As I write this blog post I'm perched precariously on my little plastic chair with my feet as high up in the air as possible. If any of my neighbors spot me they will be horrified at how inappropriate it is for me to have my feet up so high up, but that's the least of my worries.

A few minutes ago while cleaning my house this strange half snake half lizard creature came running into my house. While I'm pretty used to lizards, seeing as how I live with about 15 of them, I was not prepared for this strange creature that I've never seen before. I immediately ran outside and peered through my window to see where it went. After locating it I ran to the neighbors house to have them come over and tell me if was dangerous and to help get rid of it. Unfortunately no one is home except a 14 year old girl. She really didn't want to come but I dragged her over to my window and made her look. She screamed and ran away while yelling "mai andalai, mai andalai." This means "not dangerious" but based on her reaction I'm not sure I believe her.

I climbed through my window to get back in so I can avoid the door area where the creature has been hiding behind my water crates (yes I know this sounds ridiculous but my windows are really easy to climb through, the kids do it all the time). I'm keeping a close eye on it while I write this and am hoping the neighbors come home soon!

Anyways, on to the pictures!

This was a poster Peace Corps made about one of my projects at site. They featured 6 or 7 volunteers at the 50th celebration. The Princess came and got to see my work!

It's longan picking season. I've gone into the fields to help a few times now. Full days in the fields make my back ache and my hands sore. I have gained lots of respect for my farming community.

Longan! Delicious. After my day in the field I get rewarded with my own pile of fruit to take home. 

Lunch Thai style. We put large banana leaves down on the floor and everyone eats from the same bowls. Everything is eaten with sticky rice and usually no utensils.

After working in the fields I saw them pouring water from this container into the water bucket I had been drinking from all day. I was horrified and they just said "don't worry we washed the container this is clean water..."

My neighbors new baby pigs! I love these little guys. Everyone knows how much I like them so they told me I can have one to raise. I declined because the minute I am gone they will be eating him for dinner.

My favorite. He's so tiny and gets picked on by all the other pigs. I picked him up to play with him yesterday and he got away so I was chasing him around the yard while all the neighbors looked at me with looks of shock on their faces.

View from one of the temples in my village.

Offerings I gave to the monks for Buddhist lent. 

In one day we went to 14 different temples. I was exhausted just from getting in and out of the car that many times, never mind sitting on the floor and chanting for hours on end.

My village. I'll never get used to how beautiful it is. 

Creepy hands at a temple in Chiang Rai.

One of the most beautiful temples I've seen. On the inside they have superheroes and cartoon characters painted all over the walls.