Thailand Letter
Dearest Family, Monday September 2, 1998 5:45 a.m.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE!!! Jesse's birthday is one I will never forget because I saw him so soon after he was born and he was a beautiful baby right from the start. THAT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL WEEKEND FOR ME!!! It is funny as I look back on it and remember that I didn't call any of my Little Rock friends to tell them I was there because I didn't want any interference with my visit - Ha!!! I also remember how sweet Patrice was to me and how quickly she regained her strength and was giving service to others. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY JESSE!!!
We had such a good weekend but a tiring one. We got to Lopburi about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday after leaving our townhouse at 1:30 - it is about three hours from here depending on the traffic but by the time we get a taxi and get to the bus terminal it really takes us four hours. There were four people there to meet us and take us to the church and there were 21 students waiting for an English lesson. They range in age from 30 to about 8 and it is funny to teach them but fun and we taught until 8 p.m. and then we said the class was over but they didn't want to leave. We use mostly games and songs and since they have not been in any of our classes at school I can use ALL the things we have been using for the past 18 months. We played English Bingo and they LOVED it!!! Myrth is loving it and she is doing good.
We spent the night at Nurack's home - their maid met us and since it was a Fast Weekend we couldn't eat anything so we just went to our room and went to bed. Nurack and Wanada came home sometime during the night and we met them in the morning - they have been in the church for a long time but we could tell that fasting was new to them. I had left them a note telling them we wouldn't be eating breakfast and then had to explain why. This is the first time I have been there for the first Sunday of the month - we used to have our in-service meetings that day but now they are the last Friday of each month.
We got home last night at 5:30 and at 5:45 people started coming to see us. Our neighbors brought us a huge fresh green salad with the most delicious dressing and then one of our teachers came with a huge blueberry cheesecake and yogurt. The neighbor left after about an hour but the teacher stayed until 9:30 - I didn't unpack my Lopburi suitcase until then and I was SO tired I just collapsed on the bed. Myrth doesn't waste anytime visiting - she went into the kitchen and ate her salad and then came to the computer to write a letter while they were here - she is one very self centered woman!!!
BOB - Thank you for your message and also the photo of the map I had sent you. That just amazes me how you can do that!!! The tape wasn't blurred - that is the way I marked it - I didn't write anything on that tape. You are SO right I don't know where I am. The tape showed the general direction - our roads are not listed on that map. Maybe I could find a better map. I have become a LITTLE oriented and the road that is very important for taxi drivers is "PRACHACHUEN" with the stress on the middle syllable. When they get on that road then they can find Rimkhlong PraPa road - then they need to find the Bang Su District Office and we are 3 Sois from there (north I think). Bangkok is divided into Districts and Thailand is divided into Provinces. When I lived on Ruam Rudi I was in Pathumwan District and now I am in Bang Su District. When we get taxis I always say first "Bang Su" and that gives them the general direction I want to go - some of them won't come this far from downtown - they kinda' stay in their own area.
I must close and get ready. We are going into a new district today to get their boxes all ready - new material copied along with their boxes and getting it filed. THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS JOB!!! It would have been so easy for Janet and Darlene to do it while they were here and knew all the superintendents and the locations of the schools.
Virginia called last night and told me that we are scheduled to leave on Dec. 12 and they will try to get that confirmed and when they do I will send you my complete itinerary. Wouldn't it be funny if I left at the very same time as Bob and John - I AM GETTING SO EXCITED!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B