December, 18,1988
Chiangmai, Thailand

Dear Mom,

Am I ever going to get this letter in the mail? Sorry for the delay, but I've been moving into a new house because I was tired of the one room apartment. I've got plenty of room now, so I hope that someone comes over for a visit.

It sure doesn't feel like Christmas is only a week away. Thailand is a buddhist country, so there aren't many Christmas decorations. Not like Los Angeles where it begins after Halloween!

Last week was spent moving, cleaning, and decorating, so I'm now settled down in my new house. It's very quiet here and every morning dozens of rooster crow. I have a nice little yard with a small garden with roses, papaya trees, and palm trees. Sometimes I sit outside, read the paper, study Thai, and wrie. It feels as if I'm out in the country, but I'm still only five minutes away from the center of Chiangmai.

The weather has been absolutely stunning. The days are sunny and warm, but it cools off at night. I even need a jacket when riding on my motorcycle.

I'm still collecting paintings by Thai artists and hope to bring them to Tokyo in the spring. I'm really enthusiastic because I feel the quality is truly beautiful and the prices are so cheap. Last night I saw an oil painting of a child, and I'll try to but it later today. Most of the paintings are of the hilltribe people who live in northern Thailand, Laos, Burma, and Cambodia. I guess you would call them a fourth world people with their own unique customs, languages, costumes, and religions. Most of them live high up in the mountians in places that are difficult to reach. They used to grow mostly opium poppies, but they are now being taught other means to make money such as selling handicrafts such as silver jewelry, clothing, bags, and embroidery. I would love to have a hilltribe exhibition in Los Angeles someday.

Not much else is new. I'll try to write more often ... not only letters, but also a teaching guide for Japan.

I hear you are going to Spain and Portugal next month. Great!

I'll call on Christmas eve or Christmas day.

Love,

David