20 Things I Miss Most - 2

Its been in the last three weeks that we have experienced unbearable smoke conditions. From what I've learned, every year in March and April, the natives will burn the underbrush to help mushrooms grow and to hunt the animals. What kind of animals I'm not sure. They also prepare the rice paddies to be planted by burning them. Here is what a normal day looks like here in Chiang Mai. This is at our pool here on campus.... see the beautiful blue skies?

This is what it looks like now.... 

It has gotten so bad it's hard to breathe and it's made everyone sick. I don't get bothered by much but this has really been bad. I asked one of the teachers who has been here for awhile, about 8 years, how this compares to years pasts.  He said it hasn't been this bad in a very long time.

Night before last I was on duty in the girls dorm and I heard a commotion upstairs ... what's new when you have 19 teenage girls living on one hall. I went upstairs and they were freaking out because across the street on the hillside the fire was burning and it looked so very close. Here are a few snapshots.

The girls were so hyped up afterwards it was hard to get them to bed. It's always hard to get them to bed though. I love these girls .... most of the time. ;)

I'm so glad we're heading out of town this next weekend. We're going to Hua Hin which is a beach below Bangkok. We'll be there for about 4 days and then we're headed to Japan. We don't have that part mapped out yet but we'll get it done.

I miss home but know this is where I need to be for awhile. Take care of one another and love on those who need it ... especially those you don't know.