[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

Wow, sounds like a few more years and the school system there will be as.. well that is another discussion for another area.

I do foresee a complete breakdown in the Japanese school system in the very near future. There is no punishment of any kind for any behavioral infractions because there never WERE behavioral infractions before. These days, the kids have been watching too much western TV and movies. They all want to be ganstas!

I knew you mentioned Thailand a lot, but didn't realize it was a place you both loved to live.

I don't know any place where the people are a friendly as Northern Thailand. Very different from even southern Thais. Everything is green and growing, flowers everywhere you look. Hey, it's a jungle! Vacant lots might have trash thrown into them, but you can't see it because there are so many bushes, vines and flowers growing to cover it! Spaces between house become mini-jungles, and even though we plan to live once again in Thailand's 2nd largest city, you can drive across it in 15 minutes, and be out in real jungle in 20 minutes from anywhere. At the same time, there are 4-5 major supermarkets, Tessco, Carrefoure, etc., Starbucks, McD, and KFC... as well as all the local street markets where they will kill the chicken that you pick out...

The little I know about Thailand was what my ex-in-laws shared about living there when their company was hired to do a major construction job. I don't remember what it was.. sewer systems maybe? She said it was beautiful and poverty-stricken at the same time.

Abject poverty. People living in woven thatch huts... especially the Hill Tribe people. But they will smile and invite you to share their dinner. And never complain about not having enough of what ever... They just smile and go on enjoying their simple lives. I used to bring the Hill Tribe kids colored pens and crayons, and little sewing kits for the older women, etc., when I'd go to a village to do a photo shoot. I had to remember to also bring paper for the kids to color ON, or sometimes coloring books!



BTW... it's not your eyes... This photo was an 'out-take.' It was too blurry to use.

(The "mystery" food was a problem for her, though. ) She cooked everything herself and made sure she knew what it was and where it came from... even if she had to have it shipped in at extra expense.

I knew several people like that, visitors to the Kingdom. My own personal rule is: If it can't move off the plate under its own power, it's OK for me to eat it. I've only found 2-3 foods that simply repulse me too much to eat, and none of them in Thailand. 'Balut' in the Philippines, 'Shiokara' here in Japan, and 'Bat-brain Soup' in the Western Caroline Islands. Other than that, I'm good to go. I LOVE street food in S.E. Asia! The trick is, just do NOT ask what you're eating until you've finished.

Good luck on your new adventure, Stitchawl.

Thanks! We're looking forward to it!


Stitchawl