So I've really been able to settle in the last few weeks. I am very happy with how my language is progressing, and I was able to travel to Pandang Bai. It's a small town with very nice beaches and a big temple with lots of ceremonies. The town is regularly overtaken by ceremony processions. So I really enjoyed having a relaxing weekend at the beach (although I got a bad sunburn!! I can't seem to wear enough sunscreen ever here! And the stuff is like gold. I think the price is 3 times the price in the U.S. When one of my friends saw my sunburn, he couldn't figure out what it was. When I explained, he said, "Oh, that's why bules (foreign people) need sunscreen!" So I guess that why it's expensive. No one who lives here needs it).
Whenever I think about writing on this blog, I have a hard time deciding what to write because everything here that seemed so unusual has started to become normal to me.
I have just started volunteering in an elementary school in the city every week. I just go and speak English to children, so that they can practice with a native speaker of English. So far they have been really excited to ask questions about the United States (they say "Amerika" here), so it has been really fun. I am also so happy to find a way to give back to my community here. I really believe that knowledge of English is power. If you can learn English well here, it means you can get a better job and have a significantly better life. So I'm excited to be to help and meet local children at the same time!
I'll update with pictures soon!
Hannah