Family visit

    I know I haven't posted in about a month, but I have a very good reason: I have had no time. At the end of last month (April), my mother, father, and older brother came to visit me all the way out here in Udon Thani, Thailand. My middle brother was not able to come because of his studies, but I will get to see him very soon when I return home next month. My parents came together, and they met my brother in Bangkok. He had to meet them there because he was flying in from Korea, where he is a teacher of English. Then they all came to Udon Thani. All of my host families and fellow exchange students went to the airport to welcome them. I hadn't realized until the hour before they came how nervous I was to see them, but it was definitely great to see them after so long.

I made sure they got the same welcome as I did: lots of flowers.

    While they were here I tried to show them as much of what I do normally around Udon Thani as I could, but my father was only there for two days! I did get a lot in, and if you asked them I think they would say they had a great time.

We woke up early and got to give offerings to monks.

We went into a small national park near Udon Thani.

And we got to go to a temple in the process of being built.

     They of course tried all of the food as well. After all of our touring and traveling it was time to say goodbye to my father and send him off at the airport.

On our way.

The last point we can see anyone at the airport.

    After my father left, my mother still had another couple days. And what did we do??? We went shopping of course!

A little tired with all of the heat as well as walking.

Even one of my host moms bought stuff (the jacket).

There was so much to look at.

We all agreed we were getting tired, and we decided to eat.

Having my mother there, I realized how lucky I was that now I three extra mothers (and fathers...) as well.

Left: First Host Mother, Second Host Mother, Real Mother, Last Host Mother.

   My mother also got to participate in a Rotarian meeting, which she really wanted to do. Then she left in the afternoon, but not to go back home. She went to Bangkok to go to the International Rotary convention.

My mother conversing with the Rotarians as best as she could because of the language barrier.

The biggest international Rotarian tradition: Exchanging club flags.

We all got to come and say goodbye at the airport.

    After my mom went to Bangkok by plane, my brother and I had a little time left until we followed her. We were going to go by train instead.

Forrest decided he needed a hair cut. I got one too, but I thought these pictures looked better...

Forrest goodbye to one of my host mothers.

     Finally it was time for us to leave. We headed to the train station and said our final fair-wells. We headed off to Bangkok...