Natalie arrived three weeks ago...and it feels like forever and only a second at the same time. She hit the ground running for sure! Two days after she arrived she came along to help out on her first service project. The Consulate was doing its Day of Service in honor of 9/11 and Gandhi's birthday. I was fortunate to be chosen as a helper with some of the planning and got to spend the day at the project. We went to a Muslim school for girls run by the Indian government. The grounds had formerly been a palace but the yards were very overgrown and the buildings were in need of help. Along with over a hundred volunteers from local colleges and schools, we cleared the field (using blades, no really) and painted the stage. The schoolgirls were adorable and at one point Nat, Whitney (the intern) and I toured the grounds with them. They were incredibly proud of their school and fascinated by us. All along the walk the three of us were swarmed by the smiling faces shaking our hands and asking for our autograph.
That weekend I took Natalie down to Temple Bay where we got to walk along the beach in between cows and see the temple. That Sunday we participated in a Breast Cancer walk along the beach. While I was working that week she got out and saw two orphanages and found an organization to volunteer regularly with where she can help children with disabilities. All in all a productive first week for the Natalie!
The next weekend which was last weekend was Thailand! By Friday night I still hadn't packed and we had signed on to go to a presentation at Global Adjustments about Diwali where we got to see an amazing dance performed by two guys in makeup and jangles. Dancing here is storytelling and one was the good god and the other the mischievous evil god...the dance culminated in a wonderful fake sword fight...the music was live...all in all incredible! We went home to pack but there was a lot of noise outside so we hurried up to the rooftop to watch the fireworks!
Finally I packed and we headed to the airport after picking Bridget up. The flight was not at all terrible and at the end...I was in THAILAND!!!!! After waiting for Holly to show up we got into a rented minivan shuttle and headed out into the 7 a.m. Thai day...I've never been so happy to see cars actually driving in the lanes!!!! Yes, imagine that, the roads have clearly marked lanes and people actually stay in them! And it is so CLEAN!!!! Heavenly.
Our hotel is amazing and since we are trying to check in so early we end up with one room instead of three....except that the room is an apartment as big, probably bigger actually, than my huge government apartment that I have now. And we have three balconies and amazing views!!!! We order room service and nap.
After napping and hitting Starbucks we take off to the Sky Train which delivers us to the weekend market, aisle after aisle and row upon row and tiny little side alley upon tiny side alley of vendors of all sorts of stuff...of course I mostly focused on the street meat and other food!
There was so much food on the street! Getting off the train I got a sesame and salt waffle, then Nat picked up the green mango with chili in a bag then I got the coconut pancakey things and then we both got coconut ice cream...we really just ate our way through the market...and shopped...yes even I bought stuff...two skirts and two shirts and an awesome pink headband. We did in fact find another bed restaurant for dinner! Must go nap, will finish tomorrow.
