More on the Festival, Roommates, and Everyday Life

Last night's festival and parade were about Chinese dragons. That's all I know. It sort of reminded me of the Wurst Festival in Seattle but Asian and way crazier. There were lots of food booths, a few games for kids, and a faris wheel. There was also lots of entertainment... I really couldn't see most of it because it was so packed and we weren't sitting in the stands. But there were lots of dragons doing a dance or fighting or something. Nina, a new volunteer and my roommates, is nice and tall so she was commentating for me. There were also these every long poles (like two stories high, ridiculous!) and people would do tricks on the tops of them... it was crazy to watch and i was a little freaked out that someone would fall. With the heat here i wilt quickly and was very tired so didn't stay out too late.

Nina came yesterday, 25, from Holland. She was doing research in a hospital in Amsterdam for a year and decided that she wanted to do something else so while she was between jobs she would volunteer here. She seems very nice and it is great to have someone else to hang out with. I'm finally feeling like I know my way around Nong Khai... so that makes things better as well. This morning three more volunteers arrived. Two of them will be moving on to somewhere else in Thailand, but Valarie will be staying. I haven't talked to them too much yet.

This morning we went to Tesco which is like Walmart and went shopping. I was able to buy a few t-shirts which I am very happy about... The funny thing is that there aren't any dressing rooms so I just had to guess at which size I was. Normally I would think that a small or a medium, if I want something a little looser, but no, I got larges! I finally tried one of the shirts on over the shirt I was wearing... and even a large seemed like it will be a little tight. I think my plan is to burn all of my clothing once I get home... after wearing the same things for four months straight I don't think I am going to ever want to wear them again. Terry, i was going to take pictures of Tesco but the sign on the front door said I couldn't. :( It was amazing what I could find there. I found English cookies... You can buy milk in boxed containers... the meat sections smells horrible... it was very interesting. i could have spent four hours looking at everything.

Oh, I wish there was a way I could put smells up on my blog. Slowly but surly I am getting use to the smells. Some of the smells are just horrible... i don't know what they are and I'm not sure I want to, but some times I want to gag.