Thailand. " sometimes its entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a sledgehammer"

Sunday June 19th:

-quote " i have mountain dew " - Taylor

we got to the school today and finished refurbishing the play set. then i was helping move the equipment around and i grabbed this this play set piece with Nat and there was a giant metal basketball hoop that i obviously did not see and i nailed my face into it my head ricocheted off, everyone saw and laughed and it was one of those moments where i was biting my tongue trying not to cry.

 Before!                                                       After!

Then i found a frog, and we started work in the garden.. weeding, DE-giant-bugging the place, McKay threw a worm on me, that's right. we dug holes with spoons because there were no shovels and then guess who decides to show up? J'pan he comes barreling back to the garden yelling "wheres Taylor wheres Taylor!!", of course he found a GIANT centipede and so kindly brought it over to freak me out!

me and Shandy, spoons in hand.

our garden crew! doing it the way gardeners do.

Aww J'pan your too kind!

After a long day of digging we crashed in front of the fan and then ventured off to the market..

 -can you say anxiety attack ? the pungent smell is indescribable, fried cockroaches, too many people, pretty sure i developed agoraphobia within 7 seconds of being there. I had to use the bathroom but wouldn't, squatter? no thank you.

Me and Mad in the market place.

McKay came to the rescue, led me to the less crowded area where i bought a delicious bag of mangosteen, and a chocolate crepe that a local woman was so sweet to help me wrap and eat sufficiently, she didn't speak English, i obviously don't speak Thai, but with a lot of pointing, gesturing, and hand motions she managed to get me to lend her my crepe, which she then moved, and adjusted, folded and then tied a plastic bag to the bottom so it didn't spill and gave it back for me to indulge in.

lesson: not everyone is trying to take advantage of you here so breathe !

back to the hotel, took an awesome **** that was long overdue, showered, ate din din, laughed so hard i spewed water everywhere, ate Thai pizza, nice gesture, but they should probably just stick to cooking Thai food.

-Sacrament meeting

in the basement of a transvestite bar,

in sweat pants,

somehow the spirit was still just as strong

and ever present,

no matter where you go,

 or what situation your in,

 the spirit is the same,

and now I'm in bed and I'm pretty sure there is a bug on me.. goodnight,

 PS my body is sore everywhere!

On a Side note:

only in Thailand is it OK to lay on the ground and mimic the dog.

Monday, 20th:

-quote " my mind is bedazzled" -Maddie.

up at 6:00, school by 7:00. I SAW NOON TODAY !!!! she ran and gave me the biggest hug ! i was so excited ! the rotary club of Phang Nga showed up and they were snatching us up left and right to snap pictures.

 The cultural committee, we worked hard today, we... planned the mural... and painted nails... the boys were our number one fans though!

I then assisted Nat in her lesson Phonemics? resulting in the story of the 3 little pigs, me, i was pig 3.

home by 6:00 Tesco for some AMERICAN treats, Twix, Pringles, Chocolate, Coke, junk, junk, OH and MORE JUNK. 

except some of that junk was Thai version of American junk, resulting in sushi  and shrimp flavored chips ... that's not OK.

At dinner me and Nat were giving each other hand massages because they were sore, out of the random Maddie throws her arm around me.. I'm like UH?? she is all " i just got jealous"

I love these kids,

i feel like they have so much less than us,

 and yet they are so much happier than us!

 less is more we always say,

were here to change their lives

 but their changing mine so much more.

 - i literally read this scripture 10

seconds after closing my journal

D&C:56

" blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, for they shall inherit the earth."

Tuesday June 21st:
Breakfast 6:30, bus 6:45, Saw my noon. hauled bricks, painted our mural got mocked by the kids we did our 3 little pig skit for yesterday, great, now they associate me with a freaking pig!! and of course Luke gave them tape to further my harassment!

Ate some lunch had a minuscule freak out with a spider, kicked a dog, knocked over some chairs, spilled some lunch, pulled my self back together, tried to teach the kids how to braid, FAILED, taught guyy in a different way it worked!! and then he was teaching other kids! I'm like a proud mom! [:

Guyy

Taught my lesson! played with Jasow, Nune, Nunkarn, and Katune, and Sonya. somehow my lesson turned into this,

Favorite game = London bridges. had 1000 kids hanging on me, slipped in a mud puddle, played tag, I'm sweating like a dog, sat down, kids started fanning me with leaves and blowing on me, hah.

 Played the spin around game ( i hate it) until I'm sure their arms HAD to be tired cuz mine were about to fall off.

-Gosh i love these kids so much ! Noon practically understands everything in English, she gives me a huge hug every time i see her, they always want to hold my hand.

NOON

I had little James stuck to me all day, its overwhelming sometimes because they all just want to be touching you. SOCCER games!! i scored the only and winning goal for my team !!! tonight POOL PARTY! and playgirl show, presented by Parker, peter and Spencer. ew. PHI PHI islands tomorrow!! (pee pee) [:

Wednesday June 22nd: break from working today!! yay!

Bed, to bus, to boat, in our clothes, soaked to the bone, who said boats go on top of the water? wrong the water goes on top of the boat. but this is the most beautiful place i have ever seen!! the pictures don't do the water or mountains justice! so much water in our mouths and eyes, if i were anywhere but in Thailand i would probably not be too happy, oh my holy.

 Anyways we pull into a cove, and dive out, me and McKay went s'ploring, then i got bit by something. so i had another miniature freak out... OK it wasn't miniature actually it was HUGE. everyone was getting bit so everyone was freaking out, someone stepped on a sea urchin, 2 people and em sliced their feet open on corals, so they made us all come back into the boats. hah. whoops. off to another island

Vay, mad, me

with coconut ice cream.

with ninja moves.



and a monkey.

 we floated and had no biting fish this time, i had to pee, vayla had to pee, so we swam away to pee but then she got scared of sharks, so i got scared of sharks, so we swam back and peed by the whole group... i know its gross, but what they don't know cant hurt them, except we were afraid of vagina fishes so then we had to hold our hands over our ... when we peed so i peed on my own hand... what happens in Thailand stays there, unless its a vagina fish.

Riding back in the boat felt like we were running over whales because it was so bumpy. seriously catching air. after lots of pictures, 10 hours of direct sun, & massive sun burns, we headed back totally pooped. and decided on van #1's saying:

" sometimes its entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a sledgehammer".

a slow quiet boat ride back a good talk with Nat, she always makes me want to better myself. we spotted some wild elephants! its like seeing a jackrabbit in Utah, except different, because their ELEPHANTS!! plus they were in love... a little romance in Thailand.

I'm a little sick of Thai food, me and em are getting really close which i love! i jumped on top of Nat and she was like oh i just love you and gave me a kiss ! i love Nat! i seriously love everyone here this is the best experience ever!!!

Youthlinc Thailand 2011