#7 Happy New Year!

We've had a cold couple of weeks here in Muang Samsip recently. I'm talking lows of 15 degrees, my God it was horrendous. I think that's a sign I've truly accommodated to Thai weather now, although I am still sweating it out whilst the students wear jumpers on most days. Through these past cold weeks we've had to shut all the shutters in our house, trying to keep out the cold winds - it may not be as cold as back home but it sure does feel it when the house is made to let out heat, not keep it in! We've been buried in 3 blankets, huddled in our beds and having to do jogs on the spot to bring up our body temperature before even bracing the cold showers! Even though we felt so cold and moaned a lot, Thai people must have suffered a lot worse for they were all wearing wooly hats, scarves, gloves and big coats to school (in the day it was not even that cold, more like a British Summer at 17-19 degrees) whilst we were still in lose t-shirts during the day. Maybe my British skin is just thicker... Saying all this however, Thai winter only lasted a few weeks and it's already back to sweltering degrees again - where they are still wearing thick jumpers.

Merry Christmas from M4/1

School continued over Christmas but luckily it was the end of term and instead of having to teach rowdy classes on Christmas Day, it was Sports Day! Ok, so Sports Day isn't quite like we have in the UK. Firstly, there were students everywhere doing practically nothing. They were all sitting around in groups just chilling, with the few events going on around. On Christmas Day we spent the morning slowly waking up and enjoying tea in bed. We had already sneakily opened our presents on Christmas Eve at Midnight for without any parents around we felt we could do what we wanted! As my parents are in Malaysia currently also enjoying the lack of christmas pressures, Sally and Nicole's parents were kind enough to send me presents also. I think... finally... maybe... just... I have enough chocolate. Around midday we went into school and got to cook some sticky rice with coconut with some students - yeah, like I said, Sports Day... And then the 3 of us went into Ubon to enjoy a typical over indulgent Christmas Day. We had 'The Pizza Company' pizza followed by 'McDonald's' chips followed by 'Swensen's' chocolate brownie and banana waffle sundae followed by 'Take a Break' coffee. I mean, it's not Christmas if you don't feel sick from too much food, right?

Christmas Cards made by M2/3 for me!

Friday was the last day of term and for our New Years Holiday we had booked to go to Koh Samui - 7 girls, 7 nights, 7 ghastly hangovers... Friday evening we got the overnight bus to Bangkok which was the coldest night I have ever experienced in my life. I think even if you spent the night covered in snow, it would be warmer. Ok, Thai logic; they get extremely cold in 17degrees that they wear wooly hats and big coats, yet they put the air con on on overnight buses down to 15 degrees and only give you a measly little blanket. Yeah, makes total sense. In Bangkok we spent the day in a shopping center enjoying a Nando's type meal at a place called 'Piri Piri' whilst waiting for our next night bus/ferry to Koh Samui. Ok, travellers tip... make sure taxi drivers actually look at maps you give them when asking them to take you places. Oh and insist on putting the metre on, one taxi driver just out right refused so we got out and got into another because no, we are not stupid tourists who will pay extortionate amounts Mr Rude Taxi Driver. So 20 minutes before checkout closes to get our bus, we realise we've been taken to the wrong bus station so 5 of us, with our big bags, jump into yet another taxi, all sitting on top of one another, shouting 'Laow Laow Laow' (faster faster) to get to the right bus station which oh so conveniently is in the middle of Khao San Road - not so easy to get too! So after a freezing cold night bus, running through crowds of people, carrying our big rucksacks, feeling the pressure of getting to the station on time, another long night bus and then a very very rocky catamaran ferry journey - we made it! Koh Samui was a whole world away from the remote and rural world of Muang Samsip with tourists galore and western food at every turn. It was a nice change. We enjoyed being able to soak up the rays on the beach and meet new tourists and other travellers whilst not having to worry about getting up early for work or lesson plans. For New Years Eve we went to our first Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. The NYE Countdown Party is the biggest beach party in the entire world with 65,000 people enjoying the countdown together. I have no words to explain it, all I can say is, you need to experience a Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan once in your lifetime for it is the most insane, surreal, intense, craziest experience.

Monday we arrived back to Muang Samip and after just over a week away it feels nice to be 'home.' Currently I'm at school in the English Office waiting for my next class to start. We have just enjoyed another lunch where a group of students bring/cook us lunch and we eat it together whilst they attempt to speak English. Mostly this consists of them shyly eating whilst we ask them questions, but occasionally you get a confident student who gets a small conversation going. It's now been 4 months here in Thailand and so I'm a Quarter of the way through this year and it wouldn't be fair to say it's all been easy, but it's definitely worth it. Knowing it's only another couple of months until I get to see my parents in my holidays is helping the homesickness go away but words cannot describe how much I miss my best friends, my home, my bed, my parent's cooking and my one true love - my cat, Lizzy. Despite all this, these past 4 months have been a real adventure and I'm only excited for the next 8 months and anything and everything that could happen.

Dinner with our Thai Family

One major thank you to all my friends and family back home for the love and support through emails, letters and parcels. Lots of Love, Amy xoxo