Good day everyone! So, is the snow there to stay? I don’t miss the snow yet, but as soon as I hear of people going snowboarding and snowmobiling I know I definitely will. It is still hot, hot, hot here. The temperature is usually around the 40°C mark in mid-afternoon. Rainy season is pretty much over.
I flew back to Bangkok from Phuket (“Poo-ket”) on the weekend. I could have stayed there longer, but after 10 days of “vacationing” I was missing my apartment and Andy. The Ministry of Education announced another delay in the start of school. It is pushed back another week, to November 21st. I went by the school today and the entire property is underwater. Depending on where you stand, some of the water in areas is one foot deep, whereas other areas are over a metre deep. The school building itself is apparently dry inside, although the water is right up against it. The only way to get into the school is by taking a little paddle boat. I guess you could walk in the water if you really wanted to, but not many people are risking it. The water is really dirty, and full of snakes, turtles, fish and other creatures...including the odd alligator! Andy saw a giant snake in the water the other day. There have been quite a few snake bites reported. Yikes.
MetroPark is still dry, but the water is creeping closer and closer every day. All of the neighbourhoods immediately surrounding the complex are completely flooded out. I was watching two little girls holding their toys, being dragged in a boat to dry land. I couldn’t help but feel very sad for them. Our area is beginning to look exactly like how the flood is being portrayed on the news. The Thais have continued to amaze me throughout this entire ordeal. They seem to have even bigger smiles on their faces compared to their usual perma-smiles. Just this morning the lady who guards our pool was telling me how the water has now come into her home and is over one foot deep. Not only did she still come to work on time, but she continued to have the biggest smile on her face. I am really learning some valuable life lessons while living in this country!
There is a 50/50 chance we might not even start school until January. But, again, no one really knows for sure. This is the longest waiting game I have ever played! Thankfully, I have a lot of things to do to occupy my time.
Andy’s work place is still closed. He also has no idea when he will go back to work. While I was in Phuket, Andy volunteered a couple of days with the Red Cross. He helped haul bags of rice and supplies. What a nice guy, hey.
Here are some pictures from the time I lived in exile.
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| Phuket caters to Russians. So even though I knew these perogies weren't made by my mom, auntie, or baba, I just had to have them. I must say, they had nothing on the homemade perogies I am used to. |
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| Didn't try this. |
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| The reason we went to Phuket was to watch the world women's beach volleyball tournament. One of the teachers is good friends with one of the Team Canada players. I have only seen this kind of stuff on t.v., it was super fun to watch. We were basically the entire cheering section for Canada. |
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| Canada playing against Italy. Don't ask about the final score :( It was a close game for awhile though! |
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The Canadians, Jamie (from Vancouver Island) and Kristina (from Toronto).
They were one of four teams representing Canada. |
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| Italy. |
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The box we stayed in for one night.
I think I slept all of 20 minutes that night. Picture the most annoying pitch a sound could make for your ears. That was the sound the fan made ALL NIGHT LONG. I almost lost each and every last one of my marbles.
Thankfully we upgraded to a nicer place the next morning. It wasn't worth the entire 3 dollars we saved staying there. |
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| Out for dinner. |
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| Something is wrong with this picture. A coconut with a barcode? Hmm. |
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One of the beaches in Phuket. I couldn't get over the sand here.
It was so soft, and it squeaked when you walked on it. |
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| USA (olympians Kessy and Ross) playing Australia. After watching this match, I learned how vicious beach volleyball could be. Those girls were mean on the court. |
