thailand Letter
(Mom's first true email letter from Thailand)
August 28, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family;
JOY OF JOYS!!! I could hardly wait to get to the computer this morning to see if I had any mail and I DID. John had received the short message I sent to you and he answered.
John I was SO thrilled to hear from you and hear your news. I'm happy you have sold Oscar to a good family in Santaquin but I'll bet Sasha is lonely. It makes me happy to hear about little Frauie - I'm glad you have given her the Winter haircut. I think her personality changed after Hans died and I liked her better - maybe it was just me. I'm thrilled to hear news about Julianna's school in Lehi - where is it? I'm sure her classroom is just about perfect and I'm anxious to hear how many students, etc. I'm also happy that you are spending time in Lehi on our property over there - I don't exactly know where the dividing line is on the 5 acre place but if you want to dig a little pond on our part that is fine with me. Is it pheasant hunting season yet? They are delicious - better than chicken!!! You didn't mention your tomatoes - are they ripe yet? Our property on the 5 acres in on the East.
Marc brought the e-mail messages from the Bob Mellors to me last night and I LOVED them and then a few minutes ago I came to the computer and found more messages from them and also from Roy and Patrice. I checked this morning and found John's message but the ones from Bob, Claire and Roy hadn't been brought yet. Your Scouting trip into Colorado sounded fantastic Bob and Michael - I wrote in one of my letters how important I think that is so I won't mention it again. Claire, I loved your personal notes about Relief Society and I have empathy for you - some people just have to have a lot of attention and get it one way or another. I never did get to the point of knowing who to cater to and who I could forget. I hope SO much that you will be able to go to Chad Forrest's wedding reception - they don't talk too much about that so go and tell me all about it. I have sent a gift of money. Katie - I'm sorry you had your feelings hurt about playing the piano in church. I believe those things are called character builders and I hope you will do it the next time they ask you. Michael, Laura and Brett - I LOVED YOUR LETTERS. I know you will enjoy school once you get "in the swing of things".
Roy & Patrice, thank you so much for giving my address to my friends in Little Rock. I about cried when I read that Ashley had died - he/she has been a part of your family since I have known the O'Donoghues. Pets just get old and die just like people but I'll bet it was hard on the children. Timothy and Emilys' school sounds wonderful - I wish I could walk with them again like I did the last time I was with you. I had the sweetest letter from Chan and I took it to the school where the teacher works who had grown up in the same place and she was pleased that the letter she had addressed reached her. (Bad sentence!!!)
Annie and Jeannie - I hope you get these messages one way or another. I don't have an e-mail address for the Weinerts.
I received a little package from Anne Willardsen today. I was surprised to find it in my mail box - when the school van drove up someone said you have an x-ray package. It was in an x-ray envelope. She sent me some "hand antiseptic wipes" which will really come in handy and also a CTR ring with a little message about it. I would like to send it to Emily - would she like it? I may decide to give it to a little girl in our church and get one for Emily when I get home if she wants one. I don't know what "Choose The Right" sounds like in Thai but I don't believe the initials would be the same.
I had a letter from Anne a couple days ago - she is such a living doll!!! She said that John (their son) has decided to specialize in "implant dental surgery" and that will take him 4 more years. They have bought another practice so Jim and Rosie's husband will have a place and prepare a place for Jared (I can't remember their other son's name). I also had a letter from Ramona and she told me that Chris and Missy had gone to Canada on motorcycles with a group of people their ages - I think that sounds so dumb!!!
We went to the Thainyomsongkrao school today - it is one the largest schools in Bangkok - 3,400 students. We had such a good day and did a lot of teaching to the English teachers. I have made pictures of things like; window, pencil, door, desk, table, chair, flower, plant, girl, boy, etc. We talk about these things and then I give them three pictures and a "word" and have them make a complete sentence using the three pictures and that word. It is VERY difficult for them!!! I also have stick pictures of people doing things like; eating, drinking, working on a computer, standing, jumping, standing with friends, running. etc. I ask the questions; who, what, why, when, where, how. I have them give the person a name and then follow through with the other questions to make a complete sentence. It is very effective but hard for them.
Virginia does a lot with numbers and she is having them make a book using a book her sister sent to her called, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear. What Do You See?" It is darling and very effective and the teachers are loving it but I worry about the copyright laws. She isn't worried about it!!!
Did I tell you about going to the elephant show? I am getting terrible - I cant' remember if I told you or not. I have written a very generic letter to my friends telling about it so I will send it to Bob and if he wants he can send it to you. I don't write individual letters to my friends - I don't have time. I just write one letter and send it to many people.
Claire and Patrice both mentioned the heat - it isn't as hot here now as it was when we first came and I am SO GLAD!!! They tell us the worst months for heat are April and May. It is ALWAYS in the 90's I'm sure and the humidity is also in the 90's I'm sure but I guess that is better than 120.
I just finished doing some laundry - our little washing machine does a great job. We hope to get out of an invitation to go shopping this Saturday - we need to get some things done. I may send some pictures to Bob soon so you will all be able to see them if you get together for conference in October and then he can send them on to Roy and Patrice. It is almost impossible to get to a Post Office so if I don't send them that is why.
I sat by the Director of the school today for lunch and he looked at me for the longest time and finally he said, "You look good in your face". They have a hard time expressing themselves in English and I guess that was the only thing he could think of to say - Ha!!! They are very, very frank. They asked me how much I paid for my dress today and when I said, "About $100" they said, it would cost a lot more than that in Bangkok - it was that green dress made in India - Ha!!! I hope to have the skirts that I am having altered back soon. My hair is finally calming down so I don't look so much like a clown.
I love you all SO much and I am SO proud of you.
PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL!!!