Rice Grains

Today was day 4 of module 3 in my language school. I was forewarned that this is when learning really gets tough. That is NOT an understatement. So please forgive me if I have rather sparse entries on my blog....

We are beginning to learn the Thai alphabet. There are 44 consonants and lots of vowels (I forget exactly how many, but offhand I would say there are at lest 18). Since I am currently sittin in an internet cafe with a Thai/English keyboard, I think I will switch to Thai letters just to give you an idea of what I am learning. Of course, I don't know how that will show up on your screen?? Maybe it won't??? But here goes: ฟหกดวงลฃผปแอ This is not a word, just random letters, mostly consonants. So anyway, I am trying to drill myself on the new ones we learn each day; if I don't I will be hopelessly lost.

Thursday our team plans to meet for a Thanksgiving meal--in the evening, because, of course, Thanksgiving is not a holiday over here. People still have to work, go to school, etc. It will be nice to be together with a bit of a reminder of an American holiday. And it certainly is a good reminder to be thankful for blessings in our lives.

Saturday I will do a visa run. It is a day trip to Cambodia, I believe, with a meal included. I made reservations with a company that specializes in doing these visa runs. I'm told they pretty much take care of everything for you. I will find out!

After this visa renewal I will need to go to Penang, Malaysia, on my Christmas break, to get my student visa. The school tells me I need to go to either Singapore or Malaysia, not Laos or Cambodia. So it might be a bit more time consuming and maybe a bit more expensive. But I will see new sights!:)