it's only/already been two weeks!

on the one hand, two weeks is a long time. on the other, we've barely begun. school is in full swing- it's the end of the first week and i'm well on my way to having the school-day routine down. getting to know the kids, figuring out how to get work done during free periods, meeting taher on our common breaks, chatting over tea with the other teachers in the faculty room... it's becoming familiar.

bangkok itself is not becoming as familiar as the school is- yet. we venture out and explore often, but living here, having a job here, is different than being here on vacation. we come home at four and we need to rest a bit before going out. so our adventures are smaller in scale and happening more slowly. i actually prefer things this way, though- if i see something i want to explore more, i know that i will be back. the first time i see something or do something here is not the last time. i have all kinds of time to come back to it. it's a nice feeling, the knowledge that i belong to this place for a while. we are relaxed foreigners- in the street, we are there to soak it in rather than see it all. we have time to take shopping detours for a couple of hours. we don't mind eating at the same place twice because we're looking for favorite hangouts instead of trying to try it all right away.

shopping here is out of this world. it's so fun. we're having a blast- two nights ago we bought these gorgeous throw pillows- they are just beautiful. simple and elegant and soft. i can't wait to keep buying things like this, that will be in our home for years to come. remember, i'm nesting!

i think that's all for now. i'm not much in the mood for philosophizing yet. nothing of controversy has really happened- but i'll be back. as always, stay tuned!