Let's make coffee!!!

In Thailand people sleep very little--which may explain why caffinine is readily available in any form anywhere here. Energy Drinks come in plenty, coffee stands of various kinds are everywhere you can get nescafe, powdered drip coffee, real coffee-- you can get it sweet or not sweet, hot or cold. I liked coffee before coming to Thailand, but living with a roomate who has a cup every day and in a city where it comes in plethera--I've started to enjoy it even more. Coffee has also been a place of great relationship building and language pratice. Almost every Saturday I go to small coffee shop really close to my house and talk with the sister and sister-in-law who run it--their becoming Thai friends of mine. Some days I get some by the bus stop and they too know my name and my order before I even say it. Coffee has become a casual friendship builder and a way to feel a little know in this massive city. It also helps that when I get coffee here it is never more than $1.00. ( Another reason I don't understand why starbucks are so popular here when thier cup of coffee is still $3.50, and I can get good coffee for $1.00--it must be the rasberry syrup :) )

But who would of thought that Rat's like coffee too. Yes that's right Rat's in my house like to make coffee. One morning Sara and I woke up only to find that Rat's had made morning coffee for sara and I. --it's was almost like Ratatouille.
Here's how Rat's make coffee--maybe as strong as french press.
Step 1--knock down a full glass bottle of instant Nescafe red cup
Step 2- Roll around in water and or lick the coffee to become sticky paste all over the floor
Step 3--If you let it steam for several minutes it becomes even stronger
Step 4--Add water while trying to mop the coffee ( this is my part, the rat is too small to do it by
it's self)
Step 5--Add more water and soap while still trying to mop the coffee up
Step 6--repeat steps 4 and 5 about 5-6 more times--each time more coffee being produced
Step 7--drink and enjoy--okay just kidding Sara and I really didn't drink the coffee, but I think the rats might of because they seemed more active and jittery that night.
Can Rat's get coffee buzzed???

Hospitality of Thailand

So as mentioned before Thai people are very generous and hospitible. They love exchanging gifts and have an impecable memory for how much things cost. If you give them something they will give you something back of equal value (sometimes to the 1 baht ). This has always been a fun thing about being here and getting to know my neighbors. They love to share.

Since being in Thailand i've recieved many different kinds of fruits, fried chicken, various curryies, a wrap around skirt with elephants on it, an eraser, a go green in Thailand bag, hair conditionier, Thai desserts ect. You get the point we exhange a lot, many of this is from my language partner who is still trying to find ways to "pay" me for teaching her english. Sara and I have picked up some ques and have learned how to exhange gifts with her as well. Some of it is from other neighbors who see me passing by. So far I've enjoyed just about everything, but last night I got the best gift yet. A bowling shirt. My neighbor bought it and then decided it was a little to big for her, so she wanted me to have it. It was very thoughtful of her....

I'm not so sure I want to wear this huge bowling shirt around, I mean it does say hot hot vegas, Bang Bang bowling, so maybe i just sport it once or twice in the privacy of my house when she comes over --- just to be polite.

How do I ever give an exchange gift for this one????? Not quite sure, I'll fiqure it out.