Bittersweet..

Today was teacher's day, so we had a long weekend. I left for Ko Samet with Mike, Vicky, Craig, Michelle, Lindsay, Jordan, and Colleen at about 4:30 on Friday. We were all fairly tired from the track and field afternoon we had for the students. It was probably a little before 11 by the time we arrived and got a room. We decided to all stay in 1 room so it was a little crowded but lots of fun. We spent the evenings listening to music and dancing by the beach and the mornings and afternoons hanging out on the beach reading, playing frisbee and football, etc. We left the island at about 11 this morning and got back at around 5:30. Its kinda sad thinking that in 10 weeks the teachers here will be scattered in various directions. I've made close friends and it will be tough saying goodbye. Who knows when when or if we'll see eachother again. But I'm also ready to move on to be back with family and friends in Alberta. Bittersweet. Here's a song that came to my mind writing this entry.

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"Bittersweet Symphony" ~The Verve

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet yeah

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no,no,no,no,no...

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change it

You know I can't change,
I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no

I can't change my mind
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
no, no, no

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
That you've ever been down
That you've ever been down
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Life without Jesus seems pointless. So many people are living pointless lives.

Still Alive...

Hey I'm still alive. Back to school blah blah. I'm sure I've done various things in the last 11 days which I could comment on but don't really remember. Yesterday the junior high went to an orphanage/daycare for disabled kids called Rainbow House. We brought some food and stuff like toothbrushes and towels which was brought using the money from speaking thai in class fines. As soon as we got there this little boy (3-4 years maybe) ran up to me and wanted me to pick him up. I don't really know much when it comes to picking up kids and stuff but I picked him up and had quite a fun time hanging out with him. Had the opportunity to play with a few more kids before we had to leave. Getting their was interesting. We were supposed to leave at 9:15 but the driver of one of the school vans that we were taking had left for breakfast so we didn't leave before 9:45. Then we were dropped off at some place with disabled children, but it wasn't the Rainbow House. So Mike had to find the vans that had already went to the back and we had to pile back in. But all in all they morning went ok. Tomorrow afternoon we're doing a mini track and field thing which will be somewhat stressful I suppose. Monday is teacher's day so no school. Last day off till March so I'm headed to Koh Samet right after school with a bunch of teachers. Bought a ticket to see Oasis in February. Its like a 2-day rock festival featuring Oasis, Franz Ferdinand, Ian Brown, dEUS, Stereophonics, Placebo, Snow Patrol Maximo Park, as well as some Thai bands. So I'm really looking forward to that. Anyways, it's getting late and I'm tired.

The Sound of Silence...

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"The Sound of Silence" ~Paul Simon

Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls."
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
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