"Chook dii see luang!" was my cheer for the week --and in English, "Good Luck Yellow!" I was on the yellow team, and am proud to announce the yellow team won first place in the parade. The red team won first place overall.
ad and I were scheduled to fly from Chiang Rai to the other airport, Don Muang, in Bangkok. Brad and I arrived unscathed, only having experienced a two hour delay before departure. Other Fulbrighters however, were not quite as lucky. Later that evening, when all ten of us had arrived, stories began to surface. Karen and Kate had to take the seven hour bus from Sukkothai, Caryn was trapped inside Don Muang Airport due to protesting masses blocking the arrivals gate’s main exit, and Zoe’s and Chike’s flight had to be assisted in landing by the air force because protestors had taken over the control tower. 
ottery making, and silk making. I also fed my first adult-sized elephant. The picture is funny to me because the Thai man taking my photograph was encouraging me to put the banana in the elephant’s mouth as opposed to putting it in his trunk. So, my face reads: “in its mouth, really?”! Just for your frivolous information, an elephant’s trunk is actually the perfect vacuum attachment –when they want food, you can actually hear the suctioning sound of their anticipation. Lunch was an “international buffet” at the cultural center. Wow! It was such great food that all of us where warning each other to save room for Thanksgiving dinner later that evening. 
ner was fabulous, as was the wine. The company was exceptional. I was happy to spend time with P’Tip and P’Kee, as well as other TUSEF staff members, in a more personal setting. When you surround yourself / find yourself surrounded by such intellectual and motivated people, conversations are almost always enjoyable and motivating. 
are perhaps the wittiest Thai women I have ever met. I met them through contacts of my Uncle Steven (thanks, by the way). After dinner we went to P’Ko’s bar on Khao San Road. Yep, you read right, she owns a bar. In fact, her house is located behind the bar, where her three children were sleeping while we enjoyed some frozen concoctions. Apparently P’Ko’s family had always lived in that house, and it was only in the last forty years that Khao San Road has become backpackers central. The bar was crowded and fun! Zoe and Karen also met up with us later that night. 
fields. It was ceremonious for the big boss man. In Thailand, and especially at our school, nothing is small. There were tents set up for the occasion, flower corsages were made, students and faculty presented speeches on the microphone, and of course there were more photo-ops than an evening with the paparazzi. They even presented the foreign teachers including myself with special rice harvesting blouses –have a good laugh if you will, but take a look at the pictures. It should be said however, that not only was it ceremonious for the big boss, but it was also ceremonious in my eyes to the celebration of sustainable food. “Rice is life”, I believe the picture speaks louder than words. They harvest the rice, we eat the rice (of course, I help in the eating process), and they plant more rice. It’s simple, it’s beautiful. Hey, fast-food junkies, where did your food come from?
