I work in an english school. There are lots of people here from the UK, therefore, football is talked about all the time. My friend James (Canuck fan, brutal) recently caved and picked a team to cheer for (Manchester City) so I felt like I had to do the same. I could not pick the same team as James so I researched it and went with Liverpool. Great slogan on the top of their crest, exciting highlights, nice jerseys, they really are the whole package. Currently in third, behind Manchester United and Chelsea, they have a little catch up to do. So now I have a team to cheer for and talk about with the blokes (guys) here in Thailand. I still want to call it soccer, and defend hockey at all costs as the real sport, but for now, Liverpool it is!

Today, I feel really discontent. I don't know if it is because I was quite sick with a bad cold yesterday and just have no energy, or because we have almost been out here for seven full weeks and have yet to receive a paycheck, but today my heart is longing for more. I have found in my life that discontentment is actually quite a dangerous feeling, because it forces me to spend a lot of energy focusing on the negatives aspects of my life rather than the positive. I hate having the "poor me" attitude, especially when I am in Thailand, and I am healthy and have a good job and good friends around me. However, for whatever reasons, today I feel quite discontent. My kids (students) seem especially rowdy today, and could care less that they all failed their spelling tests, and it just makes me want to give up on them. (I doubt very highly that I made my teachers feel this way ever when I was in school. Ya right!) Even the staff today seems unusually quiet and depressed. And its FRIDAY for goodness sake. We found out this week that some student in the secondary school has been diagnosed with H1N1 flu, and that the common cold seems to be going around. (I do feel quite better today by the way, and had no flu like symptoms, so I am sure I don't have the swine flu). I just feel discontent. I am staring out of the window of my classroom looking at this beautiful palm tree, and knowing there is a whole country out here that I have yet to explore, but I don't have the energy or the desire to do it right now. For those of you reading this, I would love for to leave a comment or two about what you to combat discontentment in your own life. I try to focus on the positive, and move on from there. It is friday, we do get paid in five days, there is basketball after school, and I am in Thailand having a great time and hanging out with good friends everyday. And that should be enough, really. But for some reason....

So you want to come to Thailand and visit us in Pattaya? Well we would love to have you. Before you come though you need to practice saying no in a mirror, because when you get here you will be surrounded by people trying to sell you stuff. In malls, stores and streets people are always trying to get your attention, and more importantly, get your baht. You will be stopped by a sweet lady with a bunch of t-shirts, and soon as you say no to her, there is a man shaking your hand calling you "boss" and inviting you into his tailor shop where he wants to sell you a nice suit. Yeah, i'm in Thailand and it feels like +40, i really do need a suit. As soon as you move past him there is a street vendor with Thai food and another one with fruits calling your name. You say to them Mai ow (my ow) which means "I don't want that". You buy some food and sit on a bench to eat it and a child with flowers approaches you, and then a girl with a rack of hats, and a guy selling thai lottery tickets. I couldn't keep the money even if I won so why are you selling me that. You figure that you will be better off walking along the beach then in the market, but here you go again. Friendly thai people by the bunches approach you with a plethora of items for you to buy, including beach loungers, boat rides, parasailing coupons, food, fruit, jet ski rentals and scuba diving packages. Mai ow. Mai ow. MAI OW. The problem is that these people are so friendly, and so willing to serve you to make sure you have everything you need that you can't really get mad at them. So you just smile, and make a habit of saying, Mai ow with a smile on your face so not to offend. So again, we would love to have you come and visit us, but get ready to say no alot as we take you into the streets and markets. And when you do say yes to these people and buy something from them, they smile at you, thank Buddha for the blessing of the sale, then move on the next person. The thing of it is this: as much as it gets tiring saying no and trying to walk in peace, it is one of the many amazing things that makes this feel like such a warm and inviting country. I wouldn't change it if I could.

There is great need in Thailand indeed. Even the dogs get into the spirit of begging. However, in absolute truth, you don't really see this a whole lot. Actually, there are more of these types of set ups around Midtown Mall in Saskatoon then I have seen in Pattaya. Most people work hard for the little money they get here. There are lots of restaurants, and street merchants who are more interested in an honest days work than in a borrowed days pay. And they are interested in the money so they can make it through today, not so they can save for tomorrow. Very different than North American culture to be sure.

So at school here we have some Canadian friends, named James and Lesley Willms. They are from BC (nice) and are canuck fans (not nice). They also bike to school everyday, and have put together a little video of what the bike ride looks like. Here is the link if you are interested!

I thought it was about time that I (Jasmine) actually post something. We have been in Thailand for almost one month already! That is hard to believe. As an introduction to my perspective on our new adventures, I thought that I would tell you about my Top Ten Aspects that I like about living in Thailand so far, and my Bottom Five Experiences! I will start with the negative and then move on to a more positive note!