What a weekend!

How do I start this post??

This weekend has been crazy! Awesome! I have had a irregular sleeping schedule for sure. Sleep most of the day, stay up late at night, I know it's not good for me. Where, to start? Hm....

Well, I have this assignment for class where we have to find someone to teach a 1hour lesson to of English based off their needs, and skills they already have. I had someone in mind that I met not too long ago, her name is Caya and she owns a bakery 3 blocks away from the school. Caya is one of those people that it is hard not to be happy around. She is so welcoming and inviting to everyone who comes in her shop and loves to talk about all her friends back home in Japan. Caya speaks a little English, and I've come to know her quite well from just stopping in and saying hi when I'm walking past her shop. I decided to choose her to teach my 1 hour lesson to for class, and went by yesterday to see if she would be interested. She was so excited when I told her I could teach her some more English, and for free, she started jumping up and down and then immediately sat down so we could start the level test. She has so much enthusiasm, it's definitely contagious!!!
We are supposed to give a level test to assess their knowledge of the English language. Basically just have a conversation with them and ask questions like, "what did you do yesterday?" in which they will answer using the correct tenses, verb to be, and sentence patterns. After awhile of talking to Caya, I could pick up on some of her mispronunciations, leaving out contractions, ect. I then made a few notes, and then we got carried away in conversation....Oh ya, by the way...Did I mention she bakes?? She has an array of cakes, almond and whole grain bread, mung bean surprise, and yummy bubble (which is like colorful balls of jello) All of which are decorated, and prepared to perfection. I have never seen cakes that look so awesome! And I'm sure they taste good too...but I have yet to try some. She also makes awesome Thai food, which I have

She was telling me that she likes to mountain climb back home in Japan! (So do I..for all you newbies)
And we spent the rest of the time talking about her climb up Mt. Fuji! She was telling me that the past two times she has attempted to summit, she has never made it to the top. So one of her goals is to go back and climb up to the top. I told her I wanted to go to Japan, and she invited me to come!! Oh wow! We were making plans, of who to stay with on the way, and with all different friends she has. I was so stoked. We'll see if it works out, but the times to climb are in July and August...that is unless you feel like getting out your icepick. Which I'm not a huge fan of freezing to death on the top of a mountain.
Caya brought up how different her life is now then it was back home. She moved from her home in Japan to work in Louse for a while. She told me that she wasn't happy in Laos and wanted to come to Phuket to make a better life and it would be better for her business here with all the people in Phuket. She told me that while traveling from Laos she met this man from Russia and shared with him about how unhappy she was. "He told me these these wise words that I will never forget," Caya said looking very serious. I leaned in anticipating something that was going to change my life. "You must have time for yourself," she said putting her hand in a decree making sort of fashion.

She told me that she has overcome her unhappiness by smoking, and meditation every morning. I was very in tune to what she had to say. "Do you smoke," she asked, as if she were going to offer me a cigarette or something. "No, thank you." I said looking at my notebook. Then she started talking about her ability to read minds, and see things other people can't see when she smokes. How whole new worlds open up and she can talk to animals through touch. She can see inside her own soul, and can have peace through meditation. It was so interesting talking to her. I felt like she was totally serious. Which I know she was. But it just made me think of all the things that are in the world, that I can't see, and what it would be like to see these things. Very thought provoking and I still find myself in deep thought from her words. I am finding people here who    remind me so much of my friends back home. Just talking with her gives me a desire for more than a "normal," life. She understands passion and following your heart. She understands the purity in a little child's laugh. It's so great to talk to talk to her, and realize there are people who think as deeply as I do.

I usually walk the same street to go to the market and pass people who work in shops along the way. Yesterday I met Toad, Bill, Tom, Gone, and Si, all very friendly shop owners, one of who took English classes at the school I attend. This man's name is Gone and he works in his families day restaurant and helps prepare the food. He is a huge Thai guy, but look almost Polynesian. He was telling me about how much he likes to go sea kayaking on the shores of Nai Yang beach. I asked if he wanted to go camping with me and my friends, but every evening he and his family go work in their garden and harvest pineapple and other foods. Gosh! Everyone works so hard here for just a little money. All of his family get up at 4am to prepare the food for the day, then work on the farm from 2pm to 10pm then go to bed and get up and do it all over again. No days of rest, no naps, no sleeping in, just working all the time. That is their life. I feel as if I am on vacation over here in Phuket compared to them. I asked if I could come to their farm and help one day, and he was so welcoming, and showed me on a map where it was and a little trail people walk to go to this limestone cave next to the farm, and trek to the beach about 4 hours away. He was very friendly, AND spoke English.

Btw, some of you may be worrying about how EVERYONE appears to be friendly, and I'm meeting so many "nice" people. But EVERYONE is not nice. I am still extremely cautious about who I talk to and share information with, and where I walk at night. So please don't worry. :)

Walking back to the school, I ran into the gang that went to Patong and had a night of sin...they all looked hungover and were dripping in sweat. It was hot outside, and they were on their way to the pool. I guess in the midst of parting, they lost on of the girls and hadn't seen her since 3am this morning. I went back to the school and knocked on her door, but there was no answer. Her light was off, and there wasn't any sound of movement from inside her room. "Well maybe she went to the pool," I thought, and started walking over there. When I found out she wasn't there either, a couple people and I made a plan on what to do, and when to notify the police...ect.
I went back to the school with Ross and Jeff and Jeff knocked loudly on her door, and called her name. A few seconds later we heard a sound from inside her room, and then she opened the door. Ahhh.. I was so relieved! I was so worried something had happened to her. Everyone was too drunk to remember what happened and how they got back to their room. Some how that made the idea of getting drunk less appealing, as if it wasn't in the first place. Ugghh...
So my plans for the day were to go camping at Nai Yang beach, and stay all day at the beach in the sun, running, reading, and meditating. The missing person situation delayed my plans a little, but I decided to leave the group who was hungover, and not ready to go, and take off on my own. It would be cheaper to go alone anyway, and I didn't feel like setting up a tent in the nighttime. So I walked down to the bus station, and found out the bus was leaving in 15 minutes. There were two french guys, one who was extremely nice looking, who were lost and looking for an Irish pub. I helped them with directions then got on the bus. The bus ride only took a half an hour and then I got off next to a bunch of shops next to the beach. I walked straight into the national park and long story short...for the next 2 hours was sent on a wild goose chase to find a tent to sleep in.
It came down to the decision of sleeping on the beach next to a bunch of homeless Asian men, chanting around a fire without their shirts on, or renting a bamboo bungalow right on the beach. Since my the rest of the group hadn't shown up, and it was already dark, I decided to go with the bungalow. It ended up being 500baht, only around 10 USD, and I had a small bungalow with the front door opening to the beach! I walked inside crouching, so I didn't hit my head on the ceiling. There was a little blue mat with two pillows and a huge mosquito net hanging from a center ring on the ceiling. Perfect! So cute and comfy! I put my backpack inside, and then headed out to find somewhere to eat dinner. I walked a couple meters to a little Thai restaurant on the beach and ordered Papaya salad, and rice. I also had a white wine cooler which was cheaper than the water! Everything was quite delicious, and I enjoyed eating barefoot on the beach with a candle at my table. There were some french ladies next to me who where rather humorous, and I found myself eavesdropping on their conversation. After dinner I walked straight out to the beach, took my shirt off and ran out into the water. Best thing ever swimming at night! There were other people swimming, and walking along the beach. I swam for a little bit, then ran back to my bungalow.
The rest of the night I spent reading chewing on dried papaya, and sipping a drink. Reading the greatest book by the way called The Most Quiet School in the World. Very good book for thinking. I greatly enjoyed sitting on the beach listening to the waves crash over themselves. It was a very serene and beautiful moment.

This morning I got up, having a very good rest, besides waking up every hour to swat the mosquito on my leg. Haha. I was pretty tired and am now. But wanted to get out to enjoy the sun. I got my bathing suite on, and went out to the closest chair and let the sun hit my body. It felt so good to be next to the sea and in the sunshine, but I felt really sad for some reason. I walked along the beach for awhile thinking about this confusion and sadness. Where had this gloom come from? I was in a terrific mood last night!

I decided to walk along the beach and pick up one seashell for every negative thought I had. My hands were full of shells by the time I reached the opposite side of the beach, and I decided to write out what I was thinking in the sand, and what would make me feel better. I then replaced every bad thought with a positive one and realized that I have been self-seeking so much. Too much that I am thinking about all the time things that I want, and not getting the things I need. I have been thinking about where I want to travel, and not getting any rest, which is what I need. I have been thinking about who I want to be in a year, and not living in today, and doing the things today that I need to do, like eat food, sleep, drink water, or even shower. I have been thinking so much about what I want, that I have disregarded my needs, and as a result this morning felt awful. I wrote down on the sand a few thoughts: My desire to be with nature comes from my desire to be with and know God. I am sad, and confused right now, and doubting myself. To have clarity I need to sleep, and drink water. Every good and perfect thought comes from God. Saten is the father of lies.
It seems so basic, but in the busyness of life here I don't think about what I need as a human being. God was faithful to remind me of that. I then picked up some new shells and meditated praying to God for the next hour. It was a great start to my day, and I felt like I had just then started living again. Sorry this is so blah for every one. Haha.
I ran along the beach with so much speed. It was empowering, then I went back to my chair and took a nap. I was so thankful God had reveled truth to me, and keep thinking every good and perfect gift is from God. I decided after waking up I would shower then go get some lunch. It was around 2:30pm, and I got dressed and walked along the street looking for some food. Just then I saw Ross walk out of a shop, and we were so surprised to see each other! They were eating lunch at a place nearby, so I joined then for some Pad Thai.
Ross, Nicoli, and Jeff had all camped on the beach last night just sleeping on the sand. They got to the beach super late and said they were drunk for most of the night, but had some great stories to tell about a heard of water buffalo, fishermen, and homeless people they slept with. It sounded like so much fun, but in a way, I was glad I had time to myself to recharge and think. We talked, ate Pad Thai, and then they offered to take  me back on the back of one of their motorbikes. So I grabbed my things in my bungalow, and we drove back super fast, weaving in and out of cars, and getting brick oven sunburns.

I have been blogging, in and out since we got back, and talking with people. It has been a very nice weekend. I love the beach up north! Pine trees right up next to the beach, that has huge waves and backs up to a national park which means little to no tourist. Just nature...water to my soul. I also thank God for the special time I could spend in his presence this morning.

 
 

This is a photo of the beach where I spent the weekend...So beautiful!