Learning the ropes

So, McDonald's tally is currently at three. And I don't even like McD's. Well that's not true, it's just that I can hear artery walls tightening up. Hey, if you saw some of the stuff they peddle on the street here, you would eat fast food until you find out what the local is exactly, and whether or not it is safe to eat. While we're talking about streets, there are stray dogs everywhere. You know when Conan does that celebrity-make-a-baby thing and the kids look like science experiments? Well, computers are not capable of creating the level of ugliness that these dogs have obtained. And they stink, a putrid, fetid, noisome, stink. Also, traffic is bad. Really bad. Worse than New York bad. Crossing the street is like playing Russian roulette with three bullets instead of just one.

On a happier note. I made a friend today. I went in to the school to observe classes and I met several guys, but my "friend" is named Jelmer. He's from Holland and that is pronounced like Yelmer. He showed me a little of Bangkok after school today. You get around by riding a big boat taxi down the "river." I say "river" because sewer is probably a better word. There are no pickpockets here. In France, a 14 year old girl tried to pick my pocket. Here, everyone is Buddist, and apparently they don't tolerate that. What they do tolerate is ripping you off if you don't know better. Jelmer warned me about this. What's the difference between outright theft and theft with a pretense you ask. Well, to quote Chris Martin, "Your guess is as good as mine." What? Chris didn't write that line? It's an old cliche that he put in a song and made a lot of money off of? Well, I'll be.

The school is great and the little Thai kids are beautiful. I never thought I would write that line, that kids are beautiful, but they are. They also could outlast that cursed Energizer bunny. They don't stop. They're like six. I'm going to require lots of sleep. More to come. Stay tuned.

Nordles