Thailand Letter
November 11, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family,
I was SO thrilled to come home to some letters. They brought us home early again today - I believe they are in shock that we are so far from their school and it's really hard for them to provide transportation - they bring us home early because their school van is needed in the late afternoon. We are not complaining but we would prefer to know in advance what our schedule will be.
Roy - thank you for your message. I REALLY do not need one thing but anything Patrice thinks would improve my teaching would be greatly appreciated. I plan and prepare and them bomb - other teachers say they have this same experience so I guess it is in just knowing how to communicate with students and teachers who don't know any English. The address for the mission is: Thailand Bangkok Mission 50/829 - 832 Muang Thong Thani, Chaengwatana Road A. Pakkret, Nonthaburi 11120 Thailand.
Ricky - I loved your message too. I'm glad you are a "fisherman" and you must be good to beat your Dad and another man. Your Halloween party sounded so much fun but who is "Cruella DeVille"? I'm SO proud of your 3.6 grade point average and Barji's 4 point - WAY TO GO!!!
Bob - HOW CAN WE THANK YOU ENOUGH??? The pictures are just simply perfect - the one of you at the computer taken by Laura looks like I could talk to you and I LOVE IT. The "Babies Costume" one is darling - I could see Katie in the red and also little Cassie - how fun!!! Brett's teacher has the prettiest smile - is she his school or church teacher? Claire - what fun friends you have and you and Martha have been friends since you moved to Utah - you all look so good. Who made Katie's "Dice Costume" - how clever!!! Laura - I talk about your bird all the time because we are trying to teach the school children to not "parrot" but I can't remember his name. I envied Michael and Andrew watching a television video - is Andrew the young man who lives across the street from Ellen Mae and Mel? I like him!!! The picture of Bob and Katie dressed for the Western Night Daddy Daughter Party surely brought back a flood of memories.
Bob - thank you SO much for telling me about your trip to Mexico -it sounded like such a wonderful success and I am SO proud of you. That's great that you could have an audiometer donated for your trip. I agree that it is much better for you to know in advance whether you will be able to help someone before you start doing any surgery - especially on a little 12 year old boy who has adjusted somewhat to his handicap and would have just been so disappointed as well as you and his parents. Does he talk differently too? I know you are looking forward to helping the woman whose hearing problem is one you can help. I hope you didn't eat "dog" but I'm glad you are willing to try all kinds of foods - I try everything and sometimes I wished I hadn't but Virginia won't even try things. I don't believe I would try dog though - if I knew that was what it was. I don't like squid either but I have tried it.
The world news was GREAT!!! Arches National Park to be increased by 3,140 acres - that seems like a lot. It was good for me to read that the school-trust lands were formed to help fund education through mine royalties and grazing - I didn't understand that. It's scary to read about Sadam Hussein's supporters burning U.S. Flags at the U.N. Office. I'm wondering if Jeannie knows that Marine Veteran, Helen Willie - she is a retired dietitian. That was an interesting article. Jessie - I think you should apply for a job to write articles for the "Deseret News Pulse Page". The article said that teenagers today are smarter, more competent and FAR more ambitious than their counterparts of the 60's so they are providing opportunities for them to contribute to the newspapers.
The Dow Jones is still faltering - ugh!!! I wish I had some MCI stock. Thailand is faced with bankruptcy if things don't turn around here. We were talking to a school teacher today and he said his salary is 2,000 bahts a month - that is about $70 U. S. money. I'm SO glad Bill Cosby is still having success in television - his shows are so wholesome and family oriented. The storm in California is headed towards Utah - I wish the cool air could come here. The high yesterday was 33 Celsius and I believe 40 is 100 and THIS IS WINTER!!!
I want to go to Vernal to go through their temple when I get home. I worked with so many people from Vernal at the Provo temple and they were SO nice. I loved reading about the dedication. President Hinckley rededicating the Mormon Battalion Monument on the grounds of the State Capitol was SO good. I loved his statement - "We don't rededicate monuments - we rededicate ourselves and our feelings to a sense of patriotism and acknowledgement of good things that come from hardships." I was surprised to read about the growth of the church in Russia - I didn't know there were that many missions there.
How about the church providing a database for genealogy for the "Civil War Soldiers System" - that is really something. I worked on that program of computerized data provided by the National Archives - I did it at home on my computer and it was interesting but time consuming. The story of the young man from Bolivia who was helped to be rehabilitated by church members was inspiring.
I enjoyed Sister Nadauld's message to the young adults. I agree that the ages between 18 - 30 are critical in developing skills that will help you throughout your life. She emphasized social skills and it is surprising how many people lack those - NOT ANYONE IN MY FAMILY THOUGH!!!
I had a letter from Chris Smith today and was surprised to learn that Rick and Linda have decided to move back to Conway. I thought their move to Miami was such a dumb thing even though it was for a very large salary increase. Chris said the schools in Florida were not good and they increased his salary in Conway if he would go back. I know Marian Green, Linda's mother, is thrilled to have them move back. I get very homesick for Arkansas so I can understand why they would want to make the change.
I have thought about Russ, Bev and Mimi all day. I will miss their visits to Ann and Rons' home so much. I know Russ and Mimi will come often but we will all miss Bev. I hope so much that Russ and Mimi will be comforted. I am assuming that since she passed away on Saturday morning, the funeral will probably be either today or tomorrow - Tuesday or Wednesday. They had a million friends in Idaho so I know they will have a lot of love and support.
I love you all so VERY, VERY MUCH!!! PLEASE BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL!!! Grandma B