Update update update!

Here is an update... so much has happened since I last wrote but I will divide it into about four parts!

Number One - Chinese New Year
My whole family was up, awake, showered and out the door just before 3am. We went to four different places where we brought big offering plates of fruit and meat and also had cups of both water and alchohol. We waiied--prayed and asked or wished for things to come to us in the future year. It was an amazing experience. We waied once in town where there were many other families waing at the same time, then once at the large statue of King Narai in our town and then once at a tiny roadside monk obviously not well known and then once outside the front of our house. The next day I slept in late... and when I woke up my host cousin Mai was there with her mom and dad! That night at about 8pm we drove to the next town over Khok Samrong and at about 9pm we started walking up a mountain. It has something like almost 4,000 steps until you reach the top! It was hot and there were tons of people, it is very good luck if you are able to make it to the top of this mountain. Mai and I finally made it,  preceded by my host brother and sister and followed by my host moms and aunt and uncle. At the top there was a beautiful temple and we waiied in multiple places. Then we took another short stairwayed walk to another small one room temple where there was a monk sitting and in the center of the room a large gold colored elephant. You must wai first and wish or ask one thing, then, you must try to lift the elephant. If you can lift the elephant, your wish will come true. Let me tell you, the elephant was extremely heavy! But I lifted it! After the climb back down everyone was exhausted and my cousin (who was staying in my room with me) and I barely stayed awake long enough to shower before falling to sleep. Oh and I almost forgot-- it is tradition for Chinese parents (my host dad is Chinese so this is why I got to celebrate this holiday... I feel very lucky!) to give children money on Chinese New Years... so I am $60 richer! :)

Number Two- King Narai Festival
Because Lop Buri was founded on the old palace of the Great King Narai each year, just in Lop Buri, there is a grand festival in his honor. In the festival there is a huge historical reenactment. The other exchange students and I were asked to act as French Ambassadors in the play, it was quite fun, but also quite hot! The reenactment was absolutely amazing though! As was the rest of the festival... I went to the festival every night... which ended up in me being sick now... but now the festival is over so I can get better now! It was so worth it! Singers and dancers and booths selling silks and jewelry and an AMAZING handmade bag that I fell in love with but had to break up with when I found out it was 4800 baht (aka 160 dollars). And of course, the most gorgeous display of lights ever -- it felt like Christmas in the city... even though I've never been to Christmas in the city...

Number Three- Pibulwittayalai Graduation
My school had graduation for M6 (equivalent of 12th grade). It was such a new experience, so different from America! Each class walked in just with the members of their class (unlike America, the class stays together to study every subject from 9th grade up until 12th) walked in under the school color flags while the band played the schools marching song. They were adorned with sashes, flower crowns, gifts, pins, smiles and of course... their school uniforms. They haven't gotten rid of those yet (in fact most universities in Thailand also enforce uniforms). Graduation was fun, sort of chaotic-- with music and dancing and people running to and fro, photos and hugs and smiles and a few tears. It was so unlike American graduation and I really enjoyed it. It was sad to say goodbye to my class though, I am truly so very thankful for everyone in my class 6/13. They were all so kind and welcoming to me and I wish them all the best of luck in college and the years to come! Maybe I will meet you all again one day!

After graduation we were finally allowed to swim in the pool that was built at my school this year! No one was allowed to swim in it even though it's been done for about 2 months now!

Number Four- Lake
After graduation ended and all the goodbyes were said, photos taken, shirts signed and flowers given I headed off into the mountains of Lop Buri with a bunch of other exchange students. We went swimming a large lake about half an hour away from Lop Buri city, it was so much fun and a refreshing way to end a beautiful but saddening day.

Here is the link to my photos of King Narai Palace --> King Narai Festival 2013
Here is the link to my photos of Graduation -->  Pibulwittayalai M6 Graduation <3
(my class is wearing maroon sashes)

Sorry for this post being ridiculously hurried and I apologize for all the mistake I have surely made with my English... I'll write back as soon as I can! Life is crazy busy right now and I'm loving it! Stay healthy and warm in Alaska! And everyone else who is not in Alaska have a great day!

Kearn