Santa Claus Won't Make Me Happy

Sawadee pee mai. In thailand this is how one says Merry Christmas! In the morning it was hot and no Christmas baking was drifting in the air. I missed my family and the snow. I know that may seem hard for some to believe but both David and I wished we were home with our families. We both missed snowboarding and sleds. We missed skating and hot chocolate. It felt so odd hearing Christmas music playing the same feeling you get when some one plays jingle bells in the summer. The only ornaments and lights seemed out of place like someone had forgotten to take them down for the summer. If no one hear said Merry Christmas I would not even know that today was Christmas. I miss waking up on Christmas morning with my family and eating treats that my mom had made. I miss opening presents and chatting in my pajamas. David and I woke up that morning and got dressed in Christmas colors. Read the Christmas story from the bible a couple of times, and listened to Christmas music. Then went on skype with my family back home in Canada. It snuck up on me Christmas this year, sneaky like it was trying to sneak past unnoticed. This will be the second Christmas I missed with my family, Davids as well. As much as I loved going to BC for Christmas, it wasn't the same not having my family there. I miss decorating the tree and placing presents under the tree with Shala. Baking with my mom. Watching the fire burn. Skating and drinking hot chocolate with Tilly. Sledding with big groups of friends. I guess this is one of those things that need to be done at least once in my life to spend the celebration of our Lords birth in another country.

Daily One Geckos Zero

David and I have been spending a lot of time going to the clinic and watching movies, which kinda sucks. I wish we could go jump in the ocean and go for runs together, but his foot is a little winy child that needs lots of attention. We were sitting and talking one evening when David spotted a spotted white and black gecko sitting in the corner of the room.
Earlier that week we went for supper with Mike and Cindy and they had told us about this one time when Mike was standing in the trees and Cindy spotted a spotted lizard hanging above Mikes head she told him to very slowly walk out of the trees but unlike every man, Mike did not listen and came (as manly as possible)screaming out of the bush! They went on to tell us that this certain gecko gets to such a size and if it feels threatened it will jump for your jugular! So when David had spotted this little spotted gecko in the corner of the room we reacted quickly by grabbing a small cup and a bottle of water. David calmy asked me what to do and as my dad had spoken he would hit the gecko a few times to shock it then capture it in a bag. So I instincivly told David to hit it. So he does. The gecko goes running at our feet (and they are fast)! I hop back as the small creature goes under the bed.David then put his face down under the bed and says I think I see it. Then he got a broom mean while im holding the cup like container to catch the GECKO! "I'll push it your way" David said calmly mean while I'm thinking NO! I do not want to touch the biting thing thank you! he gets a broom and after a while of pushing the bed around the room the gecko makes a run for it like a prisoner escape from a jail. I trap it in the container and toss it out the window. The first gecko we have caught and released!

The Romantic With Road Rash

The day after David got here we decided to get him a scooter. We spotted a few places with bikes and after some searching David spotted a green honda for rent. He spoke with the lady renting the bike for a while and then we raced off. At the first turn on davids bike he found that the bikes breaks weren't even. When he tried to slow down at the corner, the breaks caused his little green scooter to slide side ways. I immediately ran to his rescue sweeping down and saving him before the gravel could harm his unprotected flesh. Sadly this was not the case as David hit the road and rolled causing scrapes all over his arms and legs. We then went straight home to the villa where David hopped in the shower to and he told me that blood was draining out of his shorts. He then got worried about not cleaning it out fast enough so we went to the pharmacist to get liquid and gauze to clean and patch up his new wounds. Later that evening we went to a restaurant and the waitress pointed at Davids arm and said "Thailand tattoo?" After a few days David and I noticed some swelling in his foot. He decided to go to the clinic to get it looked at. We drove down to the clinic right before Chalong circle. The nurses there spoke very little english and David and I had a hard time figuring out what she wanted us to fill out for forms. He then went in to see the doctor when he came out he kept saying "amputate, amputate!" They gave him some antibiotics and sent us away. The next couple of days weren't so good because of Davids foot and also because of stomach infection which I had gotten we had come back to that same clinic a few times. The infection was no longer in Davids arm but his foot was still pussing and swelling. We have been avoiding the water because of Davids injuries.

We have been trying to do things that don't have to do with a lot of walking, like dune buggies and feeding the elephants. David has also gone and tanned at the beach while I went swimming.

We have eaten at some amazing restaurants and David loves the food here. We also have been to a first class movie unlike the movies in Canada they have assigned seats so you don't have to go in super early to get your seat. You also get the best popcorn ever! Not to sweet and not to salty, and two cokes. Large comfortable seats that are set up not to block the view of anyone else in the theatre. They play a video for the king at the beginning of every movie and you must stand to show respect. Other than that we have been taking things pretty slow. We went to the hospital today to find out if anything else was wrong with Davids foot apparently he doesn't have a broken foot but he has been walking on it to much. As for me my stomach is all healed up and I am waiting for Davids foot to heal so we can experience more of Thailand!

Canadians Invented Teleporting Already?

I was very excited for today! It had been a couple of days since I had talked to David, and I had missed him so much! He had told me that he was super busy at work and that he wouldn't be able to chat on skype. That morning I got up and went for breakfast with my dad. I had banana pancakes and eggs such a good breakfast. I then went home after that and had a shower all the things I wanted to get out of the way before talking to David. We had planned that because we were not being in contact with each other for two days, David said he would take the whole day off of work to talk on skype with me! I was so excited seeing as usually the need for sleep or work would get in the way. I opened my lap top and tried to contact David, but for some reason it wasn't working. I told him I would go to another spot and then we could chat. I liked talking in my room because then I don't get strange looks for talking with my computer in public. I decided to try this small restaurant by the ocean this way David could see me and where I was, but the connection was still not working...

David is a mennonite boy that I had met through our mutual friend Isaac. He was from Waldheim and I am from a small town on the other side of the river. David and I became stupendous allies, my accomplice in schemes. We liked doing a lot of the same things snow boarding, paintball, camping, etc.

He told me that the connection still wasn't working and that I should go to Don's where the connections always works. I was so wanting the background of the ocean that I tried to get the waitress to help me but for some reason skype was still not working! I finally decided to try Dons and if it didn't work there I was going to tell David that we should just try typing back and forth, that I just missed talking to him and would rather have that then nothing at all.At this time I was starting to get upset and very frustrated so I scrambled my stuff together and bolted to Dons. When I got there I found a quite place but skype wasn't working the weird thing was is that the call was going through but the screen was black and the no sound was coming through.

I then at this point was feeling so down, I mean I felt like it had been forever since I had heard his voice, seen his face. Then this guy walks up to me and I was thinking that it was the fist british guy to ever come up to me. "Hey" he said. My head went blank, Then I thought I must be seeing things, It was David!! My mouth opened but no words came out. I think my tongue was in to much shock to let anything come out. He had travelled all the way from Canada to Thailand to see me! By himself! I kissed him but at the same time my brain still hadn't completely believed it! After that we both hopped on the scooter and very cautiously tried to drive the couple of blocks to the villa. That evening I would randomly poke David just to make sure it was really him there. After getting settled in his room, and after he had a shower. I had been called by my dad who also had no idea that David was on his way here. Dad had an entirely different expression when I came around the corner and David followed after me. "WAHOO! WOW! YOU!" as he passed around the ground. after the initial shock of Davids arrival was over we went to Kata Mama Two a small thai restaurant and ordered David some very Thai food then went for a bit of a cruise around Phuket. I showed David the ocean.He was so happy about the heat and couldn't believe he was finally here, and neither could I. Then we headed home so he could rest.

Don't Believe Everything You Think

I woke up today by my dad slamming on the door.He thinks I can't hear him on the inside. Which I can and I've told him he actually makes me jump every time. "The house is getting fumigated because of the ants, so I need you to unlock all the doors to the house"(about 5). I was not dressed or had all my stuff I needed for the day. By the time I was ready for them to come into my room they were waiting for the rest of the doors to be open. Dad gave me this attitude like "what you haven't done it yet"! Then he he opened two doors and said "well I could have done that". I dropped my clothes off at the laundry place for washing and met dad at Crepes a breakfast place we like to eat at. Dad then asked me what I plan on doing with my life.

I went back to the villa it smelt slightly odd, like burnt ketchup chips ( how do I know how they taste is a different story).

I went to yoga today. Thomas our instructor first taught us how to breath like sea monkeys. "Breath in through your throat, keep your head down Kaylee". Then we began to put our arms and legs in positions they didn't appreciate. It was like playing twister, by yourself. Thomas would add in jokes and stories between instructions. He would talk about how much yoga does for your body, then add if he could only stop his drinking problem he'd be great! He then would tell my father to fix something. Dad did not enjoy yoga he brought up ailments that stopped him from doing the same pose I was doing, like tendonitis. Even though I just got out of physio for carpel tunnel. Thomas then assured us that the pain we were feeling from the stretch is where yoga begins "when pain starts is when yoga starts". Later he told us that "It's just your mind telling your body it feels pain". Ya I know Thomas its screaming it!

I did enjoy the class. I think I would enjoy it more after I go a few more times and get used to Thomas's teaching skills.

A couple hours later we went to a vietnamese restaurant. Dad ordered the number two and I ordered the beef salad. I get a bowl of noodles I think to myself hmm weird salad and eat it. Then about five minutes later another plate comes out with beef salad in it. Dad and I looked at each other then the plate, then back at each other. We finish the meal that was first brought out to us. We try to ask the waitress who speaks very little english What the meal was. She then pointed to the number two on the menu and then Dad said" yes, thats what I had but what did she have." seeing as the second plate was suppose to be my meal. The waitress replied while pointing at the menu "number two...two" it wasn't till after a bit of back and forth with the menu that we realized that when my dad ordered the number two she thought he was meaning two orders so really she kept saying "number two...too"! Poor women spoke better english then we thought. It reminded me of a funny story that took place on the telephone between my oldest sister and my Grandma. We named one of our cats T.C. simply for the cat. When My sister asked my grandma what T.C. stands for my grandma would reply "the cat". My sister would then repeat herself thinking my grandma didn't understand the question "yes grandma the cat. What does T.C. stand for"? My grandma again but even slower would repeat "the cat". as you can imagine this went on a few more times. Till finally my grandma said "T for THE and C for CAT"!

"Hey Wind Catch"(Tosses Caution)!

After the first week when we arrived in Phuket. Dad and I went for a beer and a coke at a bar. Not realizing that this bar was made specifically for "bar fun". The women who work at this bar are interesting they are hookers, to put it bluntly. I made friends with one of them funny thing is her name is Pal. She spent some of the evening teaching me some thai. Then she asked about my holiday and how long I was staying in Phuket. I told her two months, so she invited me to her birthday party. I missed her birthday I had gotten a really bad cold and didn't feel like partying. It wasn't till the second time I went to visit her that I learned what all her job was. We played pool and talked she was the first really nice person I have met that wasn't interested in my money (seeing how I was female and she only deals with male clients). I one the pool game, and she gave me her phone number and said if I ever wanted to hang out to give her a call. The industry she's in has always made me sad. Its just a job to her, nothing more. She was really interested in the fact I had a boyfriend, this concept seemed strange to her. I know hanging out with her is wrong and that I shouldn't, but I can't help wanting to talk to her.I wish I had the words to show her Gods love, with a grace that wouldn't make me seem preachy. Words that would reach into her heart, and show her that she's more then a pay check.I know it seems crazy. Who knew the first friend I made in Thailand would be a hooker.

I fed a dog some of my lunch. A soy dog is not to be touched they are dangerous and have rabies. These warnings didn't go through my head as two puppies laid sleeping under a bench to get out of the heat. They were sandy, and dirty, and the most adorable things you've ever seen. they wagged they're tales and sat at my feet. Had little barks and little wet noises.

Riding a motorcycle in Phuket is very much frowned upon. Everything is backwards people drive like they all have an emergency to get to. people cut you off. Don't use signal lights. Drive down the wrong side of the road. Three or four people pile on one scooter. dogs and small children are held in one hand while the other drives. people pass you when your waiting at a red light, And I have never had so much fun riding a bike in my life!

Don't ride a bike, Don't touch the dogs, and especially don't play pool with hookers!

I Am The Tight Rope Walker

A pipe in the wall must have broke. When our maid came for the first time, she found a bunch of water downstairs. I didn't realize that all the water was coming from my shower! Dad then started asking me a bunch of questions about the shower. Getting mad at me, I thought this was unfair so I told him he does not have the right to be angry with me... this was not a wise choice he started telling me how he was going to send me home because I didn't respect him enough. He told me that my bedroom was a mess! Just for clarification I make my bed everyday, and put my clothes away in my closet. The huge mess he was talking about was my makeup and toothbrush on the counter by the sink! after some heated debate dad told me to clean up the mess down stairs with a mop. The maid was already down there cleaning it up, so I helped her. No real damage to anything, well that can be seen. After a while my dad came into my room and wanted to give me a hug because he realized he overreacted. I told him I didn't want his hug. I didn't want to hear his sorry. A sorry that didn't mean any thing I know that some day I will fall through the ice again and it won't be my fault, yet I will be the one getting targeted. I understood we had a problem, the floor was flooding but going around pointing fingers and making assumptions were not going to fix the problem. I feel like a tight rope walker around my father, any false move and I could fall. My mom has always been the safety net that I depend on, without her I don't feel entirely safe. Dad gave me a real apology later, one that seemed more about him then just the current situation. Since then we have been getting along fine. I still spend a lot of time in my room reading, mostly the bible I have read up to first chronicles. I try to get up early to either go for a walk or go swimming depending on how hot it is outside. I have a cold so Dad and I haven't planned any scuba diving yet (your not suppose to go with a plug nose). Its been very cloudy the last couple of days not to warm. When I ride my scooter I actually get a bit cold.

Your Not Going To Want To Miss This Im Wearing A SPEEDO!

Today I rented a scooter to get around the island. Dad called up our favorite tour guide Mike for a bike ride. We went up and down the island face. around curves and busy streets. We then stopped at this bar where for donation you can feed elephants bananas! They're trunks grip them out of your hands. The elephants skin is so rough like petting a car tire. they hit leaves on their skin really hard to soften it before they put the leaves in their mouthes. I then want up cement stairs where two little apes hung around. Now I've gone to the zoo where the monkeys generally stay clear of you, and they are in a glass box. not here the monkeys are in a cage like a chained fence. "They used to roam free but since they put up the power poles they had to cage them" says Mike. so this one little ape swings his way right up to me. and sticks his hand out to hold mine he is so cute! black and fuzzy. A soy dog then jumps up in front of me and barks at the little ape and snaps at him. The little ape starts to cry. I felt so bad the little guy was scared out of his mind and he reaches out for my hand. after a while hanging with Charlie the ape I went to find Mike and Dad. They were sitting at the bar and they were talking with the young drunk man who is to be known as Thomas. A short man with a raspy voice. He teaches yoga across the street and his students are whistling for him to come over. He tell the bar tender to pretend to write something down so his students will shut up. Then goes on to say how much he hates yoga, but how it needs to be done. He then says "you're sure you don't want to come over? I'll be wearing a speedo!". We all think he's joking till fifteen minutes later Mike says "he wasn't kidding he's actually wearing a speedo"!

A Little Piece of Jamaica

Today I am a certified open water diver! I did fairly good seeing as I didn't study half as much as my dad. I got and 88% or something like that. We then went driving to find some t-shirts for dad so he wouldn't have to do laundry as much, and seeing as t-shirts are like three bucks not really a problem. We then went to the view point which is a reggae restaurant, Bob Marley was playing in the background and everything was Jamaican Colors. The view point is built out of an old tree out of the mountain. We tried to watch the sunset but too many clouds were there. A young drunk man came up to dad and I and started talking about how he was a yoga instructor and how we should come check it out.

One Small Step

"If ya see this sagnal" as Tod put his hand to his forehead."It maens shark"! Tod our scuba instructor from Texas reminded us of all the signals of open water diving. As we made our descend we saw large schools of black and yellow fish. and coral that looked like giant flat appartment buildings. They were orange and brown in color. I posed for an underwater picture as my Dad tried to get his balance. Tod thinks the reason my dad floats so much is that he has good lungs, I guess he never should have stopped smoking. We practiced a few emergency procedures under the water, like what signal and what to do if your low on air. How to remove and clear your mask when under the water. Then we began to swim it was fun all the sounds are so loud and clear that is something I never new before it's not that the sounds are distorted or far off, every sound is just louder. A trailer or traitor fish swam out It was a little bigger than a football it swam up to Tod and bit his fin. Fish mostly only attack when they are trying to defend something.

We went back on the boat and had a great thai lunch rice and seafood and fresh fruit. They also had pop which were in old glass pop bottles which is the norm in Thailand. Then we got on our gear again and hopped into the water for another scuba lesson. I didn't get to see a turtle or an octapus but I saw lots of star fish blue in color. you feel as if your on the moon the way things are new and how weightless you feel.

Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You

I went on a long tail boat. Mike our new friend took us to snorkel. We saw huge corral like nothing I've ever seen before! The second you start swimming you see fish. And they were the kinda fish you saw on finding Nemo. Bright in color and a bunch of odd shapes. Sharp spikey black things with shiny blue and orange ball in the middle of it. I saw one gelly fish it was bright orange, about the size of a penny. I was very tempted to touch it, but I didn't. The sun was so warm that the only way you could cool yourself down was to dive down where the water was cooler.

Mike then showed us something really cool. He took a plastic bottle which he had filled with bread. He opened and let a little of the bread come out and swarms of fish came and gobbled it up! So many fish that they swam all around you and you could touch them. I got bit a couple times but not really enough to break the skin. It was so worth it. I guess fish never heard the saying never bite the hand that feeds you. Thats probably because your not suppose to feed them.

We then drank from a coconut for the first time. It was okay not as good as I was expecting. You could then take a spoon and carve out the inside and eat the coconut which is a lot better than the dry coconut we have at home, its slimy and good.

I'm Suppose To Do What With The HOSE!

Last night I went for supper with Mike and Cindy. They're very nice. Mike ordered our meal in thai. We had white wine and soft crab, and a number of other small dishes. I played in my pool and read my bible for a while. Small geckos crawl on the wall. I am getting excited for scuba diving this week. Cindy says the snorkeling/scuba diving around here is fantastic! I also would like to do some kite boarding it looks like fun. Ride and elephant is on my list of things I would like to do. I also wouldn't mind taking guitar lessons which might happen some time next week. I have not seen a monkey yet. Mike told me about a restaurant where two apes come up and pick at your hair and clothes while you eat. As long as they don't throw poop at me I think it would be cool. I found out that the jeans I packed in my bag have not been used since I came to Phuket, the weather has been way to hot. The heat or maybe the water is causing my blonde hair to curl like crazy. I also learned that if you use toilet paper the toilets back up. The toilets have little hoses beside them so you can "clean yourself". This is awkward to think about and even more awkward to do. It kinda grosses me out to think about other people using it for the same function.

Who Knew The Ocean Was So Empty

I went to the ocean. More specifically Rawai beach. Phuket has a lot of british visitiors so I hear a lot of accents. Thai people walk by you trying to sell blankets and fruit while you sit on the beach. The sand here is like nothing I've ever experienced before, it's soft and warm. The waves crash into the shore. I went snorkaling and the water was empty no seaweed no rocks. The odd fish would swim by but it was so close in color to the sand you didn't really notice them. the water was very salty and would burn my eyes if I hadn't been wearing goggles. I would dive down and find very tiny sea shells that were smaller than a dime. Next week I'm starting my diving lessons I am really excited about this! They say that we know more about the moon then our own oceans. I burnt my skin a bit I guess the sun block I have isn't waterproof. The Thai people are very nice and the put their palms together and bow their heads to show you respect. Mike warned us not to do this back because we're tourists and we'll probably screw it up. Dad says next week that we will rent skooters to get around on.

You Come Today? Good Good!

Today we woke up and went for breakfast in the restaurant, they have a huge fruit buffet. I packed up my stuff and we headed to the airport. When we made it to Phuket, Mike a big bald guy met us at the gate. He is a mutual friend of my father's. He drove us from the airport to our villa in Soy Korny. Some of the stuff I packed exploded in my bag so I had to clean it all up. Mike then drove us to rent our jeep. A old white jeep with the steering wheel on the right side of it. The roads are crazy! Mostly because the rules we have in Canada don't really apply here, like signaling or lane changing, or right of way. I hope next week I can rent a skooter they look like a lot of fun to ride on. We then drove (very carefully) to the local mall to pick up a few things for the villa, shampoo, cereal, toilet paper.

We went for a drive on the wrong side of the road for a while so we both could get used to it. Dad then spotted a nice mexican restaurant and with out telling me made a really sharp left turn and scared me. We met the restaurant owner Terry. A nice man from the states. He talked with my dad for a while about football and hockey (the best two sports in the world ha ha). I was distracted by a small toad that hopped across the floor and a little lizard that crawled on the wall. A soy dog (street dog) walked towards the restaurant, Terry yells out "I know you like my restaurant, but I don't like you"! Soy dogs are slow and may have rabies so you can't pet them. After we were done our food we headed home, or what was to be home for the next two months.

Adventure For Two Please

I am sitting in a lounge in the Bangkok airport drinking free hot chocolate and eating small sandwiches. I was wearing my bright red hat, as I went through the airport. I miss my best friend Tilly. She has always been there for me. I miss chatting with her and making up silly stories. I wish her and David were here to share this adventure with me. I am so excited to get to Phuket and see the ocean and the villa. I know my dads with me but its not the same as having a good friend to joke around with you.

Wish Fish

Today I took a boat tour. It was through some of the canals in Bangkok. It was windy and wet. We fed hundreds of fish bread as we went along in a bright colored boat. Our tour guide Tommi said that some people believed that if you fed the fish they would grant you a wish. Later after looking at all the houses and temples along the water, we switched boats and were given food to eat.

That evening we got into a bright pink taxi cab, where we met a really nice man who chatted with us about thai culture,as we drove to a thai boxing match. It was very interesting the ages of the boys must have been from eight to fourteen. They would where either bright pink or blue shorts. they would knee each other in the stomach and punch each other in the face. Two knock outs. people on each side would yell knee, knee. Just like we would yell boo at a riders game but it was for every hit. The roof was made out of tin and thai people would ask if you wanted a beer every five minutes or so. We sat between people from all over the world.

After we walked through the night market, where dad bought me a green bag, with elephants on it. I kept telling him I didn't need the bag but he bought it any ways.

Yuck Tuk Tuk

Today I went to Siam Paragon and MBK, two huge malls. Went driving in a tuck tuck. Drank lots of guava juice. I'm not sure what is getting to me but I'm starting to feel sick, barely have eaten any food, the hot smug, and probably motion sickness from the busy Bangkok. The Tuck Tuck that we got into today tricked us because he said he would takes us for a drive until MBK opened, the thing was he had planned to drive us to his sponsor (the place where he gets more gas if he brings customers there). Dad didn't like that he had this secret agenda so we hopped out. It sucks because the tuck tucks are actually really fun to ride in. :(

Up a floor, down a floor.

I felt so lost today. Things were crammed together including the people. I had a banana shake and found many cool nick nacks. we went to MBK which is one of the largest malls I've ever been to, then again I grew up in a small town of 500. things crammed together from the floor to the roof. Dominoes Pizza in Bangkok looks so gross, large shrimp and slimy cheese. I do not know how this is appealing to anyone. I looked for post cards, to send to my friends back home but didn't find any. my legs and feet are sore from walking. Dad has booked us massages for this evening I'm excited!

Chasing The Sun

Dad and I find it very difficult to sleep aboard the plane. Everything is tightly put together. I try and see out the window, and all I can see is dark clouds beneath me. The room has a slight sanitized smell. The pouch in front of me has a few magazines, they have animation in it which makes it look like its for children. The expensive jewelry in it makes me think not. and dull green slippers. I listen to fireflies on my ipod and David comes to my mind, i miss him. We fly to catch up with the sun. We are flying over Japan. The lights look like white and copper sparkles that have hit the ground. We have flown over Nagaoka, Matsumoto, and Takayama. Oh No! I think somone just vomited!

It's easier to ask for forgiveness then permission

Dad and I discovered that tall buildings block rain. We had time to spare between boarding our flight to Bangkok. So we decided to take the train down town. We enjoyed a restaurant where you put everything you want grilled into a silver bowl. Funny thing is its mongolian restaurant! We get fortune cookies Dad's read you are a practical person with both feet on the ground, mine reads now is the time to enjoy trying something new. We head back to the airport after a very wet walk in the rain. 

The art work in the airport is west coast native art work every where. Large totem poles, ponds, and everything is blue and green for the olympics. 

I'm curious how long the battery life on my computer is because I can't find a plug in. We are now just sitting... and sleeping till we can board the plane. A stranger sleeps to my right. 

I wish I had a camera.

It's Waining and Powing.

My Father and I arrived at the Vancouver Airport. It is large I'm sure you could fit everyone from my town in it and live in it comfortably. The lights look like trees, and everything is very clean. 

The first loving greeting I hear "hey, you stupid hooker!" as two friends share a large hug (it confuses me how some people can greet each other like this). I over hear a women talking on her phone she wines about the weather "it's Waining and Powing outside"! 

I already miss everyone close to me. I find myself wanting to reach into my bag to text, but my phone ditched me to stay in Canada so I can't. I miss you all.