Ubon, DAD and Conjunctivitis.

I apologise for the time I have let pass since my last post. The internet at the school has been down and it has been repaired this afternoon. That is an issue with Thai people in that they never have an urgency to get anything done. I have still not moved into my room and am still currently sleeping on my mattress in David's room, this is because I still have no mosquito netting across my windows. I have ben promised by a few teachers that it will be done. I am not sure when, but I hope it will be soon as I am not quite comfortable as I cannot be in my own space, which for me is rather important.

My head is spinning with everything I want to say. So much has happened since my last post and I have no idea where to start.

At the moment, I am still recovering from conjunctivitis which I contracted due to an insect colliding with my eye, causing it to become irritated and infected, not the most pleasant experience as it feels as if there is something stuck in my eye constantly, and it looks like I am always crying. You know how it feels when there is something in your eye and your eye just twitches, that is what I have had to put up with since last wednesday night.  It is much better now thanks to the help of the director of the local hospital. Oh yeah, and whilst I was waiting in the hospital, I was asked to pose for a photograph by a few nurses, even though I am not comfortable with situations like these, I though that it would be rude to say no.

We had a very interesting weekend as we visited the girls who were volunteering in Pha Na, which is about 30 minutes drive away. They then met us in Ubon to go shopping, we went to the Sunee Tower, which is a big mall in the centre of Ubon and bumped into Doni, the 22 year old from our host family, and he was working at a modelling contest, so he took us to meet some of the models backstage, one of which was his sister. After many photographs, being the tallest person in the mall by a few inches gets me a little more attention, we watched the show and were laughing at the hot of the show who was a really obvious ladyboy.

David then insisted we explored Ubon to find food, but the rest of us were quite happy to get something to eat at Sunee Tower, but he made us feel guilty by reminding us where we are and that we had to go out. So he managed to gain the nickname 'Dad' as he led us around the town, which is even funnier when he has a horrible sense of place and his short term memory is just as bad.

We eventually found somewhere to eat and chatted over a variety of strange foods. The meat surprise on a stick was very nice, not too sure what it was though, could have been pork, or rat or dog..... one of the issues of the language barriers.

We went into town on Saturday night to the mix club, which was quite seedy, but we hung round till Robyn and David had been sick and wanted to go home. The next morning wasn't so nice as a hangover is just accentuated by the heat. However, we got some coffee and were fine by ten. Mrs Brayung then took us to see her friends and a 1 month old baby, who was incredibly small and cute.

We were still with the girls and were craving cheese so we went to the pizza company and I devoured a bowl of lasagne and some fries. I was however defeated by some enormous onion rings, that were basically donuts with a little onion inside. After the meal, Mrs Brayung drove the girls back to Pha Na and took us home. We also bought The Other Guys and Gladiator on dvd, which I have watched already, I forgot how funny Will Ferrell is.

That brings me up to date with everything that has been going on. I just want to say that your responses are welcomed greatly and I am sorry again to disappoint you.

The teaching is still excellent in every way, I love the response I get from the students and it is such a good feeling when someone who is obviously shy comes and talks to you, even if their English isn't great.


Sa Wat Dee Kap

x