On a more positive note:  Yesterday I was feeling quite like a hermit.  I wanted to go for a walk after I finished my yoga class and cleaning the art room. By that time it was getting dark so I couldn’t really leave.  I was sick of reading and working on the computer so I was just going to go to bed early again. 

Then one of the Thai teachers said Julie, the Montessori teacher, was having a party and wanted me to come.  We got a ride on a motorcycle (3 of us) and I found out Julie lives 200 yards away from the school.  Then we drove into town for beer.  I was happy just to go somewhere.  Driving past the signs and shops, seeing the different fruits (always my favorite).  In the end we went to 7/11.  That is fine at least it is a 7/11 in Thailand.  I didn’t know what beer to buy (and I refused to get Heineken which was suggested) so I went with the one with the elephants on the label. 

At the house I found out what a Thai party is like.  Everyone sat in the living room and took turns singing karaoke.  They all had their own collection of karaoke cd’s.  Most were in Thai with English letters also (English letters spelling out the Thai words).  One was in Thai dubbed in Chinese!  Wow.  So we all sang and drank.  I learned “duun” is the Thai “cheers”.  I also learned to say many dogs coming “mah mah mahk”  I kid you not.  Same word different tones.