December blogging

So some of my friends are doing Blogapalooza, where they will blog every day in December. I'm going to be away for lots of December, so I can't really join in, but I can make a bit of an effort for the time I'm here.
So, what's been going on? I have been through a frustrating patch with work, but I think I'm out the other side now. It did prompt me into deciding to give something other than science a go, though, and Sam and I have applied for a year of teaching in Japan with the JET program. We have our fingers crossed, and it would really work out well if we did get the opportunity to go.

I am applying for some science-type grants for next year, but more on that later.

For NOW, the exciting news is that we are off to Thailand in 1.5 weeks! We are going to fly into Bangkok, have two nights with Orawan's friend, then fly south to Surat Thani. From there we head into the Khao Sok National Park for some canoeing and trekking around the jungle, then down to Krabi for the beach resort thing. Then make our way back up to Surat Thani airport, fly back to Bangkok and maybe through to Orawan's home town (around Prachin Buri) for a day? Or possibly just hanging around Bangkok to see the city all dressed up for the King's Birthday, and getting ready for the New Year celebrations! Either way, I am starting to get really excited about getting to experience a whole new country, and getting to do it with a native.