October 12 brief update

Yippee! We have been unable to blog at our place of residence, and I have finally arrived at an internet cafe in the "Old City" (the oldest part of Chiang Mai that is surrounded by a moat)to make this attempt. Tony and I are doing well and are starting to feel adjusted. We were NOT big fans of Bangkok, where we stayed for the first four days--too huge, dirty, crowded. We are not cityfolk in general, and Bangkok is ALL city! We did take in some sites, but were happy to leave for the north. Our room at A-Nine Boutique Guest House (sounds fancier than the reality of it) is our first place together & we have established routines of attempting internet use, washing clothes, making oatmeal for breakfast, catching world news on TV, reading, sketching (Tony)& writing, and boning up on how to teach English as a second language. Class is way kick-back, as we are the only students & our instructor, Stephen, is a gentle, easy-going soul. There may be teaching positions open for us in one school here, otherwise we may be located just outside of Bangkok for a few months before a possible university gig in China. We'll see!
During the last few days I have enjoyed some discoveries in the area, which makes me excited for more. We can use the guest house bicycles to get into town which is great. My first Thai friend is a monk named Sanan, who approached me at a temple eager to speak in English. We had a wonderful chat (for and hour & a half), and it's possible that we may exchange language lessons. Yesterday, while Tony spent 8 hours sketching native Thai animals at the zoo, I road up a big mountain to check out a large temple, Wat Doi Suthep. I enjoyed taking it all in: the rituals, all the gold buddhas, the bells, the many houses of prayer (that's what I am calling them until I know otherwise). People flock from all over to climb the 300+ steps to the temple grounds. If we stay here, I may sign myself up for a meditation retreat there.
Yes, the temp is rather steamy hot here, and so is the food (feelin' proud of myself as I have already graduated from "no spice" to "a little bit"--I don't want to try to write that in Thai, as I will butcher it). Tony is a stud with the spice! Thailand does not seem to be a hard adjustment, and we are eager to see & do more.
I DO have photos to load onto this blog space, but they're on my computer & that has been challenging! So, hopefully soon!... Just wanted to let you know how it's starting out for us, and to wish you all well. Hope you are all enjoying your own life adventures! Oh, and here's to our next president, Obam-aahhhhh!yah!
I send my love . . . Becca