We made it

Well, we survived the plane ride. The kids did better then I expected. I think the key was I set my expectations low. Very low.

We played lots of games, we made seat tents and we actually got some sleep. Once we got off the plane we must have been a show because Thais were taking pictures of us, mainly Amelia.

We have spent the last couple of days getting over jet leg and looking for a home. Tomorrow I start my first day at work. I am looking forward to moving into a house and starting a routine. We are staying in a really nice hotel, but 4 of us sharing a room is not the easiest.

Eight Bags

Last night was my last night in Bellingham.  It was my last night in this house.  Wade asked me on the way home from dinner with friends if I was sad.  I had to think about it for a second; I am sad, but I am not upset.  I told him, "Not really because it is no longer our home".  It is now just a house.  A very empty house.

We know how to go out in style, The Beaver Inn.  This past week has been spent with Bellingham family and friends.  As I like to say....it is "See you later!" 

The past six years has been packed, donated, sold or thrown away.  What we are taking with us on this adventure has been perfectly planned and packed into eight checked bags (50lbs) and four carry-ons (25lbs) that have been weighed, sorted and weighed again.

I found that big red suitcase and Goodwill for $15.  Best deal ever.  It holds 75% of my clothes.  Could have done more, but it weighed too much.

This whole aspect of our adventure has been a stressful one (very stressful at times), but also liberating.  You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff one family can accumulate in living in one place for six years.  It has now all been place into a 10 x 15 storage unit that Wade has "tetrised" to fit all we are keeping for our return (if it were up to Wade we would get rid of it all).

The best feature of this house...the fireplace.  I really am going to miss fires on cold winter nights.

I still have no regrets!

16 hours

I have 16 hours to help 2 small children (3 and under) sit and be quiet in a small confined space. This is split up with 11 hours on the first leg, 1 hour layover and 5 hours on the last leg. 

This is what I have going for me...
- Each of us have our own seat.  You could hear my sigh of relief when I saw they booked Liam his own seat.  The plane ride would have been my nightmare having a toddler (big) boy sharing a seat with me.
- Our seats are 3 by the window and one across the walk in the aisle.  This was Wade's sign of relief.  We can take turns with the "escape" seat.
- We have an iPad and iTouch that I am already starting to fill with movies, shows and games.  The seats also come with an AC plug when the juice gets low.
- The kids have kid meals; spaghetti, hot dog, hamburger and pizza.  They are going to get their fair share of Asian food once we arrive in Bangkok, so at least the transition can wait until we get to land.

This is what we don't have going for us...
- 16 HOURS!!
- We have people seated in front of us and behind us. I tried to reserve bulkhead seats, but the plane was ALL booked and I was off my reservation by 2 days.
- The plane is FULL.

This is what are plane should look like.  We three by a window with one across next to the walk.  In the middle.

- We leave at 2 pm and arrive at 10:50 pm. Schedules are going to be off, WAY OFF!

Here is what I can wrap my head around for a plan as of now.  This is where I also need help!
- I plan to make 16 goodie bags to give one to the kids per hour we are in the air.  I am thinking small toys, games, colors, gum and crackers.  I don't want candy because a sugar high kid on a plane would not be fun.
- I am going to take the iPad/iTouch away for the couple weeks before we leave.  Make it new again.  I also hoping to get a couple unseen movies and shows put onto them.
- We will be taking Liam's car seat and strapping him in.
- I am thinking of having the kids wear sweats or PJs.  I am also going to have one carry on as an overnight bag with necessities (diapers, wipes, change of clothes for us all, toothbrush, ...)
- I am thinking about something to give them to help them "relax".  A friend of mine mentioned Melatonin.  More research is needed before I can this decision.

- We are going to take our jogger, but I also saw online how to attach your car seat to your carry on.  We did a trial run and it worked. 

You now know my conditions and my plan.  HELP?  Someone, ANYONE!!  I need advice, I need suggestions, I need your prayers.

The End. The Beginning....

Today was my last day of school. It was also the end of a five year chapter, Shuksan Middle School. I said my good byes, I held back tears as best as I could and I packed up my classroom so a new teacher can take my place. My plan is to return back to Bellingham to teach again. When that will be is the ultimate question.

 I don't post a lot about my class, but the one word that describes them the most is AWESOME. Anyone who knows me, knows what my students mean to me.  I like to keep that in a special place. The five years has had ups and downs, tears with frustration, but this has been overpowered with more smiles, laughter and I love yous. My students have made me a better person and put me on a path I never thought I would be on.

I have been teaching nine years in general and special education. This year was by far my best. I am proud of the accomplishments of my program and the students it served.

I am ending this chapter on top.

I brought Amelia with school today to aid as a distraction (keep me from crying).  She was a great assistant and loved being with her "friends".

What a great treat it was to see Alia.  She is the daughter of a fellow teacher who also came for the day.  They got to spend the morning together and participate in our classroom clean-up and party.

July 24th

Leave Seattle at 2:00 pm.  Arrive in Seoul 11 hours later.  One hour layover.  Arrive in Bangkok at 10:50 pm on July 25th.  I have had this plan and date in my head for a week or two now.  Since then, I have been in tears at least once a day.  They are not tears of regret, but tears of stress, sadness of missing family/friends and the lack of time (and how much needs to be done) between now and our departure.

In the next two months we need to get Thai Visas, pack our house, sell things, get the house rented...and the list goes on an on.  If our life was a roller coaster, we would be on the loops upside down.  But the end of this ride is almost over and I am starting to get a good picture of where it will end.

Majority of the paperwork for RIS is complete.  This has allowed me access to review the school's benefits and list of things we will have access too.  Overall, we are finding living in Thailand will be relatively cheap with our dollar 1US:30THB  Here are a couple examples:

- Nanny/maid (live-in) will run us about 8000 THB ($250 month)

- Rent of a 3 bedroon house in a gated community with access to a community center and pool 25000THB ($800 paid by school)

- Noodles from a cart of the street 25 THB ($0.80)

- Movie ticket at a theater  1200 THB ($4.00)

- A three course dinner at a nice restaurant 500 THB ($16.00) 

We have also looked up attractions that we want to start visiting once we arrive.  We will start taking notes right away for our upcoming visitors to ensure people a high quality vacation.  Here are a couple things we plan to do with our weekends in Bangkok:

Wade found this place, Siam Park.  It is located right in the area we will be living.  I love a good water park.

Last time we were in Bangkok we went on a bike tour.  It was AWESOME.  This is one of the first things I want to do when we arrive.

Take a Thai cooking class.  I love to eat the food, I might as well learn how to make it.

Turn Wade into a real "Thai" man (Red Bull included) from one of the amazing markets.

We will leave the Ping-pong shows to those who are really adventurist (Drew).

Little Model

 Today I went to look for an old email in my "Trash".  To my surprise, look what I found....

In February I took Amelia to Yuen Lui to get her three year pictures.  After the session, they asked me if the photographer could use some of the pictures in her portfolio.  Thinking that was a book, I signed a release.  I guess I should have ask for some money, or at least some free pictures.

"La gorn kha"

A while back, Wade and I were sitting and talking over a glass of wine.  The topic came to things that we are going to regret in 20-30 years.  After some discussion, we both came to the similarity of not living abroad as one.  A couple weeks later, the stars started to align to make this possible.  Even though there are always reasons for us to stay put, the excuses started to disappear.

Fast forward a couple weeks later, my sister and I are in Palm Springs having many conversations over wine and Bloody Marys.  I expressed my plans and she then gave me the courage to take the plunge.  That week I started the process to open a file for teaching abroad.  During this process, I was told the chances of me getting a job were slim. The hiring season was over (it is Nov-Jan) and I was not planning to go to any hiring fairs.  Most of all, I have dependents.

My file became active on a Sunday night.

Wednesday morning, I woke up to an email from an international school.

Just over a month later, I am exited to say that I have accepted a job.  Come late July, the Konings will be moving to Bangkok, Thailand.

 I will be teaching at Ruamrudee International School as a special education teacher at the elementary level.  Amelia will be able to attend their preschool program and be in the same building as me.

Our plan is to get a similar three bedroom house like the one above.  We are looking in Minburi, Bangkok in an area called Perfect place.  It is a 30 cab to downtown and 20 min cab to the airport.  We hope to have MANY visitors.  Hotel Koning is now open for reservations.