Pre-Departure

The last two days have been quite busy with lectures, exam reviews, dinner, parting comments among other things. A couple of highlights on which to comment before I pack up the computer for the trip home. I was introduced to the game of Woodball. From the translated description I first thought that it was croquet, but it turns out to be a hybrid of croquet and golf. What I would call a wicket is called the "goal," or the "gate." A very fun aspect of of the gate is that the two posts are shaped like beer bottles and the "door" is shaped like a wine glass. The ball must pass completely beyond the door for the hole to be completed. The women in the picture with the mallet is the coach for the woodball association. At the conclusion of class on Thursday, I was taken by a group of students to a restaurant near the river. The outdoor environment was very pleasant and the thai food was fabulous. Much of Friday involved closing activites. The group was very gracious and I was given a beautiful jar. I was told that there is a traditional story which accompanies these decorative jars that when travelers reached their homes and opened the jar a women appeared from inside. I will let you know what Chyrise thinks if the legend becomes reality. We took a lot of pictures. Some I will share in my big wrap up of the trip in another post.
One interesting observation was the female bathroom attendants in the men's bathrooms. A couple of times I had to go back to the door to double check I was in the right place. None of the locals (male and female) seemed to be phased at all. Other photos are D.K. my official liaison from the SAT and Dr. Picheet the interpreter. Hope you have enjoyed the updates from the other side of the world. It has been quite amazing to have live chatted with Barry, Kayte, Sydney, Samantha, Piper, and Chyrise while staying some 12,000 miles away with a 12 hour time differential.