I realize I am uncharacteristically posting twice in one day--but that last post was supposed to be posted yesterday evening, but alas my internet connection is on the fritz. I actually don't really have internet in my room--thus I feel very disconnected from the world. fyi.

but I just wanted to communicate that the monkey festival was a delight--minus the fact that I had forgotten that I have an intense fear of monkeys. You can just see the old souls in their faces--cranky old souls. One of them wacked me in the head with a tail. The day was quite interesting as we mostly got around by using Lauren's sketch of a sunflower to communicate that we also wanted to see sunflower fields--but it turned out that people in Thailand are just so sweet and gave us rides in the back of their trucks on top of their jackfruit. mmmhmmm. good interesting day away from pollution.

sa-wa-dee-ka!

Happy Thanksgiving to me.



-sports day--students dancing to candyshop by christina aguilera, students with brooms in witches outfits, space outfits, and pirate costumes while the kids in the bleachers have -check.



-thanksgiving--fave foods and delightful people who didn't even know what turkey was-check.



-Friday--discovering free bbq and ribs-check.



-Saturday-- free Swedish massage-check.

Julia and Julie-I love Meryl Streep--she just IS sparkle. no matter what.



Tomorrow--monkey festival, holla. apparently this town a couple of hours away sets out food once a year for the monkeys to feast. I enjoy a good feast-I shall attend.



Have I mentioned that Bangkok has around 8 million people. traffic at all hours--midnight. 5. or 14. 1 in 24 people in Thailand is a sex worker of some sort. there are no trashcans. soi (street) dogs abound usually with a nasty case of mange. and I am thankful that I live here.



so even if no one remembered to say happy thanksgiving--since Im not there--and let's face it--the adage 'out of sight, out of mind' trumps 'absence makes the heart grow fonder', a student following me out of class to ask me her chances of meeting Taylor Laurent when she goes to America makes it worth it.

Minutiae.

I hate figuring out loan deferment payments. being a grown up is definitely not all its cracked up to be. that's my depressing beginning.

On the flipside--I have joined a gym and am contemplating if I am going to work out before I head up to "tacos y salsa" for some much needed mexican food on hump day. hoorah. its been six months--and all I want is some las verdes--shoutout to my ninfa's buddies, although I doubt any of you read this, which leads me to my next point... I am seriously considering making my blog private. therefore--if you want to be on the list you need to message me (christyddavis@gmail.com). I have just been feeling a bit exposed lately. I mean my deepest thoughts are just out there for the world to see if they so choose... I mean my sort of deep thoughts, maybe just one inch below the surface. you don't even have a clue what Im thinking..Im like an onion...so many layers...and Ill make you cry if I want. wait, that was too far with the analogy--I take it back. my point is--readers, if you want, message me so that I know.

If I have any random stalkers--go ahead and send me a message, Ill see if you make the cut.

meanwhile. TOMORROW is the football match...apparently my students only get to play one soccer game a year. so sad. and they always lose. its been 8 years since they've won--since the other team is an actual team. we don't even have a mascot. I think we should be the kings, no? that's probably not ideal. what about the monarchs like the butterfly?

Peace out A-town.

feeling angsty in Bangkok,
CD

much to my chagrin...

Best sugar-coated mystery fruit ever!

silkworm--juicy but good.

Lynn and I with some bubbly.

Apparently I suck at updating things later on. Ima writer at the moment I think of it--my whole goal to carefully reconstruct my trip for my readers has been a major fail. sorry. but I will give you bits and pieces along the way while its still fresh in my mind. Because it really is important to document these things--Im just doing a terrible job at it. apologies dear readers (Gaga--Im glad you read this and I am trying to journal my trip like you said to :) )

but right now--there's a world film festival going on here in bangkok. so I just got home from watching a documentary about poverty in Mexico called Los Herederos. much to my chagrin there was very little Spanish and it was a very different dialect than I am used to--but the movie was very good for being almost completely silent.

So lately--I've been going to movies, eating American food, and really enjoying Bangkok. Last weekend-- Ryan's tutor family took several of us to the most amazing buffet place ever. and then Seaves' uncle took us to an awesome restaurant. To be honest I don't eat much Thai food other than what's at lunch and its kinda cafeteria food so Im doing a bad job eating real thai food regularly. I just really really like good food--that's the truth. but if I say, "ah, yeah when I travel I really like to experience the culture and the cuisine" I sound so much better. but really I like to eat. speaking of--here's a tidbit from China.

First night--Tiananmen square. Roasted Duck. tons of people b/c it was the 60th anniversary of the PRC--wow. can we say propaganda galore. and large float like gaudy things crowding up the square. but a delightful time.

Second Day-- Tiananmen square, forbidden city (lots of steps--lots of pretending to be Mulan), night market ( things I ate: silk worm, starfish, eel, fruit candies, bubbling soda, dumplings, seahorse.) Im adventurous.

I LOVED CHINA.

First leg of my trip!

So on my first day of travel--October 2--air asia (the ryan air of asia--for those of you who know about ryan air) delayed our flight from kuala lumpur to China. but we would not be discouraged at the beginning of our travels--so we turned our 6 hour layover into a quick trip into the city to see the petronas twin towers (the second tallest building in the world!). here's a photo...I am working very hard at my solo shots. since I am similarly working on my independence. there's gotta be some perks to being an adult other than figuring out loan payments, right? so here's to my independence! and here's to Malaysia--good job on the English (they speak English really well!)

Anyway--we left our apartments around 2 Pm on Saturday October2, and arrived in Beijing at about 2 Pm on October 3rd--and thus begins my epic journey. more to come.

-CD

Just a little hello!

I saw the Taj.

here's proof. I will write more later--currently Im quite ill from Indian food--even though it is my fave new cuisine. also, (this probably shoulda come first) CONGRATS MOLLY AND DAVID!!! they are engaged. hooray!