TGIF

I've survived another week. I can officially say that this week was a good week.

Thai class finished this week and I can say that I feel pretty confident about my speaking abilities.

I mailed postcards all by myself. As a mailman's daughter, I must say I am pretty proud of myself.

I also wrapped up my series of rabies vaccinations, which is a success in more than one way. Going to get vaccinated means I have to get a taxi to the hospital and back home again. Oh, and did I mention I hate getting shots? I'm not a big fan of needles and the thought of a needle going into my arm almost makes me faint, so not fainting is a huge success. Back to the taxi, the ride there was pretty uneventful, although every time I ride in a taxi I worry that they are taking me to the wrong place. When I've been somewhere before I know the route I expect to take, but as it turns out there are several routes to the same place causing me minor panic every time as I envision them leaving me at the wrong place or in the middle of nowhere. On the ride back to the Mekong Center the taxi driver was really not sure where he was going. at all. He beckoned me to come sit in the front and show him where to go. Problem is, I have no idea where I am at. Thankfully, he could speak some English and I could speak some Thai so we managed to find our way back. Along the way he asked me where I was from, how long I was in Thailand and things of that nature. I was telling him that I thought Thailand was beautiful and had great weather compared to the States. He asked me if I was rich and if I liked to shop, because that is the stereotypical American. And he kept telling me that I spoke Thai very well. I nearly laughed out loud every time he said it, because we both knew that I do NOT speak Thai well. I barely speak it at all. I think he was probably just thankful I was trying to speak Thai.

I am beginning to find peace in doing the small and mundane things and I am being reminded by God that joy can be found there. That is a huge praise, but also a big request for prayer. Every day I have to make the decision to find joy or not, and it is there to be found if I really take the time.

And now a story from last friday that will probably have you worrying for my safety, however I am going to insist that you need not worry. Disclaimer: I live in a VERY safe neighborhood. About 5 nights a week it is my responsibility to lock up the Mekong Center at 9 pm. Not a big deal --I just walk over shut a gate, lock a couple doors, done. I walk back home, usually I don't see another person the whole time. This was not the case last friday night. There were three Thai people walking ahead of me on the road, looking like they were hobos, kinda. They saw me and walked over. I didn't really think anything of it and I didn't feel like I was in danger or anything. One of them, an older woman reeking of alcohol, started speaking in Thai to me. My mind was racing, trying to think of how to tell them that I can't speak Thai, but beofre I could say anything she started saying words that I recognized and I realized she was asking me for money. The ironic thing about it was she was asking me for 20 baht (a bit less than $1), but she was holding 20 baht in her hand (I guess to show me what it looked like...). I wasn't carrying any money with me so I could honestly say I didn't have 20 baht. I was able to say this in Thai. We had just learned that day in class how to say money, so I basically just kept saying "may mee satang," or "no have money." It did the trick and they walked off.