We started the day at 8am and our flight down south was at 10:30. We had to fly as opposed to taking the train because of the flooding in Bangkok! Very little good came out of that flood but our potential 19 hour travel day turned into a 2 hour flight and 3 hour van ride! Can’t complain.
I have been excited for this course forever but today I was SO excited. We got to the village around 5pm and the sun was beginning to go down. We ran over to the beach…one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen with huge limestone rock formations all around. We walked into the water and t felt amazing. It was warm but not too hot and such a beautiful color. Because the sun was going down, the water shimmered gold. The beach extended so far and was empty except for some local kids playing soccer!I have to say, I am very lucky because there are no other study abroad programs who can do what we do and have the connections that this programs has. I heard that this village doesn’t do other homestays.
Basically we all just reveled in the beauty. Everyone was so happy. We also met our host families in the sala! We had chicken curry and some weird seafood dish. All I know is that whatever I ate had tenticles. I am nervous for the food but honestly, I cannot even worry about it because of where I am! It is all so local and fresh so I think I can handle it! It didn’t even taste that bad! We sat down to eat with the family and there was an adorable cubby boy sitting there too! I haven’t seen too many kids this chubs. His name is Nong Bookati and he’s only 2 years old!! I also met Nong Salina, my 12 year old host sister who’s birthday is today!!
After dinner, we got in the back of a pickup and headed to our homes! I have my own room (Nong Salina’s room, I think) but it’s the most comfy bed I have had! They even put new sheets on! Anyways, I drew with the Nongs and Roz for a while using my oil pastels which are now lovingly worn and my paper is tragedied.
Everyone here is amazing, so friendly and hilarious! They are all muslim and ISDSI was very strict about dressing conservatively so I assumed they would be more strict. No way!
Oh another funny thing! As we were making up my bed, Mah stuck nails in the wood around the door, grabbed a sarong, and poked holes in it with the nails and attached it on. Guess Salina doesn’t usually get too much privacy!
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