SOO BUSY

So now that things have gotten started I'll tell you a little about my schedule. I wake up around 6:30 get dressed, have breakfast, read, etc then I have my SOC 491 calss from 9-11. From 11-12 and 1-3 I have speaking in Thai for these firsty two weeks and some afternoons we have writing instead of speaking. In the afternoons I usually go to the BUddhist University or to my student's temples to work on my project as well as to chat with them. I am at the temple until around 5 or 6 and then I go back and hang out with the new students since I usually am not able to talk to them all day. Afterwards I have to study and prepare again for the next day.

Today I got up at 5:30 to obserce monks gathering alms and I will be teaching later this afternoon. This weekend we will be going elephant riding and then we will be staying in a Lahu village until Tuesday so I won't be able to write until after that.

I got offered a job at the Buddhist University which was very flattering but I'm not going to do that right now. The monks keep giving me presents and TONS of food. Way more that I could ever eat but regardless the thought is still really sweet.

The students this year seem really excellent. Everyone doesn't seem high maintenance in any way and I'm having a great time getting to know them. I am at my apartment already and now I have a cell phone so if you would like the number but do not have it call my dad or e-mail and I will get it to you.

Its really nice to be back.

Amy