Jet-Lag and Culture Shock

Hello family! How are you all? It was SO nice getting to talk to you last week! I miss you all SO much! I am so glad everyone is doing so well. I am so glad to see how much HEavenly Father is blessing our family! Mom, have you thought any more about going back to school? Baby Mia is such a cutie! She is so tiny! And Cory and Tammy are expecting?!? Man, that is so awesome! I am so happy for them! I'm sad that I won't get to be there, but it will be cool to have a new neice or nephew when I get home.
So, traveling to Thailand was nuts. That was the longest trip ever. I thought that the 14 hour plane ride from San Fransisco to Teipe would never end!!! Hahhaha! But we got here all safe and sound! We spent the first night in the mission home with President and Sister Smith who are both so sweet and wonderful. The next day we had our transfer meeting, where I met my new companion, Sister Lish, who is super sweet. They also told us that we would be white-washing an area called Khorat, which in in the East in the Isan. White-washing is when they take both missionaries out of that area and put two completely new ones in. So Sister Lish is in charge of training me, and both of us have never been to this area before, we don't know how to get around, and I don't speak Thai!! Hahhaa! It is a great adventure. The members here are so great though. THey are so friendly and helpful, and there is always someone willing to help us teach. They always tell us how cute we are too. How cute our little noses and our white skin are. : ) Too funny! I am finding that I speak Thai ok and everyone can understand what I am saying. THey tell me I speak geng which is good or skilled. But I seriously cannot understand ANYTHING that is being said to me. So I just smile and nod and look desperately at my companion to translate for me. All of the ward members are really good about speaking really slowly and clearly and repeating themselves to try and help me understand, and they all tell me, you just have to keep talking and listening. It is ok we will help you! SO CUTE!!! I love Thai people! And the weather here is SO beautiful. It is hot in Bangkok, but it has only been about 70ish here in Khorat. In the mornings it is freezing though. Yes freezing, if it is under 75 it is freezing! Hahaha! I have been making very good use of my sweater.
So yes, I had really bad jet-lag, and I still have mega culture shock. I still wake up and think, where the heck am I?!?!?! But Sister Lish says that that should pass in the next week or so. There are only 4 missionaries in our area. A companionship of Elders and Sister LIsh and I, and it is a really big city, so I feel kind of lonely and seperated from everyone, but I am really just trying to focus on the work.
So as for Christmas, if you want to you can call me, or we can go to an internet raan and I can skype you. Which ever you prefer. Sister Lish says skypeing is cheaper and I would get to see you, but if calling is easier that is fine too. To skype, you just set up a free account, and you will need a camera. I know that Krista and Jorge have a camera so maybe you could borrow theirs and they can show you how to set up an account too.
Just let me know what you would prefer to do, and I will tell you what time when I e-mail next week.
Thank you for forwarding those e-mails for me! I really appreciate it. I can't e-mail anyone but you here in Thailand, so would you mind adding one more person to that forwarding list, please? ok, I love you all so much and miss you more than I can say!!! Have a GREAT week! And I will talk to you all next week!
Love you! Jess