New Years!

The 30th of December was the last day of school before Christmas break - unfortunately I was sick so I had to spend the day at home. This made me very upset as today was the day of the UTW Music Battle 2015! This meant that all of the school bands (there were a lot) would be competing. The music sounded great - I could hear it from the house!

Alex left to go to Bangkok today, from there she would travel with the other volunteers to Ko Chang where everyone is spending New Year. I was meant to be going with them but I couldn't. Ahhhhhh.

By the 31st I was feeling a bit better and going out of my mind with boredom. There's not a lot to do at our house. Thankfully, PeAe invited me to go with her family to Nune's restaurant. When Nune heard I was coming she invited me to spend the night.

Dinner was great - although I couldn't eat too much of it. PeAe's family were all so lovely! After dinner Ong, Nune, Dream (another student) and I went on a walk together, and of course took lots of photos!

Dream and I

Ong's mum then drove Ong and I to the clock tower where we met with some of his other friends and sat outide one of their shops waiting for midnight.

At about 11:45 a few uni students including Pear (who, until last year, was part of the volunteer's host family) walked over and talked to us. We all walked to the clock tower and at midnight everyone cheered and hugged each other - it was pretty cute!

Eventually Nune, Dream, Seven, another girl and I sat in the back of Pa's truck and got driven back to the restaurant!

On New Year's Day I went to PeAe's house.

First, Ong and his mum took me to buy a present as everyone had to bring a present. I bought a blanket - an odd gift but it seems to be quite a common one in Thailand. PeAe and Ian's house was out in the country so I dropped my bags off at Ong's house before we all drove there. 

Straight away I was offered food - too which I obliged. Here, I tried oysters and crab for the first time!

At some point during the evening Ong, Ian, two women and I went on a walk.Photos happened.

Back at the house it was present time. My present went to a girl in university who had come on the walk with us. Meanwhile, I received an awesome table tennis clock from a little girl (which is now hung up at home.)

On the 3rd I went out with Nune and her family to buy some presents as I had been invited to their New Year party. After this we blew up balloons and tied them with an elastic band (which I wasn't very good at) whilst Noi finished painting a banners. This was all very fun especially with a 3 year old and a 1 year old involved.

At 10pm the party kicked off with lots of food and talking. I sat opposite a member of the band who spoke very good English and wanted to practice with me. We discussed the evolution of our music tastes - he had a lot more to talk about than I did. There was more present giving here, I gave my present to Nune (can't remember what it was but it involved a light up duck). I got given 3 massive cakes - which I later had to give away as there's only me to eat them all. 

I also somehow got persuaded to sing 'Blank Space' with Noi on the karaoke machine in front of everyone. 

This was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. It was so awful!

Eventually I plucked up the courage to start dancing and it turned into a a super fun party! 

On the 5th I went to Bangkok and met up with Pear and her friends. I spent the rest of the week with them, hanging out in their uni flat which was a lot of fun! We even visited Chinatown, where I ate snails!

Cookie and I

Snails

So overall, I'd say a pretty good New Year!