Thailand Letter
September 1, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family,
I was SO thrilled to access the messages when I came home from school a few minutes ago.
ROY - thank you SO much for your newsy letter. When we were at school today one of the teachers asked us how we felt about Princess Diana and we said we felt so sorry for her but we had no idea that she had been killed. They had pictures of her (old pictures) all over their walls and we thought that was a little strange but this is a new district and we don't know their ways. HOW VERY SAD!!! We don't get any news - we have tried to access some news with our computer but so far we haven't been successful. I hope you have a fun time dove hunting with Tripp and his father - tell Tripp hello for me. I remember when you and Daddy used to do that and he would painstakingly clean those little tiny birds and cook them and they were delicious. I think it is wonderful that you and Patrice are such a help to your church - you do SO many things and I am impressed that you are in charge of part of the financial things there I know they love you for all you do. I remember when Central High had that integration problem and we were so happy that our children wouldn't have to go there - I understand it is a very good school now. I hope Pres. Clinton is in attendance at the ceremony. Virginia had a letter from her sister in law and she told her that Clinton's trial had been set for his problems with Paula Zahn - is that right?
BOB - MIRACLE OF MIRACLES!!! The picture of you and Michael on top of one of the high, high mountains in Colorado came through perfect. I can hardly wait to tell Marc Hall and others about that - I still can't believe it!!! This e-mail business and computer technology compares with the Alexander Bell invention of the telephone I think. I am SO glad that I can do it - at least I think I can!!! It is fun to try to think what you guys are doing now - it is 6:15 p.m. in Bangkok right now so it is 5:15 a.m. Monday morning in Utah and 6:15 in Little Rock. We are one day ahead of you. On the way coming home today we passed an elephant - I was SO excited and hurried and got out my camera but our driver and teacher didn't seem one bit concerned. The elephant was loaded down with fruits and vegetables. I went out on our little lane just now to get some big rocks to hold our doors open when it is cool enough to open them and saw a big green snake - it was dead but it was still scary. We have had a lot of rain lately and the canals wash up weird things. We also have a little family of ducks on the khlong right in front of us.
I'll be disappointed if the Woolleys didn't go to the cabin. That is a marvelous place for young people. I wish so much that you would all use it more. I know you will remember to "winterize" it. Chris said in her letter that Byrd had had eye surgery.
The school we went to today is a long, long ways from our townhouse. They are so sweet to come and get us and they treat us like royalty. When we went into the library we were faced with 15 teachers waiting to be taught for 6 hours. We are put behind two microphones and they want so much to hear us tell them things. We feel good about what we are doing. There was only one teacher who could speak a little English and I mean very little. I spend a lot of time with vocabulary words and making sentences. We will be like that tomorrow too only with a different set of teachers and then on Wednesday we will have 30 of them all together all day. We are planning a "Make and Take Day". Virginia teaches them how to make the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See" book and I will teach them some "Go Fish" games and have them make the cards for that. It is fun to watch Virginia try to teach them to make their "V's" - she has little mirrors for them to look in because they make them like "W's". When we first came we learned that we would meet a lot of wise principals - I didn't catch on for a long time - they were talking about vice principals.
Jeannie - I received your letter today - the one you told me you had written. I love to hear the news about all my grandchildren. People here can't believe I have 16 grandchildren and I love to tell them all about you. They know America and we are teaching them about Utah but they already know about Arkansas - they keep up with Pres. Clinton.
John - I hope the yard isn't getting you down. I think this is the hottest and most uncomfortable time of the year in my home so hang in there.
I love you all SO much. I hope this gets through as easy as the last one did. Grandma B