chiang mai.

Week 26.

Don't worry, I am slowly but surely catching up... 

I went to Chiang Mai two weekends ago.  The highlight:  I made friends with a man who got his arm bitten off by a crocodile.  The low:  I almost got abducted.  It was quite the adventure. For the full story, please see my other blog:  <http://gracecurtright-comeawake.blogspot.com/2012/02/lets-take-trip.html>.

But for now, here is my favorite photo...

at the station.

just dance.

Week 25.

Another thing we do at Grapevine?....

Dance parties.

At least once or twice a month, our Souper Tuesday event turns into a karaoke/dance-athon after all of the scheduled programing has taken place.  Whether it be to Disney or Glee or Lady Gaga or Mariah Carey or Thai pop music, we sing our hearts out and dance (the rest) of the night away.  It is crazy fun, crazy loud, crazy energetic... just crazy.  Decorations are taken off the walls to become dance aids, people take turns being in the center of the ring, acting out "Colors of the Wind" or Simba as he scales Pride Rock during "The Circle of Life," pretending to be Beyonce or Justin Beiber.....

I'm tellin ya, ca-RA-zy.

So, this week's picture is blurry, but I'm sure you can imagine why.  :)

just dance.

game time.

Week 24.

One of the things I missed most about the students being gone during the flood was that I had no one to play games with.  I was never much of a game-player at CCF... when people played Nerts or Mafia or Bang or whatever else, I would usually sit it out.  Because a) I am not very good at games, and b) I am not nearly as competitive as most of the other people who play games at CCF. 

But here in Thailand, where it is not as easy to communicate freely with language (and it is much less about the competition), I have found playing games to be a wonderful way to connect with students.  There is a little bit of talking, a lotta bit of laughing, and a comfortable setting in which to build relationships.  And it is fun!

Nerts, War, Casino, Swap, Uno, Pictionary, Jenga, Set, Corner the Market, Phase 10, Clue, Monoploy...  and those are just some of the favorites.

So, all this to say, I am glad that my job includes game time with some pretty cool students.

game time.