My First Week

Last time I check in I had just gone to my first event with PHBGTUF.  It went great and the kids had a really good time.  The time since has been interesting, exciting and challenging.  I knew going into this position that I was moving half way around the world to work for a tiny organization in a city I have never been and never seen.  I also knew that I didnt know anyone.  This is turning out to be much harder than earlier anticipated.  I almost feel like a kid at his first day of school.  Trying to meet new people is well, really freaking hard.  Normally adults meet other adults through work or mutual friends.  This would seem like an easy way of meeting people and I like my coworkers.   I think they are great people.  The problem is that they have lives (who would have guessed that) and aren't 20 somethings with time on their hands to go out.  This leaves me to make my own friends (shocking I know).  As I stated before its really hard.  I have decided to try a few things. One of which is signing myself up for couchsurfing, so if people are in my area and want to grab a drink I am available.  Sadly I wont actually be able to host anyone.  I have tried going around to bars and for a few days I had a roommate named Ron.  That was a lot of fun to have someone to go out with but alas he has left and I am back on my own.  Any other ideas would be great let me know.  I have tried the go to bars and meet people but most people who go to bars here aren't exactly in my age bracket....ie. grey hair.  I am assuming they aren't looking for a 25 yr old, new drinking buddy.  Dont feel sorry for me I am just relating how difficult it is to truly leave any safety nets behind. 

Now onto the recap of the last week.  We will be hosting a fundraiser on the 16th.  I have spent a lot of time trying to learn as much as I can about work, while setting up the fundraiser.  I feel dumb at times asking my boss, who I know is busy, for things to do but I dont know the ropes yet.  That transition should better come soon. Wednesday night I was taken out to dinner by the Foundation creator's son.  The foundations starter has passed away.  Now his son looks after the restaurant group Baan Rim Pa and the foundation.  The dinner at Baan Rim Pa was one of the best meals I have ever had.  It was nice of him to take me out considering he didnt have to.  It was good to talk to him about how things have changed here over the years and he is a fun guy to talk to. Thursday was my third birthday in SE Asia but the first non on the Mekong.  It was also my first birthday without friends I have known for years or family but was still a good time.  Tina, Graham, Arati, and Ron took me out for some drinks and dinner.  I am not sure when it will sink in that I live in a place where everytime we get drinks on the beach its one of the most beautiful places I have been.  The thing that made my birthday nice was how many people to wished me happy birthday.  Many great friends through facebook and by email reached out to me on the day.  I felt that although I was all the way around the world people spent the time to comment and I appreciated it.  Thank you all. Next time you just have to visit so we can celebrate in person.  Friday I drove over to the second school where we employ an English teach.  She kindly let me sit in on a class. This experience made me so happy that I am not a teacher.  The class was made of up first graders and they might have been on crack.  I give people who can teach all the credit in the world.  I know that if I were a teacher I would have probably killed someone by now.  Well atleast I would have really considered it.  The kids did a lot of singing and screaming English phrases.  Thinking back it was exactly what my Lao classes with Chanta were like but only two students not 19.  Saturday I finally did a relaxing touristy thing, I spent the whole day at the beach and found out Sunday morning that I didn't do as good of a job putting on sunscreen as I thought.  The beach is beautiful but I have never seen so many wrinkles.  If I never see a speedo again it will be too soon but I know I will see some tomorrow.  I forgot about the best part of this whole week.  One night the house cat got locked in my room for what turned out to be 4 hours. When I got home the cat was crying and he had laid a nice little gift on my bed.  I bet you all can get what the gift was.  Anyways I cleared my sheets and had to flip my bed after doing my best to get rid of the smell.  Sadly none of my coworkers felt bad for me they just laughed.  I wish I could say I wouldn't have done the same thing but I would have laughed too. 

Here I am on sunday after my first week I am starting to get the feel for things.  I am spending more money than I originally thought which is shocking fine.  I am finding regular places to eat and drink.  I have become a hit with some of the bar girls because I speak some Thai or they speak Lao.  I have made up an imaginary wife so they know that I am not going to take them home with me.  My roommate Ron was born in the Philippines but is American and every time we went to a bar they would try to speak to him in Thai and I would understand and respond and he would have no idea.  The people at the bar kept saying he looks Thai but doesnt speak it and your white but you kind of speak it.  I was actually sort of proud about my Lao skills.  I still have a lot of studying today but so many expats I have met dont speak any Thai and they survive fine.  I have found a place to watch the Superbowl so at 6:30 am tomorrow I will be sitting at a bar watching the big game.  I hope its a good one.  I was in Vietnam and missed the first Giants Pats match up.  I think the Pats will pull out the win for whatever its worth.  24-21 Pats. 

Currently I am trying to put together the perfect beach music mix.  If you comment please put down your top 3 favorite beach/summer songs.  Here are three of mine:

3.Summertime by Sam Cooke
2.The Boys of Summer by Don Henley
1.The Harder They Come by Jimmy Cliff

As always comments are appreciated and you can talk about almost anything. You could even give me some blog post ideas.