Quite the day.

So, I get up really early, and can't find anyone. I don't know how to check out, I barely remember where the bus station is, and finally I just give up. leave some baht on the bed and start walking. Eventually, it was six, and I had definitely missed the bus and didn't even know exactly where I was. It was still dark out, and I had been wandering for like 1/2 an hour at least, so I went and asked a woman who was cleaning by the road- but no English. I pulled out the handy phrase book, and pointed to what I meant, and got pointed in the right way. Once I found it, I called Ploy, apologized, and said that I'd have to take the bus at eight instead. (Right now, tiny little Thai boys and girls are peeking in at me, but every time I make eye contact they just run away, haha). I got on the bus, a rickety red thing with only one other foreigner, and made it to Khun Yuam, where I met Ploy and two of her teacher friends. We had breakfast, and then went to a FUNERAL, holy cripes, but just a moment, to light some insense and they put money in envelopes, and then we dropped the other teachers off at their school, I said hello to a fellow american volunteer named Lindsay, and then went off to meet Non (sp?). I got in his truck and we took off for here.. wherever here is. The drive was beautiful, absolutely stunnning, and I was right on the edge of each ridge. It was different than driving over the pass or through the mountian, because here I was driving INTO it. He stopped so I could see this very large waterfall, and I took some pictures. Non has a little english, but it's halting. I think he teaches acting here? I'm having quite a time figuring out how I'm going ot teach English without knowing any thai if the adults and I can't quite have a conversation. Anyways, I"ll be living about 1.5 kilometers from the school and will walk in the morning with students, most likely. Driving down into this valley was amazing. Now, I really feel like I"m so far away.. isolated in this green bamboo and palm forest, surrounded by brightly dressed students who stare and me and giggle when I can't quite figure out the Thai for 'hello' even after I've been told it many times. I hope their expectations of me arent' too high right away, at least, but I feel like this is exactly what I'd hoped. Although, if my family speaks a little English, that wouldn't be too out of place. The English teacher here just left, so I"m on my own until the next one comes I think, and this had grades 1-9, I'm not sure what that means in speaking terms at least. This computer has internet, so I"ll stay somewhat connected while I'm here, which may only be a month or so until they go on vacation and I go to the Woman's Union near Mae Hong Son. Wish me luck.. I"m glad it's the weekend, for sure. The director should take me out to the home soonish, I beleive, and Nan will cal me for lunch sometime in here.