Back to Life

After a rough week, I'm glad to be back in the normal swing of things for the most part. If I was a doctor, my self-diagnosis would be a case of Dengue with a side of rash and a rigorous treatment schedule of water, word puzzles and my bed. A word on Dengue: don't ever get it. Really. Wear bug spray like a shield that protects you from eye-socket headaches and muscle aches and endless sleepless nights and exhausting days. I'm one of the lucky ones too; some people take weeks to recover. My consolation prize? A nice rash that is still lingering today to remind me of those itchy chicken pox willpower days. I catch myself itching like a 5 year old in a whiny laughter.

I had to cancel some classes and my students were concerned and sweet. They didn't mind missing a class and they asked how I was feeling today. I consolidated two days worth of lessons into one class period today and realized I only have about three more days of lecturing before they take over with their final presentations and then it's the end of the semester. I can't believe I'm already on the last leg of semester one. I just got here. I swear.

Not much else has happened over the last week besides watching crappy made-for-TV movies in English and Thai soap operas. I did manage to somehow run into someone I know while on every single rare trip out to get food. How is it that I felt too weak to go out and buy food, but not too sick to feel hungry? And how is it that you are always found by people you know when you are sick and don't want to be seen? It's the magic of Chiang Mai. In the course of these run-ins with friends I have an invitation to play tango music for the King's birthday celebration, another possible mountain biking trip, and a new tutoring job that starts next week. Actually kind of productive for doing nothing but sitting around all week.

After being cooped up for so long I am more anxious than ever for a trip out of the city. I might just hop on a bus this weekend and go.... maybe I have an internal clock for American holidays - Happy Labor Day, that bittersweet last weekend of summer. My summer is only getting nicer from here.