1) The first page of my Thailand guidebook reads:

“Thailand has a tropical climate with three distinct seasons: hot (March-May), rainy (June-October) and cool (November-February), with cooler temperatures in the mountains year-round.”

This is the most encouraging thing i’ve heard since the last time I read that book of Miranda July short stories.

2) It continues by adding,

“Past participants have recommended against chocolate or jelly as gifts”

Unfortunately, I bought the most delicious and expensive jam in all of the upper peninsula to give to my host family.  A jar of wild thimbleberry jam made by the monks who support their monastery in the Keewenaw Peninsula by making their own jam. Well, here goes nothing.

All of a sudden I feel very behind and underprepared. It is probably because I am. I am still not freaked out exactly, but I know I have a lot left to get in order and to do. There is so much I still don’t know about the very program I signed up for. In some ways I think it was good that I wasn’t home getting nervous all summer, but it didn’t lend well to being prepared. But i guess that’s how i like it, backtoback adventures. I see a trend emerging.

Well, here goes nothing.