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Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Greetings Everybody:

I'm not quite sure how to write this. It comes more from the heart than the brain, which is very unusual for me.

Seems kind of strange to read that New Year's 2005 celebrations have been cancelled in many cities across Thailand.

On the other hand ...

this morning while watching BBC news on TV I actually 'lost it' and cried as I listened to a mother talking about how she was holding her 2 young boys as the wave swept them away - and how she had to choose which one of them to let go - she could not manage to hang on to both of them. As she tried to explain to the 8 year-old (the older of the 2) why she had let him go, I just completely lost it.

And then the good news ...

somehow they all managed to keep their heads above water, and they all survived; crying and shaken, but together & alive.

As I was wiping away the tears, it suddenly dawned on me. This isn't a HAPPY NEW YEAR, but rather a weird form of nature-imposed Thanksgiving. In light of recent events, perhaps we can all be thankful that we are alive, that we have a place to sleep, food to eat, clean water to drink, friends who care about us, and families that weep for us when we are lost or in pain.

So --- in lieu of a Happy New Year, I'll wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving 2005 instead.

Dragonsaver · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Dalian, China

I have been following the news on CNN and on this board.

I realize the news media likes to hype everything, bad and good. However, I have been impressed with the reports of the kindness of the people from Thailand to the foreign visitors. Very Happy

There have been reports of people giving visitors food and money when they had lost most of their posessions.

I have not read any negative reports about Thailand, Indonesia or Sri Lanka.

I have now put Thailand at the top of my list of places to teach once I complete the TEFL course and sell my house etc. Money is not the top of my list of things I need, so the lower salaries in Thailand will not be that big of a deterrant. Maybe, I could even help once I get there.