Weekend with the family…August 28, 2011

I was definitely nervous for the weekend. This was the first time I would be solely with my family Friday evening through Monday morning. This weekend was a bit rough.

Friday night I felt sick the entire night and was up sporadically throughout the night. I will spare you all details. My family must have noticed because when I woke up the next morning they asked ‘you stomach okay?’ By morning, I felt much better. So, I said I felt fine. Mem made me a very digestible breakfast of rice and eggs. The rest of the day was very low key. Paw let me do some painting which was really nice. He said he liked them, which I take to heart since he is an art professor! Later in the day, we went on another bike ride. This one was a bit less intense than the last one to the dam. But, it still tired me out and I slept very soundly Saturday night which was nice because it was the first night I slept completely through the night since being here! YAY!

Today I was hoping my family would take me out to see Chiang Mai (or anywhere, really). Unfortunately, they had no such plans. At  one point I texted a couple friends and asked what they had done with their host families so I could think of something to ask my family to do with me. Sure enough, everyone was going to the Walking Market in the Old City of Chiang Mai. I asked Paw if we could go and he said it was too hot and the sun was too strong…I would get a sunburn! So, he said maybe later. And then, he set me up to paint some more. Eventually, he said it was time for lunch. I am rarely hungry here…which is weird but it is just too hot all the time and I am ALWAYS being fed.

So, we head to Meh’s house and then off to a little house in the village that serves Pad Thai. The lady serving us was speaking Thai to me so I could practice. This is when Paw first told me he thought I would fail Thai class…motivation at its finest. Paw then took me to a friends house who has a daughter that is 16. She and her mother spoke to me in Thai also. I don’t think Paw realized how little I know and that I can’t really keep a conversation going. I am HOPING that I learn a lot this week. All four of us then went to a little market/fair. Basically, there were a few food stands and some games and contests. The mother was hilarious and kept trying to play this game where you throw a spinning top. She then wanted me to try. Neither of us  could do it. Paw said it was time to go so we could pick up Nong Not. So, we head out to her friend’s house to get her and head off to another market where I would get another sarong.

Unfortunately this market was not the one I wanted to go to. But, it was still pretty cool. We got some food and I got a sarong which my aunt later sewed for me (she is a seamstress). Nong Not got this SCARY looking bug that is probably the length of my thumb as a pet, I later found out.  It is tied to stick of bamboo so it can’t pinch or fly away. Seems like a very happy insect. Poor creature. But, he’s our new pet. Yay!

Now, for the rough part of the weekend… On the way to the market, Paw told me he thought we should learn some Thai BEFORE coming to Thailand. I suppose that makes sense. But, I think he is starting to get a little annoyed by how little I know seeing as though I have only taken four days of class. He then said that Mem thought I was sad! This makes me feel HORRIBLE. I asked why he thought that. He told me that it is because I don’t talk a lot and I sit by myself sometimes. This is true. I have had a lot of alone time this weekend because I haven’t really had anything to do. So, this evening I made sure to be around the family ALL the time and I tried to talk more. But, when I did, Paw just told me that I kept making mistakes and that he thought I’d make the same ones again tomorrow. So, needless to say, this evening has been a bit difficult and I am really going to try even harder to learn! I NEED to get it right! Thai is very difficult but hopefully I’ll get better.

Goodnight! Or Good morning to you all!