The sacred and mundane-- food and streets, temples and parking lots.  And then there's the beach.  

Time Flies...

It is hard to believe that my last posts were about a long ago trip to Xieng Kuang. I have since spent a month at the school-- teaching, reviewing for semester exams, writing semester exams, grading semester exams. They are a big deal, these semester exams. But hopefully not the only way to measure my time here as I didn't particularly enjoy the hubbub and several of my classes did not fare particularly well. I think the tests were too difficult, to be fair, but also I think we need to change up the teaching style a little bit. I wouldn't mind God's help in making this change, so feel free to converse with Him about it for me. I've been discussing it with Him off and on for a while now and will have a meeting tomorrow at the school to discuss it with the other teachers and the school director.
One bright spot in all this exam-ness was some free class time (in which students could "research" or study for the upcoming tests). Some did study, some didn't, as would be the case in any classroom I can think of. A few came and chatted with me. It was lovely! We don't usually have time to build a bridge over our language gap, but for these few days we did. And during the grading, the students were already on break, so it was nice to be a part of the community of just teachers, even if I couldn't help fill out all the evaluation forms.
Another bright spot is that after exams, there is a break. So, last week, after an MCC retreat in touristy Vong Vieng (mostly a good chance to be cold (I do mean good, because now I am hot and reminiscing with myself about wearing that
hooded sweatshirt that will have to be packed away henceforth) and to talk as a team), I went to Thailand to explore the streets of Bangkok and the beaches of Ko Chang. The former are fascinating-- full of people, motorbikes, cars, and buses with street vendors selling tempting treats alongside shops and historic wats. And the malls of Bangkok are stunning. My host, Rita, without whom I would have been wandering aimlessly (I swear I had an aim in all my wandering), helped me also to appreciate all the design that is showcased amidst the overwhelming consumerism. And Ko Chang, for the brief time I was there, was a retreat. Clear, warm water; some good friends; dense forests (which I only saw from the beach but nevertheless appreciated); white sand. If only all that beauty didn't attract all those tourists. But then there wouldn't be that handy bus or ferry for transport or friendly strangers to help me figure the ferry and bus out.
Feel all caught up? If you want to hear about the sand igloo I tried to help build (what's a castle look like again? I forgot) or the meal I had in Chinatown or how starting school goes, write to me and I'll fill you in.
Peace,
Renee

Pictures of the Past

The Plain of Jars is indeed a site of the past-- the jars, the bomb craters, etc., but I entitle these pictures this way only because it has been a month since I returned from this place.  Sorry for the delay.  Here's a few glimpses of that trip-- what we saw, and did, and ate.