Christmas Has Come and Gone - New Years the Same

I debated if I wanted to make a new years resolution this year. I find that most of the time I forget about them until it's crunch time making the end result fairly disappointing.

So this year I have decided that I will not. I did open my journal that I got last Christmas from my sister in law and jotted some thoughts down. As my pen flew across the page I noticed a common theme that I would like to follow; Live my life more simply, kindly and generously.

Cheers to simplicity, kindess and generosity in 2013.

Shh...don't tell, but I've started blogging again.

It's been over 4 years since I embarked on the journey of blog hood. Somehow I am inspired by my every loving sister in laws and their incredible way to express themselves through the written word.

This past month or so has been tough, really this year in general. Lack of health, destroyed relationships have affected those that I love the most and I find that sickness seems to emotionally draw me in. I find myself tired, weepy, angry, a bit more tired and I feel that it takes all that I am not to clench my jaw and explode in an emotional tirade.

However, throughout this reflection I need to remember God has never promised us good health. He has promised that he will love us, even in our pits of despair, when the pain is much more than we can handle - and even in the good times - which I find I forget to thank Him for. Most often for His brilliant consistency in making my life seem so harmonious - even when my eyes are fixed in an entirely different direction.

Today I choose to be thankful.

My burning Nostrils

If anyone knows anything about me it is that I am an extemely nose sensitive person. Before I left home I smelt the summer breeze, fabric softener, fresh cut grass and on occasion the Dare cookie factory. You can't go wrong with any of those smells.
Now I smell smells that have never infilrated my nostrils. Ones that cannot be explined in words and ones that I will not bring home in my suitcase.

It is rather amazing however that each part of the world has it's own distinct smell. Somdy would say it's the smell of garbage - rotting garbage. Living with a westerner has given us less of Thai persepective but it's still something I am not sure I will ever forget.

Week three in Thailand

So we have officially been in Thailand for three weeks now and I could for sure blog about some very bizarre things.
It's still ridiculously hot here. We are still trying to understand why 3/4's of the population in Nong Khai wear jeans and long sleeve shirts when it is a hundred degrees out. It's insane.

Today we went to Udon Thani about an hour from Nong Khai to go to a "mall." Malls here consist of a huge market, discount stores galore and a token Body Glove shop. This mall was 4 floors and rather big. It was packed today since it was so hot. Most people go there to be in the air conditioning not much to shop.

We have finally come to grips with the fact that we are the minority and have several people a day looking at us. It's also easy to get ripped off. I was feel rather confident yeasterday and went to a store down the street to buy some chocolate (Colin is having withdrawl since arriving here); there was no sign as to what the item cost but I found out later that I paid double the price. The common consenses here is that the "white" people are rich and that the locals are first to admit that they will take you for all that you are worth. Most "white" people are referred to as French. I am not sure why but everyone here that is white is called French.
Since we are in such a touristy town we do see quite a few white people walking around the city. Most of them are men older in age between 60-80 years old that have come here for a young wife. Not just a little bit younger - young like barely 20 and up. They are paid quite substansially to be the man's wife and are conpensated by also supporting their families. Somdy says that most of the women here that marry that old of a man have likely been prostitutes for many years. There has been many times that I have seen men who are carrying a baby and they themselves are in their 60's and 70's. It's odd to see.
The other white people that are here own businessess. Usually from Great Britain or Germany. They come and open pubs for a fairly low cost and fratinize with the other white people. Most locals can't even afford to set foot in them.

Last night we were teaching English - going through the alphabet and one of the words was North America. We showed everyone where it was and showed them where we lived. Most people's reaction is that it is cold and they wonder if we are living in a pre-industrial civilization. When we explained to them that people of all colours live in our country; as well as people that are from their own country - they looked at us with wide eyes thinking "ya right." It was great letting them in on the secret of our homeland how it is so diverse and multicultural! Looking at their own country though I can see how they would be so awed. A country of billions and you would maybe see 1 white person per every 75 Thai. There really is no diversity here.
It did feel good to let them know that if one day they did decide to come to Canada to use their budding English skills that they would be welcomed with open arms by someone just like them.

Breathe that air...

Road kill makes me shudder.
Though I await summer with an anxious breath I loathe the vision of bloated 4 legged creatures.

Old school throw back

Today I went to a step areobics class at my gym that was absolutely hell.
The only thing that kept me going was the instructor reciting " now I want two peeters."
That's funny.

hairy situation

Sometimes I go for a lovely little jaunt to the fairview park mall to see what's going down in my hood...
A enjoy a even stride and wave to those that I know. It's rather enjoyable.
That is until the booth. The booth of hell. The booth where the euro men clap their little pink flat irons at you as you pass byand pressure you into their 360 degrees of mirrors.
Back off - my hair and I are fine!