It’s good to know that so far everyone is settling into their exchanges. On this side of the world everything is "sim_same" (what Thai people say when they are trying to speak English).

First I must apologize for that gibberish at the top of my first report, I guess the Thai letters didn’t come out.

Ok, what else have I done ??? Ka! My Thai is getting better and better everyday and I’m now beginning to form sentences. I’ve also learnt sort of a trick--- put KA (males say klap) after every sentence, it means yes but it’s also polite and your sentence will seem correct. Most of my friends understand what I’m saying now, so I really don’t have to speak English unless I’m asking how to say a word. I guess I’ll soon become fluent. (LOL!!)

School is great and everyone is getting ready for exams next week. I am even making up English tests for some of the classes. (All I can say is the Lord be with them!) As you may know, I’m taking Basketball. Basketball---oh Basketball--- Thai students are the clumsiest people I have ever seen. I mean it’s sooooooooo funny to see them dribble, catch (when they do) and even throw a ball. And I mean boys and girls. But they do it all in good spirits and who cares if you can play or not? IT’S A FFUUNN CLASS! I hear there’s a rumor going around school about me, the basketball star. HA, I can’t play that good either! All of my other classes are coming along well. 

I also really enjoy my private Thai Manners class. It’s soooooo different. There is even a special hello for the Royal Family. Hopefully, I get to meet the King on his birthday (Dec. 5th.) I’m learning how to wai and curtsey for the Royal Family and even for when I go into the Buddha Temple.

Some of the teachers don’t speak English so I’m trying to communicate with them and they seem to understand sometimes. I loooovvee Flower Decorating and I think that this is my favorite class. It’s taught by some university students who are practicing to be teachers so they’re really cool. 

The other day I put about 5 plaits in my hair and it was the biggest thing. All the Thai girls were bringing combs for me to"make their hair." I tried but--- it just doesn’t stay. Oh, while on the subject of hair. The teachers here actually measure the length of the students’ hair. A few days ago they had "hair check" and more hair was on the ground afterwards than in a barber shop. I mean the school directors simply "gapped" everybody’s hair that was too long with a scissors (both boys and girls). I guess this was to force them to cut their hair and I must admit for a minute I was a bit scared. 

In school they have also put me in charge to teach two routines for a dance contest. I think it’s like The National Arts Festival (Competition) that we have in the Bahamas. Sooooooo, I’m supposed to teach some students to dance to Mambo #5 as one routine. (Ummm, Puqui, Ursala, Mariana, KRISSY and the rest of you guys. Any suggestions?) And of course, they have asked one of Grand Bahama’s Champion Debaters (ME) to coach their students in the Speech part of the contest. (I wonder how they knew?????(LOL)) 

I think that’s about it for now. Oh, yeah there’s more. Since my host-family is half_Chinese, I’ve eaten six 10 course meals since I’ve been here in some of the finest restaurants in Bangkok. I’m also taking Chinese with my future host sister "A". Her chauffeur comes for me on Thursdays when I don’t have school and then the Private teacher comes and teaches us Chinese. So that’s two languages plus a little French in school. THREE LANGUAGES!!!!! 

Over here the city is growing daily and it seems that no matter how early I leave for school in the morning, to get 2 bus_stops away takes about 20 minutes. I’m also seeing some reallyyyy strange things while I’m here. For example, people walking between the railroad tracks when a train is coming. And they don’t move to the side either. The train just blows them a little to the side.  (Seriously!) We had our second Rotary Function already. It was an Inter-Cultural Night where all of the exchange students had to perform a talent from their country. The only thing I didn’t really like at first was that they turned it into a contest between the Inbounds, Rotex, Interactors, Rebounds, Rotarians and the rest of those groups. I guess what they about the Bahamas is true "IT’S BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS." The contest was won by yours truly, Barbara Za after I took the audience ";Back To Da Island." The show was rather diverse. The Canadian inbounds showed hockey, the Russians went around handing out bread and salt, the Americans sang the Hokey-Pokey song and the Dutch performed a skit. There were also quite a few Thai performances that showed Thai boxing, and the dances from the different parts of Thailand (east, central etc.) Next is the visit to The Grand Palace and the National Museum with my fellow Inbounds. Well I’ve already been to the Grand Palace (in Wat Praw Gaew) but they say we never stop learning so I’m bound to have even twice as much fun this time! 

Ok, that’s all for the second issue of "BUSARA’S DIGEST". Look forward to issue number three (3) - - -  COMING SOON TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU, IN AN E-MAIL JUST FOR YOU!

Signed: Tu Me_ow Su (my Chinese Name)

BUSARA a.k.a. Boots (my Thai Nickname)