This is beginning to feel a little more like what I thought Peace Corp would be. I am in a small village, I think about 1,000 people. In my home stay house, there are chickens and ducks everywhere. I am sure I have had some of their eggs, although I don’t know how anyone finds them. I live in the house in front with Yinu and Daput. They are in their 60’s, raising a 5 year old whose parents died. Their daughter lives behind them with her husband and 1 teenage daughter, Eye. They are all very, very nice and have included me in everything. I come upstairs to my room in the evening and they always check on me. Thais are not solitary and I think they think I am not okay if I am alone.
The house is rustic. I am sitting on my bed, a mattress on the floor under a mosquito net with a fan. Towels are hanging from strings, the walls are wood and plywood. There is really no furniture. They watch TV and sleep on the floor in the living room.
Yinu weaves floor mats, spins thread, farms, cooks and has this young child. Daput is a farmer, rubber trees and rice and maybe pigs in addition to all the chickens. Their daughter and son-in-law work the rubber trees and probably something else too. The teenage grand daughter is so very sweet. She and her friends have hung out with me and I taught them to play Yatzee. She can read English very well, but comprehension is not great. The little boy, Tongla has started a game of winking with me, one of my favorite things to do. He is shy and again language makes it hard, so any interaction is a start.
Language is such a huge barrier, hopefully I can continue to learn. I am surprised by the English here and there. I have not met a fluent speaker, but several people can speak some and they are very helpful.
The teachers are trying to wrap up their year and they are all busy. I am hoping to have more time with them soon. RIght now, I take it a day at a time and see what happens.
Daput relaxes after work
Eye
Eye
chickens in the yard
Yinu working on her weaving
Tonglap
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