March Comes in Like a Lion

There's so much I still want to write and share and so little time! As it get hotter and the days get longer, I grow weary of packing and writing reports. Yet, I remain restless with the urgency to soak it up, to keep myself busy & engaged. Lately, I've been running around with no apparent aim other than to get things done in whatever order they come. I've started a series of trips back and forth from the post office (usually biking there and back). Randomly, I'll stop at someones house on the way to the office or post office or the daycare just to sit and reminisce with villagers. At home, I'm intermittently attempting to read up all the books that have piled up in my house, which for some reason or another I was certain I'd get to sooner or later (with all the free time, after all). Well, later came and one day while cleaning, I found these books collecting dust on my shelf. Now I'm awake until the wee hours to finish what I can. I'm currently reading... An Amputated Memory by Werewere Liking, Thai Culture in Transition by William Clausner (which, actually would have been much more useful two years ago...), and The Final Solution by Michael Chabon.

I've also been exercising more--perhaps, with my looming exodus it helps alleviate the overwhelmingness of it all. But, with it getting hotter, my exercising stamina is about to come up against a big heat wave--as my house tends to turn into a hothouse this time of year. Along the same lines, it appears the tires on my bike have just about run their course. I had my first flat tire (not bad for almost 2 years without a flat) the other day which revealed the degradation of the tires. Although, with a month left, I'm confident that they'll last me through until the end.

As always, there's more to the story of my current happenings but, it will all have to wait for another post!


Below are the latest pictures of the daycare flood remediation & water systems improvement project. So far, we have completed the drainage system, implementation of sinks/running water, and the purchased/installed a clean drinking water canteen.


Stretching to reach the faucet in the 'little persons' sink


Laying the last bit of cement in the rear of the building



Head Daycare Teacher Dtui (In Thai: "Kruu Dtui') all smiles & satisfaction with the results


Kruu Dtui and the head engineer discussing the details of a new sandbox for the children--constructed from left over sand


The engineer takes a drink from the new faucet. Exciting to have a new source of potable water!


Wash your hands!



With the engineer and a villager employed to help with the labor


Wife & child (of the villager in the previous picture)--this couple was here from project inception and have pledged to help until the end. Now that's dedication!
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