Is it just my imagination or does it seem like I only blog about school and visa runs these days? The good news is, I have every intention to change that, and it looks as though things might pick up around here soon. Even more good news is that I have an update for you today (although it’s about one of the aforementioned topics).

Burke and I moved on to the next round of school – yoohoo! I’m not sure “failing” is really even possible, but we celebrate the close of each month with an American baked good, or khanom, that we make to share with our classes. We feel like it’s an easy opportunity to share love and continue conversations by giving a chocolate chip cookie to our past and present teachers, classmates and the school staff. I’ve been sick with a lingering cold for a couple weeks, so Burke made the last batch all by himself!

Anyway, I was a bit nervous on the first day of school starting this new month. I wondered if I would have the same teacher for the intro to writing as I did last month on my first attempt. Said teacher was the first to think I spoke Thai well right out of the gate. On the first day when I said I had only been learning Thai for two months, she said she thought I already spoke Thai and was just learning to read and write. What a compliment! Fortunately, my teacher this month thinks I’m okay, too. Today she told the class that I was the only one who has not made any mistakes on our last few dictation quizzes. Truthfully, I’m just happy to be able to keep up with the rest of the students!

Burke started studying one month after me so he will always be a module behind me, and as usual, I requested that he have the same teacher that I had. There are a myriad of reasons we enjoy this, but I think the teacher that he has now is one of the most caring and interested teachers I’ve had previously. She always asks the students to explain their answers just because she “Yaak ca saap” (wants to know). She usually says this phrase in tandem with a little running-in-place jig to show how badly she wants to know. It’s cute.

Last thing, remember the cold I mentioned? After the medicine my teacher gave me last week didn’t do the trick, she brought me a face mask to wear in class!