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The American Standard
Growing up I never understood why my mother always carried her own toilet paper... and why she had a list of 'good bathrooms'. As a child, I just thought that she was just picky.
Ironically, now that I am in Thailand, I caught myself doing exactly the same... I am always in search of good, clean bathrooms in town, and sadly carry my own toilet paper.
The other day I had to take my son to a bathroom that i would classify 'medium-low'... those that i would not use unless it's an emergency (well, it was). So here it is.. a squatter with no toilet paper...
sigh... then i saw the brand 'American Standard'... I'm sure I'm not the only 'Falang' (foreigner) thinking in their head... na-ah... this in no where close to "American" standard....
Thank heavens for toilet papers....
Sergio
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Shop 'till u drop
Friday is the designated market day for the ROL children's home. So we tagged along with other workers to see how it is to buy for so many people.
I thought going to the store in the US was bad... but I learned that it just gets worse when you have to go to various markets to buy all the various items... this market for meats, this market for veggies, this market for fruits.. you get the picture. The result ??? well, our daughter went down first, then our son... great now we have more to carry in...
Cheers! - Sergio
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Chick Fil-A ...Spaghetti Night?
We just got the report that we had a very successful Chick-Fil-A night on the 5th. Thank you so much for your support... and eating chicken.
We have had 3 of these events, and we were able to raise enough for 1 week worth of food for the children at River of Life! That's roughly 630 meals! It's it awesome?
Today we got together with Ross & Megan (visiting from Hawaii) and decided to make the meal for everyone. Non of us have cooked for this many people, so it was quite an experience. I was worried that they were saying that they loved it just to be polite... but then again, I don't think they could have finished those large bowles only to be polite...Here are some photos...
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Catch of the Day!
Yesterday the boys were doing some 'fish catching' with their home made bow gun... They just walk along the river and shoot the fish.. I didn't see them catch anything, but ... it was fun just watching.
This morning they boys were talking about the catch of the day.. hu? I don't remember them catching any fish???
Then they showed me... around 5 foot long... boy I'm glad I wasn't there... and yes, poisonous... [ more photos in Facebook :-) ]
Yikest!
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Mai Ao (oops)!
I believe total immersion is the best (fastest) way to learn a language... I do... but this is what happened the other day.
One morning after the ROL children left for school, both of our children got bitten by fire ants... have you ever? Those things are nasty!...
I completely forgot how painful it was until I got bit as well... oh boy I had sympathy for them then.
Anyway, after the kids came back from their school, they found out that my son is now totally traumatized by ants... and one of them decided to tease him with one.
She would bring it close to him and my son would say.. "NOOOO"... after other kids stopped them, they taught him to say "Mai Ao" (don't want it)... and trust me,
he now knows the word.... I guess that's one way of learning.... being threatened by a fire ant!
First few days in Thailand my son was refusing to speak any Thai... maybe he was shy or maybe is was his own way of protest...
then one lady decided to offer him an orange... you know what happened? "Kappunkrap" (thank you) came out of his mouth...
I guess that's another way of learning.... bribe!
Cheers! - Sergio
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River of Life Children's Home [Nov 12th, 2007]
Just wanted let everyone know that we are now in River of Life Children's Home. Our home for the next ?? weeks.
We got here on the 12th of November, and our children are so excited to meet all the new brothers and sisters. I will write more later, but I just wanted to thank everyone who are supporting us in prayers and encouragements.
Cheers! - Sergio
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So Where Is THAT Going? [Nov 3, 2007]
Our trip continues down to Hua Hin, Thailand...
Here is the train... our ticket was car #3, seat 15-19... can you imagine our confusion? I see 2 cars... either they dropped car #1 somewhere or we have a problem with the tickets. Luckily they dropped car #1, so we were able to hop-in to our "assigned seat".
I remember the first time I took the train in the US, and I was so nervous about getting to the right train... you know, the train that goes to the right station. Here in Thailand, it's a little more loose about where the train in going... see the sign?...can someone tell me where that train is going ???
Anyway, after some beautiful country side ride, my favorite time of the day arrived.... lunch time! Apparently the meal was included in the train ticket, so we got to enjoy some Thai food in the box... fried banana, some beef dish (I think) and squash looking stuff. It was pretty good....(although later we were warned by tentmakers from Laos to avoid train food at all cost)
Everybody who has visited Asia mentions about the bathroom situation. The 'squat' style bathrooms are still very common, and was not an exception in the train... hmmm. Do you see that the 'hole' is extremely bright? that's actually the light from the outside.. yup, that's the train track!... so I guess it just goes out!!!
Well, for the experience's sake I was going to use it... so I can say the 'been there done that' line. Unfortunately the train was stopped, and as I looked outside the bathroom window, I see bunch of people looking this way. Imagining what it would be like for those poor souls... never mind, I don't need to go that bad!
Anyway, Hua Hin here we come.
Cheers!- Sergio
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Thai Hospitality [Nov 5, 2007]
Thailand is best known as the 'Land of the smiles'... and I have to agree; they have such an amazing smile!
We are visiting AnnThong, Thailand, and whether we like it or not, people introduce us as the Missionaries from America. (of course, their response is typically.... 'they don't look Americans :-)'
Part of the Thai hospitality is the offering of food. When you visit a house, they will typically offer you some sort of food. Sometimes cold glass of water, and sometimes a feast!
Let's just say that I almost had to be 'rolled out' of the town after visiting just few houses :-)
Due to some privacy reasons, I have moved the rest of the pictures to our Facebook account. Please feel free to come and visit.
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Bambi to the Rescue! [November 2,2007]
Well, it's day 2 in Thailand and the Jet lag is hitting our children pretty hard. One wakes up around 2:00am and the other wakes up around 3:00am. Then the royal chorus starts...
I'm hungry, I'm board, I'm thirsty (repeat)
Now usually we don't use TV as our baby sitter... but our white flag finally went up. Thank you Bambi 2, and oh boy I'm happy our laptop has a DVD in it.
G'night!
Techno Zombies [October 30, 2007]
I was sitting at the airport, just waiting for the next plane and enjoying people watching. Things sure changed from when I used to travel when I was little. I remember (at least in my memory) people playing cards, reading books, sleeping or just talking to people. Now as I look around, I see countless numbers of techno zombies just aimlessly walking around the airport... you know what I'm talking about? those people holding the power supply in their hands and just walking around the airport looking for the power plug...sad sad thing I must say...then I found the rescue...constant stream of river of life .... ahhh...thank you Sumsung!
Travel Sickness [October 22, 2007]
We had an unexpected stop in the most bizarre place due to sickness... Lebanon.
Oh, not the middle east, Lebanon Indiana.
We expected to get sick once we got to Thailand; but never expected that we would be sick BEFORE getting there. We were pretty disappointed that we could not meet with so many people that we were planning to meet, but so glad that we made enough slack to our schedule that we could afford to get sick... sigh...
Our Future Boiler Maker [October 20, 2007]
I just like this picture... so I had to put it up. It will be pretty cool if our children will continue the 'family tradition' of going to Purdue...
Unfortunatelly that would mean that we would have to move back to Indiana sometime in our life so we can afford it!!! lol...
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