I have an apartment! They call it a condo but in truth it's a small studio apartment. Bed, sofa, desk, chair, coffee table, bookshelves,small kitchen unit, small refrigerator, WESTERN TOILET, security guard, small balcony overlooking other condos. Swimming pool, laundry room, wi fi, parking garage.   5k B/month or $150 US. It's really nice. Brand new; as a matter of fact, they have to get it all ready for me for tomorrow. Could have gotten a similiar unit for $105 but this one is much nicer.

Now I am wrestling with the ATM machine. I need 3 month's rent to move in and the atm will only let me get 10k B out per day. So I got 10k out today , should get 10k out tomorrow but remember US tomorrow is different from Thailand tomorrow so I wonder if I'll be able to access any money by tomorrow morning. I'm not sure when a bank's 'day' ends - 3 pm? midnight?

You're really up against a wall here in such situations - I have 5 different sources of money - atm, credit card, American cash, traveler's checks, and personal checks. None of which they accept. Plan B will be to see if I can cash traveler's checks at a bank.

I can take a songtaew to school or the school will supply me with a bicycle.

The students will call me Ajarn Sharon (ahh jahn; no r's remember?) Ajarn is a Thai word for 'respected teacher.'

Did you know even university students wear uniforms here? Most of them do a year abroad in the US, UK, Australia mostly.

I will get my schedule tomorrow although classes don't start until Oct.26. I read the syllabus and feel about 5% more confident. I have a cubicle and a computer, I have met most of the English faculty all of whom seem very nice. My point of contact, Dr. Twangtip Klinbubpa, did her graduate work in the US on a Fulbright scholarship. She studied at Indiana University of Pennsylvania but I'm not sure if it was for her Master's of PHd. Her English is perfect, however. She's the one who took me apartment/condo hunting today.

Well, I have to study. Why am I doing this again?