Happy Birthday to me!

I am writing this post from an outside patio area of my hotel room, lounging on the sofa after I just had huge quantities of buttery breakfast.

I have had a bumpy ride since my arrival in Thailand..Bangkok seems a lifetime ago and I can barely remember the journey here! Without consistent, reliable Internet I haven't had the time to update the online blog, but I've found myself with a few hours to kill so I can give an update.

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday. I spent the morning feeling sorry for myself, alone in my new city accommodation with no one around. I didn't know I would be there on my own so I had made no arrangements. After a manic birthday eve trying to think of everything and anything I could do (I was going to travel 6hours to Bangkok just to see a familiar face)  I managed to get in touch with another ETA who was visiting my province and meeting another there too, and decided to meet up. However, during my manic stage, I had a time lapse moment and decided to spend all of the money I was given for my first part of being an ETA to travel to the nearest big city, Phitsanulok, and stay the night at a fancy hotel and spa resort. A great decision. My bus was at 12, and I was meeting Charlie(ETA) at the bus station, but since I had only been showedthis once whilst driving by, I really had no idea how to get there..after asking the first friendly faced person I saw, a kind Thai man with child offered to give me a lift on his motorbike! The heavens had opened and it was pouring down - we drove no more than 5 minutes but he was holding a giant umbrella in one hand with a small child I front of him and me behind! He spoke a little English and I was so thankful.
It was so lovely to see the other ETAs, if only for a short time since I had to get my bus. I was greeted with a birthday card and a palm sized marble cake! A really thoughtful gesture. We grabbed a drink around the corner and it was ah loy (delicious - picking up Thai!) an iced peach tea. It was a refreshing experience having a conversation without mime (I am becoming an expert at charades...).
After hopping on the bus, it only cost 36 baht which is about 80p for a ride that lasted 1 hour 45 minutes! I then got a taxi, had to negotiate as they refused to put meter on and ended up paying 60 baht for a further 10 minute journey.
The resort is beautiful. Lots of Lilly pads, palm trees, pool and I felt like a princess in my big bed, not to mention the size of the bathroom and the height of the ceilings! I have always enjoyed staying in hotels and I am easily pleased (Premier Inns are great) so with the blessing of my parents I settled in and had a really good afternoon/evening. I booked in an aromatherapy massage by a tiny Thai lady which was fantastic..swam in the pool and used every facility and revelled in the shower gels/lotions etc..bliss. During my swim one of the staff came over with a complimentary birthday mocktail for me! I have no idea what it was but it was so yummy and I had to laugh out loud at the situation I managed to create after a really tough week.
I skyped my parents and my mum made me a cake and I got to 'blow out' the candles! It really cheered me up being able to see and speak to them on my birthday. I went to the on site restaurant and was the only person there (awkward) but had a delicious meal.. I ordered Thai lemonade, vegetable spring rolls as an 'appetiser' (there were 10, I unashamedly ate them all) and very flavourful  pesto spaghetti! Having only eaten rice and vegetables for most of my main meals, the idea of spaghetti pleased me immensely. I went to bed happy and full.
Today I went for an early morning swim in the rain - it is raining now and quite regularly, but it is the rainy season and it is still warm. I then ordered breakfast to the room but I don't think Thai's really understand continental breakfast since they eat rice and fried fish, so it was a little haphazard but I got to eat one of my favourite Thai fruits - dragon fruit!
I have a free day now so will see if I can wonder around the city and try to get a bus back. It's daunting travelling solo where I can't communicate with anyone at all (unless they want to know if something is delicious). My parents told me they are proud of me and it makes me so happy to know that.
When I get back to Phichit city, where my accommodation is, it is quite isolating. It is the 4th accommodation I have stayed in since I arrived at my placement - I stayed with the director of the school in a bedrooms  without a proper window but it was all clean and efficient and I had a Finding Nemo blanket. Then I was told to pack a bag for 5 nights and was moved to my mentors house next to the school where I slept on the floor in a mosquito net den in the front room, complete with a Hello Kitty pillow. It was so cosy and although there were barking dogs outside (dogs are absolutely everywhere - they sleep in the middle of the main roads and are not at all phased by cars, they are also almost all injured in one way or another) and a tiny house, it felt like a home and I enjoyed it. I was then ushered off to the next place, another teachers house which was wooden on stilts next to the river and plenty of fruit trees - I had fresh coconut water! She lives with her mother, father, sister, sisters child. They didn't seem to have any bedrooms but I did sleep in the only room with a door and another giant mosquito net den, this time with a children's lamp and teddy bears. After this, I was told I had to live in the city accommodation where my mentor slept on the floor next to me... It's essentially a block of rooms. I have a double bed, small fridge, desk with mirror and a wetroom, and a view of the hospital and a car park... After speaking with the pastoral carer for my area, Mam, (she is the most lovliest person and will bend over backwards to try to help), we communicated that my mentor would leave me to it, so she stayed 2 nights then left. It's so daunting after having someone look after me and buy me food to sudden complete isolation somewhere I've never been where no one can speak English. The English barrier is incredibly difficult as my mentor, nor any of the teachers (even the English teacher) speak coherent English. Every conversation is a huge challenge, a deep breath and count-to-10 experience.
It's now nearly 10am and I am going to enjoy the power shower and lounging before I am kicked out at 12!. I have been in Thailand over 2 weeks now and feeling quite homesick as I haven't managed to settle anywhere yet and everything seems very up in the air. I will update very soon and will try not to leave it so long - I will also attach photos when I can! 


Every day is a new adventure. Sending love and hugs to my family and friends, I miss you all! 
Frances <3