Dec. 5

Greetings old friend!,

How are things at the bookshop? Well, I hope.
Well, I've been teaching at the university in Phetchaburi (south central) for 7 weeks now. It isn't anything too fascinating but there are definite points of interest.
The streets are filthy and the people can be impolitely curious about a foreigner. Also, capitalism here is rabid.
On the other hand, many people show kindness one hardly ever sees in America. One night I was drunk and rambling about and a family opened up their guest home and the aged man gave me a ride home on his motorcycle in the morning, refusing any payment. This is only an example.
I'm also fascinated by the wild creatures. The most common landscapes are rice-fields peopled by white storks. Also, there's a species of whitish gecko here that ranges from 1 to 2 feet and is quite common. Then I really like these small, fire-red dragonflies that wander around the university lotus-ponds.
I've been studying Buddhism a little bit, and honestly have grown a little cynical about it. I'm contemptous of any school of thought that thinks itself superior to concerning itself with the environmental problem. However, I'm still eager to get a copy of the original teachings of the Buddha, which I admired at an earlier if more naive age.

your green, young friend,

Sean Nelson