Sonkran, Islands, and Four Weeks??

The past while has been a whirlwind of activity, it's actually why I've put off this post for so long. The thought of writing about everything that's been going on is totally and completely overwhelming.

So I'm not going to do that. Simple solution. I'm just going to keep it brief folks. That tends to be the most interesting way of blogging anyways.

The week of April 13-15, was the famous and FANTASTIC Sonkran festival. This is the Thai New Year and is by far the most celebrated holiday in the country. Personally, I still favour Christmas, but I have to admit that Sonkran is definitely a holiday I'm going to miss when I return home.

I would sum it up as one huge water fight, where everyone and anyone gets involved. Music blares, people dance in the streets, trucks drive by with huge buckets of ice water, buckets of baby powder awaits on comers, and overall, it's just a blast! Also, major plus is the wicked flower shirts everyone is required to wear as a part of the festival.

Blessing the elders at Rainbow House for Sonkran Festival

The fight at Rainbow House!

Julia and I getting ready to head out on the streets with the gang

Everyone jump started the action!

The group after one of our outings on the town

Julia and I after the festivities, rocking the baby powder

We had the whole week off work due to this amazing holiday, so on Thursday the whole group of us headed to an island close by, Koh Samet. I had been there before with Vicki, but was excited to go again in a big group. We were told because of Sonkran that all the accomodations would be full and to not even bother looking for some. So we brought a tent, and camped on the beach.

What a fail. This tent is not one we were used to, you know, with the bendy poles that you slide into the designated holes covered in material. No. This was a sheet of blue material with straight, thick, metal poles. To me, tents don't look triangular. They would look like this.

Cool, styling, and modern; a tent that all of us 18-19 year olds would have grown up with. Not tents like this.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't that bad, but you get the idea. If it's triangular in shape, we're talking old school. The first night was fine, it withstood the wind. However, the second night when the downpour it our little blue tent, it collapsed and we ran for shelter. All of our stuff got absolutely soaked. I did not have a dry item on the way home, but it was all still fun. Definitely an adventure.

The beach

The first night we ate at a little beach restaurant and watched the fire show by the beach while we ate.

Julia and I enjoying the sun

Ana and Rachel at Naga!

After our crazy weekend away, it was back to work, and I was so glad! I missed the kids so much, I could hardly wait to see them again. Ana is my new partner at Rainbow House and I've really enjoyed having her around. She's so energetic and fresh with ideas, it's awesome! I would say that I'm getting a bit tired, so having her new and ready to go is a huge motivator. 

Gable's been visiting Thailand for the past little while and we had the opportunity to take two of the kids out on a trip. I was grateful for his ability to pick them up, because these kids were a bit bigger and more physically disabled than most of the kids I had taken out before. We took them to the big western mall, Central, for McDonalds and ice cream and then to the arcade for some car racing and airplane piloting. The boys we took were Por who is an 11 year old boy with no movement or feeling from his waist down, and Krit, a boy with spastic cerebral palsy which affects his speech and walking ability. Even though both of them have difficulty walking, there is NO lack of energy in these two! It was a good few hours where nobody was ready to go home.

Gable and Krit

Did you know happy meals in Thailand don't include fries?! Lame.

Por and myself, just being boys.

Yummmmmmmy

That was directed to me. . .Por obviously thinks I'm losing it

Ready to leave, notice we're the only ones actually ready.

The weeks have been a little bit more relaxed lately and it's been nice to spend the evenings chilled at home, watching movies and dozing off halfway through.

Last weekend Julia and I took one of the youth from Rainbow House out for some cake, and then the next day we went to see a Thai scary movie upon her request.

It looks really awful. It wasn't actually that bad. I mean, I screamed, but it was out of surprise more than horror. Tammy, the girl from Rainbow, enjoyed it. She's almost 18 and she attends an English boarding school on a scholarship. Her English is flawless, and she even speaks with a British accent. She's just as jumpy as I am, Julia's too tank to jump, and Gable isn't bothered by anything, so I was glad she was sitting next to me for support!

Julia and I have exactly one month left. . .as of today. It is absolutely unreal. This whole experience has been such a journey and completely life changing. Our first real time being independent we were both living in a new country and new culture. Both of us were forced to grow up and deal with things on our own. It's been hard, but rewarding and neither of us would exchange this time for anything. (Except for families for all the kids we've grown to love. . .but other than that. . .)

Leaving Thailand will be hard, leaving the kids will be hard, and leaving Julia will be hard. I can't believe there's only 4 weeks left here. Where has the time gone? And yet, when I look back, actually, lots has happened, and it does feel like 8 months. 

Nothing's more bittersweet than this! I am so excited to meet Gaelle and Peterson and see my family again! It's constantly on my mind! However, I will miss this place. Thailand has become my home away from home, and the people and children my family away from my family.