"Trouble is a Friend" . . .

There will be a Thanksgiving update (with pictures from Pan's camera) coming soon. I have to leave that one to Erin.

Exciting update people! WE HAVE FOUND THE CATCHY SONG!!!

The reason we couldn't find it was because IT IS AN ENGLISH SONG. That's right, an English song. So one of two things was happening. Either the Thai singers are so bad at their pronunciation that we thought it was a Thai song. Or perhaps more likely, it has been translated into Thai (as is a common practice) and it is sung in Thai at the bars.

'Emily! Erin! How did you make this amazing discovery?' Well, we were out in Lampang on Saturday night with Lun and her undercover cop brother (Erin and I intended to go out on our own, but they informed us that no cabs run after 8, because the cab drivers have to go home to their families . . .don't get me started). We were sans motorbike, so we had no choice but to accept the offer of a ride to and from the bar (and some middle-aged company at the bar). So here we were, out with two 40+ year old people, drinking Heinekens, watching the Thai college kids dance, and lamenting the loss of our youth. All of a sudden the song comes on at the bar. "THAT'S THE SONG! THAT'S THE SONG!" I shouted, giving Erin a swift punch in the ribs. "THAT'S THE SONG!!!" We began shouting like lunatics. "OhhhhhOhh!" Lun responded in the Thai way that I would have to imitate in person. She sprinted to the DJ booth and came back with an artist, and a title that did not make sense. "He says it is Lenka. The song is "And Two More is Friend." Ok, whatevs Lun. At least we have an artist!

Let me also add that Lenka is very very very big here. She is an Australian singer (supposedly) who is most well known for the song "The Show." The students are obsessed. Pan is obsessed, it is her ringtone.

I arrived at school this morning, googled Lenka, and . . .ahh haaa "Trouble is a Friend." Makes sense! Download this song people, it's amazing.

More about the weekend? Still no pictures and Erin does not have the correct battery charger still :( So REALLY no pictures. Tar - anytime you're ready to mail my camera . . . I foresee a several thousand baht purchase in my future. I will try to paint pictures with words.

After our VERY exciting Saturday night with Lun and Pi Sak, we slept in Lampang. We had planned to meet up with a friend on Sunday to do . . .well we didn't know what. Let me introduce Mike. He is from China, and is finishing up university in Lampang, majoring in Thai. He teaches Chinese once a week at Hangchat Wittaya, which is how we met him. He is 100% adorable and nice with "an angelic face" as Erin and I like to say. In addition to Chinese, he is fluent in Thai, and I would say pretty conversational in English (although he brings his electronic translator with him when he spends time with us). So I called Mike on Sunday morning and said "What do you want to do today?" "I love fishing," he responded. Fishing it is then. He gave us a tour of his college campus, he bought us lunch at a little "Chinese restaurant" across the street, (basically less spicy Thai food) then we went fishing with him and his other Chinese friends, and two American friends who are also teaching English in Lampang (yesss, we can speak our rapid-fire English for a whole afternoon!) Let me add that at the restaurant, an older Thai woman approached me, began and began poking my skin in disgust. She seemed to think my freckles were some sort of skin disease. "I was born like this! It's okay!"

I will now paint a picture of the fishing event with my words.

Small aqua-teal pond, lined with palm trees.
Gorgeous orange setting sun after a perfectly clear 85 degree day.
Chinese college students sharing some Singha and laughs.
Inappropriately loud Americans eating ice cream and rice.
Stray dogs and cats begging for food.
Thais with hats and masks (don't let the sun touch your skin and make you dark . . .) reeling in fish after fish.
Smiles all around.

At the man-made pond, you are allowed to catch fish (quite large fish!) but you must throw them back. I didn't fish. I ate ice cream and talked to the Americans. Overall, I'd say as close to a perfect Sunday as you can get. I wish I had a camera. Download "Trouble is a Friend."

Peace