I have had the last few days to hang out in the place where I live by myself. I go to play basketball every night and then go to the fruit market. I have developed a strong relationship with one of the kids from camp. All the kids are from underprivileged situations, being orphaned or poor. This kid, named James, mom died a few years ago and his dad is only home for about 1 week a month because of work. I took him to dinner one night after basketball. When his dad got back in town, he took me out for a couple of dinners and asked me to watch over James. It is a neat experience, but I feel bad I will only be here for a month.

Also at the basketball courts I got hit on, by a guy. It has happened a few times, especially in Thailand, but never playing basketball. The way they hit on you is Junior High style. Thai people are very shy, so they send a friend to tell you that they like you. I had to polite-fully tell him that I like girls.

Thailand is also having protests again like last year. I am safe, but I must tell you this interesting story, so DON'T WORRY. There are a group of "red shirts" that support the former Prime Minister Taxin. He was corrupt and made alot of money during the time he was prime minister. He has been banished from Thailand, but still has an influence. The "red shirts" are paid by him over $100 a day to protest, which is a good weeks work in Thailand. The Thai government has suspended Taxin's assets and the "red shirts" are protesting this. Over 100,000 have surrounded the Parliament House (where the new Prime Minister is), while 40,000 troops are there. They have threatened that if the money is not released or the Prime Minister doesn't resign, they are going to cut themselves and spread thousands of liters of blood around the Parliament building. It sounds almost like a movie from Biblical times. But we are safe as long as we stay away from that area, and our camp is leaving tomorrow to a resort away from Bangkok. I will be back from camp on Friday.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/171623/udd-next-move-scatter-blood