Valentine's Day

After three months of waking up smiling, bounding out of bed and biking off to work full of energy and general un-Jen like morning symptoms, I suffered a relapse this morning. Not that I woke up in a bad mood or growled at anyone or stomped around the house with a frown, but it was a slow morning to get started. I decided not to force things and after whipping up a mango lasse in my brand-new blender from the yogurt in my brand-new fridge, I spent a delightful hour in my bedroom hammock swinging in and out of sunlight.

Dressed and ready for action, I rolled into the internet café fully intending to get some work done, but no one obliged by emailing me the relevant documents so, alas, I had to work on email. I also contacted several travel agents for details on flights home and although I found several good deals, I also learned that there is a special of flights to Madagascar: 575$ CDN return from Bangkok! Now, really, when am I going to get a deal like that?? Ok, ok, so I forced myself to look into Canadian flights again, but can't help dreaming of what escapades I might get up to at this time next year when I have left the refugee camp behind.

By that time of the morning, I decide that I should pick up lunch right away rather than go into the office, get a little work done and then have to go out again. I mean, we wouldn't want to be inefficient, would we? So I opt for a business lunch with Bridget Jones and her second set of diaries, despite having done absolutely no business in my day to date. There is something about working in a refugee camp that makes you appreciate the fluffiest trash in a way that is just not otherwise possible.

So here we go: rolling into work just before lunch and there is a management meeting in full swing downstairs. I have to walk by all the head people in order to get upstairs to my "office," so clearly I am starting off my week by making good impressions.

Air conditioner on, cup of coffee in hand, I settle down to work. My first order of business is reading through an immense tome in French on elements of translation. I am aiming to finish the translation unit in class this week and want to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything important. I love teaching things I don't know much about. Translation is definitely easier than the time I got stuck teaching a kayaking class although less fun. Clearly I abandon the tome and opt for some blogging.

Oh and that's right, it's Valentine's Day. It was non-stop love songs in the Pad Thai shop, which made eating difficult because the urge was to constantly gag. There have been the tackiest red roses and plastic hearts decorating the wealthier areas of town and the price of red roses in the market place (usually dirt cheap) has skyrocketed overnight, but the exact day eluded me. I am going to show my love for my students by writing their final translation exam today, This evening, I have a hot date in the park with an aerobics instructor. I am going to join millions of Thai women all over the country in their daily public aerobics work out. At the very least, it will help me remember how to count in Thai and I will be getting hot and sweaty on Valentines one way or another!