Honk if you love helmets

Notice that there are no crashes. That is significant. Order out of chaos. 

Like Mother, Like Daughter

This whole post is her fault.

Losing Weight

No more sickness, phew. Now we just need to limit our intake of mango sticky rice and find a regular exercise routine!

In Thailand they do aerobics for free in big parking lots. I'm sure we'll have pictures of that adventure soon, because who would pass that up?

For Cassy

NIMBY NOMBL (Not on My Bucket List!)

They were so very brave.

Andrew said he's already eaten some, so he didn't need to do it again.

Routine

Well, we are almost not sick anymore, and the students got here, so things are looking up! I started work today, and I am really excited about the projects we are working on. Andrew has been busy busy getting everything situated for the students with their host families, cell phones, weekend trips, etc. He won't start work until the middle of next week, but I'm glad he may have some down time before then--he needs a rest!

Here are a few more pictures to keep us up to date on our experiences here:

This is my pile of laundry, fresh from the nice lady down the street who washed, air-dried, and ironed my clothes! I couldn't believe how flat and nice my clothes looked all piled together. 

I love it here, but the malaria stinks.

I'm at 9 bug bites, which I guess isn't too bad. They itch more the second and third day, though, and each bug bite was received at a different time. So I'm planning on itching forever.

Also, I'm pretty sure the ratios on this graph will change depending on the day. I'll probably repost this graph every week showing how I feel.

Andrew and I have been sick this weekend, which has been a bummer. But I think we're almost back to 100% yay! And our students come tonight, so that will be a nice pick-me-up.

Happy Mother's day! We love you!

Proof we are here

Why I am blogging so much: I'm in the mood. I should probably save posts and publish them one day at a time, but I am too impatient for that. I want to publish all the posts at once. Also, as soon as I am not in the mood, I'll stop posting, so I want to record as much as I can while Thailand is still new to me!

This is the view from our roof garden. Doi Suthep is in the background--it is a mountain with a temple at the top. We will definitely go there sometime soon. 

Wat Chedi Luang. The Emerald Buddha used to be kept in this Wat, but now it is in Bangkok. 

Thanks, Andrew

Having Andrew here has been invaluable. Is that how I mean to say it? Not really. I could not be here without him. Yes. I think other people could, but I have been so overwhelmed by everything that I can't even speak ENGLISH to anyone. I'll learn how to speak up soon, though.

Today at lunch:
Nice Thai lady (Translated through Andrew): You need to add the fruit and other toppings to your coconut rice.
Me: OK.
Nice Thai lady: (Puts pineapple on my rice. Puts something else--nuts?--on my rice. Puts something else--no idea--on my rice.) You like garlic?
Me (To myself): I think that's really spicy peppers. So no, not on my coconut rice.
Me (To nice Thai lady): No, thank you.
Nice Thai lady: Hmm?
Me: No. Thanks.
Nice Thai lady: Blank stare.
Me: Um, Just a little.
Nice Thai lady: OK, a little.

There, communication. I think I'll be OK here.

Food glorious food

The best food places so far have been back in an alley, no doors on the store front, plastic sun-worn tablecloths and plastic stools, and super fresh food. I think food has been the trickiest thing for me to adjust to for a few reasons:

1. I came with expectations (bad idea). I thought I knew what Thai food tasted like! But nope. Close, but nope.
2. I like sweet things for breakfast. Thais like fried rice and regular lunch and dinner stuff.
3. I like air conditioning while I eat. But fans are good, too, I guess.

Overall the food is delicious and I found a way to satisfy my sweet tooth: Milo. Haven't had that stuff in years!  We bought little box drinks of it and put them in our mini fridge.

In case you missed it on FB, here's where we live:

Except our bed is white now. They came and cleaned and took away the purple. I wonder what we'll get next week!