House warming, bottles of whiskey, badminton

11/2
The lizard was not dead, this morning there was a small, different Lizard on the island. The size and skin patterns and coloring on the Lizards vary greatly. The skin is really beautiful. Now that I know what to look for I can see paths in the grass from the Lizards. I really enjoy watching the Lizards and learning their habits.

There are large white winged Egret type birds around. When they are on the ground the look brown or beige. There are birds that cluck like grouse. In the morning the dew on the grass is beautiful.

Jit's uncle and nephew are still working together, they are building a ladder. Jit's uncle is also re-finishing an old wood bed. He is over 80 years old and constantly active, both mentally and physically. His legs hurt so he uses a wheel chair to get around, but he can walk with a cane when he needs or wants to. He is an inspiration.

The road is still going on, it is passing the house, they will need to build an extension to reach the community. There are also rumors of upgrading the concrete path next to our house to an elevated concrete path way.

Jit and her dad picked star fruit from trees around our house. They used a long bamboo stick with a basket on the end, the basket had prongs or teeth to grad the fruit. There are two large plastic baskets. Jit used Google to look up information about drying or pickling the fruit. I think they are going to try pickling.

Google would have helped the community with health problems, with understanding how people describe the community and general information. If somebody had looked up Oowan's symptoms they would have known she was having a heart attack. The internet, and the confidence to search the internet are crucial tools for rural communities.

Two little boys are ridding by with a large bag of plastic for re-cycling. There is a man that comes every couple of weeks and buys plastic and paper. Many people collect materials for re-cycling and cell them. He has a motorcycle with a cart on front.

We went to a house warming at one of Jit's relatives. The house was a beautiful remodeled and restored Thai traditional house. It had the beautiful wood floor on the second floor. It was great to see. Jit could remodel her parents old house in the same manner.

The house warming was very crowded with a nine course meal and a bottle of whisky on each table, really, 99 Crown. There was, obviously a lot of drinking. I think there is something significant about a nine course dinner. I have been assured, multiple times, that our house warming might have nine monks, but it will not have a bottle of whisky on each table. I think the house warming is going to be December 11th. There was a large covered area, sort of like a shed without walls for the guests to eat.

One of the boys had a shirt on that said "Special Army Sailor". When the monks left they all got in the back of a pickup to go back to their community.

Jit is trying to get a trip to Ko Kret, and somewhere up North, for her family. We will use a rental van. I am especially hopeful for the Ko Kret visit because of the Mon connection. I will know more later. I think the plan is for November or December 28th, the anniversary when Jit's grandmother died.

Jit's uncle is not doing too well. He is not sleeping and wandering around the house. We called his daughter. I am hoping that he can go with us on our van trip.

People who speak Thai in front of me, if they know English, apologize for speaking Thai, even at STOU. I assure them that I am not offended. When I told Jit and Dr. Summalee not to worry about English there conversation increased in intensity and depth. I have never really thought about it being offensive or impolite. I figure people will let me know if something is important. Also I am the visitor and I am the one who does not know Thai.

We played badminton in the park until it got dark. Tomorrow we will wake up at 4:30 to go across the river and catch the van for the trip to Kao Yai. We will be going to the meditation center for Wat Thamkrissana Dhammaram. Jit's cousin is arranging the trip.

I see people in this community wrestling with alcoholism. I will share my personal experience when I get the opportunity. I want to help, I have expeienced the tragedy of alcohol abuse too many times. There is a difference between drinking and addiction. I see people who are addicted to alcohol.