Tadpole Swimming

Amelia has been swimming two times a week since September. It has been awesome to watch her develop into a kid who can actually swim. She has so much fun with her friends and her coaches are super.

Last week all the tadpole swimmers (preschool to 1st grade) got to have a swim meet against each other. All the parents were there with our cameras and the kids swam in a variety of different races. The best part of it all was how into cheering the swimmers got into. Amelia came home on a high from the meet (and having her name on a certificate. Her first participation award).

So proud

Next semester, I am thinking we keep it up. Now I just need Liam to join so I can relax around the pool.

18 months

I am VERY behind in this post....about a month.  It has taken me that long to get Liam to the doctor for his appointment and shots.  Saturday, I finally did it. According to the doctor, he is normal.  Not sure what that means.

The kid is growing like a weed and is definitely turning into a boy. Liam loves toy cars, bikes and would live outside if I let him, but his big obsession is BALLS.    His favorite word is Amelia, to match his favorite person.  I can hear him at night calling to her in their room as she reads to him her books.  I love that they LOVE each other so much.  He has two good friends, Riley and Kaimika, who both live in the same neighborhood.  He also loves to hang with the big kids and he thinks that he is their same age.  Liam is a good eater and will try most things: Thai, Indian, Western.  But, his favorite food is cookies.  He is a bruiser and has some scars to show for it.  Wade had to even go out and put together a first-aid kit for him.  He is starting to talk, but we are still unsure on what language. 

There are times he can drive me crazy, but he is the sweetest little boy ever!!

Freshman Class

This post has been held hostage in my camera for months now.  The pictures were taken when we first got here, but I was too lazy to upload them to the computer.  I finally did it....

Moving here has reminded me a lot of when I left home for the first time to attend WSU.  I only took my clothes, I had to "create" a new home and I left my family and friends behind.  The biggest difference was in toe, I had a husband and two children with me. 

The Freshman Class at the King's Palace

I arrived to Thailand the same week as 17 other teachers.  Some of them are single, here by themselves, some of them are teaching couples, with and without children, and some are like me, a teacher with dependents.  Wade was given the name of traveling spouse.  Just like going away to college, we all left the comforts of where we came from before to start a new beginning...the Freshman Class.

The people that I arrived with have turned into my community/family (along with other elementary teachers and our neighbors).  Being far away, they are now the ones we will celebrate with and cry with when needed.  We depend on each other and if I ever need help, I know there is someone (or more) there for me. 

Wade, the kids and I are more busier here then we were at home.  There is something to do almost every night.  Living so close to the school and amongst friends we comment how it is like living back in the Greek system.  It has become a balancing game of not overdoing it.  Due to this time is FLYING by. 

 Making the decision to move abroad was not easy.  There were many tears, but overall it has been worth it...the freshman class has confirmed that we made the right choice.

Me and the traveling spouse.

The school took us out to a dinner show.  This guy was one of the stars.

Thai guard at the palace

The King's Palace.

Halloween Hangover

As a teacher, Halloween is not the best holiday. It is not because of the actual day, but it is the after effects the day after....the Halloween Hangover.

In college this had a different meaning. Now, it is the dull headache in the morning from a night of chasing kids, staying up late and coming down from that sugar high. Your hangover size determines how good your Halloween was.

I am struggling today. The funny part... living in a country where Halloween is not a holiday, my students are not. The school did celebrate with class parties and trick-or-treating, but it didn't stop there for us.

Amelia went to bed last night and the last things she said to me was "I LOVE Halloween." It made me so happy to know that an American tradition was not lost even though we celebrated across the world. Last night I decided that we live in the best neighborhood on this planet.

Amelia and her class.  The school hired a photographer.  I stole pictures again off the website :).

The elementary teachers got into the dressing up as well.  People made awesome costumes. 

For weeks my neighbors and I have been planning a Halloween fair/carnival for RIS staff and their families. Each house hosted a booth (I did face painting), the kids had a costume parade, leading into trick-or-treating and ending with a haunted house. We had over a 100 people come. Amelia and Liam consumed and got so many treats we are set for a long time. Of course I checked the haul and relieved it of it's chocolate.

I hope this tradition continues while we are here. I missed not going to the Fowlers house pre-festivities and going door to door with the Turrells, but in the meantime, we are still making good memories.

Spiderman and Spiderman 2

Pur carnival getting stated.

All the kids who came to celebrate

My attempt to get a photo with Spiderman.

I love this pictures.  Shows how much they really love each other.

Spiderman and his leading lady, Witch Lucy. 

My beautiful Cinderella.  Gma sent her this dress and accessories.  She was so proud and got MANY compliments.  Thank you Gma for helping make this Halloween special!

Oct Break: Railay

I am contracted to teach the same amount of days, 180 per school year, that I am in the States.  However, for some reason I feel like I have more time off.  Maybe it is because we now use our three day weekends, or days off, traveling instead of sitting at home that I feel it is more. Last week was one of those time.  It was the end of the quarter, so we got a week off for October Break. 

We had always planned on doing something that week, but Wade and I were in debate about what. He wanted North, I wanted the beach.  So...the destination and booking of the trip was VERY last minute and helped us make the decision.  We headed to Railay Beach, off Krabi.  It is south of Bangkok and well worth the trip to get there. 

Wanting an adventure (and we are cheap) we decided to take the train there and fly home.  Due to us booking so last minute, the only seats left on the train were 2nd class.  We decided to go for it.  12 hours on the train, I decided I would prefer 1st, but 2nd wasn't that bad.  The hotel we stayed at was also a Groupon deal (yes, Groupon is in Thailand).  It included 3 nights, breakfast, a dinner and a four hour long boat tour.  It was great.  The hotel was not on the beach, but between 3 and we also had access to its 5 star sister's amenities which included a pool on the beach.  All four of us then flew home for around $200.  You can get cheap tickets here.

I highly recommend Railay and plan to definitely go back.  It is an amazing place and quiet.  It has a lot of places to stay, but there are no cars and not the craziness of a city.  It was full of hippy backpackers, families and rock-climbers (number three place to climb in the world).

The train station

Amelia was so excited to take the train.  Our seats turned into bunk-beds and she LOVED it.

Sunset the first night.  Amelia took a swim....in her underwear.

Railay West Beach

Sunset again

More train

Long boat rides.

We rented kayaks one day.  We stopped at a beach for a snack.

Liam enjoying his spring roll.

Just chillin'

The area is covered with these rocks/islands.  We kayaked arounf them.  There were little beached and cool caves.

Hiking through a cave to a sandy beach.

The rock formations climbers love.

Yes, those are what you think they are.  The cave of fertility.

Amelia took this one.  Too cute.

Best shot of a family photo.

Stupid a$$ monkey got into my diaper bag and stole Liam's diaper creme.  They are not nice.

Snorkeling.  The fish were AWESOME.

Roller Coaster

A friend I work with shared this graph on her Facebook page. I had to copy it and share here because it explains visually what living abroad can feel like. The first week we arrived, we were told that come late September/October, the Honeymoon stage will end. It now makes sense. Our shock isn't as deep, but I am starting to think giving us a week off work in October is a planned strategy for International schools to remind people why they moved abroad. I know this past week for us, was a good reminder.....more on that to come.

International Week

This past week at school was International Week.  For three days, students came dressed as "world" themes: Western/European, Asian and Thai.   On Wednesday, there was a big Food Festival where venders sold samples of foods from around the world (mainly Asia) and students did performances.  It reminded me of the Bite of Bellingham.   Of course the most popular vender was Dairy Queen.  Goma brought Liam over for the celebration on Wednesday.  We sampled foods and watched shows.

But the best part of the week.....seeing what the students were wearing.  Western Day (The America's) being quiet funny.  A lot of the students think Americans are all cowboys!  Due to that, Amelia brought in a picture of Grandpa Daryl with Washington's Rodeo Queen from the Lynden Rodeo to share.  Miss Anne, her teacher, said the rest of the class was VERY impressed and Amelia very proud of her grandpa.  Maybe someday he will come for a visit so she can show her real cowboy off in person :) (hint,hint).

Amelia and her class on Western Day.  I had better outfits for her to wear that were more "western" looking, but she was more excited to not have to wear her uniform and chose that one.

High school students representing countries/flags from around the world.

The coconut vender.  Did you know coconut water if REALLY good for you?  Better than Gatorade when you need to get re-hydrated. 

Students dresses in Asian wear.

The fair was in the elementary and high school breezeways.  At least 30 venders.

Amelia and her class going to look at the food.

Love this picture.  I stole this one and the rest off the school website.

Our friend's Walter and Max

Yahoo for International Week!

Our neighbor Anna singing.

Look at the blonde curls thanks to Thailand weather.

I am not in this picture, but the elementary staff got into dressing up.