Still in Indiana... Yesterday we spent the entire day watching football and I have to get in one "Go Packers!!!". What a series of games! In this household, we cheer for the Pack first of all, and the Colts as a second priority so it was a good day all around. I must admit I spent a couple minutes feeling sorry for all of you in Minnesota- but hey- they blew it!!

Brook left today to drive back to Norfolk, VA with two of his Navy colleagues and my grandparents flew back to Milwaukee, so Corky and I are feeling a bit lonely and more than a bit pooped. Mom & I were going to go listen to Dad and his Barbershop Chorus tonight, but we just all decided that we'd rather just sit at home and be quiet for a couple of hours. Don't get me wrong, it has been a really good week being home- but entertaining is hard work. I think Grandpa Jerry (who lives here, with my parents) will be thrilled that things will be less hectic.

Starting to work on my shopping lists, but the malls are still scary full of mad-bargain shoppers and "teeny-boppers" hanging out on their vacations. For someone who hates the mall in the first place... its going to be a chore to force myself there long enough to re-stock. Maybe I don't need pants as bad as I thought I did.

Merry Christmas (a belated one to those of you in Japan)!! Its great to be home. Hope you're enjoying the holiday with family and friends like I am. I've been home since Saturday night, mostly shopping and catching up on past issues of all my magazines. The only departure from that was Sunday night when we all got dressed up really pretty and headed out to the All-Academy Military Ball. Brook was in his formal dress uniform with a friend from the CG Academy on his arm as a date, I wore a former bridesmaid dress (thanks for Beth's good taste) and Mom & Dad looked stunning. I'll try posting pictures later.

Now that I'm over jet-lag and have figured out how to sleep in, Mom & Dad got me up at 6:30 for 8 am mass this morning. ;) Our "big goal" of the week has been to watch the first two Lord of the Rings movies so that we can go see the new one tonight. What a wonderful vacation!

Well, that was it. My last class of the year. Now I'm on the home stretch. Literally. Since its 11:18 am and I'm already done with the work I had to do today, I have 5 hours of keeping myself "looking busy" before the bell rings and I'm really out of here. My plans: use the computer until I'm booted off by a teacher scurrying to finish grades, then finish addressing my New Year's postcards to Japanese friends, then maybe try studying some Japanese without my dictionary which has already been shipped inside my luggage to Narita. I'm going to help a student practice her English to prep. for an interview to a exclusive English program in a private high school for awhile, then I need to go to the post office to send some mail (I have to send some money through the P.O and they only do that 'till 3-- its really convenient for those of us who work). I'll then have another hour to kill (and will probably be going nutty by then).

Once I leave, I will run home, take out the trash, change clothes and grab my backpack. Then I'll walk to the station (because I can't leave my bike or car there in the snow for two weeks and I can't rationalize taking a cab for the 1.5 mile walk), catch the 5:18 train to Matsumoto, then the 6:20 bus to Shinjuku (Tokyo), then several trains to Tom's apartment (now you're hopefully catching why I mailed my luggage to the airport). I plan to watch a movie tonight (Tom's in Europe, so I'll still be all by my lonesome), take a bath, and go to bed (hmmm... sounds like last night). In the morning, I'm going to finish up some Christmas shopping in Shinjuku, then hop a couple of trains and then the airport train out to Narita. Then, after I track down my luggage, I'll be on the way to Indiana via Chicago!! Yay!!! With everyone else (in Nagano, it feels like) totally out of here.. it has been a very long, quiet week of waiting. I've finished all the tedious interviewing and had a couple of Christmas lessons which have improved my mood. My house is clean, my laundry is washed, I've sorted what needed to be sorted, and mailed every form that has come across my desk. I've had Bing Crosby's Christmas music on as much as possible and I think that's one of the reasons I haven't lost my mind (that and all of the Christmas cookies my friends dumped at my house before flying out of the country).

Anyway. I'm out of here. Next post from the U. S. of A!!!

I turned my contract form in yesterday afternoon, completed with a circle around the "I do not plan to renew my contract for a third year" option... and I've been in a panic ever since. I couldn't sleep last night... wondering whether this is the right decision or not. It is so hard to give up this very ok job and wonderful house for the unknown. While I was laying in bed last night staring at my ceiling, I reminded myself that I moved to Chicago with no job and no prospects... but it still seems risky to turn this down for ....who knows what.

I just don't want to overstay my "moment" here. I have really gained a lot living and working here, but my goal was to try out teaching and decide whether to pursue it as a career or not (since I'd have to go back to school to do it). I haven't decided yet, but I think I've gotten plenty of experience so that I can make that choice down the road. Another year may actually turn into a negative experience if I end up burning out and getting sick of it. I am much more reluctant to leave my home and Nagano than I am my job and school... I really like my students, but my favorite third grade class will graduate in April, leaving me with the hellish second graders... and the staff will be turning over in April, too. I love my house, haven't hiked every mountain in Nagano yet, and the ski season has barely started this year! I also have free rent on a two story house, that (though freezing cold- currently) I live in very comfortably by-my-self.

I keep talking myself into it and out of it... but when it comes down to it (or came down to it yesterday...before I got all mixed up again)... I really think its time to move on. I'm not gaining anything at this job anymore, it isn't challenging, I don't have independent responsibility for anything (due to the whole team teaching scheme), I have to deal with the guilt trip of having a better, easier deal than everyone else... and I'm tired of teaching English! I also would really like to try living in the same city as Tom and would like more experience in a non-profit or government agency. If I can't find something here, I will likely head home... but the situation is pretty bleak there too (which brings me back to banging my head against the wall for giving up this secure job!... of course, it is only secure for one more year.)

So- as crazy as it still sounds to me... I'm giving up my lovely house, beautiful mountains, and easy job with loads of free time and a comfy paycheck for.... the absolutly unknown. Woo-hoo!!! Calm me down people....?

AND- it finally snowed!!!!

Tonight is the AJET Christmas party- complete with a huge amount of wine and 12 turkeys. I have to cook some banana bread to pass (pot luck for 55 people), clean my house, do laundry, and find something special to wear before 6pm. Good thing I got a good start by sleeping until 10:30, reading a book until 11:45, then watching TV with Jaclyn and bowls of Mac & Cheese until 1:30. Oh well.. good thing all my tests are over! I have no reason to feel guilty, for once.

Of course I do only have one week to get sorted before I leave, though...

I have had the most boring week ever. Instead of regular classes, I'm doing individual interviews with every single student. So, I have no lessons to plan. All my lessons are taken up with interviews and I ask the same questions to every kid within a certain grade. When I'm not in class... snore! I've changed my English bulletin board from Thanksgiving to Christmas, finished writing my Thailand journal, finished all the links to Thai pictures, read all the descriptions for class options for a correspondence course I would like to start in January, heck- I was so bored I even re-started studying Japanese even though I had given myself the week off (due to just finishing the test on Sunday). I am very bored. The sad thing is, I don't even have a lot to do when I get home. Jaclyn and I have been catching up on American TV (via videotape) and I've been making Christmas/New Year's cards... but there's just not a lot else going on.

I guess things will pick up next week- with packing and cleaning and wrapping things up. I've decided not to renew as a JET AET next year. I'm sitting on my form for the right moment to turn it in, but I promised my supervisor I would let the school know by the time I leave. I have until February 6th... but since I know already that I'm not going to stay, there's really no reason to keep teasing them. I'm still not sure what I will do instead of teaching next year, but at the moment I'm committed to looking for a job in Tokyo. That (and the correspondence course, American Politics I think) will be my two major projects starting when I come back.

Lots of stuff to look forward to.... and hopefully when I get back we'll have enough snow to go skiing!! I can't wait. Of course, I also can't wait to get home.

Thailand Day #8
Sadly, our last full day in Thailand. Tom got up around 8am and headed down to the beach and catch some last rays. He tried to drag me with him, but I knew it was my last day of vacation- I slept until 10. We packed, had our last beachside breakfast and grabbed a pick-up truck back to the pier. Jumped onto a packed boat back to Ban Phe and were on the bus back to Bangkok by 2pm with sandwiches and chips. Got to watch a somewhat intriguing movie about two little thai kids and some elephants, but I have no idea what happened because we didn't get to see the end (oh-and I don't speak Thai).

Took the train back downtown and decided to stay at the Dusit Thani, a national hotel in the Pat Phong area, revenue from which keeps the king clothed. Finished up my last postcards in the room and headed ot the front desk to mail the entire pile. Our last meal in Thailand: Pizza Hut. Oh the irony...

We shopped the nightmarket a bit, Tom buying T-shirts and me picking up some little trinkets for souveneirs for teachers back here. The market was really bright and loud and ran right through an area known for its night clubs, strip clubs, you name it... so we got some pretty unique invitations.

Finally, we stopped for Thai foot massages. They were great though there were several times I wondered if her thumb was going to shove right through my foot. In the end, the pain was worth it!

I was totally pooped by the time we got to the hotel.. what a week!

Thailand Day #9
Woke up at 5am (its dark in Thailand that early, too). Had our free Thai breakfast and grabbed a taxi aroudn 6:30am... figured we had plenty of time to get to the airport (less than 30 min) before our 8:20 flight. We went about a block and stopped. Dead stop. Still no one moving. Still. I started getting nervous at the 5 min. mark. Tom started to get nervous when the taxi driver asked what time our flight was. Taxi driver got real nervous after we told him. 15 minutes.... The traffic light finally changed and we inched forward. It was a huge mess of traffic.... slowly.... slowly... finally we reached the bad intersection and we all caught a glipse of 20 or so runners with numbers on their fronts, jogging in place on the sidewalk. A race! Go figure... 6:30 am on a Sunday and Tom & I want to get to the airport. Of course... a race. ha!

Anyhow, we made it on time, thanks to our taxi driver and Tom's ANA Platinum Gold status. The airport was a madhouse and I was incredibly thankful not to be alone.

Then... it was goodbye to Thailand!!

(If you haven't gathered it yet, I had a fabulous time. I loved every minute of the vacation, loved Thai people, loved Thai food, and would definitely go back. I have been daydreaming about it for the week I have been back with the cold mountain wind bringing me back to Nagano reality. Go to Thailand!)

Check it out: now there are links in my Thai journal to my thai pictures on yahoo! There are more pictures than there are links, so go check them out directly if you have the time,... but now you can see what I'm writing about!

So, yesterday was my big Japanese test. It was not as impossible as I'd imagined, so now I wish I would have studied harder. Oh well. Now I have to wait until February to see if I squeaked by with a 60%... but I doubt it. Ok, I'll try to finish my journal today- the last half of the week we just sat on the beach, so it shouldn't take much writing.

Less than 2 weeks and I'll be home for Christmas!

Thailand Day #5
We got up and had our real last Marriott breakfast and finally (a bit reluctantly) checked out of the hotel. We took a taxi in bad traffic to Ekamai, the Eastern Bus Terminal, for our trip south east to the island of Ko Samet. As we sat in traffic a block from the bus station, Tom looked out the window and spotted the train station right above us.... our concierge could have saved us the traffic time had he mentioned it... I mentally subtracted points from the previously untouchable Marriott folks. Oh well, I think our most expensive taxi ride was about 5 dollars, so it wasn't the worst thing in the world.

From the bus station, we took a 3 and a half hour bus ride to the coast. I was really impressed with the service (we were served drinks twice and got a muffin) and the on- time arrival compared with the nightmare of traveling in India and Bangladesh. Not only did we get there on time (in India, its amazing to actually just get-there) but we also had air conditioning and several crazy Thai movies (at least they were action flicks).

Though we couldn't see the water until we got off the bus, the ride was pretty. Ban Phe, the village with the pier to Ko Samet, was nice enough- though we didn't see much more than the bathrooms, a 7-11, and lots of tourist stores with shells strung up to hang across a doorway. Lots of shells. Lots of sand. We arranged to stay in the Dome Bungalow before we even got out onto the pier... against the advice of the Lonely Planet, but it worked out fine (not that I didn't worry... I was in a bad habit of reading the LP advice directly after doing exactly what they'd advised against). Then we sat on a bench near the boats and waited. Our tickets said the boat would leave when there were 20 passengers. When we arrived, besides us there were only 2 other tourists waiting. It was hot and we were hungry and it looked like it would be a long wait, so Tom volunteered to go scavenge for food. He came back with a half loaf of bread and a can of tuna with veggies (inside the can of tuna). We cracked it open and used my Swiss Army knife to scoop it onto our bread... while some recently arrived Europeans watched us very skeptically (they were probably hungry too). More quickly than I'd imagined, there were 18 of us ready to go... so we got on the boat. Actually, we walked across a wooden plank, over the side of one small pink wooden boat, through that boat, over the other side of that boat and climbed into a blue and white larger boat. Now, imagine that both Tom and I are doing this with our packs on our backs. Fun!

Finally, we were off. The island wasn't actually that far away so the boat ride was about 20-30 minutes. It was very sunny and we could see smaller, uninhabited islands near Ko Samet. It all looked quite exotic. Very non-midwestern. ;) Arriving at the Ko Samet pier, we had to climb back out of the boat through a different smaller boat (on which I clonked my knee earning a big bruise to go with my bikini) and over a different plank. When we righted ourselves, we were set and ready to go. The place we were set to stay at was on a beach called Ao Prao, on the other side of the island from most of the other bungalows and restaurants. We chose it because it had a list of cool sounding activities: kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving, etc. Of course, once we got there and found the beach.... well, we pretty much never moved.

We found a pick-up truck acting as a taxi and 6 of us loaded into the back of it (there were benches built on both sides) with our luggage and we quickly took off. Quickly and very, very bumpily. The roads were 75% dirt and very hilly with lots of pot holes. Tom got the hero award for spotting a branch and making me duck seconds before I caught it in the face. It was a wild ride.

The beach was gorgeous and I relaxed the instant we got off the truck. We found the Dome Bungalow quickly (there were only two other places to stay and they were both resorts... of the island kind, not the Marriott kind... very low key). I think the only way to describe it is like a motel with no cars. We had our own lime green door and veranda full of flowers, part of a building with three separte doors. The restaurant, front desk was below us on the way to the water and had no walls... only a ceiling. The edge of the water was only about 50 yards from our door and as we sat eating dinner, we were only about 10 yards away. Max. It was great- really, really quiet. The owner was really nice and the women who worked in the restaurant were supremely friendly. We also got on quite well with the local kitties. We had several meals with one of them curled up in our laps.

The night sky was beautiful. The moon was just a tiny sliver and it set by about 10pm. The tides were out at night and so we could just sit on the beach on the low, wooden beach chairs- holding a beer in one hand and swatting the random mosquitoes (we decided to skip malaria medication but did bring deet mosquito spray... so far, so good). Other tourists would be walking up and down the one sidewalk (not even a road) past our place on the way to the other resorts. Other than that, there was no noise but the sound of the waves.

Thailand Days #6 & #7

Slept in, had leisurely breakfast outside near the beach. Breakfast was eggs, toast, smoothies & tea for me (coffee for Tom). Moved 10 yards to the beach. Sat in wooden chairs so low with the tide so high that our feet and sometimes butts got wet. Went swimming in crystal clear, waveless water. Sat in chairs longer. Used lots of sunscreen.

Eventually ate lunch. Took naps. Walked to the other side of the island. once. Decided our side was much better. Sat back into chairs. Read a book (Tom). Stared at untouched Japanese flashcards (who do you think?). Swam more. Sat more.

Took cold showers. Eventually ate dinner. Walked. Watched sunset. Looked at the stars. Sat. Swatted mosquitoes. Drank beer.

Went to sleep early.

Ahhhhh......

Thailand Day #3
We had planned to head East to the Khao Yai National Park for some fun in the jungle. Before leaving, I really wanted to go swimming in the incredible hotel pool. We could see it whenever we walked around the hotel grounds—it was beautiful and huge, with a pool bar and everything. Yet, we hadn’t even stuck our toes in. So, after our second delicious breakfast with watermelon juice we hit the pool. As soon as we got in we started to jokingly rethink our plans to leave. Then we started thinking about it more seriously… until we were completely sold on the idea. We giddily (a word?) rushed up to reception about 30 minutes before check out to ask for another couple of nights. The first two nights had been free with Tom’s points… the 3rd and 4th nights we stayed in the same fabulous “Junior suite w/river view” with all the freebies for a mere $139. As much as I had been looking forward to the park and jungle hiking, the Marriott resort was too relaxing not to take advantage of it… and after the train ride we were still a bit hesitant to spend another day in travel right away.

We celebrated by getting back in the pool and having fru-fru drinks in the pool. It was fantastic.

Later, we dried off and set out to get Tom a haircut. We then grabbed our free cocktails and appetizers on the hotel before jumping on a gorgeous rice boat for a sunset cocktail cruise run by the hotel. Turned out we were the only guests to sign up (though the dinner cruise was booked every night) so it was our own personal cruise. Got a bit tipsy and spilled my margarita, but it couldn’t have been the first time they’ve seen that one.

After the cruise we set out for shopping and dinner. We took the free Marriott water shuttle down the river to where their public train system starts. It is rather new and though it doesn’t go to far (like, not to the airport), it was very convenient for the areas it connected. We took the train to the Pat Phong area and checked out the “night market”. Also found a handicraft shopping mall just a bit after all of its stores closed. Never really got more than fresh juice and some toast to eat, either.

Day #4
Headed out to visit Bangkok temples (wats) and the Grand Palace. We followed the advice of our guide book and dressed in long pants and closed shoes and were soon roasting. First we visited Wat Pho- a beautiful temple with lots of reflecting glass pieces and a massive, gold reclining Buddha. After that, we walked several blocks in the direct, hot sun around to the entrance of the Grand Palace. More than one money-hungry taxi/tuk-tuk driver tried to sell us a Bangkok tour by claiming the palace was closed until 2pm for a royal ceremony. We kept walking. It was of course, very open.

Dying in the heat, we entered the palace grounds (which, as accurately portrayed by those fabulous Lonely Planet folks, did NOT allow you entrance in pants that ended 4 inches short of your ankle bones or in sandals or tank tops) where piles of gold, mirrors, glass, and other random shiny things made me feel like I was in a convection oven. The palace grounds contain the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It was highly impressive. Literally every color imaginable with intricate details and extensive murals. The name refers to the toddler-sized jade Buddha that sits on top a huge throne of gold. He has no official history… but apparently he makes the king the king. He was pretty cute…

So then I thought we’d seen everything, but we hadn’t actually even seen the palace yet. And I was melting… melting…

We breezed through the royal palace area, I was secretly happy they don’t allow visitors… saw a weapons museum and had some Hagen Daaz, the profits from which go towards the upkeep of the temple and palace. Fancy that!

Took the water taxi both there and back- it was pretty fun all crammed in with all walks, students, tourists, orange-robed monks, your average thai commuter… bouncing up and down the river. Then we had the lovely Marriott boat to take us to our doorstep and headed straight to the pool!

(remember, pictures posted on yahoo…. There aren’t descriptions but they are in order so you should be able to generally follow along). Promise to post the rest of the trip this weekend! (and no… you aren’t missing anything from my day to day here- except that the JLPT is this weekend and it hasn’t snowed yet!!)

Ok, instead of recounting the final chapter of my nightmare at the driving center, I instead give you the first chapter of last week's vacation in Thailand. Frankly, I don't want to think about the driving thing any more... this is much more fun. Here are the first two days... I'll post more later. Also, I'm excited to say that I've managed to upload all my thai pictures courtesy of Yahoo (to which I'm in the process of switching...Hotmail is garbage!!!). Here's the link (click on the "thailand" album)... sorry there are no descriptions but with 135 pictures, that would take a darn long time.

Thailand Day #1
Flew Thai Air from Narita to Phuket to Bangkok. Grabbed a taxi from the airport and took a wild guess as to which Marriott was ours. We were right with our first guess and they rolled out the red carpet for us. We were upgraded to a lovely suite with wood floor, marble bathroom, living room, tropical fruit basket, and loads of fuchsia orchids scattered around. Also were invited to partake in a free breakfast buffet, free cocktail hour, & free daily laundry service. I’m still not used to dating a business traveler!

We took showers and walked to the adjacent shopping mall for dinner. Had Thai food: pad thai, green curry (with a vicious red chili pepper), bean/tofu soup, and a spicy seafood salad w/two big Singha beers (the national brew). Spicy and delicious. Finished w/some DQ before wandering back to the hotel grounds. It is beautiful w/lush gardens, floating plumeria and the orchids in every corner- toches, white Christmas lights wrapped around palm trees, all along the river front. It is quiet in a huge city and the perfect, most comfortable temperature. I don’t remember turning off the lights.

Day #2
Woke around 8am and headed to free breakfast downstairs on the riverside terrace. Fresh juice’ guava, orange, pineapple, watermelon, papaya. Banana crepes, pancakes, cereal, eggs, fruit, bread, and on and on. Felt like a spoiled little rich white girl, but enjoyed it thoroughly.

We caught a taxi to Hualomphong train station intending to rush off on the first train to Ayutthaya- but the next train was a full 2 hours away. With much bitter grumbling we wandered around the train station, toyed with venturing out to do city sightseeing, but then decided to stick closer to the trains. Settled on a 45 minute foot massage for Tom while I perused our guide book on Ayutthaya.

Finally boarded the 3rd class train- fans with no AC, open windows but very sticky hot. The bench seat we were sitting on acting like a teeter-totter, switching positions was very tricky. There were plenty of other non-Asian tourists, but the train was 95% locals. Lots of food venders were hawking unfamiliar snacks and cold drinks up and down the aisles. Watched Bangkok SLOWLY turn into fields and into Ayutthaya over a 2 hour ride. Was very hot and ready to be off the train when we arrived.

Got swept away by an overly aggressive though seemingly nice tuk-tuk driver (a mini-truck with an electric engine?? You ride in the back bed of the truck clinging to the sides or the roof) and turned down his offer of a tour for a ride to lunch. Didn’t realize we’d be turning them down literally all day long. Had more spicy noodles and fried rice (plus lime and pineapple juice) in a crowded mall-like alley way with everyone openly staring at us. Got the tuk-tuk driver to leave us be at the entrance of the first temple.

We visited:
• Wat Phra Mahathat (Buddha face in tree roots)
• Wat Ratburana (tall, ancient stupa w/stairs)
• Wat Mongkhon Bophit (line of Stupas & flowering trees)
• Wat Phra Si Sanphet (big, gold Buddha, no pictures though!)
• Wat Yai Chai (reclining, gold Buddha)
• Wat Phanan Choeng (Chinese temple, huge, gold Buddha)

Finally decided we’d seen enough temples and were melted so caught the AC bus back to Bangkok. Showered and went to eat at a great Pizza Hut knock off (why can Japan not figure out American pizza?) then ventured out for two hour full-body Thai massages. Relaxed watching the “Panic Room” with Thai subtitles as two strong Thai ladies pushed, pulled, poked, and generally untied the two of us from our stressed out knot-ted states. It was wonderful.

I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed!!!!!

What a huge, massive, unbelievable relief! I'm so thrilled that I never have to go back to the driving center again. Its so hard to believe that I keep checking my shiny new Japanese Drivers License just to make sure its real.

Story later...

Back in school... back to cold weather. At least it is sunny today! I convinced myself to get on the plane by telling myself I could go skiing before the Japanese test on Sunday, but there is still not enough snow. boo! Of course, I still am back... trying to get into something of a groove before leaving again for the States in three weeks.

Thailand really was a terrific vacation. We managed to find a nice balance between sightseeing & just laying around in the sun. I would go back there in a flash and truly recommend it to anyone. Thailand is very "user-friendly" and Thai people are some of the kindest and most mellow in Asia. I relaxed just being in their company. And the thai massages definitely helped! I wrote in my journal for most of the trip, so I will try to post those entries this week.

I'm trying to squeeze out the last of the relaxation vibes to use today- I'm heading out to Shiojiri again this afternoon. That's right- its Drivers Lisence time again. I am going to pass- for sure! At least that's what I'm telling myself- because I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't. Report later and I promise not to be so scary this time. ;)