Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square In the frosty air

David and I have officially booked tickets to Thailand! We're very excited, obviously. Our departure date is January 17, 2009 (crazy to say 2009!) and we'll get back home on January 29. We're looking at hostels right now and trying to figure out what things to see and do. If you have any suggestions, please let me know! So far I know I want to see the floating market (a market where people are in canoes selling things!) and try delicious -- and authentic -- Thai cuisine.

We think we'll stay at Lub D Hostel in Bangkok. It's got rave reviews and looks super cool. You can't beat a snazzy, private room for 30,000 won a night! Check out that website - it looks way too cool for words!

Anyway, I only have 1.5 weeks of teaching left until Christmas, then I teach an English camp for 14 days which should not be too bad. It's 3-4 hours a day of teaching and then I am free the rest of the day. Then it's vacation time until I start school on February 3. From there I have 8 days of teaching, the 6th graders graduate and then no teaching again until March 2. Hoorah!

I'm beyond thrilled! I love my students but it's always nice to have time to yourself!

Speaking of students, yesterday was one of my better days. I taught 4th graders all day long. I love 4th graders! They are almost always very attentive, eager to learn English and very much interested in my personal life! :) I showed them 2 videos of goguma (who they always ask about when I walk into their classroom. Either that or they beg me to play the song "Lemon Tree.") and they just giggled and giggled.

I was leaving a classroom and a little girl ran up to me. On my first day she told me her name was "Jenny" (she made an English name) and held hand and smiled so big I could have died. Her English is quite good and she likes to give me presents. Last week she made a drawing of me and this week as I walked out she handed me a scroll-like piece of paper. She said, "I made you a present." Aw! I need to get a picture with her sometime. I try not to have favorites but it's really hard not to...

Anyway, here's the gift:

(directions for how to open it)

You would have died, right?

Anyway, it's almost Christmas (and my Birthday!). I am eager to receive some packages in the mail from a few people who have said they've mailed things. It's always fun to get mail. Anything from home is nice! Even some Cheez-its! haha.

This past Thursday David and I put our Christmas tree up. It was fun to get it set up and it makes it feel more like Christmas. We even used cheesy fake snow on the windows! Here's a few pictures:

Happy Holidays! :)

<3 Wendy