So as I said before I had just finished a week long orientation, where we could not leave the compound, not stay out of our rooms past 11pm and worst of all not allowed to drink. The lectures were fairly boring and were more geared to teachers that just arrived in the previous days. The best thing that happened was that on the last day our coordinator actually got us some soju (The devils juice). The thing about soju is that it doesn't taste all that bad. Its a liquor that about half as strong as vodka and tastes about the same. The problem is that a small bottle, about 200ml or so, is only about a buck. At meals they usually get several bottles and everyone takes shots of the stuff, you are feeling great, the soju has made you a bit warm, a bit more friendly and then all of a sudden it hits you like a Mack Truck and your on your way to Drunk-town, population: YOU. Well getting back to the story at hand so the coordinator gave us all soju, and for those who didnt have it before you could tell things started to get a bit out of hand. Thankfully the 11pm curfew rolled around and we all had to tuck it in. So I went back to my room where my roommate, Brandon, and I got ready to call it a night. Then my phone rings and its the coordinator, she wants to invite us to a special party, where low and behold there is more SOJU......whoo hooo. Except that when one drinks soju and cheap vodka till three in the morning, The next days graduation ceremony comes was too quick and trying not to smell like alcohol comes very difficult. All in all orientation was fun because of the new people I got to meet.

So I have been at orientation for the past week. It was in the biggest city in Chungam and they wouldn't let us leave, we had to be in our rooms at 11pm and no drinking. Even though we we're treated like children I got to meet a lot of new people, and that was the best part. Back to school and the new year starts tomorrow, March 1st. My small school (15 students from 1st to 6th grade) closed down so I am not sure if I will be reassigned or just work all the time at Midang. But since 6th grade graduated and we lost five of them and only got one 1st grader, my big school, which was 18 is not only 15 strong. Here are some more pictures of my Thailand trip that I have been really bad about posting. This is our way to Chaing Mai.

 Our lunch that was sleeping.....

 Suspension bridge from the river side.

 Didn't know both my brothers actually were born in New Orleans Thailand.

 A huge amount of smoke from a fire that was just a couple blocks away.

 I think they need a bigger truck

 Hello squatty potty, going while moving 50 mph??

 Our sleeping arrangements on the over night train to Chiang Mai.

 The "safe" passage to the next train car.

 Our german sleeping buddies.

 AMAZING, mango and sticky rice.

 What Stephen was like during the trip.

 One pissed off wooden monkey.

   A wheelchair accesible moped, the ADA would be proud.

 I hope these videos post, I have heard they have not been working.