Thursday, May 31, 2012

Sights and Sounds around my house...

This little guy was in our kitchen the other day, but he wasn't very little or quiet. I have put a link to wikipedia so you can learn more about a Tokay. They are super loud and it sounds like they are saying "tokay" over and over again. 
I am also told that if they bite you they won't let go- it is said that you would have to put it in water and then they let go or you just head to the hospital to get it removed. I read that they might let go after a little while...but also could hold on for over an hour. Don't know who would just do nothing for an hour with a Tokay attached to them...but maybe they are on the way to the doctor. 
As I write this I am listening to the Tokay call from outside my window. I must admit that I didn't take this photo (got it of wikipedia) and my kitchen is technically outside so he wasn't IN the house. That being said I was in the kitchen making pancakes right before I found him...We tried for a long time to get rid of him but then he escaped so that is why I still hear "tokay, tokay" more than 50 times a day/night. 
I must also admit that I just talked to the Tokay to tell him that I was writing about him....it gets lonely some nights:)


I was trying to get a picture of this truck with a huge, high load...but it drove by too quickly....
Two people on a motorbike is nothing....I have yet to get a good picture of 3+ people on a bike. I think the most I have seen is 5. My friend said she saw two men and a COW on a motorbike...others have seen pigs and dogs....people carrying wooded chairs and tables...etc

 Cows just graze along side the roads...I think that they are sometimes on a rope...probably so their owner can find them again.

Sometimes I forget what is "different" from the US! I guess I will remember when I get back next month. Here's hoping that I drive on the right side of the road.....


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Agape Swimming Party

Many of you know that I have been helping my friend/co-worker take a number of students to Agape Home, an orphanage for kids with HIV/AIDS, about twice a month on Friday afternoon/evenings. This last Saturday the kids came here to Grace to have pizza, swim, and say good-bye to their "buddies" for the summer. Hopefully many of the students will be able to go back to Agape next year in the same program. 
The seniors said their final good-byes...

The group

Swimming

I will be helping again next year as my friend is getting married and wanted some extra help with the program. There is a senior and junior every year that co-lead the group.  Then the next year the junior serves again as a senior and is able to train in the junior. It works very well and they do most of the work and communicating with the Grace students. I am looking forward to getting to know both the Agape and Grace kids better and I am working on my Thai so that I can actually talk to the kids:)

Check out Agape's website:

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

You got a friend in me....

Gina and I....we are the crazy ones...we were in Brasil, Maine and now in Thailand:)
Thanks Gina- for knowing how to have fun:)
Ear muffs...

Coming out of the shell....

The cool pool at our hotel...

Who wants to be hungry AND foolish?!?!

We are so polite and Thai:)

Holding hands with the cute napkin guy....


Monday, May 28, 2012

Bangkok Take 2


Here are some more pictures of Bangkok....
We also saw the King and Queen of Thailand drive by on their way to the Palace, but I didn't post those pictures...not sure if it is allowed. We didn't get super close pictures of the cars anyway cause we were too busy working on our bow. In fact, the Thai ladies, who were standing next to us, told us what to do and Laura and I were concentrating so hard that we missed seeing the Queen wave and smile at us from her van!!! Gina who is better at bowing saw her. I would like to think that the reason she was smiling was because of Laura and I. At least I can say the Queen of Thailand SAW ME:)
Me and Yao Ming...

                              
                                                     Reminded me of Pokemon so I took this picture for my nephews...

A night market...right by the sky train

We took a boat taxi to a few places and they also told you about famous things along the way...
We didn't ride in this boat...

Homes along the river...Bangkok flooded earlier this year...



People getting on and off of a boat...

There were so many interesting boats!

cool building...


After getting off the boat we started walking to the Royal Barge Museum...
We saw this along the way...luckily we didn't have to go to the bathroom...:)
We went to the Royal Barge Museum because Laura teaches about this part of Thai history to her 7th graders. They would have grand processions with 50+ barges. They have 8 here at the museum and they were working on restoring them. Many were damaged by bombs in WWII. 

Getting repaired

Outside of the barge museum
Gina had to get a pass to take pictures...she was so proud...
and thought about using it when the McD's lady said she couldn't take a picture of a sign...
um...I have a photographer pass..


And you wonder why we couldn't find the "road" to the museum?

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Bangkok

Ok..so my friend Gina took millions of pictures while we were in Bangkok...I will not post all in fear that you will never look at my blog again...
We went away for a quick weekend away- Bangkok is about 1 1/2 flight from where we are in Thailand... 

 
Cold Stone in Thailand...yummmy! They even sing the same songs here:)
They had just opened in this mall!

Orange Taxi, Yellow Taxi, Pink Taxi, Blue and Green Taxi...which color do you pick?

 We went to a Wax Museum... well some of us went...Gina LOVED taking pictures there...
here are a few of the many she took:
For Stacy:) 

We aren't super great students...we just don't get it:)

Laura was our coach...or maybe she was just trying to block Tiger's view...


We also went to the newly opened IKEA...jumping for joy...I guess?!?!
Our mode of transportation...
"Find the tall white girl" is easier then "Where is Waldo"....

Friday, May 25, 2012

Art show items that made me think of the Bocks...

I will post more pictures of the amazing artwork the students at Grace have done this year...but these ones made me think of my family (well certain people in it...) and friends...

"Ticket to Ride" painting...great game...great painting:)

"Settlers of Catan"...enough said....
Game night when I get to MN

Beetle to a Beetle.... our students are so clever...


Thursday, May 24, 2012

An Early Birthday Party

Yes, I got to celebrate my birthday over a month early with Kruu Meow (our Thai teacher) and Tami!
We had a wonderful time....
Tami wanted to eat at a Pizza Hut in Thailand before she left CM so....we did:)

Yes, would you like some ketchup on your pizza? I can't remember what Meow is holding up?!
After Pizza Hut we headed to the "Pink Tea House"
Look at that fancy tea! I am not a huge tea drinker...but on a hot day this cold tea was great!
I had Chiang Mai Tea and it kind of tasted like a flower:)

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Our dessert tray...
What a cute little cake....

Our amazing Thai teacher telling us about Quentin:)
We helped her with the interview questions for her wedding shower at school...

I am so thankful that God blessed me with these two amazing girls to study, learn from and have fun with this year! I am going to miss them!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Storm coming in.....


 Storm coming in over the mountain....


 This makes me sad...it is my favorite photo- it only will go sideways for some reason...

Hot and rainy season has officially begun in Chiang Mai....



Monday, May 21, 2012

Saturday Walk

 Every Saturday morning there is a group of  about 7 of us that go on a "walk" up a "mountain" 
I say "walk" but it is really a super speed walk or jog depending on the person:) 
It is about a 13k walk up what they call a mountain, but it is really just a steep long hill and back again.

It is amazing time of fellowship! We all do very different things during the week so it is a time to catch up on life and to pray together as we walk.


So excited to be up this early in the morning- 5:50am

We are all here! Ready for the speed walk...

Here we go....

If it is someone's birthday we usually celebrate it with a brunch
at someone's house after the walk.
This time it was a quick good-bye to Julie who was going back to the states for a few months-
We didn't have much time so we had a picnic in the elementary bike lot:)