So I'm Dating an Australian

So I’m dating an Australian(for those of you that didn’t know at home sorry to tell you this way, but you can commence Facebook stalking Jayden Drake)

Yes, it’s true… I’m dating an Australian.  I have Vegemite in my house, swear more than I ever have in my life, and say strange words and phrases like: tucker, peckish, bloody hopeless, you’re feral, and bugger all.  Along with: mate, cheers, and good on you.  I probably drink more beer than I have ever before. Additionally, my grammar may have taken a step backwards, although this is likely more of a Jay thing than an Australian thing.  

Anyway, I saw the jar of Vegemite and just began writing.  That Vegemite that will go untouched and unopened for the next two and a half months, unless some brave visitor wants to extinguish their curiosity, Ubon folks if you want a try just let me know.

So that’s some random bit of news, you can decide how big the news is, the other sad bit of news is that Jay returned to Australia this week to finish his last year of university and complete his degree in Education. So sadly I am without my live in comedian and masseuse, or as my dictionary corrects my grammar masseur, or in short that guy that gives really good massages.

Lucky for me and Jay it wasn’t before a whirlwind weekend vacation to the beach and beautiful Krabi. Here are some pictures I’ll let them do most of the explaining. Sorry there aren’t actually pictures of us together…. The only one I took I hope never makes it to cyber space.

The pool and view where we stayed the first two nights. 

Off for an island tour, stocking our boat. 

Jay and our tour guide for the day, Sun. 

Street food looks a little different here. 

You see that ladder right??

We totally climbed it, but the sea kicked our arses later. 

Feeding the fish. 

Chicken Island

And insert here the picture of Jay in a snorkel for the first time.  I forgot to take one...

We also got to snorkel at night with bioluminescent plankton soo cool!!

Final Island Stop. 

And our final hotel, little bit of relaxation. 

And when I returned to Ubon from our trip I had a little reminder of my time at the sea.  Remember I said the sea kicked my arse? Quite literally, I didn't land so well when I jumped the nearly 15 meters or 40 so feet.....

Anyway we had a great weekend and a little bruising heals with time and already there's not much pain or soreness, but yes the ocean totally one on that one! 

And yeah so I’m dating an Australian, he’s a pretty cool guy and I’m a fan and a wee bit sad to see him go.  Ok I’m a bad liar I’m very sad to see him go, but what can you do. People come in and out of your life, live closer and farther.  Sometimes things just happen a certain way and you will make the most of it.  And hey at least while Jay’s gone my grammar might get more betterer.

Disclaimer: This post was okayed by Jay before hand.

And in other news the next posts will be about travels. YAY!! Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos here I come. Although they might be posted closer to my return to Thailand at the end of April, beginning of May. Sorry! I'll see what I can do but I won't have my laptop while traveling. 

Holidays Abroad

It’s been awhile since posting.  I would guess that there are two reasons.  First I’ve been kept busy, with packing and planning for a nearly two weeks traveling Thailand, and also writing 8 different midterm tests and planning all my classes.  Second, I’m quite simply settling into life in Thailand, the culture’s becoming comfortable and I’m continuing to get to know the great friends I’ve made here in Thailand.

The whirl of Christmas and packing admist midterm writing was worth it though!  I can’t begin to describe the wonderful holiday I had.  It was so wonderful to see my mom for the holidays, and share in Thailand with her, as well as share numerous new experiences as her carefully planned travel itinerary unfolded. The highlights included playing with elephants, riding on no fewer than 20 distinctive modes of transportation, celebrating Christmas with wonderful people of Ubon, welcoming the New Years under the glow of fireworks in Bangkok, and being lulled into relaxation on beaches of southern Thai islands.

The transition from a glorious holiday back to the past routine of teaching was a challenge, but over the past week I’ve gotten back into the swing of things and am remembering the things that I enjoy about Ubon and teaching my students at Assumption.

My saving grace as I get bored or frustrated will be looking ahead to my 6-8 week holiday form the end of March to the beginning of May.  I can’t wait to get “on the road” again and begin more travels around Thailand and very likely Laos, Vietnam, and/or Cambodia. If anyone has travel advice pass it along!!

To conclude my post I decided to take on the challenge of choosing my top 6 pictures from my ‘winter’ holiday. Ok so 6 might have turned into 20, and I tried to capture different points of our travels too. 

That time I went and saw some holes

“I will have a million pictures of dirt, shadows, and holes and it will be great”

Yup that sums up most of my trip to 3,000 holes.  It was a great day trip and I had a lot of fun playing around with photos on a nice sunny day in the dried out riverbed.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, and I apologize if there are enough to bore you, but I had fun running around taking pictures of dirt.