Happy New Year all!

Just a quick post to say that yes there were a number of bombs that went off in BKK yesterday (which was really eff’d) and that I wasn’t anywhere near them. No one knows for sure why they were set off. Of course there’s been lots of violence down south for a long time, but this apparently is not linked with that. No idea. It’s just kind of sad and strange that it’s happened. The main New Year’s countdown party was cancelled because of it. I was at the local pub most of the night, which was fun, and thankfully uneventful.

More soon. Cheers.

I can’t believe it. James Brown died on Christmas day. Sad, sad, sad news for all music lovers everywhere. He’s been touring and playing so long, you almost got the feeling he’d outlive us all. Rest in peace.

So here’s the link to the set on flickr of my new apartment, inside and of the view outside. Enjoy. :-)

Well, thankfully I got an extension last night on one of my assignments which is due Monday (I spent two days this week working on the wrong one :-S) which left me with some breathing space to think about finding an apartment this weekend. So, I woke this morning and took a wander over to soi 36 to check out Pacific Apartments, which my friend Vickie had recommended – having almost moved in there herself a while ago. It’s the soi right across from 53 where I lived at Raintree. Anyway, the room’s pretty good and it’s in my price range with the things I need, and seems to be pretty quiet – which is great. So I took it after a couple minutes contemplatin’. So with Vickie, Da and Amy all living along Thonglor, I’m back in the hood and close to friends. :-D Which is great. It’s quite something to see things falling into place so rapidly. Seriously, it’s been just about a week and a half since I first contemplated staying in Thailand.

Here’s a photo of all my worldly goods as it stands in BKK – well minus my laptop and gear in my little suitcase. :-)

I’ll post more photos once I’ve moved in.

Last night was quite a trip as well. I was invited to the Xmas Party at the Village by my new boss. Thankfully my old co-worker/still co-worker, Miriam, was there, cause her daughter goes to that school, and I had someone to chill with after I first arrived – breathlessly from my online class. But even after Miriam and her crew left I had a real nice time chatting with the other teachers and parents and assorted people. Had a great time talking with my boss’s parent-in-laws, who are Irish but use to live in London, Ontario, many years ago. He knew Cambridge as Preston, Hespeler and Galt of course. It having been three cities before amalgamating. ;-) Anyway, it was quite easy talking to everyone and they were all really welcoming. Everyone seems dead nice over there too, and I ended up sticking around til about 11PM helping to finish off the last keg of Asahi with my boss and two of the teachers as well as some ex-students. ;-) It really does seem like an extended family there. It’s interesting to be getting involved in a school where people are so close, and they talk about the potential of me sticking around and wanting me to stick around for some time. They can see it in my eyes apparently. ;-) Will write more about it soon. :-)

Off to move soon, and then Raffles Xmas party tonight as well!

I haven’t had time to post photos or tell stories from my recent trip to Laos. I am back in BKK safe and sound though. ;-) But, I now can say, that after a whirlwind timeline of approximately a week, I am staying in Thailand for at least the next 6 months or so, and hopefully until my MA is finished in the next 3/4 of a year, and then who knows! I will be gainfully employed part time at two schools come the first week of January. I will be teaching two classes at my old work, as well as two afternoons a week at a new school that teaches kids with developmental challenges. (Not sure how to describe that yet since I have only been there twice so far.)

I could say that circumstances have corralled me into this position – and I generally dislike being corralled ;-) – but honestly, it’s all worked itself out (after my fears of potential visa problems were assuaged) by itself with little effort on my part besides agreeing to stay. Almost as if I was meant to stay. ;-) Who knows. I do know that my friends here are dead awesome and wicked good support. They’re all quite happy I’ll be sticking around for a while longer at least. Now, I need to find a place to stay, move by this Saturday, as well as finish one school assignment for UNN by Monday! Life just piles it on at times. When it rains…

I had been planning on going to AUS come January, and I still will probably go in Jan or Feb for a quick visit to activate my working-holiday visa in case I need it later, but it honestly looks like a bird in the hand is worth more than potential jobs in AUS – no matter how many job opportunities there may be there.

But, for now, I am a semi-shell-shocked student cum teacher finding myself in BKK once more. More soon. :-)

I’m heading back to Laos this Thursday for a wonderful few days with my buddy Kaywood. K has to do his visa run and I’m coming along for the fun of it. I won’t be taking my laptop this time, what with the troubles I had on Samet and the extra added bother of carrying it around even. So I’ll be conducting my online classes this Thursday from an internet cafe once again. I have a dead early flight to Udon Thani (like I did last time I went through to Laos) so hopefully I can catch a few winks in the afternoon before class starts. ;-)

I have lots to do over the next two days to make sure I’m on top of my game. And, when I return from Laos, I am going to start job prospecting again. I’m still planning on hauling ship after the New Year, and I want to get a gauge on likely places to get employ – going to look into AUS, Holland and Ireland. All places I would love to live and work for a year. So, here’s hoping. :-)

Well, now. Just when I think I’m all set to finally get online – got the net, got my laptop, get my cell phone… My phone has officially become screwed. It’s not the SIM card. It’s not the network. It’s my phone. :’-( Sucks so bad. Am in an internet cafe right now. I only bought the phone about 6 months ago or so, so hopefully I can get it fixed at no cost. But being on Samet without a working phone is not so workable. Checking to see if I can do my classes in the internet cafe or not. Fun fun fun.

On the plus side, the beach is great. :-D

This is great! I knew that there was GSM network almost covering all of Thailand, so I knew I would be able to connect using GPRS from Koh Samet. But it’s one step better – I’m on EDGE so I have the same transfer rate as I do in BKK. Or at least at first blush it seems that way. ;-) How it works out over the next few days remains to be seen. But, I will officially be logging in to my MA program online session tomorrow from a resort on Samet, using my cell phone. ;-) It still tickles me pink, the whole thing. :-D