Rice and Motorcycles

Hey Everyone!

Sorry it has taken me so long to update my Blog. It feels like time is going by so fast. It is hard to believe that Jess and I have been here almost two months! I remember the first night we arrived in Bangkok, feeling very nervous and anxious. I remember asking Jess right before we were about to walk out of the luggage pickup and through the doors where we would meet Dan and Pada for the first time, if she was sure she wanted to do this cause it was our last chance to turn back :) and now I feel like time is moving faster then I would like it too. Its rather bittersweet!

It has been a great two …well almost two months.Jess and I are on our way to Roi-et on the 27th of August. I am quite excited about the change in scenery and the change in pace. However I will miss the business of Bangkok and the friends we have made here, and our favorite chicken and rice lady and her husband with the soft features....... according to Jess :). A month ago I wondered what I was going to do when we left for Roi-et, I haven’t yet found chicken and rice as good as hers but the way I am feeling a month later is that if I eat anymore chicken and rice, or chicken fried rice, it will be oh to soon! There is a combination of reasons as to why we order this particular dish as much as we do. At first, it was because our now favorite chicken lady with the husband who has the soft features according to Jess, she is located just down the street from where we live so it was very convenient, second it was absolutely delicious (the first 10 times) and lastly it is the only thing we know how to order in Thai, so without pictures we are lost and thus resort back to what we know how to say in Thai...this being "cow pat guy". So our options are very very slim. Because of this minor dilemma, last night Jess and I went to a little Thai street restaurant that had a menu with pictures so we just pointed and were able to broaden our food choice:) Maybe that’s what we need to do is take some pictures of a variety of different Thai foods that we like and make a little picture book, so then we can just whip it out whenever we need to eat…….or I guess we could learn how to say something other then “Cow Pat Moo” or “Cow Pat Guy”. We really should look into that!One more rant about food while I’m on the subject. There is a delicious Thai treat called Mangoes and rice…..well that’s the English word for it…….anyways, if you are ever in Thailand or you ever decide to eat at a Thai restaurant, ask if they serve Mangoes and rice. It is the most delicious combination ever!! I never would have thought that those two things would taste good together but they put a bit of coconut juice on top and it seriously is a party for my taste buds. I find myself thinking the same thing whenever I eat this yummy treat, I wonder who thought it would be a good idea to eat mangoes and rice with a little bit of coconut juice on top….together.....Who ever it was is brillant and i am forever grateful :)

Today was our last day for Thai class. It was sad to say good-bye to my fellow class mates. However, most of my classmates will be taking module two so I will see them on Monday! I am enjoying the language and have looked forward (most days) to being in class and learning all that I can. I feel like I can understand a lot more then I can actually speak. And then there are many times where I hear what they are asking and it sounds familiar but I just can’t recall what the word means. That’s a bit frustrating at times but its coming slowly but surely. Thank you for all your prayers in that area, (keep them coming :)) God has been so good with giving me an understanding and a lot of encouragement to keep me chugging along. I know more than when I came right!? hahah..... that’s how I'm trying to look at it!! I am feeling a bit more comfortable as time goes on but still need to push myself to speak and converse more than I have been outside of class. I am looking forward to starting Module Two on Monday.

I took my first motorcycle ride last week. I was very nervous! When it was time to get on i wanted to hold the motorcyle driver so tight around the waist but knowing that its not culturally acceptable to do that here in the big BKK, i put my hands on his shoulders. At first i held on really tight, so tight that my knuckles where no longer skin tone but rather a nice shade of white, but in fear of the possiblity of striking a pressure point on the poor mans shoulders, I tried to loosen my grip a little. I mean really though, how bad would that have been if buddy passed out as i was on the back..hahah! (Thats all i could think of at that moment) However, once we got going it was glorious. I had a hard time trying to hold myself back from closing my eyes, lifting up my hands and singing "BORN TO BE WILD" at the top of my lungs. I decided against it though, as I didnt want to make myself anymore of a spectacle then i already was for being white! :) It was a great little adventure. I wouldnt mind driving around on a motorcyle, having it be my only mode of transportation while I'm here. I am thinking about investing in a sweet helmet or something.

Jess and I are having a great time. God is teaching me a lot at the moment about who He is and that when we seek Him He will and does draw us near. It is through seeking His face we come to know Him more and through knowing Him more we learn who we are in Him. Thank you for all your prayers. Continue to pray for us as we leave for Roi-et where we will be teaching and helping out wherever we are needed, that God would have His way with us and use us as He wants.

I love and miss everyone.
God Bless
Katey (aka. Street rider)