Since I have been back I have been very busy. The first week, I was busy sleeping, lol. I was so tired and messed up from the jet-lag, thank goodness it was only for a week. The second week I was shopping all over town looking for the perfect motorbike. What I really wanted was way to expensive but then I picked up one through a friend and I am so happy with it. The third week was all about setting up meetings and letting everyone know I was back in town and ready to work.

The kids at the Wat Don Chan were on holiday from school so there was no volunteering yet. I meet with Tanogone about his University tuition and I wanted to hear all about his grades. He is doing well and I have to pay for his school the first week of November. He is taking Business and English and his English is getting really good. Tanagones Aunt is looking to be a Nanny in the states so I helped her with her application, references and her video. I wish her all the best she is such a great girl and I hope she finds something soon. If any of you out there know anyone looking for a Nanny please let me know and I can direct you to the website.

Next week I will be meeting with the school where Surasit and Thammasak go to get all of the info about their tuition so I will be prepared to pay for them (with your very kind contributions) for their next semester. The amount of donations that stuandthekids received  this year will be able to pay for the 3 of them for the remainder of their University studies, 3more years. I am so grateful for all of your help, thank you all so much.

I then met up with a young lady that I used to teach, her name is Mix and she is from the Akha Hill Tribe. She was one of the best students that I taught at the Wat Don Chan and she took an Accounting course while there as well. She is now living in a very small room with no electricity, close to the Wat Don Chan and she is an Accounting assistant at a restaurant. She told me she really wants to continue her studies but has no money for tuition. Mix has not parents and is pretty much all on her own. I told her if I can help her, I will.

Two days later I had a lunch meeting with a friend of mine from Chiang Mai and I told her all about Mix. The next thing she told me made me very happy, she will pay for Mix to goto school. Next week I will meet with Mix to tell her the good news, I am so excited and I think she will be too. Mix will have to apply and take a test to get in to Uni but once she does, she will get the help she need. I am still not sure if my friend will help pay for her room and food but if not we will figure something out. I am just so glad that Mix will be able to have a better life.

Yesterday I finally got my schedule for teaching at the Wat Don Chan and I will be doing 4 days a week. 3 days of teaching English and 1 day of Ice Cream and beverages. I know it sounds funny but this is a class that the school wants to have. Thai people love drinks, smoothies, coffee, fruit shakes and ice cream so it really is a good class. When they leave school for not very much money they can open up a coffee shop, smoothie shop or have an ice cream cart or small shop.

I will also be volunteering at Wat Doi Saket with Atma Seva, check them out at www.atmaseva.org, they do really good things. At Wat Doi Sutep I will be teaching cooking classes once a month to Novice Monks, those are the little kid Monks. I have also sent an email to a group that works with Hill Tribe kids with HIV. I know they need lots of help so I am hoping to work something out with them, for one day a week or maybe two. I know it seems like a lot but 2 of the days at the Wat Don Chan are just morning classes so I could do afternoons if they want me to. I will keep you posted on that when I hear from them.

Thanks for taking the time to check out www.stuandthekids.org….Peace