Arriving in Khao Lak

Its been a very eventful week!
We arrived in Khao Lak after a 13 hour overnight bus ride from Bangkok. We barely had any sleep so we were dropped off looking like zombies ready to collapse with all our luggage. We managed to stumble upon an incredible hotel right by the beach. Its low season here and everything is closed and the streets are empty. We made a deal with the front desk for a volunteer discount of 600 baht a night which is about 20 dollars.. but split amongst Me Elyse and Nikki it's nothing. So for three weeks we are at a beautiful 4-5 star resort soaking up the sun and the sandy beach for a grand total of $130. They have an amazing pool that's perfect after our tiring days at the schools and the room is fantastic. Its big enough that we can all spread our stuff and has a safe, big closet space, HOT water and air conditioning!! (haven't had that in over a month), king sized bed, a balcony, 4 English tv channels (woo!) and housekeeping everyday. We got a great deal.
On Monday we had an orientation at the Volunteer Centre we are working at. They drove us around to places they have been working on, such as a whole set of houses that are Tsunami proof and affordable for the locals to buy. Its incredible how much reconstruction has been done here. There are still little hints from the past.. broken trees, washed up coral beaches and a few boats that were washed up that are now a couple kilometres from the ocean. They even showed us a Resort that had opened up 5 days before the Tsunami hit, and every worker, and every customer perished.
Tuesday, we started our Volunteer work. It was a little intimidating coming into a school not sure what to expect or even what you are going to be teaching them-- as our coordinator tells us about 5 minutes before we have to teach--the first class was so loud. I had to scream in order to be heard. It was definitely discouraging, especially it being your first class of the day and week. We arrived at the orphanage later on that day, with a class of about 10 children and they brightened my day. They were all so sweet and affectionate. We were greeted with hugs and hand shakes and left with kisses. They were all so beautiful and so interested in learning anything. It lifted my low spirit.
The children all week have been great! i have learned a lot and had a lot of laughs with them. They are so easy going and open and they love when you teach them handshakes! I taught them a few that other kids in Chiang Mai had taught me and they loved them!
Yesterday, I was feeling really homesick. I had had a really bad dream even.. I think it being so close to me coming home now that I'm feeling a little anxious. But then last night, it was like a sign. I couldn't believe how beautiful the sunset was. Nikki Elyse and i just sat watching for half an hour as the sun fell in the sky lighting up the clouds in every orange and yellow color you could think of. It was absolutely amazing. I felt like i had seen a part of heaven. It made me realize that i am not quite done here.. i still have three weeks and i have to live it to the fullest.