Last Friday: My special day this year started with a senior's home. Everyone from school went to give 2 different seniors a 2-hour massage. It went really well and I think the seniors were very appreciative. It will be the hardest massage we will ever give, first because it was our first to a stranger and second because it was very difficult to communicate since most of us didn't speak Thai. It was definitely a good experience albit a challenging one.
My birthday night was wonderful. I found a really cool bar/restaurant near my house that had live music every night and warned them in advance that a large group of Falangs (foreigners) would be showing up. Almost everyone from my massage school made an appearance! I was very touched by their wishes and the gifts they showered me with. I now am the proud owner of two ukuleles :) Let me know if anyone wants to have an uke jam!
I recieved three cakes as well, the most ever, and some lanterns which we waited till dark to set off into the air. Very beautiful. Everyone had a good time that night and there was much dancing and making merry. A party not to be forgotten. Thanks again everyone for all the birthday wishes. I couldn't have asked for anything more.
Today we went to a special children's school and massaged some kids and some of their teachers. We had a lot of fun. First I had a little boy with cerebral palsy, meaning he didn't have very good control over his left side, but he was very sweet and we played a lot. Then I had a boy with severe autism which was challenging because he can't express emotion in the same way we do, so it's hard to connect with him. By the end I had him laughing by making funny noises and playing with the zippers of his pillow. Then in the afternoon I worked on a boy with blood cancer. He was so cute. He also seemed like he was emotionally challenged and had such a crooked spine that he had to be in a wheelchair. Very sad. He became very attached to me right away. Then I did another very quiet boy also with autism, who was so relaxed that he fell asleep :) A very tiring, but rewarding day.
A lot of us are glad that the course is coming to a close, only 3 more days. I've been practicing after school as well with some friends, which has been helping me to remember all the different sequences. Tonight I've taken a break though. It's my guesthouse owner's, Aoy, birthday so I got her some art supplies and a piece of cake from the shopping center. I've made plans to spend some time with my friend Aude from France on Saturday before I head out in the evening and am looking forward to that. On Friday afternoon we're having a little celebration at school for our graduating class with some food and a ceremony and then I'm sure some people will be going out in the evening, but I'm not sure I'll join them. I am feeling so tired.
This Thursday is a big festival called Loi Katong, which the city has been preparing for since November started. There are fireworks going off every night and laterns being set out into the sky. They look like orange coloured stars. On Thursday there will be many more laterns and a big display of fireworks, as well as candles being floated down the river. I will go out with Aoy and her son and maybe if there's anyone else in the guesthouse that wants to join, to see some of the displays. It's meant to be very beautiful, so I'm looking forward to it.
Busy, busy, busy!
This will probably be my last post before I head home. Much aloha for you readings :) Pehaps I shall continue from beautiful Kauai.
