Two Quarters

The second quarter will be coming to a close next week. The time has passed so quickly. My coworkers explain it is because of all the holidays, the many Mondays we had off, the overnight trips that I've been apart of, the Visa runs, ect. I wonder the truth of these statements. I have always heard (and often experienced) the pace of life quickening as I get older. It is ironic, funny and sometimes depressing.

This last weekend was another long weekend. I went to my home in Bongti Baan with my friend Holly. I'll write what I wrote in my journal - it's sort of dry but it works.
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I want to write about my weekend befoe I forget about all the details. We (Holly, shelly and I) were going to leave on Friday but we were too late and missed the last bus out of MoCit. So instead we went out to eat at an Italian resturant Govindas. It was very expensive. Definetely not a good use of one's money but the food was delicious. Out of discouragement we returned to Ekamai and holly spent the night at my place. Poor her, she had some taxi problems in her attempt to make it to Ekamai and ended up at Phrom Phong BTS station. I feel bad because I don't hangout with her very often now. Yet even so I did have a good weekend with her and was happy she invited me to go to the Bamboo School with her.

So we successfully made it on a bus to Kanchanburi the next morning (only Holly and I). But we left Ekamai way too early (3am ish) in the morning. Then with my lack of bargaining skills we somehow got a songtaw to Bongti Baan. I mention my lack of bargaining skills because I was stupid and began bargaining at the price I wanted and didn't work up right. I should have started even lower. But alas! We made it. The two of us were somewhat concerned that we didn't recognize anything for sometime. But Holly, with her great sense of direction, realized that we were going parallel with the mountins in a zig-zag formation. We came to find out later that this was done by the drivers to bypass the police checkpoints.

I think we arrived at the school around 9ish, that was nice cause it meant that we could go and enjoy church. In arriving on the village songtaw I usually arrive around midafternoon. It was fun trekking up the hill cause we were trying to discreetly come up to the school. That didn't quite work, I think Toolay saw us and word go out. Nonetheless it was an adventure in itself.

We reached Momo's house were all the farang were having a Bible Study. They were all dressed beautifully in Karen garb and welcomed us with open arms and bear hugs. A good gift on the Sabbath! Then the Bible study continued.

Momo invited us to join her for what she called 'little people's church'. Kids church with some of the older kids tagging along too. Mowai lead out saying something in Karen and then we made birds. Momo left to take anew born baby to the hostpital (a girl that had jaundice).

Eww! I failed to mention with Heidi and Arthur going up to Mae Sot I got a gift - a Karen outfit. My shirt is golden and soft and I have a red sarong now. With every visit I am feeling more and more Karen. Or at least more familylike with these kids. Mom's called me one of her Karen daughters... I love it especially since I am not even Karen. But hey! What does that matter? This place is a home to me... one that I definitely need.

More of the story...
I can't quite recall what else happened on Sabbath but Sunday came in soon time. On Sunday it was work day the kids prepared Bamboo for weaving walls for a shower in the guesthouse, I sawed some wood for the whole setup. My favorite part of this day was bathing at the lake with the girls. I love that! Then hanging out with Lukai, Kum, Holly and Gina in the evening in front of the boy's dorm. Kum shared a Father's love song and ever since it goes through my head often.

"Whoa I love you more than I can tell! Whoa! I love you more than I can tell!"
He claims that he is not a 'naughty' boy but a 'innocent baby'. Hmm. I sense some mischeviousness behind those words (It doesn't when he has a big grin on his face)! We played with feet, smiles, lullabies... So fun. Lukai was a hoot in the photoshoots with Gina he couldn't seriously smile. He would always stick out his tongue or close his eyes. Hopeless? Not quite. Anyhow these two boys (and all the rest) have stolen my heart and make me desire to have boys of my own someday... of course not too soon!

We had a goodbye for Gina and the other New Zealanders that came to visit. Poor girl, eyes red and puffy. But there was some definite heart strings being pulled during her visit her. I liked her.