Creating A Canadian Tradition in Bangladesh

Yesterday, another Canadian teacher in ISD celebrated their 29th birthday.

Naturally I wanted to wish the individual a happy birthday, as well as, 

remind him that being so close to turning thirty is really a death sentence waiting to happen.

(me being thirty now I know this...feel so stiff when I get up in the morning) 

So in hindsight, ending your life now is probably a good idea.

I illustrated this by hanging a rubber chicken from the overhead in the classroom.

Pardon me but Lauren, did you just say rubber chicken?

Yes, I did.

And a fantastic card around the neck of the chicken too!

Why do you never believe me? 

Check it out.

Nothing says happy birthday and end your life like a rubber chicken...

...all the kids loved it, thought it was a Canadian tradition.

Maybe it should be?

What have you done lately for a work colleague?

Hope this inspires you to conger up something....

...CHEEKY!

Cheerio for now.

Youuuuu - Whoooooo?!?

What are you looking at? A what???

A GIBBON?

What's a gibbon? THAT's a set of gibbons!

I think there are two gibbons...

I did, I DID SEE TWO GIBBONS SITTING IN THAT TREE!!!

If someone with those eyebrows can find a mate for life 

(because that is what gibbons do, stay faithful)

Then I feel like my chances are still have a pretty decent.

(logical comparison Ms. Wells, no need to explain your thinking)

In fact, they just went up.

(hah)

Boom!

The Short Version of the last 3 days...

This trip (or my last three days) will be explained in further detail.

but for now

here is just a SNEAK preview

Trust me, MUCH has been left out.

Can't wait to tell/show you more.

Of course not! I took none of these beautiful photos.

(all photos are courtesy of a fellow Canadian friend, Allen Mitchel)

I didn't even bring my camera...typical Lauren!

(tsk-tsking at myself)

One student at a time...

This is what happens when you've hanging out with students 

for a week in CHANG MAI!

Start acting stupid in public

But don't worry, I redeemed myself in this next 

photo shoot...

YUP - that crazy looking person with the white

turban is me...while students are drowning, falling and FLAYING everywhere!

HAHAHAHHA!

Won't be posting for the next few days.

Off on another adventure but this time in Bangladesh ;-)

WHY?

Because my FABULOUS cousin STEPHANIE just arrived!

That's why - sheeessssh!

(smiling)

First 2 km completed for 2013 - BOOM!

Hello Olympic size pool, don't mind if I do.

And then it hit me -

it's so much easier to count laps in a 50 meter Olympic pools so

why not do a 2 km swim all out?!? 

Just like old times, right?

Brilliant Lauren - pure genius!

 

Look of excitement written all over that face.

Final time? 

Fiddy-minutes (translation 50 mins) of consistent, non-stop, grandma pace front crawl...

(only lost count 3 times so did some extra laps, just in case)

What did I learn from this experience?

I hate goggles and the goggle rings they leave on your face.

See those ripples in the pool? That's from me baby!

And yes, if you have not already noticed my thumbs are short and large.

(it's also the angle you haters - ha!)

More FUN photos - videos to come from CHANG MAI.

(singing)

My Passion for Teaching Kids About Food

Typical selection of breakfast items from my grade sevens...

YEEEES - Go, go, go! Try something new.
It's a fruit plate with PAPAYAS and GREEN MANGOES that some students would not touch!

The choices are getting BETTER!

Loved salad bar at Chang Mai, Prem Center

Mmmmm

She was my favourite.... OMELET LADY! Loved seeing her face every morning!

Not one single piece of fruit...tsk-tsk! (I sent him back, don't worry!)

Gotta lead by example sometimes....BOOM!

Meeting a Monk; a.k.a monk chat programme in Thailand.

Not sure if that is always the case unfortunately...I would like to think so.

Debbie Downer I am, I know.

I met a monk in Thailand.

Didn't just meet one but talked to him (his name was Olay) 

with a small group of my students.

Did you know that monks are real human being?

YEAH I KNOW!

Crazy but they are indeed real people.

Although they do study every day, have an interesting choice of clothing, mediate early in the mornings, and dedicate most of their free time to finding enlightenment and helping others...

...they go to school and study subjects, like Facebook, want to have a family eventually

and enjoy talking about the latest sport results - kinda.

(e.g Olay was studying English and reading The adventures of Huck Finn)

Olay was saying that some monks (like himself) only study to be a monk for a certain amount of time 

and then decide to go back, re-enter secular society.

Needless to say I was enchanted and flabbergasted by the whole chat.

(this chat was organized by our tour guide company and something that

is often done in Thailand. Normal every day people talking to normal every day monks)

NO BIG DEAL!

Never got a picture of Olay himself but will remember him and 

that discussion for as long as I'm still kicking....

Found these hidden messages rather...curious.

Beautiful sight just before dusk...how many elephants do you see?

Was reminded of three good friends of mine; Erin, Tina and LYNN!

Clearly I took this photo thinking it most resembled me when I meditate. 

BACK from Chang Mai, Thailand - BOOM!

I do have a Valentine Day's post...but that it's gonna have to wait.

Just came home from a WILD and KICKING week in 

Chang Mai, Thailand with 26 students.

Did I love it?

No eloquent words to express just how much I enjoyed myself.

Here are a few teasers...

BOOM!

Can't explain them all...but each picture has a funny story to tell.

Need some sleep first.

Glad to be home.

Luv

Lauren

p.s. Best Valentines Day present ever

1) Cayenne pepper from an adorable couple who live above me

(Yay Matt & Raimey)

2) Guess who is officially coming to visit me in April? 

(LUV you Ev & Tina)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz