Thailand Letter
September 30, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family,
I just can't resist turning on the computer to see if I have messages from any of you and then when I do I can't resist answering them. They are going to pick us up at 4:45 in the morning and I have a lot to do to get packed so this will be a short message. I must walk down to the little OK SUPERMARKET on Sai Mai and see if they have nail polish remover. I like to keep my toe nails painted but they need to be redone - I bought some remover and then dropped it in the kitchen and it broke!!! Have I told you how popular pedicures are here? It is SO funny to go into the little beauty salon on Sai Mai and see these women having their toenails painted - they go without shoes so much that they like to keep their feet looking as good as the can - I think it's wonderful!!!
John - I was SO happy to hear from you and hear that Bishop Patch reported about visiting with me. One of his Nu-Skin employees called me last night and said he had gone back to America in a private jet - I guess that is the only way he can get so much done. This employee had his suitcase taken by a taxi cab driver - he said he thinks he might still get it back but he's not sure. I can't imagine it being time to have the sprinkler system turned off - it is still SO hot here. I'm SO glad you are home to do that. I'm sure Steve Frisby is glad to have you in the home too so he won't have me bothering him all the time. JULIANNA - you are a "living doll" for sending all those books and tapes, etc. I used "The Paper Boy" today in school and the teachers loved it - they couldn't understand the words but the pictures are fabulous and they could tell me the story. There are SO many things they can learn from everything you sent. We are going to take "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" with us tomorrow to share with the other American Teachers. That is SO darling!!!
Bob - I'm proud of you for going to the Haunted House for Family Home Evening. You are SO much like your Dad - he hated those things too. It is SO fun for me to see personalities of Daddy show up in our children - I'm truly grateful that you all have many of his traits. You need to "bend" a little more though and have fun!!! It tickles me to have Michael write that you won't let him have his own car - that is such a hard decision for parents to make nowadays - it was easy for us!!! I LOVE THE PICTURE OF BRETT AND ANOTHER LITTLE BOY!!! THANK YOU JUST MILLIONS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT FOR ME. Who was the little boy? You tell about enjoying the stories of the early missionaries - I was always angry when I read the stories about Parley P. Pratt because he left his wife and family in quite destitute circumstances - have you read his story?
Today was our last day at "Kannayaw School". We taught until 3 o'clock and then they had a farewell party for us. You wouldn't believe all the food they gave us and some beautiful Thai Silk Scarves - all this in a very elaborate ceremony!!! We really feel silly but have finally learned it is "The Thai Way". They have come so far in just five days - when we first visited with them they wouldn't even talk and didn't want to participate. Yesterday and today they were just like American Teachers with some problems with the language. The main thing is that they like and trust us and that's why we're here.
When the six neighbors came over last night to practice English they brought us SO much food - two large bunches of bananas, two beautiful cartons of cookies and guava. We are going to take most of it on the bus with us tomorrow to share with the other teachers. There is NO way two people can eat all the food that is brought to us - we can't understand why they think we are going hungry.
I had a sweet letter from Chris Smith. She told about their trip to Miami to visit Rick and Linda - I guess they have a gorgeous and very large new home there - it is new and not quite finished yet. Their son, Jonathan, was being baptized and that's why they went. Do you all remember Julie James ...? She is Francis James' daughter and she and her husband live there and are close friends with Rick & Linda. Chris and Wayne are in Arkansas now - visiting with Wayne's Mom in Plainview. She said Linda and Ken are doing good in Dallas - Jamie is married and Jennifer is in college so they are home with their little son, Christopher. Chris mentioned again how much they enjoyed being in Scofield and that Wayne was happy to fix the pipes.
Virginia is asleep. She goes to bed soon after we get home from teaching - our bedroom is cool with the air conditioner on. She sleeps until about 7 or 8 and then stays up until about midnight and reads. I can't do that. I don't dare get horizontal or I will go to sleep too and then I won't go to sleep until late and it will be too hard to get up early like we have to. Our driver picks us up at 8 a.m. so we get up at 5:30 and read the scriptures for an hour and then get ready - Virginia is very good for me!!!
All the schools in Bangkok have the month of October off. We will have vacation for one week and then they want us to teach the rest of the time - just to the teachers. We can't imagine the teachers wanting to come to English classes during their vacation time but maybe they don't have a choice. It will be good to have a week to kinda' get caught up.
I will have a lot to write about when I get home from Sukhothai. Everyone tells us there is the largest Buddha in the world there. It will be fun to see everything.
I love you all so very, very much. I can't tell you how much I appreciate having messages from you whenever you find time to write. PLEASE BE SO VERY CAREFUL!!!
Grandma B