October!

I realize that we're half way through November, but here is a recap of October.  A lot of the time I feel like things here are the same 'ol, same 'ol and there isn't much to report.  When I look through my phone I'm glad that I have pictures to show that some things HAVE actually happened :)


We had a salsa night with the girls.  Tanner and I had to check in at the immigration office in Phitsanulok.  While we were there we went to Macro and got ingredients for salsa, cheese, beans and tortillas! (Cue angels singing).  The girls came over to our place (and by that I mean that they walked down 20 feet to our 10' by 12 foot room :) ). We turned on Ratatouille and set up a bunch of chopping stations.  the 9 of us took turns chopping tomatoes, onions, cilantro, garlic, limes and chilis.  By the end of the movie we had about 4 gallons of salsa!  We had quesadillas and bean burritos and felt like we were in heaven.  The girls were so happy to be eating something NOT Thai!  It was a fun night and there were leftovers that lasted about a week.

Thai schools are closed in October so we have an optional "winter camp".  They use the word 'winter' loosely around here.  Don't be fooled--the high is still 93.  We studied dinosaurs, the Olympics and did all sorts of crafts, games, cooking activities and the like.

Balancing robots

Auto

Wigrom

Pom

Pom

Phuvit

Post

Ioon and Noth

Ioon

Our last day of camp before a week off we had a Halloween party.  We played games, dressed up and got to go trick or treating.  Halloween in generally one of my least favorite holidays... but we had a good time.  I dressed up as a black cat.  I also generally hate cats as well, but it was an easy costume.

Our school is expanding and will open a location in Phitsanulok in May!  Tanner and I hadn't seen the school property since the ground breaking.  We went with Tang and Ake and saw the progress.  The school is modeled after the style of this school.  It's looking good.  They reminded me that I am more than welcome to stay for years and run that school.  Once again I thanked them and declined.  Haha.  I'm grateful for the time we've had here, but I miss the US of A!

Tanner and I were sad to see that all the space above the second floor was being wasted! There is easily enough room for a third story.  Tang said they don't have a way to insulate it... so it'd be too hot...  Thai and US construction and thinking are so very different.

Tanner and I celebrated out SEVEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY!  It seems like it's been shorter and longer than that all at once.  We've had our share of ups and downs, but it's been a great 7 years.  We got pizza and watched a movie to celebrate.  Then when the girls got back from vacation we treated then to anniversary ice cream at Swensen's.

I've been baking a lot.  I have discovered that I quite enjoy baking.  I think I like baking more than eating the goods.  Tanner and the volunteers are always happy to eat what I make though.

Banana muffins!

They love their MSG here!

We had a little cooking class here at the school with Tang.  We made 2 of the dishes that I still enjoy eating: Panang curry and cashew chicken.  A year and a half or Thai food all day, every day gets old.  I'm pretty sure that that when I get home I won't eat rice for a looooooooong time.

Also... They put in a Dairy Queen!  It's kind of a big deal!  I was there on Friday evening and it looked like this.  I as there 24 hours later and it was up and running!  The ice cream sizes here are very different that in the US.  The smallest size is 6.5 ounces.  That's the one I've been getting.  I could easily eat more, but I feel like that is such a good, responsible size.  Plus they're only $.60 cents right now.

We're about to start the 3rd week of my last semester here!  Kind of crazy!  We have now been here more than a year and a half.

Well I think that's it for now!