Sometimes falling asleep is harder than it looks

It's always interesting the things I think about as I'm drifting off to sleep. Most of the time it's worth writing down, but the point of drifting off to sleep is that one eventually end up in La-La Land.

But here's a few things I remember thinking about as I fell asleep last night in the flat cot in our lovely hotel in Hua Hin:

• What I wanted to do before leaving Hua Hin
• How much money I spent (more than I wanted to, but still within reason)
• What my plan for Monday's classes are, and realizing I didn't do an important icebreaker with my homeroom class OR talk about what they did over the summer. Very important for bonding purposes!
• How I'm going to pull off being a head soccer coach. I'm not exactly creative when it comes to new drills and such...
• Racking my brain for said new drills to try
• Checking with the basketball coaches to see if they are using the outdoor basketball courts so I can use them for control exercises
• Not wanting to leave Thailand, but considering other ministry options God might have for me while I'm here
• Deciding how long I might actually live here -- just how long term is 'long term'?
• Thinking about all the other places God could send me and use me, and a potential hubby I could find there
• Deciding that marriage may not be in my future after all and being surprisingly okay with it

Somewhere in the middle of all that I stuck in my headphones and watched How I Met Your Mother to help me eventually drift off to sleep. Unfortunately, it didn't last for more than two hours, and then I began the cycle anew; albeit with different things on my mind.

It is both a blessing and a curse to constantly make lists in my head -- especially when I'd rather be falling asleep.

I'm a Thai superstar

My name is Lissa Scott and I just starred in a 3-minute Thai home video.

Around 4:30pm I walked home from my 2nd day of school. You have to understand, I live about 3 minutes, a parking garage and parking lot away from school, so getting home takes little effort or time. But along the way, as I was walking beside the open parking garage, I passed a cackle of teenage Thai students from a local Thai school. They had stopped to get ice-cream from a local vendor that I had gotten ice-cream from during lunch.

I was nearly to my building's main entrance when these kids come running after me -- "Excuse me, Miss! Pii kah! Excuse me!" -- a young girl in a typical white, button-down blouse and navy blue, pleated skirt was ten yards behind me. "Do you mind if I ask you some...do you have a couple minutes....if we ask you some questions?" She stumbled over her uncertain English.

I turned to her as three more students came hurrying after her, panting for breath. She asked for my time again and spit out rapid-fire Thai in a high-pitch whine. Two more girls ran across the parking lot like their life depended on it, a digital camera swinging from one girl's wrist. A boy looked at me hesitantly, then asked if I lived in Parkland.

"Yes I do." I was tempted to answer in Thai, but refrained.
"Are you a teacher?"
"Yes, at the international school right there," I pointed in the direction of the school.
"My name is ....., and I am a student at -some Thai school- and we would like to ask a few questions."

The students kept turning to one another, rapidly speaking complete gibberish. Another camera appeared -- this one of the video persuasion -- and all six teens gathered in a circle to quickly play a round of "Rock-Paper-Scissors" to decide who would do the actual interviewing. Apparently the boy who first asked if I live in Parkland lost (or won, depending on how you look at it), because he pulled out his notes and began instructing the others on where to go and what to do.

Both cameras came out and a girl tried to figure out where she should stand with the cue notes so her partner could see them. With the girl hovering right beside me, my interviewer asked 4 questions in halting English about Parkland.

I smiled, answered in simple sentences, and used my best Thai accent. And just like that I was made into a Thai superstar featured in a school project.

It reminded me of assignments I've given out before, and will give out again this year. Ah, to be a student forced to interview strangers in a foreign language about meaningless things....the good ole days.

Round 2 at ICS begins tomorrow

Tomorrow is the first day of my second year teaching at ICS. It's my second year teaching, period. I don't know how last year could be topped -- I loved my schedule, I loved my content area, and most of all, I loved my students. The trouble with teaching 8th grade English is that there's no possibility of teaching them a second time around -- that is, unless I move up to high school with them. At least with the lower grades at my small school (6th and 7th), there's a chance at repeat customers -- not so for me.

But there is always this year....I can begin the cycle again with a whole new set of students. Some of these kids are following in their older siblings' footsteps. Some of them are twins. Some of them are new and my latest target for recruiting fresh soccer players.



This year is going to be epic. I can't help but believe that. I'm bound and determined to see it happen.

I'm on a new mission

I few weeks ago -- when I was still in Oregon -- I made a costly impulse buy. I spent $144 on workout DVDs. I've been drawn in by infomercials on countless occasions -- everything from food choppers to the latest workout regime. But this time, with my dad's surprising encouragement, when they did the 14-minute countdown from the infomercial, I dialed in (via website) and made a commitment to my body.

So now we're about 2 weeks in and I sadly have noticed no change to my body. I've worked out consistently five days a week, and have been more conscious of my eating habits, and yet my clothes still haven't felt any looser. My brother (an avid runner), would tell me that it takes longer than 2 weeks to notice changes; however, the stinkin DVDs said that I'd see a change after just one week. All those testimonials are so encouraging -- of course they're made by people who fit into a size 2 and have a ton of energy, but still I expected some kind of result that would motivate me to keep working out. With the kind of money I put into these DVDs I am bound and determined to stick with it for at least 3 months. If I don't see results by then...well, I don't want to think about it.

But for now I am choosing a more optimistic conclusion: exercising is as much a state of mind as it is of body. I "feel" healthier because I exercise. I tell myself it's okay to snack every once in a while if I'm consistent with my diet every other time. I can't quite tell if my mind is more alert, but I can always tell myself that.

But then I look in the mirror, and I am brought sharply back to reality: my arms and torso are still just as chunky and under-toned as ever.

One day. One day I'll be in the single digits again. One day I'll look a little more like the girls in these silly workout DVDs. One day I'll actually be content with my body when I've assured myself that I've done all I can to be healthy.



Oh, and if you're wondering, I have killer calf muscles. Of that I can be quite proud.

My last Hurrah! in the States

So I guess I should preface this by saying I am simply going to ramble in this post. I don't have an outline, I don't have set points to make, I am just sharing some observations I've made in these last few days. With that said, you may continue...

I've come to realize that as much as I crave adventure, and seeing new places, and trying new things, I love being able to come home to my own comfortable surroundings and winding down. I just got back from the Portland area after spending 4.5 days seeking adventure, seeing new places (and many old ones!), and trying new things. Now that I'm back in Hermiston and it's after midnight, I don't feel the least bit tired; unlike these last 5 days of being absolutely exhausted by 11pm. Adventure sure takes a lot out of a person! I'm sure after flying home to Bangkok, I'll want to sleep an entire day away, but once I get that out of my system, trying to get to bed before midnight is going to be a challenge.

I had three -- maybe four -- definite plans while on the west side: Timbers game on Wednesday, Yang's/Lincoln City on Thursday, Portland Saturday Market/evening wedding on Saturday. During and in between each set of activities I had a variety of people to meet up with -- basically my extended effort to see people in the States since I'm leaving in 36 hours for another year in Thailand. I've made this comment before, and I'm going to now put it in writing: I came from around the world (a 30 hour plane ride and $1200 later) to make it back in the same time zone, the least people could do is make some effort to drive a few hours to see me. I mean, IF I'm truly a priority. It just grates on my nerves when people hear I'm back they have the audacity to ask me when I'm coming over to visit them. So my typical response is, "If you really want to see me, then come to Hermiston and see me!" Sure it'd be nice to see a bunch of people, but if it's simply a convenience for you, then why should I bother? Some friendships are meant to remain solely electronic, and some require personal contact. If you don't really care to see me one way or another, don't make a big deal out of it, and then expect me to go the distance (literally and figuratively). Trust me, I've heard all the excuses -- from no time to no money; but quite frankly, I have little sympathy.

There are other people with whom I want to make the effort to see, and I certainly did make every effort to connect with people on the west side, who didn't make it out to Hermiston, that I wanted to catch before leaving again. Most people I was able to see, and some I didn't; but at least I tried. I guess it really comes down to priorities. It'd be presumptuous of me to tell people to make me a priority, but I do ask for people to take a couple hours out of their day to see me (yes, unfortunately for some, it had to be on my time schedule since I drove to the west side to begin with). If someone is important to me, I'll see them. I only ask for the same regard. If I'm not a priority, then I take no offense -- I just
don't want to be misled otherwise. Okay, that guilt-ridden rant is through. All that is to say, I appreciate from the bottom of my heart those dear people I was able to visit with, for however short the time was. They were what made my Portland adventure well worth it! I have much to reflect on -- thank you!


This mini vacation almost changed my mind about my trip back to Bangkok. For the last few weeks I've actually been anticipating going back to what has become familiar with a certain amount of relief; however, after visiting with friends, I am more than tempted towards feelings of sadness and despondency over going back to my new home.


Adventure highlights:

*Going to my very first national sports event with Karissa (Portland Timbers vs. West Bromwich)
*Getting my Yang's fix in Monmouth, then watching Russell fall in the ocean and Diana get smashed with a giant wave at Lincoln City
*Shopping with my sis at Lloyd Center and reminiscing with the girls at McMenamins
*Standing in an outrageous line for Voodoo Doughnuts and realizing we could theoretically make more money begging on the streets than working a regular job if we could scrape by with people donating at least $9 an hour

*Exploring the Portland Saturday Market with Karissa, Aisha, Zach, and Omar
*Getting my tragus pierced!
*Having Joelle as my impromptu date to an old friend's wedding in Junction City -- the location and decorations were amazing!
*Realizing it's a small world after all when an old college friend came to the wedding as a guest's date
*Visiting with Jeff and talking shop about teaching, living/moving outside our comfort zone, and our struggles with writing fiction

Top 5 Places

I want to visit this next school year while living in Thailand (in no particular order, mind you):

#1: Hong Kong (4-day weekend)

#2: South Korea (October break maybe?)

#3: Guam (Definitely a Christmas-break thing)

#4: Kanchanaburi (weekend)

#5: Nepal (Spring break?)



Other places I'd like to re-visit:

#1: Chiang Mai
#2: Cambodia -- maybe the beach this time
#3: Koh Chang
#4: Singapore
#5: Hua Hin


Places I'd definitely visit if I stay longer in Thailand:

#1: India
#2: New Zealand
#3: Australia
#4: China
#5: Japan



If you can't tell, I like to travel. A lot. So much so, that I had to get a new passport this year to hold all the stamps these countries give me. My goal as long as I'm living in Thailand is to visit all the Asian/South Pacific countries within reach that even remotely spark my interest. You'll notice some countries not on any of these 3 lists -- that's because they cause this reaction out of me: "Meh." Not saying I'd never go there, but I won't be the first one planning the trip.

American treats #5

Now if you weren't around for #1-4, let me recap:

#1: hot Oregon Chai latte and a Cinnabon

#2: Orange chicken and rice -- American style :)

#3: Pollo a la Crema @ La Palma -- I was craving it for a year!

#4: Crab puffs, broccoli beef, sweet & sour chicken, and fried rice -- need I say more?



#5: Ham & cheese with LETTUCE on toasted multigrain -- I was so excited about lettuce, can you tell? (Oh, and there may have been Munchies, Pomegranate Arizona tea, and a sticky bun on the side of that...) :)


My taste buds are dancing with every renewed experience :)