Saturday, September 30th - End of a busy month!

Jacqui met up with Julie and Michelle on Saturday morning, Sept 23rd,  at the airport; I joined them later in the  afternoon after my Vball tournament (and spending 2 hours in a taxi to travel about 4 km). We went to two rooftop restaurants; one to eat and one to have after-dinner drinks. It was really cool and both had very nice views of Bangkok! We stayed downtown Bangkok that night - the girls at a hostel and us at a hotel (they're backpacking; we're not!).
On Sunday morning, we went to the Chatuchak Market, one of the largest market in the world, It covers over 32 square kilometers! That's like 5 and change Km by 5 and change Km of shopping. Needless to say, we didn't cover the whole thing! But if you need something, I'm sure they have it somewhere! I'm not a shopper but it was actually quite interesting to see. We'll have to go back and explore some more; there are a lot of shops that have potential for things to buy!

Parts of Bangkok by night, from the 54th floor

Mother and daughter in Bangkok

Downtown

Tuesday September 19th - Our weekend in Chiang Mai

Friday the 15th was a day off from school, so Jacqui had a long weekend. I guess I did too since I subsituted everyday this past week! We went to Chiang Mai (northern Thailand) to meet Julie and Michelle who were coming in from Laos. We really had a good time. It is very different than Bangkok. The scenery is different as you have mountains in the background, and it is not as busy as Bangkok. We went for massages, spent some time in the old city, where you can still see the walls that used to surround it, visited the Wat Prathat Doi Suthep Temple on top of a mountain and took in a Thai cooking class (we don't cook at "home" and go on vacation and take a cooking class; go figure!). It was all quite interesting - and the food we prepared turned out quite OK! We got back on Sunday night and Julie and Michelle were heading out to some island on Monday. They will be back in Bangkok on Saturday the 23rd, before heading back home on Monday the 25th. We plan to spend the weekend with them downtown Bangkok (Jacqui will join them before me as I have a volleyball tournament that day) and then come back to our place on Sunday night before their departure.

Our longterm parking fee at the airport (bahts per hour - that's what the sign says!)

At an italian restaurant inside the old city, where most of the old walls are still standing.
Behind Julie and Michelle is the cook, in his kitchen! Food was really good by the way!

Orchids!!

Quaint little shopping spot in Chiang Mai

After the rain!

Jacqui and Julie at Maya Mall - close to our hotel

Julie and Michelle, with a 'monkey'

Julie and I sitting on a "bus" - basically the back of a truck that is covered!

Getting ready for cooking class (the girl on the left of the picture is from Trois-Rivières, QC!)

We've been cooking together for a long time!!

Getting ready to make spring rolls!!!

On the way up to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep Temple 

Not singing in the rain, but could!

Entrance to the temple

Inside the temple

The religion is buddhist

Jacqui and Julie, with parts of Chiang Mai in the background (fog included!)

On the way down - 306 steps!

Mystique!

Beautiful doors!

Part of the wall of the old city

September 14th - Julie is in Thailand!

We got back to Thailand on Monday night, September 4th. We spent two days in the air to be on the ground for three days in Canada! It's a 23 hours flight plus time difference - great when you're going home ("5 minute" flight from Seoul to Toronto! - departure at 9h35 and arrival at 9h40), but not so much when you are coming back! However, we weren't home long enough to suffer from any jet lag; we just rolled right back into Thailand time as if we had never left. I also think that it is easier to get adjusted to an 11-12 hour time difference than it is to an 8 or 9 hour time difference, as we felt fine at home. We had a great time at home and it was very nice to spend time with our kids and family. We weren't there long enough to visit with friends, and we sure wish we could have, but that will have to wait until our Christmas break!

Two days after we landed, on Wednesday September 6th, Julie and her friend Michelle arrived in Bangkok. We picked them up at the airport, in our rental car - we ditched the golf cart! - and went back home. They chilled on Thursday, went to Bangkok downtown for a few days and Jacqui met them on Saturday morning to go to Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand. It was pretty much the first time for Jacqui to drive the car on the left hand side of the road. With the flashers and wipers being inverted right to left, both of us had at the start the wipers going when you tried to signal left or right. You do get used to it, but it sure is not a reflex; you have to think about it! They all had a nice visit and made it back home safely. While they were touring, I was stuck at school renewing my first aid certification, as I need that to coach volleyball (or any other sport).

Things at school are getting easier for Jacqui. Kids are getting used to the routine and they are lovely kids. I enjoy coaching my volleyball team, with a colleague that is another non-teacher but is the husband of Jacqui's teammate in PreK3. So the ladies work together, and the husbands work together! On Thursday, the 7th, new teachers had to stay back after school to sign documents regarding the process of getting their work visa. Knowing that the ministry people would not be at the school until at least one hour after working hours, the school organised a little get together on the roof of one of the buildings. There was food, drinks, music, ...it was great; another occasion to get people together!

I started doing subsitute teaching on Sept 8th, and have been going everyday since then - booked up to September 20th so far. It is fun and fairly easy; no prep, no marking, no meetings - just show up, teach and go to the gym for practice. The pay is obviously a lot less than regular teachers, but so is the amount of work and amount of stress.

Our family together, at Chris and Stephany's wedding - September 1st

The soccer field (astroturf) at school, seen from the top of building next to HR

Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand

Mother and daughter on tour in Ayuttaya

Julie and Michelle, after their tour of Ayutthaya

Thursday August 31st - Mid August to the end of August

So sorry everyone for the delay. I haven't posted in a month, and a lot has been going on since the last time I updated our situation with all of you. Let's take this post to the end of August, just when we come home for Chris and Stephany's wedding!

Jacqui has been working everyday with her 3 year old students. They obviously are not used to being in school and away from home, so they cry a bit every morning when they get dropped off by their parents. But things seem to get better from day to day. Things will get better as time goes by! Meanwhile, I stay home, watch sports in the morning (it is the evening the night before at home with an 11 hour time difference) then go shopping during the day. Jacqui takes the golf cart to school so I walk to get a cab. Sometimes it's quick, other days I have to walk a little more to get one, but I have time so I don't mind. I coach Boys Varsity Vollyeball 4 times a week (2 hour practices, even on Fridays) so that gets me out of the house and into the school. I enjoy that!

The school organised a "Welcome Back" party for the staff mid-August; it was really nice. We had met a lot of people when we came in at the end of July, but once everyone got their own place to stay and school started, we didn't see many people except for the ones that work directly with Jacqui. It was nice to have an occasion where we could catch up with everyone and meet some of the staff that was here before.

Our Godson Chistopher (Rich's boy) and Stephany were getting married on September 1st, in Cambridge. So Jacqui was allowed a leave of three personal days, which she took, and we boarded a flight to Seoul, then to Toronto, to attend the wedding. We left on Wednesday night and will return in time for Jacqui to be at work on Tuesday morning - which means we have to leave at noon on Sunday to land in Thailand at 10 pm on Monday night! Chris is our Godchild and there is no way we would miss this. Yes, it's a long way to go, but some things just have to be done! Details of our weekend at home and our return to Thailand in my next post!

Jacqui's new home, eh, I mean new school!

I found this in a grocery store. It's Waterloo QC, but still, it's maple syrup from home!! Quite expensive by the way.

Reception offered by the school; the music was provided by students; they were very good!

The sign says it all!

Flowers on trees/shrubs found while going for a walk

Banana tree

Jacqui will finally have a martini!!

This one is from a pub nearby (and they serve poutine - we haven't tried it yet, but we sure will!)

Our flight home for Chris and Stephany's wedding

Sunrise at Incheon (Seoul) airport

We are there!! Now let's go home!

Airport is very well decorated