Nookles with Shimps and Squids in Cravy

The wonders of the things we can eat here in this country. I had never heard of 'nookles' or 'shimps' prior to coming to this country, but now things like that are in plenty.
Anyway, I have not been able to get online much recently, thus the silence. We arrived in Lop Buri on Tuesday and have been 'orienting' to life here since then. Bitsy and I moved into our place and have been working on making it feel like home ever since. We live in a really great neighbourhood (called a Mubaan) and have been getting to know the people in our community and become acquainted with this place we are to call home for the next year. Lop Buri is a small city known for it's monkeys (evil little things) and for it's heat. It is seriously, likely the hottest place in this country and I can tell by amount of perspiring I do daily.
There is a phenominon happening throughout Thailand at present that I refer to as "jazzercize". They call it "aerobics", but it's more just like movement very similar to dancing and it's all done to very loud music in public places. I discovered that there was a place quite close to my home and decided to start attending. Yesterday I rode my bicycle (that is very Mary Poppins-esque) to the stadium and found that I was about an hour too early, but I also found that there were a group of competitive badminton players. I struck up conversation with them, and ended up playing again the coach of the local school and then playing against some of his students. I'm trying to convince him that it would be a good idea to let me join Team Lop Buri, but we'll have to see how that goes.
Anyway, we have not yet begun language classes...we officially start on June 12th and I think we're all pretty excited to learn as we quickly come to the end of our language as we sit with people, and I think everyone gets tired of saying and hearing, "I'm sorry, I don't understand". There is a girl that I met here on my first day who I gave my phone number to and she calls me regularly, but she doesn't speak English and I speak minimal Thai...we have some pretty funny phone conversations.
Just to let everyone know, I am doing much better than I have been. I had a really low day when we first arrived...not entirely sure why. I am learning to live in the everyday and clinging to the fact that God's mercies are new every morning. That's the wonderful thing that I am coming to realise in being here. I have never had to live day to day before, and now I am discovering God's sustaining prescence...even when things seem dark.
I love your emails and your encouragements...they mean so much to me right now!!! I will be posting photos and will be sending out a newsletter soon. Thank you for your patience! I also have my post address now, so I will send that out in the next letter. If any of you want it sooner, just email me...lots of love!!!