It's Constitution Day. No School. Monday was the King's Birthday (also Father's Day.) No School either.

We will go to some village where they found ancient relics today as they celebrate with dancing and music. One teacher at my university is doing a project on it and has invited us. That's pretty much all I know , but hey, anything for a day out, right?

Last night we had dinner with some Chinese teachers in their apartment. There was so much food! Steamed dumplings, cockles, sweet and sour pork, cucumber salad, some salad with fish, ginger sauce, apples, sweet tiny mandarin oranges, tiny fingerling bananas.

Apparently, the Chinese government wants to promote trade with China around the world by improving communications and they have a series of Confucius Institutes that provide free Chinese teachers to Universities that apply. Totally supported by the Chinese Government. What a great deal.

Helen did all the cooking in her one room apartment and Jine hosted since she has a little living room in her suite. We sat on tiny little pre-school sized chairs around the coffee table. I prayed to God mine wouldn't break and made a conscious effort not to move around too much.

 They are both very intelligent, PhDs, and Helen spoke intently about politics in China. It was most interesting. Jine would like to sit in on our Oral English classes to improve her conversation, although it seemed very adequate to me.

They spoke of how hard working Chinese students are and how fierce the competition is. Not like the Thai students who never even carry a book. Helen said that a small flat in her home city (maybe Hong Zhou, could not quite understand) costs $200,000 US and all the family and friends have to help the young man to get a flat or else he cannot hope to attract a wife.

Today, P'Noon took me to lunch for roasted free-range chicken, which was delicious. Although I don't quite understand. Really, it appears as though ALL chickens in Thailand are free-range, they're always in the road, I've heard them crowing from my 7th floor hotel room in the middle of Bangkok. The papaya salad was very very spicy and I quickly used up our allotment of tiny pink napkins on my dripping nose. If you ever have serious sinus congestion,  I recommend the papaya salad.

She mentioned that I wouldn't have to stay long today, just introduce myself and leave. Huh? "You look confused," she said. Yeah, maybe because I don't have a clue what you're talking about. "Oh, didn't anybody tell you? There's a department meeting today for all of you foreign teachers to meet the rest of the staff."  Good to know. It's like not being invited to your own birthday party. And since I have been here exactly 2 months now, maybe a little belated...

Then Seamus says something about the student interviews on Friday. Huh? "Didn't anyone tell you? We are canceling our classes on Friday and interviewing potential students for the English Department."   Good to know.

I never cease to be amazed at how readily and often Thai teachers cancel classes. I even wonder if some show up at all except for the first day and the exams. Even when teaching, I rarely have seen a Thai teacher on their feet, it's mostly do this, write about this, present a xxxx to the class, etc. A lot of independent learning, I think. But maybe I'm just not their at the right time. I hope that's the case.

Well, have to get ready for my village visit. Till then.