Sambar Surprise

Apparently Sambar deer can jump -- through windows! Before leaving for a week in Bangkok I put many things in the laundry to be washed, so everything would have a week to dry and be fresh when we got back. Clothes, sheets, my blanket, blanket cover. At the last minute I decided to throw in my sleeping bag thinking maybe our cleaning ladies could help alleviate the horrible mildew smell. Our clean dry laundry is folded and piled in the office for us to pick up. The night before we arrived our resident Sambar deer got into the room through an open window. The doors were closed and she went frantic crazy because she couldn't escape. Peed everywhere: the walls, on our magazines, books, and of course, the pile of clean clothes. Guess what was on top of the pile? My sleeping bag. Wonderful. Just a little wrinkle. See, we never get too bored here.

Today Amy (a grad. student from Stony Brook who is checking out the field site for two months as a possible site for her dissertation work) and I worked a morning shift of searching for group PS from 5:30 until noon. I like the eight langurs of the group PS. I watched their transition from being completely skittish in February to now coming within a few meters of us. The infant which was born about three months ago used to be watched closely and hidden by his mother. Now, he is bigger, turned all gray from his previous blaze orange, and she allows him to play wide open for us to see. I think I was the first person to spend a full-day following the group. I know I was first to draw a complete description for all of the individuals. We found them early this morning because the adult male was nice enough to double bark, signaling the group location.

Well, even though I tried to make funny faces through my rendition of "If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands," I don't think the class will be requesting that song again any time soon. I can't sing. I did try, but that just got me a few odd looks. Unfortunately, I'm sure the entire sanctuary heard me as well since our lessons tend to get boisterous. I had a terrific class tonight of 12 students (despite them coming a full HOUR before the planned time). They were attentive and eager throughout (maybe because we haven't had class for almost two weeks, or maybe because they are getting used to only me as teacher). We went through my prepared cards for learning, "I, you, he, she, they, we" much quicker than I expected. They liked the repetition and tongue-twistedness of my pictures depicting a girl and a woman: the girl saying, "I am a girl. You are a woman;" the woman saying, "I am a woman. You are a girl." The words seemed familiar to all of them but I think it was good -- gave them confidence that they have learned English at school. They even sat through learning a few shapes. They like to repeat words "con diao" (individually when we go around in a circle). After we got though my planned lesson we still had a half hour left. We filled it by singing songs -- everything we have taught them so far (they now love the hokey pokey) and they taught me a song with the days of the week and something about a large elephant and a small chicken. Then I was thinking, um...now what? Ok, "wat pop" (draw a picture). Today was letter "L" for lion. A success. Now, if only I could learn the Thai equivalent of everything I teach them...