Expats in a state of panic
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Random
I have had so much to write about lately, and I just can't seem to make myself sit down and get started. I used to really enjoy blogging, and now it seems like a chore. I think it's the perfectionist in me coming out. If I can't transform my thoughts into a cute and catchy story then I don't want to write. I have issues like that.
Life in Asia has been in an uproar lately. Things were quiet here while the terror attacks were happening in Mumbai, but security was definitely stepped up.
Following this post is an article from our newspaper. It makes it sound like we were scared to death, but we weren't. We are pretty comfortable over here, and sometimes we need a wake up call to remember where we are and keep our awareness up. This time was even closer to home for us since they said in the news they were asking for Americans and British. We decided from now on we would say "estamos de Espana" I think we can pull that one off.
Following this post is an article from our newspaper. It makes it sound like we were scared to death, but we weren't. We are pretty comfortable over here, and sometimes we need a wake up call to remember where we are and keep our awareness up. This time was even closer to home for us since they said in the news they were asking for Americans and British. We decided from now on we would say "estamos de Espana" I think we can pull that one off.The biggest stressor for us though was the protests in Thailand. My babies are in Thailand. (They would die if they heard me calling them my babies). Christmas is fast approaching, and I was really getting worried that we would not be able to be together. Since we don't get to see them very much, I was not happy. It seems now that things have worked out, so I am hoping our plans will still come about.
This picture shows travelers stranded in Thailand.
Finally, I think it's just the holidays that have me down. It's always the hardest time of year here. The boys weren't able to come home for Thanksgiving, and their dinner didn't work out too well for them. Christmas is worse. It is really hard to feel "Christmasy" when it's ninety degrees out. I miss being with my family at Christmas. When you are used to sharing Christmas with a large crowd of relatives it's strange to celebrate without at least one family reunion, not to mention various Christmas programs to attend. (I am going to try to remember that next year if they start to get on my nerves:))
Well, now that I have gotten all that whining done, maybe I can come up with a cute and catchy post next time.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Holi
This is a bit of a makeup post. I intended to write it several months ago. These are pictures taken during Holi. We are playing with our neighbors and getting to know them a little bit.
I have to admit they were much better at it than we were.
We all got drenched with water and color.
The colored powder we used was very bright.
We were "colored" for several days.
Kara and the boys joined in with us, and ruined their clothes too.Actually they ended up with some nice souvenir t-shirts.
Tommy wasn't sure what to think of all this, but he was quick to comfort Isaiah when he got too cold.
Mason is "looking good"!
It was a fun day, and we were able to interact with the people around us some. It's hard to get to know the people in our neighborhood. We plan to keep reaching out to them.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tagged!
I was tagged over at Sunflower Seeds, so it's my turn to write my seven random or weird facts about myself. I was actually glad to be tagged, because even though I have some things I should write about the creative juices just haven't been flowing, and I am glad to have something that I can write about.
1. I'll go for the obvious first. I live in India. My family and I moved here three and a half years ago. We will stay here until the end of July next year when we will return to the States for about then months. I have always wanted to live and serve in a foreign country, so this assigment was the fulfillment of a long standing calling. Even so, sometimes it is hard, really hard. Living in a different culture can drive you mad sometimes, and I really miss my friends and family.
2. I know how to drive all manner of farm vehicles. I grew up on a farm, and I can drive a tractor, combine, grain truck, swather, baler, you name it. I also learned how to ride a motorcycle. This training has come in quite hand in our new life. In Asia all the automobiles come with a standard transmission, so you have to know how to drive a stick shift. Also it is a lot easier to get around on a scooter or motorbike, so we do that once in while too. God prepared me in so many ways for this life.
3. I have two children in boarding school. I can already hear the gasps resounding from some of you. What manner of mother would ever put her children in boarding school?! Well I would. The schools here simply do not have the means or the inclination to educate my children well. Homeschooling two highschool boys is not within the realm of my mental stability. Teenage boys need strenuous physical activity, there is no way out of it. They need to be challenged physically and learn to work hard at something. They can't do that here. There is now program for them and no place to exercise. They also need a place to pursue their interests, be they art, music, drama, woodworking or some the don't even know yet. I can't give them that here. So, even though it nearly broke my heart and scared me to death, I sent them to boarding school because it was what they needed and what was best for them.
4. My family is the most beautiful rainbow you have ever seen. My family believes in adoption. Both my brother and my sister have adopted, and so have some of my cousins. We have African American, Latin American, Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian, kids in our family. I love it. I am so proud to be from a family that has opened their hearts and homes to children of different races, and countries. I think when God looks down on our family he smiles because he doesn't see the color of our skin, but the love in our hearts.
5. I have been happily married for nearly two decades, and I plan to stay married to the same man until death parts us.
6. I have only nine and a half fingers. The ring finger of my right hand was sevevered by a combine when I was only two years old. The doctor tried to re-attach it, but in 1973 the technology wasn't all that great. It usually doesn't bother me at all although it makes typing 9,0, and- a challenge. I will also never be a professional pianist. Although, I don't think my finger has anything to do with that.
7. I can remember the words to songs. I know the words to a LOT of songs. I don't know why, but if you set it to music my brain records it. I know the words to all if the hymns we sang growing up in church, and not just the first verse. I know the words to the heavy metal songs we listened to in the eighties, some of which I would like to forget. I know the words to songs my kids listen to now even though I don't even like some of them. If I ever go back to school, I am going to set all of my assigments to song, and have a perfect GPA.
So now comes the challenging part for me. I am supposed to tag seven people. I don't know seven people who have blogs, so I'll just tag the ones I do. Chala Bagundi, Bagunnara,
South Asia Rocks , and Glorify the Lord With Me.
1. I'll go for the obvious first. I live in India. My family and I moved here three and a half years ago. We will stay here until the end of July next year when we will return to the States for about then months. I have always wanted to live and serve in a foreign country, so this assigment was the fulfillment of a long standing calling. Even so, sometimes it is hard, really hard. Living in a different culture can drive you mad sometimes, and I really miss my friends and family.2. I know how to drive all manner of farm vehicles. I grew up on a farm, and I can drive a tractor, combine, grain truck, swather, baler, you name it. I also learned how to ride a motorcycle. This training has come in quite hand in our new life. In Asia all the automobiles come with a standard transmission, so you have to know how to drive a stick shift. Also it is a lot easier to get around on a scooter or motorbike, so we do that once in while too. God prepared me in so many ways for this life.
3. I have two children in boarding school. I can already hear the gasps resounding from some of you. What manner of mother would ever put her children in boarding school?! Well I would. The schools here simply do not have the means or the inclination to educate my children well. Homeschooling two highschool boys is not within the realm of my mental stability. Teenage boys need strenuous physical activity, there is no way out of it. They need to be challenged physically and learn to work hard at something. They can't do that here. There is now program for them and no place to exercise. They also need a place to pursue their interests, be they art, music, drama, woodworking or some the don't even know yet. I can't give them that here. So, even though it nearly broke my heart and scared me to death, I sent them to boarding school because it was what they needed and what was best for them.
4. My family is the most beautiful rainbow you have ever seen. My family believes in adoption. Both my brother and my sister have adopted, and so have some of my cousins. We have African American, Latin American, Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian, kids in our family. I love it. I am so proud to be from a family that has opened their hearts and homes to children of different races, and countries. I think when God looks down on our family he smiles because he doesn't see the color of our skin, but the love in our hearts.
5. I have been happily married for nearly two decades, and I plan to stay married to the same man until death parts us.
6. I have only nine and a half fingers. The ring finger of my right hand was sevevered by a combine when I was only two years old. The doctor tried to re-attach it, but in 1973 the technology wasn't all that great. It usually doesn't bother me at all although it makes typing 9,0, and- a challenge. I will also never be a professional pianist. Although, I don't think my finger has anything to do with that.
7. I can remember the words to songs. I know the words to a LOT of songs. I don't know why, but if you set it to music my brain records it. I know the words to all if the hymns we sang growing up in church, and not just the first verse. I know the words to the heavy metal songs we listened to in the eighties, some of which I would like to forget. I know the words to songs my kids listen to now even though I don't even like some of them. If I ever go back to school, I am going to set all of my assigments to song, and have a perfect GPA.
So now comes the challenging part for me. I am supposed to tag seven people. I don't know seven people who have blogs, so I'll just tag the ones I do. Chala Bagundi, Bagunnara,
South Asia Rocks , and Glorify the Lord With Me.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Fitting In
"One of these friends is not like the others, One of these friends just isn't the same. One of these friends is not like the others, now it's time to play our game..."It's getting more and more difficult to pick him out of the group isn't it?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Fifteen!
We celebrated MC's fifteenth birthday this week. 
My house is no longer quiet. The joint is hopping this week.
The house seems like a different place with the boys home.
MC's Dad gave him the huge knives for his birthday. He was thrilled.
He only wishes he could take them to the dorm with him. However, the dorm limits blades to three inches. Just a little different from the U.S. rules about carrying knives to school. Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Monkey Temple
I Love the movie The Jungle Book.
It's one of my favorites, and one of my favorites scenes is the one in which Mowgli is carried off to King Louie's lair in the temple ruins. I was pretty excited when I saw the pictures that Norm brought home from one of his latest adventures.
This temple looks just like the one in the movie.
This our friend David. I am not sure I would stand under there. Look at the next shot.
On his next trip, he got to see the monkeys. Can't you just picture them at the temple singing "Oobie Doo, I wanna be like you...!"
It's one of my favorites, and one of my favorites scenes is the one in which Mowgli is carried off to King Louie's lair in the temple ruins. I was pretty excited when I saw the pictures that Norm brought home from one of his latest adventures.This temple looks just like the one in the movie.This our friend David. I am not sure I would stand under there. Look at the next shot.On his next trip, he got to see the monkeys. Can't you just picture them at the temple singing "Oobie Doo, I wanna be like you...!"
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