I am in Bangkok airport waiting for my flight to Khon Kaen and subsequent bus ride to Mahasarakham University.

I had tried to take the bus to Mahasarakham but I had no less than 3 Thai friends call the bus station, and got 3 different answers. It is so exasperating! You would think the bus station personnel would have the answers, but no! First, I ask for the bus to Khon Kaen and they say there is no bus to Khon Kaen. Odd, everyone has told me there was one. Then it hits me! It’s the bus to Nong Kai (near the Lao border) but you get OFF halfway there at Khon Kaen. We call again, what time is the bus to NONG KAI? 7:20 pm, get on at the Star Hotel in Rayong. Curious, why not get on at the bus station? Hmm, let’s call one more time just to be sure. Oh, now the bus leaves at 4 pm from the bus station and it’s a 3 hour ride. Odd, it’s 3 ½ hours to Bangkok alone and I’ve read that it’s another 7 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Khon Kaen.

This is the point where you say, oh the hell with it, reach in your pocket for your credit card and book a one hour flight instead.    Until September 30, Thai airways had a special deal, I could have flown round trip for $45. But since I must return Oct 2 (high season, I think) all deals are off and I must pay $129. But it’s still worth it, I could be still sitting at the wrong bus station right now.

I have been practicing for my interview and I think I’m making myself more nervous. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?   I could go back and teach in a language school or take the weekend job. The professors have been very kind to me over the phone and I think I would like this place sight unseen.

I went to Bangkok a day early to make sure I got to the airport on time - the way Thai busses run (see above) you never know. I stayed at a hotel on Soi 8 that was recommended by a teacher at TEFL and it was a real bomb. $36 , thought I’d splurge and get a nice hotel - The Royal Asia Lodge. Sounds nice, huh? Not so fast. First of all the bathroom was skanky. Then the room reeked of smoke - I kept the air on all night just to breathe. I pulled down the sheets and found somebody’s lost hair.   I hope I don’t get crabs. It could happen, you know. I went to call the front desk about the internet but they don’t have the number listed in the room - you have to get dressed, walk downstairs and ask them for the front desk number, then go back upstairs and call, I guess. I got undressed again and snuggled up in the second hand sheets with my computer only to find the free wireless internet needed a password, which they neglected to tell me when I asked if they had wi-fi. Duh. Then - and this is the deal-breaker - when I went to plug my computer in, the hotel is so old that all they have are 2 prong outlets and I think all computers are 3 prong, aren’t they? I got dressed AGAIN and went to the desk AGAIN and asked if they had an adaptor - of course not, what did you expect? I did finally get testy and said , if all the outlets are 2 prongs, and you don’t have any adaptors, why do you bother to have free wi-fi? Yes, I know that was uncharitable of me, but I really needed to prepare for this interview.

But it’s all good. I walked into the hotel next door this morning, plugged in my computer, used their wi-fi and pretended like I belonged.   I even helped myself to a complimentary coffee from the breakfast buffet. So there.