12-5

Hey Everyone!

Today (Dec. 5th) was my sweet 16th birthday... a birthday I also share with the King of Thailand. In Thailand, if you're born on the same day as the King then you are considered very lucky and you will have a good life. *shrugs* kind of neat for me, I guess.

This was one of my best birthdays ever. First of all, last night my parents took me out because they knew that they were leaving the country today so they wouldn't be able to take me out. My parents, my cousin, Alwyne, Thisie, mike, and myself all went out to eat at the only Italian restaurant in Ubon (and let's be honest, there's tons of better Italian food in the states... but here, you take what you can get--lol). After we ate, we went to my parent's friend's house because they were having a house party. We sang karaoke and watched other people eat... by the time we got home, it was 11:59pm... Thisie was supposed to get out of the car and open the gate for my mom, but she refused to budge. I was getting so irritated... "Thisie, just get of the car and open the ga..." 12:00am... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..." next thing I know they're all singing happy birthday-- it was SO cute!! Then some of my exchange friends called and sang me happy birthday at midnight. Then I woke up to a 6:30am telephone call from Jarred... William called and sang me happy birthday at 5:00am his time!! I was honestly impressed by the quality of the singing that early in the morning ;-)... My family called and wished me a happy birthday, and they listened to me speak Thai with my host-mom. Then after all these phone calls, we went out to eat with all my friends and they all gave me gifts. Then we went to the movies and saw "Once upon a time in Mexico" (in Thai of course)... Then we went to a parade that celebrated the king's b-day... and then? Thisie and I came here... and I wrote to you... after this we're gonna go make ourselves some dinner... mostly because I don't get along with the maid and don't want to have to deal with her.... well, that's about it for now. May God bless your day!

love always,

Kati Kimmer