Oceans - Ban Jao Mai - Day 6

Cave/family day

I am skipping a bit because today was so great…for the most part! I am still in my four-day leadership block. Today was day 3! We went to a place called Emerald Cave which was supposed to be unbelievable. It was cool but my expectations were too high. We went in and it was really dark. We kept swimming until we saw a light opening! We swam out (in less than 5 minutes) into a canyon looking beach. All sides were surrounded by rock and it was beautiful. However, I was under the impression we would see cool fish/corals. We saw that all the tourists come in were attached to a rope and their local tour guides were pulling them! Today we learned about tourism…I’m never going to be ale to be a tourist again without feeling ridiculous. Although, I don’t think I have ever done anything that absurd!

The rest of the day was family day! Brendo and I had to talk to the P’s about our leadership and tomorrows plan. Brendo and I were told that we need to be more assertive and decisive. Today wasn’t so bad but yesterday was extremely frustrating. Everyone definitely loves to hear themselves speak which I s a challenge but we are working through it! Leadership is awkward when you are leading your peers. I definitely am not trying to mess with the group dynamics so I am sticking to my more understated leadership technique that the P’s are not so fond of.

Anyways, we ate lunch and then Roz and I walked back to our houses because we made a swimming date with Salina but it took forever to rally the troops and get out! This was a little frustrating because we had to write our 8page midcourse essay tonight because it was due tomorrow! Today was the only time to work on it. It got moved up because Ajan Mark came in today because he is getting interviewed for a famous television program, which is taking place here instead of the next islad where we were supposed to have midcourse. Bummer because these are our last days with the family! Eventually, we swam and played! I love all the kids but they can be so annoying! After an hour or so we headed in! I took a shower and went to Roz’s to work...

Unfortunately, Bookah followed me so I had to deal with him! Then Roz and I had to find a place to work because the kanom shop at her home was still opened~ By this time, all the kids had found us. We had told them a million times that we had a lot of work. So, we told them we were going to work on the beach ALONE! They followed. Then we decided to ignore them. Salina was NOT happy. I feel bad because we had to be very direct with her because we had such little time! I guess I took the P’s advice to be assertive!

Salina was the least of our worries. Over the course of an hour or so…we had more kids come. Everyone I had ever met and more! At one point, about 10 boys came and started shooting fire crackers out of coconuts or whatever they could find! These boys ranged in age from 4-10…all had lighters!

We had good starts on our essays but we had to head back to Roz’s house (mine is infested with kids). But of course, her uncles came to distract! I gave up and went home for dinner! I wish someone had explained this assignment to the families because they kept asking if I was done…noooooo! I worked in the middle of the floor for a while until Mah Ni said it was time for dinner. I ate alone but Mah sat with me and talked. Then all her friends came and sat around. Dinner was pretty gross and I wasn’t very hungry but they were all watching me as we talked!

After dinner, I was determined to finish my essay because there was more music and dancing tonight! Last night we had music and dancing as well but it was pretty weird… I went outside to work on the porch because there was a light but Book and a little girl who is always around came over! They wouldn’t leave me alone because they are only 2 and 3 years old. The girl even sat on my notebook! AYYY!! I had to go back to Roz’s. Somehow I whipped it out in an hour!

It started pouring and I headed back home. The music had already started but Mah said they weren’t going because of the rain. Eventually, I found someone to take me and luckily a bunch of friends were there. It was way better than yesterday! There was a huge stage. Everyone was dancing in the rain. The weird dancer girls were back but not as stripper-esqu.

P’Jack led us up on stage and we danced! So fun! The second time we went up one of the Mahs told us we had to go because some guy was getting aggressive. So the boys left but Roz had just arrived so I stayed with her. Good decision! A gay guy came up to us asking us to dance! He was so fun! But I said we weren’t allowed. He told us about his farang bf! Then my aunt grabbed me and brought me up to dance with her! So fun! So me, Roz, Jennica, my aunt, some of Mah’s friends, and the gay boy all danced! My aunt taught me house to dance and we just had a great time! 

At one point, a guy came up to me and obviously wanted to dance but all the Mahs grabbed him, yelled something at him and then shoved him away! It was really adorable. They take such great care of me! It was endearing and it made me realize how much I don’t want to leave this family! Everyone on the pier knows my name, talks and laughs with me, and takes care of me!!