Funny stories

Here are a few funny stories I just have to share that have happened to us in the last week or so. Excuse the profanity but once you read you'll understand. 

Walter is spending most of his time in India these days. He stays at a Marriott and has a 2 hour drive one way to the plant where he is building. Most nights he gets back to the hotel late and either has a dinner to attend to or he eats on his own in the hotel. This particular day he got back early to his hotel because he had a meeting. Having a few hours to himself after the meeting he decides to workout. 

Walking into the workout room the attendant stops him and tells him he can't bring his phone into the gym. After a civil exchange Walter explains that he won't be talking on it that he uses it for music for his head phones and keeping track of his run. No problem the attendant leaves him be. 

While working out a man walks into the room. He is blabbing on the phone rather loudly and also tagging along he has his 2 year old. No one stops him, no one questions him about the young child and there is a large sign on the door that says no children allowed under 15. After 10 minutes of this guy continuing to talk loudly on the phone and the attendant saying nothing Walter decides to say something to the gym attendant. 

The attendant is extremely hesitant to say anything to this guy. Walter is the only foreignor in the gym and this guy is Indian. The class system is highly regarded in this culture. Walter again has a word with the attendant and how rude it is that Walter was questioned about his phone when he wasn't even on it and this guy has continued to talk rather loudly for the last 15 minutes. The attendant succumbs to Walters wishes and approaches the guy extremely hesitantly and quietly speaks to the man. The man gets up and leaves taking his 2 year old with him. Walter feels a bit triumphant and continues his workout. The attendant walks over to Walter and proceeds to explain that the guy was his boss the GM of the Marriott and he just had to tell him to stop talking on his phone and take his kid out of the gym.  Oops! Walter just had the GM of Marriott thrown out of his own hotel gym. 

Needless to say the GM returned about 10 minutes later with no phone or kid and a very sheepish grin on his face.

I feel a tripadivsor.com review coming on.  Lol. 

Walter is on the phone for a work meeting. He is talking to one of the construction managers. Typically I don't listen nor understand his work conversations but this particular end of the conversation caught my attention. Walter says to the other guy "listen when you talk to "d..k sh.t" please tell him to call about the machines being received". Something was said to Walter then Walter responds "no seriously "d..k sh.t" needs to understand that this needs to get done".  Something is said in response and Walter says " okay well tell d..ksh.t I said to do this" 

The conversation ends and Walter gets off the phone and I am dumbfounded and giggling.  Walter is usually extremely professional when on business calls so I have to say something. I am completely curious. 

Umm  - Walter,  you must be really comfortable with this guy you were talking with on the phone to refer to another person using such strong language

He looks at me like I have completely lost it. What are you talking about??

I just have never heard you refer to another person who you work with using profanity. This guy must be a real idiot. What??  He is looking at me like I'm nuts. 

On the phone you called another guy "d..k sh.t". He burst into laughter. No I didn't that is the guy's name, Dikshit. What??  Seriously who would name their kid that. Well it turns out that this guys mother did. He is the owner of one of the construction companies Walter uses in India. He has to be the boss with that kind of name. Who would take him seriously. Walter shows me his profile picture and sure enough his name is Dikshit. Walter then proceeds to tell me that a guy here at the Thailand Big K's plant is named Tongshit. 

I am now realizing that the English profanity language is not taken into account when people from India or Thailand name their kids. 😜.   We both had a good laugh. 

I could write a book titled The Life with a Driver. So many funny stories with KB. 

I get out of the car one afternoon and tell (what I think I said) KB that we will leave in 1 hour / 3:30 for school. Jack has a basketball game. I go inside get some stuff done and walk out the door at 3:30. KB is gone. Hmm that's weird. He usually never leaves when we only have an hour. I wait a few minutes and decide to call hmm. Here is our exchange on the phone. 

Me - KB where are you?  

KB - I at school madam. You said school at 3:30. I here madam. 

Me - no KB I said we will leave the house at 3:30 for school with me in the car.  

KB - oh madam want to go with me.  I left madam?   Tsk tsking to himself in Thai

Me - yes KB (sounding a bit irritated). 

KB - madam I come get you?  

Me - (more irritated in my head but keeping calm) yes KB Jack has a basketball game and I want to watch

KB - now?  I come get you now?  

Me - yes now ( sarcastic voice is being suppressed)

KB - oh madam want to watch Jack. Jack be upset with momma if you not here. 

Me - (seriously I want to scream- but don't). yes I want to watch Jacks game. Can you please drive home and get me 

KB - oh ok I drive home get you and we go back to school

(Now I can't decide whether to laugh or reach through the phone, grab him and shake him saying just get the hell home.)

Me - yes please come home and get me. Leo Leo (that's very fast in Thai).

KB - oh Leo Leo ok madam   

Me - goodbye KB (get off the phone and drive I want to scream). 

KB - you want me to drive home Now?  

Me - (that crazy manic laugh is stirring inside me) yes NOW

KB - oh ok I come now (then he proceeds to go through his 10 words of Thai goodbye before he hangs up) 

Really?  There are some days I wonder why I have a driver.  

KB shows up - oh I so sorry madam. Shaking his head as he waddles around the car tsk tsking himself in Thai.  

Mai pen rai KB I say. ( no worries). 

Needless to say I made it to Jacks game right before halftime. It was a great game. Jacks team won and it was their first win of the season. 

Needless to say now KB and I have a running joke. With madam or not with madam he asks me

Jacks basketball team after their first win. Jack is the one with the Beiber hair to the right of the guy holding the ball. (Needless to say he does not like that nickname). 

Cheers from the other side

😘 M

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has to be my absolute favorite holiday.  So much to be thankful for. Sometimes I get caught up in the negative side of life and Thanksgiving always brings things back to perspective and what's really important in life. 

Living in Thailand Thanksgiving has no meaning so as a family we have to come together and bring what we think Thanksgiving is all about. No extended family around we decided to invite friends, 22 people in all and only 6 being Americans (the 5 of us and  Erin's girlfriend came, she's from Idaho). 4 Aussie families and none of them had ever been part of a Thanksgiving so all were excited. 

With work and school I was left to cook on my own, thankful my girlfriends were very willing to be part of the cooking process and joined me for some morning bubbles then down to some serious cooking. With a very tiny oven I had to be quite creative with how and where I was going to cook everything. 

Turkey cooked on the grill ( I would highly recommend this. Wow!! Got many compliments) 2 turkey breasts cooked in the slow cooker (no room for 2 turkeys so had to compromise with the breast because we needed more meat) but found that Aussies like their dark meat. Next year will have to make 2 turkeys. Walter rigged the oven so I had 2 racks so was able to cook 2 pies at a time and all the stuffing. Everything else was cooked normal. 

1 turkey, 2 turkey breasts, heaps of mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted green beans, cranberries, and popovers (they tasted good but failed in the popping part purely because I only had one popover pan and they need to be served right away. Next year no popovers for 22 people. No one noticed because they didn't know what a popover was and like I said they tasted good) and 4 pies with whip cream and ice cream. 

The pies were an interesting thing. Aussies don't eat pumpkin pie. Pumpkins are not used as a sweet only a vegetable. They don't know what pumpkin in a can looks like. Pumpkins in Thailand are used as a vegetable to and they look very different than US pumpkins.

Luckily with Walter being in the US in October he brought me back cranberries and canned pumpkin. Both run between $7 and $8 US dollars here. Ouch!  He also brought back little pumpkins, gourds, and pine cones. My mother in law also helped out with some really cool lights and silk leaves. All put together and my tables looked great. 

2 extra things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving

#1 The Amari - extra beneficial being friends with the GM who very graciously lent us 2 tables plus chairs for 22 and the linens for the chairs and tables. Delivery, set up and take away is all part of the process. Love my Amari perks. Who knew that staying with them when we moved here would lead to this. Our Amari friends couldn't be any kinder or generous, guess it also helps when they are on the guest list. 

#2. Khun Biayoon and his wife Khun Bic - sometimes living in another country sucks but sometimes it has its major bonuses. Those 2 are one of the major bonuses. Kitchen cleaned up and everything put away. I wish I could have that for every Thanksgiving. 

Yep everyone had to write down what they were Thankful for then stand up and share.  We also had Thanksgiving trivia. Had to teach those Aussies a little American history. 

Before the grill

Pumpkin pies

Of course had an old Cowboys game playing in the background. We chose a game where they actually won. Lol

Also Charlie Browns thanksgiving was also played earlier for the little ones. 

Table topics after dinner most kids had cleared out so it became a mostly adult table. 

This Thanksgiving was a memorable one.

Grateful to have made some wonderful friends who appreciate our differences and can celebrate them.

Grateful that my sister, Katy, took Ryan in and entertained him all weekend.   Always missing him but nice to know we have family who will take care of him. 

Grateful for my awesome hubby and fab kids. 

Missing all of our family and friends and hope very soon to spend a holiday with you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers from the other side 

😘 M

Maggie's Milk Money

I am way behind in posting this blog as I am gently reminded often but here is something I wanted to share that is near and dear to my heart. 

Back in the beginning of October I was offered a chance to travel with some of my favorite women who run a charity in northeastern Thailand. In my typical fashion I never really gave the trip much thought knowing that I just really wanted to go. I just knew I wanted to go and see what Women With a Mission and their boarding and school house was all about.  The night before departure Jack asked me where I was going for the weekend my answer was Mae Sot. He asks Why?  Hmmm I wasn't sure how to answer. 

The trip is called an Exposure trip - what does that mean?  What will I see? Where are we going? What am I being exposed to? 

Women With a Mission was started by three courageous, strong, vivacious, incredibly determined and a little bit crazy women, Bronwyn, Rosy and Kylie.  These women are trying to make a difference in the lives of children. It started 10 years ago with the strong desire to help when the tsunami hit southern Thailand in 2004. These women were expats living in Thailand needing something to do with their time while their husbands worked. When the tsunami hit they knew what was needed. Over the course of 10 years the need has changed into now helping the refuge children living on the Thailand/Myanmar border.  They support a boarding house with over 200 children, the school attached, various older children with scholarships to tech schools to learn a trade or particular skill or to continue their higher education so they have a future, and Heavenly Home which is an orphanage for smaller children/babies some as young as a day or 2 old

We left on Thursday morning. Putting my stuff into the car Walter asks how long is the trip, Bron replies 8 hours. Hmm maybe that is something I should of asked first before agreeing. Lol. The drive is beautiful. Three of us in the car. Turns out I'm the only "guest". With a car full of hygiene supplies Bron, Rosy and I set off on our journey. 

Driving in the car really gives you first hand exposure on how beautiful Thailand is. The vast rice fields, the random temples and the side road markets selling their wares from the villages that are tucked inside the land.  

After several hours of driving we stop for fuel, lunch and a bathroom break. Oh look some shops with one named Exports. Bron wants to go in so of course we do. Old Navy, H&M, Kohls, JCPennys, North Face just to name a few brands are all represented in this store. So strange I'm sure it's either second hand brands coming out of Cambodia or Vietnam or stolen merchandise but it looked legit. We shop and purchase. How can you pass up an Old Navy t-shirt for 150 baht ($5)?

After about 8.5 hours we arrive in Mae Sot. Mae Sot is a busy little quaint town on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, a very remote part. It is a very active town with restaurants, coffee shops, gift shops, gem shops, hardware shops and really anything you could want. Little stands line the road side with fresh fruit, vegetables, and food trucks. We find our guest house check in and drop our stuff. Bron and Rosy come to Mae Sot almost every other month. It is to late to go to the boarding house and school so we make way on foot to find food. They want to take me to a particular Burmese gift shop. We walk around and go to Borderline Cafe Shop and Gallery. Lovely place selling traditional items sewn and created by Burmese women. 80% of the proceeds goes directly to supporting the women's group. We shop and have the most delicious lime and basil drink, wish I had 2. We are fortunate that it is also a special art exhibit display from a local artist so we check that out too. A sampling of their food is presented to us and we cannot pass it up and decide to have dinner here as well. Traditional Burmese food all vegetarian. Wow!

Heading home a man and his cart catches my attention. His cart is all lit up, he is selling wine probably the yuckiest grape juice I've ever tasted but so much fun buying from him and trying it. 

Getting up early for our first day visiting the boarding house and school little did I know that I was going to be exposed to love, caring, dedication, determination and a lot of hard work by 3 women who tirelessly keep fighting and raising money for some forgotten kids. With me being a special guest that night the kids are treated to a special dinner, they slaughter one of the pigs. Lucky for me my love of pork -NOT- I was not expected to eat. These kids ate with gusto not a drop was left. All the dogs, cats, and chickens waiting around trying to get just one scrap, nothing.  Earlier in the day there was a discussion of ice cream I just casually asked how often the kids got it. Boy did I have a lot to learn. Ice cream was a delicacy and all I could do was picture Jack eating ice cream almost every night. Do they get it - rarely unless some generous visitor buys it which is like once a year. Guess what they got that night - Ice cream!   I couldn't wait to see their faces. Probably one of the best gifts I could buy 200 kids. Their faces priceless. I have never experienced this kind of giving before and actually see the rewards. 

All waiting in line so patiently for ice cream

Over the next few days I was in awe of these amazing women. I had no idea the impact they have on these kids. We were cooked for twice by two families who help run the schools. I was invited into people's homes who have absolutely nothing not even a working fridge (they used a broken one for storage) and given a traditional meal. We ate dinner while sitting on the floor of the head masters house passing around beer and eating incredible food. We drove an hour and a half away to check on one of the students who lives in a Karen Village on the border. We were invited into the headmasters home to talk about Mo Di Shi, the student, while he chewed on a beetle nut (I found this fascinating, this is very common among the people of Karen tribes, most of their teeth are red and worn down and it is known to suppress hunger which is helpful when food is scarce). We went into a Karen tribe to see where Mo Di Shi lives and teach her how to make food. She is 17, lives by herself and has not seen her parents in over 5 years. Wow!  No water, no fridge, no stove, no bed, 1 chair, 1 bulb for light and no bathroom in her house. She squats in a house not owned by her and has no idea who owns it. How lucky and fortunate my kids are. The entrance into the tribe is guarded by Thai military. No one is allowed to enter unless accompanied by a villager and the village people may not leave unless they have special papers. The tribal people live there on borrowed property from Thailand.  Interesting and amazing to say the least. 

This is in Mo Di Shi's house after we went and bought her food, water, charcoal and just neccessary supplies and taught her how to cook soup. 

The entrance into the tribal village. Very nice officers. 

The boarding house at Mo Di Shi's school. Way better accommodations then at the house WWM support. This school has way more funding. 

At Heavenly Home with all the little ones. They couldn't get enough of me and I the same. They climbed all over me. It was so much fun. 

All of us having dinner. 4 languages were spoken that night. We all communicated but didn't all speak the same language. 

Where the boarding house cooks food. 

Girls boarding house and where they sleep. No beds just flat mats that are rolled up and stored on shelves. 

The pig that was cooked in my honor. 

As you can see this trip had quite an affect on me. I took so many pictures and only have shared a handful but there was one experience that really got me. Back in the summer when my sister Betsy visited she met Bronwyn who is one of the Women With a Mission. They chatted about what Bronwyn does and Betsy was impressed. When leaving the US Betsy gave me a check to give to Bronwyn for WWM. I matched Betsys donation and gave to Bron. Bron said that the little ones at the boarding house were getting sick and really needed to add milk to their diet so the money I gave her would go to buying them milk. The money we gave provided them with milk for the children 10 years and younger twice a week for 2 months. Not everyday - I was dumb founded. While there I was fortunate to experience a milk day. All the little kids about 100 of them sit at the tables and wait until each and everyone is served. They stand say prayer then drink, slurp, suck down their milk as fast as one can drink hot milk. (Why hot they have to boil the water before mixing in the milk powder)  I have never seen kids so happy about milk. As soon as their finished they may have a second helping until all the milk is done. Chaos ensues and they scramble to get their share. 

Waiting patiently to drink their milk. 

Completely dumbfounded by the reaction of these kids to the milk an idea came to mind to expand on the milk need. How could I help? What kind of difference could I make?

 Maggie's Milk Money was created that day. My goal is to raise enough money to supply milk twice a week for the year, basically 208 boxes of milk or roughly 90000baht ($2700). Two boxes feed 100+ children for one day. So far after only starting since October I have raised 20000baht ($609)

Maybe your someone who has everything or maybe your looking for a worthy charity without worrying about the tax exemption but if you would like to make a donation I will take anything or everything. 

1 box is 428baht or $15. Christmas is around the corner, sometimes the best gifts aren't wrapped!  

Interested??  send me an email meee1984@aol.com and I'll tell you how you can send me a check. 

Thanks

Cheers from the other side

😘. M

Just have to share

This video was just brought to my attention. I had never seen it before and it literally brought tears to my eyes. So clearly does this show me why we live in Thailand and to cherish these amazing opportunities. 

Blast from the past but a little glimpse into Jacks trip to Nepal last February. It's only a couple minutes long but it gives you some insight into what he did. 

Check out the dancer. :)

http://youtu.be/hkIO7Tcqby8

You should be able to click on the link and it will bring you right to the YouTube video

Enjoy!

Cheers from the other side

😘 m

Black Box Cooking Challenge

Tested my culinary skills at the Regents parents cooking challenge. What a fun event. The Sheraton hosted the event which was led by their head chef. Quite professional I must say and a bit intimidating. We were broken up into groups of 6 and given all fresh ingredients. Only had one burner at our station, the use of a shared grill, shared fryer, and a rice cooker. All ingredients and spices were based on traditional Thai cooking but our dishes could be as inventive as we wanted and didn't have to be Thai. 

My group was a mix of nationalities. We had an Italian, a Mexican, a Thai, 2 Americans, and a man who was Portuguese in our group. The blend of nationalities gave our dishes a unique spin.  We had 3 exceptional chefs on our team so we let them take the lead. The rest of us were the sous chefs running around collecting ingredients and chopping. The goal was to make 3 dishes for the judges to taste. We were judged on taste, creativity and presentation. Unfortunately we did not win but the experience was a win in my book. The dishes that were created from all the teams were fantastic.  I was completely impressed with some of these peoples culinary skills. It put my recipe following cooking skills to shame. The team that won worked tamarind into all 3 of their dishes. I tasted the sauce of one of their plates and it was outstanding. 

Overall a fantastic fun day. Following the cooking challenge the head chef then prepared us lunch with a little bubbles added to make the day a very festive event.

5 stations

My Sarah's with all fresh veggies

My team

Coconut encrusted prawns with tamarind sauce, Tom Yum Talay, Grilled whole fish with seafood caviar and vegetables 

All the dishes. 

Cheers from the other side 

😘 m

I'm Back!

Back by popular demand.....  HA - that's a joke. Maybe not popular just a few complaints from a few friends and family members wanting me to continue to blog about our adventures in Thailand-  So I return to the blogging world. 

Let's back up a bit. 

Summer - what can I say

After 6 weeks, 7 plane rides, 6 states, 12 different places of sleep and 6200 miles driven in the car, it was time to come home. So much fun was had. All the friends and family we got to see and spend time with was truly a blessing. We quickly adapted to being back in the US, almost scary that at times it felt like we never left. Nothing better than being able to pick up right where you left off and not miss a beat in friendships. It was emotional and stressful at times but lots of good personal growth was accomplished plus lots of much needed bonding with our first born. 

We felt so loved by all the attention we got from friends and family just dropping everything for us, offering their beds or just entertaining us. 

Floated with our first born. 

Went flying!

Stayed with old friends!

Partied with MI friends. (They are candy cigarettes people)

Caught up with old school friends

Had a Moloney family reunion

Got to be with Grandma on her 70th birthday!

Played with some of our cousins!

Celebrated our other grandmas 76th birthday!

Vacations are awesome but it is always good to get home. I was never so happy to see KB(driver). I think he was a little surprised when I jumped and gave him a big hug when he picked us up at the airport. Only kidding but it did cross my mind that's how excited and giddy I was to be home. I can finally call this place home. Weird!

Big papa only got to stay in the US for 4 weeks so after being away from him for 2 weeks it was great to see him again. And Sparky lets just say she didn't stop bouncing and wiggling for several hours. I think our little black dog missed us. She was more than happy to curl up next to me in bed. She didn't leave my side for a week. She has finally forgiven me for leaving her for so long, I think. 

That night (or morning since it's about 2 am) when we arrived home the first thing we did was swim. So much fun. We all just jumped in. Being gone for 6 weeks we were on US time and we were not ready to sleep. It felt so good. 

Another person I truly missed - Khun Bic. We were just getting ourselves aquainted when I left in July. Her being new for me. Well let me tell you after 6 weeks of cleaning, cooking and laundry I was done. That sh...t is hard work. I couldn't have been more happy to hand back over those duties to her. She is the best. No longer does she make my beds look like they have dead bodies in them. She must have taken those 6 weeks to learn how to keep house. I came back to windows washed, socks sorted, undies lined up properly in drawers, beds like we are in the military, everything organized and clean. Ahhhhhh  Sooooooo Nice!  She is a gem. My non managerial skills worked again. Betsy I guess I don't need those little tiny balls after all. Lol

It is nice to not have the other one who showed me dead bodies on her pad or tell me how everyone hates America, or never show up for work.  This one doesn't speak a word of English. It's great. 

Home at last. Jet lag kicked in and I think it took at least 10 days to get over it. That is the only thing I hate. I get it bad. We had a week before school started so it was back to reacquainting ourselves with Thai life. Boys caught up with friends and Erin began her year long grueling school work of being a year 13 IB student. 

Being a newbie no more now it was time for a change in another way. Adjusting to those friends who left us behind inThailand and went off on their new adventure. Erin, Andrew, Jack, Walter and I all experienced a close friend leaving. Being expats you develop very close relationships with people FASt. Not used to this since we are usually the ones who leave it was an adjustment. Entering that first coffee morning you look around for that familiar face who is always happy to see me and realize she is gone. Who will I talk to?  Who will I lunch with? Who will I crack a bad joke with and get it?  Eventually you move on and other people fill the void. Luckily I have been adopted by the Aussie posse and they have put me in Aussie school. Now we are all best mates. Lol

School starts 

Ryan - second year of university. He is adjusting. He lives in an apartment and we caved and bought him a car. It was a rocky first year with lots of changes for him hopefully this second year his feet will be planted a little more firmly in the MSU life. He has the world at his feet, all up for him to take advantage of and make it a success.  I know he will make it happen. 

Erin yr 13. Wow where has the time gone. Graduation in May. Will she really leave me next year?  So not ready for that. I have a year to get it together for when she does.  She is in the hardest year of IB. With university applications to fill in, essays to write, final exams and an Extended Essay due I am glad it's not me. If anyone can handle it it's her.  That girl has her fathers drive. 

On top of all her academics she was made captain of her football team.  Together we do a cardio combat class together so she can kick all the boys butts in Uni.  

Andrew yr 9. He is a true teenager. Most times he doesn't want to be in our existence. Occasionally he will grace us with his presence and you better listen to whatever he has to say because he will only say it once before he quickly retreats into Andrew world again. He is back to hanging with friends and YES thank goodness he Made the Fobisia team. His team will play at the Fobisia games held in Bangkok this year in November. He is also giving us one more year with the saxophone. Hopefully this year he expands his ability to play more than the same 6 songs. 

And then there is Jack - yr 7. No more elementary school. He has moved up into the big times - Middle School. He is loving it. Gets to see Andrew and Erin through out the school day. He switches classes and has fully embraced the challenge of being a middle schooler. He is playing basketball, football and rugby. 

First official back to school photo.

Jacks first big yr 7 project. He builds the Mackinac bridge. 

Big Papa is back to India. India, India, India. That man travels. The job is coming to a close quickly and so his trips to India should start slowing down. Going into our second year he has a true handle on the Asia Pacific work life. As soon as he gets really good it will be time for us to leave. Yep just as we start to feel settled here the talk has begun. What next??  Will we go or will we stay?  Those are the questions that will be answered in the next 6 months. This is our life, not for everyone I know but it's ours and we accept it. 

Our Thai life has returned and going into our second year it's easier. No longer do I fear the unknown I embrace it. Things that use to bother me or scare me now somehow comfort me. The raw meat hanging around the markets I don't even notice. Wide eyed no more when KB is driving me around. Lady boys start looking the same. Prostitutes on the corner are just women or in some cases men. The annoying high pitched Thai voice over the intercom in the store is still annoying. Soi Dogs are just rats and I no longer have a strong desire to feed them all and I know now they won't attack me they are all harmless. The smells here - well that's just something I don't think I'll ever get use too.  It's always green and hot which I love. Life is quiet, life is normal. 

You get use to seeing this. I swear you do, sort of. Lol

BUT then BANG your world is flipped upside down just as life was getting comfy and you get thrust forward to remember that nothing in this Thai life is normal. 

Sunday afternoon we go to the driving range to hit golf balls and to get a bite to eat. We send KB off to run an errand then come right back, figuring we would hit golf balls and eat within an hour or so.  An hour has passed we are ready to go Big papa calls KB to meet us at the entrance to take our clubs. KB doesn't answer the phone. Big papa calls him several times no answer. Steam is forming in his ears. I call KB he answers before the first ring completes. I ask where he is. 20 minutes madam. WHAT. Walter is steaming mad like furious mad. He says we are not waiting we are walking home. Well that's what we did, all 5 of us with 2 big golf bags. Let me tell what a sight we were. Thais are not use to farangs (white people) walking their streets. 5 of us single file with Jack carrying one of the bags. All of us Sweating profusely. Walter bitching up a storm about KB and where he could be. The rest of us bitching up a storm under our breaths about why we are walking. People are driving by whistling and carrying on. What a sight we are. We see KB in our car. He slowly approaches us. We gratefully get into the air coned car. KB apologizes profusely over the next few days. Walter wonders why we need a driver. 

Fast forward a week later - Flat tire on the side of the highway. I no longer wonder why we have a driver. I am SOoooooo happy to have a driver. Big papa at home feeling helpless. He is trying to get us a new car and driver to pick us up off the highway. KB fixes the flat while Erin and I tried to not play chicken with all the passing cars. No safety here. Cars don't slow down they drive 100 mph past us. They ride on the shoulder right at you then pass. I can't get a damn taxi in downtown Pattaya but one stops on the side of the highway offering a ride. Motorbikes stop and turn their bikes into the traffic and park to help take off the tire. Erin and I wave our phones with the flashlight app light so cars can see us. Erin learns how to light a flare. Crazy it was but the tire was changed and back into our bubble of a world with KB taking us home. No walking this time. 😊

We are abck in the land of Thai!

KB getting ready to change the tire. 

Nice motorcycle guy helping KB find the spare tire and helped get the flat tire off. 

Erin's flare and the pink taxi cab

Home at last!

Cheers from the other side

😘 m

Reflection

Wow!  A few weeks from our year anniversary of living in Thailand. Where has the time gone, seriously this was the fastest year ever. 

Look back at the latest month. 

End of May - Cooking with Poo and weekend in Bangkok. Started as hairy scary because of the coup but ended as the best weekend ever. Wow what a weekend. 2 sleeps in Bangkok and traveling all over the city on the BTS line and taxis made me a pro (joking) but it did make me so comfortable to get around this city. Gave me lots of confidence and knowledge about this enormous city. Found some amazing shopping malls and even more amazing places to eat. Reminds me of NYC. 

Cooking with Poo was awesome!  Walked through the markets and cooked with this incredible woman who still lives in the slums but has made a name for herself and become extremely successful while also making other people in the slums become successful and prosperous. She has everything she needs and lives a very simple life but the work and charity she does for others is quite amazing. She is in her 40s and it's all about helping others. To be so selfless. She says she can only be as good as the people around her. 

First weekend in June - traveled to Malaysia with Jacks school for the Fobisea games. Impressive is the only word to describe this event. 5 days in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Fobisea games are like the Olympics of international schools. Andrew went to Brunei back in March. It is a select group of kids who have tried out to make the team. Each team is made up of 6 boys and 6 girls for their year group. Jack is part of year 6. Year 4, year 5, and year 6 compete in their respective year groups. Soccer, T ball (not American T ball) and athletics are the categories that the athletes compete in.  Jack performed really well taking home 3 bronze medals in TBall and athletics. I will say it was great for him and his ego, tough competition. For me it was a HoT HOT HOT 3 days of sitting on the sidelines cheering them all on but nothing I regret and SO glad I got a chance to go. 

The athletics were great but I think I was more impressed with the 5 teachers and the 36 kids that were with them. We are talking 36 kids from the age of 9 to 11 traveling to the airport, handling their own passports and luggage, dealing with customs and immigration. They walked through the airport like they were adults. They handled winning and losing as a team. Everything was a team effort. Life skills that can't be taught in a classroom. These kids and teachers are impressive. The independence that is taught is incredible. Yes I went but did not travel with the team nor did I stay at the same hotel, no parent chaperones. The team stayed at a hotel in KL with 4 to a room and 5 teachers to look after 36 kids. No one was hurt, no one acted up, all had respect for one another.  They were up everyday at 6am dressed and ready to get on the bus to travel to the venue by 7:30 everyday, professionalism at its best. 

Home from Malaysia Monday night - gearing up for Friday - Sports awards and the BIG sisters show up. Oops a glitch in the plan- Erin calls me from school Friday morning and something is wrong. Pick her up from school and see half her face is paralyzed - scary. Off we go to the hospital. 5 hours of laying In the emergency room and playing guess the diagnosis of other patients( not much privacy in this hospital, guess they don't have the HIPPA act). She is ready to get OUt. It's Regents sports award night and she wants to go. After an IV drip and some chats with the neurologist we are cleared to leave with no prognosis but an ok to go to Sports award for a little bit as long as we go back tomorrow for MRI. I dash home change and grab clothes for Erin and in the bathroom of the Amari Erin changes from hospital scrubs to fancy dress - hey it's the Amari and she wants to look good. We go and Jack wins the Sportsmanship of the Year award and the MVP player of rugby. What a day and night. Shipping Erin and Walter (he just returning from India at 8am that morning) Andrew and Jack home, I head to the airport. 

FINALLY From what it seemed like FOREVeR - planning been going on for like 5 months my sisters finally arrived. Something I had looked forward to in like forever. Never having spent 10 days with just my sisters in like 30 years I was a bit nervous. Us Moloney sisters rose to the occasion. Having more fun than you can imagine. Troopers they were. Bangkok not just once but twice, Thai cooking school (which I know did not respect the USDA laws of cooking schools), massages twice, temples, high tea, rooftop bars, eating out LOTs, drinking LOTs, a little tennis, sun, pool, sweating, shopping and more shopping and I think more shopping. If the Thai economy displays a boost next month it's because of them. :) it was everything I hoped for and more. Incredible. So thankful they made the LONG trip. I know it's not easy.  Wish my parents could have joined us. 

My life is so different, weird, incredible and sometimes unexplainable that it's great to share it with family and friends so they can see it first hand. 

Monday afternoon before my sisters show up the maid quits. What??  Can't be. I deal and eventually hire KB, my drivers wife. Now I have beds made up that look like dead bodies are buried in them. She washes dishes and then puts them in the dishwasher for a few hours then puts them away. And washes all clothing together, if my whites werent dingy enough before they are now. My Sisters make fun of me bad because now I'm making my bed as a tutorial for this woman who speaks no English so she learns how to make a bed. I have no managerial skills. I'm teaching her how to do wash and clean my house by doing all the work.  Walter says I might as well just do the work myself and save some money. Hahahaha like that's gonna happen. 

I was lucky enough for Betsy and Katy to also be here for my birthday. Might have something to do with my booking of the tickets 😜  Walter as always spoiled me rotten and had a party for me. Have not enough words for what that man does for me. He always goes above and beyond with this birthday being no exception. 

In this crazy week of my sisters being here - Erin had an MRI and was diagnosed with Bells Palsy from an inner ear infection that was pressing on a facial nerve causing the paralysis. She is fine now. No worries. On steroids and everything is clearing up. Enough for her to leave on her 10 day London trip with school. Have I ever said I want to be one of my kids. What a trip she is on. 7 drama productions at world class theaters, from Miss Siagon to Phantom of the Opera. She has picnicked at Buckingham Palace, rode on a double decker tour bus, and shopped at amazing places,  all enough to make her mother and father very jealous. The chick is still not home. Left the 21st and comes back the 1st. NICE (saying that obnoxiously) is all I can say about that. 

School is ending. - Jack received his Global Citizenship award, Andrew is Andrew receiving Mr Sports award and a service award for his trip back in March. 

Final Goodbyes - UGh!  In this expat world people come and go on a regular basis. Walter and I wanting to have a party for a while decided to throw a MEGA party for 2 couples that are leaving. As my kids would say it was EPIC!  Never before have I thrown this kind of party. Ice Bar with a swan carved on my driveway, wait staff, pool filled with candles and hundreds of flowers, tables brought from a hotel and set up (gotta love our Amari connection), a pig on a spit and about 70 people. Wow it was incredible. 

4 days from now on an airplane for our summer trip back to America. What a year it has been. So many people that weren't in my life a year ago now I'm feeling the affects of them leaving. How life can change. 

We are ALL so excited to come back. Can't wait to see Ryan. Just turning 19 I think this was a major year of growth for him. This has definitely been a year of change, growth and adventure for us all. 

The 5 state American tour begins July 3, one day after big papa and I celebrate our 20th anniversary. 

How lucky we are!!

Cheers from the other side

😘🇺🇸 M

Proud Moment

Another tic in the box to reassure me that this move to Thailand has been worth every little and big struggle. 

Erin received the Brittany Tang Award for Outstanding Global Citizenship.  It is the highest award honored in her school. Only 6 students out of the entire school were nominated. She was nominated by a teacher in the school who recognized her willingness to give so selflessly. 

She received 9000 baht / $300 USD. She will not be using the money on herself she plans to use the money to raise more money in the fall for another project at the Mercy Center. 

Below is the write up on what the award is all about. 

Below is her write up from the school and why she was nominated and chosen for the award. 

We couldn't be prouder of her. 

Cheers from the other side

😘 M