Well, I wasn't feeling the best on Thanksgiving so I didn't want to snap any pictures with me in them (in my pajamas with a bright red nose) :) But I did get a picture of our Thanksgiving table. My sister and parents and I enjoyed a quiet thanksgiving meal together after talking on the phone with my brothers and their families. Then the four of us played a few rounds of Yahtzee in front of the fireplace :) 
These logos kind of sum up this last month for me :) My mom and I have hit some of the local holiday craft fairs and then come home to a warm fire that my dad has made in the fireplace. I've gotten to sit down and have good visits with friends over a steamy cup of tea or some other hot drink. I volunteered a small bit of time to help with Operation Christmas Child. I got some great bargains while out with the 5:30 am crowds on Black Friday. I love all these little things that I can enjoy while I am here in the States!
The first week of November I attended a Personal Growth Retreat for "Christian Cross-Cultural Workers". There were 11 of us from different parts of the U.S. and various organizations along with some wonderful facilitators. We met together in Lake Geneva during a week of gorgeous fall weather. There was a lot of time for personal/spiritual reflection, but also a lot of time given to learning communication skills and sharing our "stories" with each other. I walked away very edified by my brothers and sisters in Christ and encouraged to continue in the things God has called me to.
I don't really have too much to say, but since I've now written 100 entries on my blog since it was begun in May 2007, I thought I should commemorate it somehow :)
I enjoyed my time in Portland, Oregon visiting with my brother and sister-in-law. They treated me to a haircut which was much needed and also took me for my first taste of Mexican food! On Sunday we went to watch the Packer game together after going to the Imago Dei church in the morning. We found an asian grocery store, so I was able to make them some sticky rice and curry (I think I made a bit too much though because they were still eating it 3 weeks later!). Finally, we had some time to get outdoors into the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The first day I was so cold...I had about 4 layers on and then had to borrow a hat and gloves from my brother (which consequently were a bit large and made me look like a crab...see above pic with my sister-in-law :) One highlight was our walk on one of the trails in the Mt. Hood area. It was so gorgeous, especially during this fall season!
My first stop in America was San Francisco, California. I was excited because I had never been here before. By the time I arrived, I was so incredibly exhausted, but I had another 8 hour layover ahead of me and didn't want to spend it in the airport. I found a train that would take me from the airport to downtown. When I emerged from the subway to street level, a whole new world opened before me. It was a very lively city and a gorgeous warm fall day! I just liked watching people. When you are used to only seeing short, skinny asians every day, it was so fun to observe the diversity around me. Some of it even seemed very foreign...like forgetting that people in America are a lot louder and shout to each other across streets or show a wide range of emotions.
I think that this might qualify as the best layover ever! I landed in Seoul, Korea and had an 8 hour layover. I really wanted to get out of the airport and heard that there might be an opportunity for a tour. Somehow I ended up at the desk of the airline I flew (Asiana) and the clerk was filling out a voucher for a hotel stay. I got a little worried and said that I did not want to stay at a hotel because I was flying out again in a few hours. Anyways, I took the voucher and found myself with a group of 3 other Americans who also got a voucher and needed to be at the airport again in the afternoon too. So I decided to just join in, not really knowing what was happening but glad that I was out of the airport. A shuttle van picked us up and took us to a beautiful hotel. Inside we were given a free room key and a free lunch buffet ticket. We had 5 hours to do whatever we wanted. It was wonderful!! I took a nap in a bed, watched some English speaking television. Then I discoverd a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom before going down to enjoy lunch. Finally, the last hour I ventured outside of the hotel and snapped some pictures of Korea. What a blessing all this was in the middle of an international trip!
Besides the farewell celebration at the school, I was able to enjoy several other goodbye meals with various friends, both Thai and foreigners. This picture is a group of most of the Christian women who serve in Ubon. We enjoy the times when we can get together to celebrate a birthday and share a meal :)
This past Thursday (Sept 25th) was my last day at Nong Khai Nok School. The teachers and students planned quite a celebration...I felt very overwhelmed! The day began with a special ceremony and all the students lining up to bless me and present me with gifts, roses, and/or cards that they had made. I was so humbled by all their expressions of appreciation and love! The Jr. high girls prepared a traditional Thai dance to perform. After the ceremony were lots of pictures and a meal and presentations of gifts from my co-workers. During the meal there was a karaoke machine that was getting a lot of use with the teachers dedicating songs to me (yes, it even included Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On". Then of course they wanted me to join in by singing, so they chose the English song "Take Me Home, Country Roads". I really didn't know any of the words other than the chorus. It is a moment that I am very glad not to have on camera! Before I left, the students must have suddenly realized that I was not going to be teaching then anymore and I instantly somehow gained celebrity status. There were students running up with books, paper, and toilet paper wanting my autograph. There were cell phone cameras by the dozen being held up. I just had to laugh...do they know I am just an average person from Wisconsin, USA??
Last weekend, I took a bus to visit my friend Ning. I went to say "goodbye" to her, since I will be leaving for America soon. We also celebrated her birthday together (6 weeks early!). While I was there, Ning surprised me with several scarves that she has been diligently crocheting as gifts for me to take back to my family. THANK YOU NING! They are beautiful and I know my family will be honored to receive them :)
These are some of my co-workers at the elementary school in the village where I have been teaching part-time this semester. On Friday, I invited all the teachers to my house for an "end-of-the-semester" party. All together there were about 17 people there. It was a lot of fun to be able to interact with them this way. We ate, played a "white elephant gift" game, and just talked :)
I don't know if any of you have been following the news, but things have been heating in Thailand. Thais are unhappy with the current Prime Minister and the party he represents and want him to resign. The demonstrations have been going on for several weeks, but have escalated the last couple days with tear gas being used and some of the airports and train stations closed. Today there was an emergency parliamentary meeting.
This year was my first experience watching the Olympics from outside America. Thailand was certainly proud of their athletes. By the end of the Olympics they had 4 medals and ranked in the 30's for total medal count. The two gold medalists are pictured above, one for weightlifting and one for boxing. Thailand is a country that rewards its medalists with money. Actually
This past weekend I attended a YWAM conference with one of the teams from Ubon that I am looking into. The 3 day conference was all in Thai, so it was good practice, but also the reality that I still have a long ways to go in being able to understand and speak. It was great to be with others who have a heart for Isaan. Almost everyone was Korean or Thai with a few of us other ones sprinkled in :) My roommates were really sweet...all single girls, two of them working all by themselves. I was blessed to meet more Thai brothers and sisters who know the Lord and have a heart for ministry. On the last night, we had a "mini-Olympics" and pig roast.
