Summer Break 2

Songkran is the three day water fight festival throughout Thailand. This was the scene in front of my host family's house.

It was also during this holiday that I moved out on my own earlier than anticipated. It's a complicated story that those in my journal email ring are privy to. Sorry general public :)

First things first: set up the wifi

Brian, a nearby PCV, came into town and we hit the awesome weekend market downtown. Too many food options to choose from.

Rainy season came early. Thank goodness, because it's been a million degrees lately, and the rain cools things down a bit, despite the humidity. 

Weekend trip to Rayong for a Peace Corps Consolidation test. It's what we do if there's a natural disaster or anarchy breaks out. We consolidate to a meeting point. In my case, it's at this sweet hotel with a pool. We made good use of it.

Shortly after that about 20 PCVs took a little vacation to Koh Mak, and island off the coast near where I live. It was a relaxing four days with this view.

School is starting this week and life will dramatically change. I'll try to get some pictures up of my rental house too.

Joining the Ranks of the Peace Corps

Since arriving in Thailand on Jan. 11th, we have been wading through pre-service training, several months of technical and language instruction. All of that came to an end this week when 64 of us were finally sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. We lost 7 along the way. We will likely lose more in the months to come. As we keep hearing, this is the toughest job you'll ever love.

Shared a tearful goodbye to my host family. They were so kind and generous to me since my arrival in Thailand. I am so grateful to them for making me feel like a member of the family. 

We met our teaching counterparts for the first time. I will be working with Jeab for the next two years in the city of Chanthaburi. It's located on the Eastern Seaboard above the Gulf of Thailand. That's my school director on the right.

Later that afternoon I was introduced to my new host family who I will be living with for at least the next month. As you can see in the picture below, they are incredibly sweet and made me feel at home immediately. 

I'm in love with my bedroom which features a/c and an on-suite bathroom. So much for roughing it in a jungle shack. :)

After a brief stint at an English camp today, Mary (another PCV from my group stationed in Chanthaburi) and I went with our co-teachers to the beach. School isn't in session until May, so we have a little time to rest and recover before things get crazy again. 

DANGEROUS ZONE

DON'T STEPPED ON SLING

Amanohashidate

Amanohashidate is one of Japan's three scenic views. They rank everything in Japan.

I didn't take this photo

This is what it looks like on a map

Some photos I took on the sandbar

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Took a bus out to explore the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple area today. 

A lot of intricate detail on the buildings 

I've noticed that a lot of young Korean couples go out wearing matching outfits. I guess it helps when one of them gets lost. When security asks what the missing person is wearing, they can point to themselves and say "this". 

I liked the look of this rock tower 

...and these candles 

Dragon-a-lope 

I went through the Fisheries Science Museum--this was the only photo I felt like posting. It's a fish made from fish hooks. 

A late lunch 

And then an afternoon showing of Bourne Legacy. This is the first movie I've seen in the theater since leaving the US six months ago. 

Jagalchi Market and Taejongdae Park

In and around Jagalchi Fish Market 

Lunch at this small joint 

Around the lighthouse in Taejongdae Park on Yeongdo Island. 

I love a nice rocky beach. Sand gets everywhere.