After-School Activities

The school day here, runs from 7:20-2:00. It's not easy getting up early, but the weather is much more bearable at 7 for the walk to school, and dismissal at 2 allows for some afternoon fun before dinner, bath, and bed (which is at 6:30!).

I'm quickly learning about the way things work around here. We live in a really lovely ex-patriot community centered around the school. For most people here, life revolves around the children and all they do. A few weeks ago I began hearing about sign up for the after-school activities. I had a look through the choices (there were many, but few were for kindergartners) and decided D could choose 1. Most are just 1 hour, 1 afternoon per week and I thought that's about what our girl could handle (along with swimming lessons 1 afternoon per week), because she is usually very tired at the end of each day, though she would not admit it.

D chose Christmas Crafts as a Friday afternoon activity. So the grandparents can look forward to some wonderful handmade items from Miss D this holiday season!

When we don't have swimming or Christmas Crafts, it is nice to have time for other fun things on these hot, sticky afternoons...

D and C spent the afternoon playing with boats and cups, and happily washing the landscape rocks. They had quite a system! Might have to hire them out... to people needing their landscape rocks meticulously soaked and scrubbed.Of course, we couldn't just stick to the water-play table. Few things cause eruptions of laughter like spraying each other with the garden hose. Here's to living in eternal summer!

And before I forget, some snaps of C's first day at his new nursery school. We are 3 days in now. Day 1 went great. Days 2 and 3 have seen some serious tears at good-bye time. But I think C is coming around and it will be our new normal really soon.

Dinner and a Movie

T and I have just returned from an impromptu date night. With our shipping arriving tomorrow, we knew we wouldn't get out of the house much this weekend, so our wonderful maid agreed to watch the kids so that we could get out and do something fun. Thank you thank you Tess!

We were interested in seeing Salt (in English) so I found a nearby cinema that was showing the film in our native language and a taxi took us away. The theater was in a nice shopping center so there were lots of choices for dinner first.

After a Thai dinner so hot that I swear it left flames in my mouth, we headed up to the theatre. The ticket guy had asked us if we wanted VIP seating, and it sounded good to us, so we said yes. 2 tickets for 700 Thai Baht (roughly $21). We bought our required concession combo (surprisingly yummy popcorn for a very reasonable price!) and found our seats. Yes, we found our luxurious, large, leather, reclining seats. It was chilly in there so we grabbed the provided blankets and pillows and cozied up. Then we were served a plate of cookies and glasses of juice. I felt like a very important person!

We didn't even mind the outrageous number of advertisements, we were too busy playing with the buttons our our chairs. Feet up, feet down. Lay flat, sit up. So much fun!

So the movie was Salt and if you haven't yet seen it, it is action packed. Lots of crashes and explosions. I think it would be a great movie in a normal theater! But this was no normal theater and the show was enhanced by the enormous screen and the vibrations you felt with each collision and explosion. What a show!

T and I left the theater all smiley and silly, like kids coming off a roller coaster. The whole place was incredible and when each of you comes to visit we'll have to take you to a show, VIP!

Big, Empty House

We've been in our new Bangkok house for 6 days now. We arrived with our luggage, new cookware and dishes, and a little kid's table and bar stools (which T and I are also using). Luckily, the beds were delivered on day 1 and the sofa arrived on day 2.

So, we are able to sleep and sit. Other than that, this is big empty house!

Entry way through to dining and kitchen.

Stairway to bedrooms.

Dining room.

Playroom.

Despite a major toy shortage around here, C is staying busy during the day. He has made good friends with Tess (our maid) and Bub (our driver). He's very comfortable asking any one of us to kick a ball around the driveway or the dining room. He usually asks one of them, I think because they always let him win. Bub doesn't have a lot to do when we aren't going somewhere so he and C have become pretty good buddies. This morning's activity was playing trains. Yesterday the whole neighborhood could hear the laughter as they played Hide and Seek. There is a language barrier but these 2 are hilarious once they figure each other out. See C hiding below.

Our TV arrived today so I can get hooked on some Thai soap operas or just feed my slight CSI addiction. The whole world loves CSI! Did you know this? Each of our host countries has aired more CSI than anyone can count. Plus a lot of The Simpsons.

Beyond the house, we are making more good progress at settling in. D loves school and has made some nice friends. We've signed up for swimming lessons, crafts, and C has begun gymnastics. I even put in for PTA room mom. T is already busy with work, he has been in China most of the week. On the weekends, we've enjoyed picking out some new stuff for the house together.

So things are going well. Still lots to learn, but each day gets better!

Hello Bangkok!

After much anticipation, we have arrived in Bangkok and are getting into the swing of things. The flights were uneventful and arrival went very well. All the luggage made it and our driver was waiting in just the right place, at just the right time, to help us with all that luggage!

Our shipping container left our house in Perth on 28 August and we were told "3-5 weeks, door-to-door" until we see it again. Our house, that we chose back in June, will not be ready until the 15th. So, we are staying in a nice, furnished condo until Sunday.

Each day has been busy with school preparations and shopping. We've managed to purchase some new beds, a sofa, some electronics, and cookware. Hopefully, enough of the things we need to get us through until our shipping arrives at our door. I'm headed out to a large market on Friday to pick up a few more items.

We've been to the house a couple of times and the work goes on. Just paint, landscaping, and little repairs to make it nice for us.

We're also very excited that today is D's first day of school at The International School of Bangkok.

She was very ready after meeting her teacher yesterday and having a visit to her classroom. Her teacher's name is Miss Mac and she's very nice. She's just come to ISB from Delhi. Will have to snap a pic of the 2 of them after school. D has just 14 children in her class. I am pretty thrilled about that. She was excited that many of the girls have the same name as children she knew in Perth. A Megan, Sophie, and Ashley. Thrilling!

Here are some photos I took in paparazzi mode (through the classroom window).

D has spotted me and makes a dash behind some toy shelves. Moms are so embarrassing!!!

I am also busy shopping for a preschool for C. There are some beautiful places here. We will visit 1 more place this morning and then choose. He is very excited to have a "new cool" too. He will likely go 2 mornings per week.

That's it for now! Will be lots more to tell. Stay tuned.