Last week I told Mike I wanted to go to Thailand and "stock" up on stuff. What stuff you might ask? I dunno just stuff.
I've grown tired of looking all over the city for things, and buying not 1 but 3 shovels that have all broken the second they strike the ground. See, unlike most people around here, I'm attempting to plant my own stuff (blog about that later) so I need a good shovel and possibly a spade, but they are not here! Annoying.
Anyway, back to the point, I told Mike I wanted to go to Thailand for stuff. I wanted a real store that was set up the way I'm used to with "quality" products. I just needed to see again what I was missing out on. To be FRANK, not much at all. Most of what we found today can be found in Vientiane, granted maybe for a higher price and questionable quality, but still found HERE, not across the border and an hour farther.
Mike went along with my plan, giving me credit for going with him on many, many trips I was not too excited about. See, I am more of a go along girl than a planning girl. I will do whatever he wants, even if I think it's crazy, rather than plan something myself. If I had my way, I'd get to sit in front of Lifetime movies all day or sit in the car and be lost in my thoughts for hours and hours, so that's why I choose to go along with him. Most of the time our trips take us in the wrong direction, sometimes many times, but at least once, so I get time to just think, about what who knows.
Ok, ok I wandered again, so we got to Thailand and one of the stores I really wanted to go to. It had shovels, and bug zappers- hopefully ones that won't break in a few days- and stuff :) Rows and rows of stuff in neat little aisles with Signs telling me where the "stuff" was. I was fairly content, until everytime I looked up 5 people were waiting to grab things for me, or just stare at us. The staring comes in handy when the kids are touching everything in sight, but they think it's cute, me not so much. I really like big stores but what I like about them is my that I can wander and look without being followed every step of the way.
I love stores, not because I love to shop, I just love 'em. I like that they guide me to what I might need. See, what I really miss is Wal-Mart. The one store I could go to and find absolutely everything I need. I HATE shopping, but I love wandering down aisles in a store that offers me EVERYTHING. I can't clothes shop in a mall, but give me a list of random items and I'll find them, all in one place!
So maybe this is what I was hoping for today in Thailand, but alas, I didn't quite get that feeling, more like spend some money and buy some crap to show it was worth something. In the end, I think my trips to Thailand will be limited and without the kids. I am okay with spending a few extra cents here vs. going the extra mile or 50 just to get a bargain. Plus I like it here, more than there :)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
consumables
Vientiane, Laos is a consumables post. I think for good reason. Check out this picture:
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Both of these cost me the same amount of money, one was bought here the other bought in the states. I'm sure you can guess which one is which.
Now that I am over the "funny money" and actually have a concept of how much things cost I feel even worse about our pack-out. Several bottles of dish soap and hand soap were left under cupboards and forgotten until we left :( When I spend 12.50 on a gallon of bleach I want to scream having only sent 2 gallons.
Maggie's favorite thing to do is wash her hands now and when I catch her playing in the sink all I see are dollar signs flashing and have to contain my anger and politely demand that she not wash her hands again, for a week! Kidding.
One night I let out a cry when I watched Mike putting shampoo in the kids hair. He couldn't believe I was freaking over soap, it's just soap. Yes, just soap that cost 5x what it did in The States and I want it to last. He just shrugged and now I bite my tongue, because at least he's doing the bathing.
Someone was recently joking about how people keep their consumables secret; sitting in dark corners scarfing pop tarts so no one asks for one. It's true, I hide my good snack foods when other kids come over, mainly because they waste them, but also because I want them :)
Thankfully, even though we sent quite a bit of consumables, we still have a lot of weight left over, so we can do a second shipment; my list keeps getting longer and longer, mostly cleaning supplies and beauty supplies with lots of spray sunscreens and bug spray.
We're also totally lucky to be able to order stuff from the Bangkok commissary (which I have yet to do) although the prices don't quite compare to the States, at least we can get US brands of detergent and if you search hard enough on Amazon, lots of places ship to APO, so the kids still get to eat some of their snackie foods while attempting to broden their food palates.
Now that I am over the "funny money" and actually have a concept of how much things cost I feel even worse about our pack-out. Several bottles of dish soap and hand soap were left under cupboards and forgotten until we left :( When I spend 12.50 on a gallon of bleach I want to scream having only sent 2 gallons.
Maggie's favorite thing to do is wash her hands now and when I catch her playing in the sink all I see are dollar signs flashing and have to contain my anger and politely demand that she not wash her hands again, for a week! Kidding.
One night I let out a cry when I watched Mike putting shampoo in the kids hair. He couldn't believe I was freaking over soap, it's just soap. Yes, just soap that cost 5x what it did in The States and I want it to last. He just shrugged and now I bite my tongue, because at least he's doing the bathing.
Someone was recently joking about how people keep their consumables secret; sitting in dark corners scarfing pop tarts so no one asks for one. It's true, I hide my good snack foods when other kids come over, mainly because they waste them, but also because I want them :)
Thankfully, even though we sent quite a bit of consumables, we still have a lot of weight left over, so we can do a second shipment; my list keeps getting longer and longer, mostly cleaning supplies and beauty supplies with lots of spray sunscreens and bug spray.
We're also totally lucky to be able to order stuff from the Bangkok commissary (which I have yet to do) although the prices don't quite compare to the States, at least we can get US brands of detergent and if you search hard enough on Amazon, lots of places ship to APO, so the kids still get to eat some of their snackie foods while attempting to broden their food palates.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hin Khanna
Yesterday at the last minute we decided to take a trip to some waterfalls. Since it was Father's day it was my job to look up some places to go for a day trip. The first little picture of waterfalls on the map we have was Hin Khanna, so I looked it up via google and found some good stuff. Lots of stuff that made it seem like it was less of a waterfall and more of a hangout spot. The other choice was a waterfall that was more like a stream of water falling off a cliff...3 kids under the age of 4 why do you think I chose the place that was less of a waterfall and more like a wading pool :)
It's really close to the city, so fairly easy to find and we didn't get lost once BIG score for our family :) We called a few of the interns that are here for the summer and had them join us. It was good fun. Lots of swimming, little boat rides, and good Lao food.
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| "The Falls" |
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| Kids playing in the rental boats |
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| In that little bungalow you might notice a few familiar faces. |
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| Finn Made Friends |
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| Dazed after a long day of splashing |
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Finn's end of school performance
I think the performance was actually for International Children's day, but the performance was after this holiday and before school ends for the kids so whateve.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun to watch the kids. Our friend Sevara was the most outgoing 2-year-old I've ever seen. She was on top of all the songs and moves, such a performer!
Finn's group got through most of their performance before the rain hit and he looked a little odd trying to keep up, but has since been singing the songs around the house. His favorite being Alli Baba Had a Little Farm...? He was very nervous about the show, I wonder if the teachers pressured the kids a little by telling them there wasn't much time and they needed to practice more, I'd do the same since their attention span is so small.
At the end of an "Indian" (Native American) song the rain hit pretty hard and it was hilarious to watch the kids slowly have melt downs. Finn was the last one on stage. If my Internet is fast enough I will attempt to upload a few videos. Since the concert Finn has told me that they did such a good job with their "Indian" song they made the rain come :)
The Director of the school set up a surprise visit from some traveling clowns, I could quite decide if it was funny or inappropriate, I've fallen in between. It was funny to watch and the kids liked it, even if the jokes and songs were lost on them. This group of people have apparently been traveling around the world on their bikes. The bikes were awesome to see.
Below you can check out some photos and maybe a video or two.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun to watch the kids. Our friend Sevara was the most outgoing 2-year-old I've ever seen. She was on top of all the songs and moves, such a performer!
Finn's group got through most of their performance before the rain hit and he looked a little odd trying to keep up, but has since been singing the songs around the house. His favorite being Alli Baba Had a Little Farm...? He was very nervous about the show, I wonder if the teachers pressured the kids a little by telling them there wasn't much time and they needed to practice more, I'd do the same since their attention span is so small.
At the end of an "Indian" (Native American) song the rain hit pretty hard and it was hilarious to watch the kids slowly have melt downs. Finn was the last one on stage. If my Internet is fast enough I will attempt to upload a few videos. Since the concert Finn has told me that they did such a good job with their "Indian" song they made the rain come :)
The Director of the school set up a surprise visit from some traveling clowns, I could quite decide if it was funny or inappropriate, I've fallen in between. It was funny to watch and the kids liked it, even if the jokes and songs were lost on them. This group of people have apparently been traveling around the world on their bikes. The bikes were awesome to see.
Below you can check out some photos and maybe a video or two.
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| Alli Baba Had a Little farm, Finn was the duck |
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| The "Indian" song which made the rains come |
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| Traveling clowns |
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| Chopping kid trees |
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Nam Ngum
We had a very productive weekend. Planted out first plants, made cookies, went to a BBQ then finished off with a trip out of the city to Nam Ngum, which is a river, but a few hours North the Lao built a damn which created a lake with lots of tiny islands.
The story goes like this, Pryor's pack the car full of junk to go swimming and play in the sun; leave the house at 8:45, just 15 minutes after we wanted ( I think we're getting better about time management). We promptly get lost as we make our way out of the city and head towards the wrong Nam Ngum, two on the Map, we wanted the lake not the river...Should probably make it a point to say which one in Lao next time instead of just Nam Ngum that way? HA! I have also decided that the person who reads and speaks the language should be the navigator, not the driver. Anyway, we ended up lost not once, but twice. I got car sick, but all the kids seemed to be just fine in the back.
When we finally made it to the lake, I wanted to eat at the restaurant that over looked the lake instead of getting on a boat right away, you know car sick and all, but our waitress jumped the gun and ordered our boat and took our food down to it, so we followed her lead, leaving everything in the car. That means we had no swim suits, no towels, no change of clothes, no diapers for the baby, no sun screen, NOTHING.
For as planned as this trip was we still failed to think it fully through as we jumped on the boat. We still ended up having a lovely lunch and the kids really enjoyed themselves on the shore of a tiny island in the middle of the lake. Luckily no one got sunburned; we only lost 1 pair of underwear due to an accident and pair of binoculars were dropped into the water. Below are some photos from the trip. ENJOY.
The story goes like this, Pryor's pack the car full of junk to go swimming and play in the sun; leave the house at 8:45, just 15 minutes after we wanted ( I think we're getting better about time management). We promptly get lost as we make our way out of the city and head towards the wrong Nam Ngum, two on the Map, we wanted the lake not the river...Should probably make it a point to say which one in Lao next time instead of just Nam Ngum that way? HA! I have also decided that the person who reads and speaks the language should be the navigator, not the driver. Anyway, we ended up lost not once, but twice. I got car sick, but all the kids seemed to be just fine in the back.
When we finally made it to the lake, I wanted to eat at the restaurant that over looked the lake instead of getting on a boat right away, you know car sick and all, but our waitress jumped the gun and ordered our boat and took our food down to it, so we followed her lead, leaving everything in the car. That means we had no swim suits, no towels, no change of clothes, no diapers for the baby, no sun screen, NOTHING.
For as planned as this trip was we still failed to think it fully through as we jumped on the boat. We still ended up having a lovely lunch and the kids really enjoyed themselves on the shore of a tiny island in the middle of the lake. Luckily no one got sunburned; we only lost 1 pair of underwear due to an accident and pair of binoculars were dropped into the water. Below are some photos from the trip. ENJOY.
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| Getting on our boat |
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| Finn is suddenly a sullen teenager |
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| Mike Finn and Tess taking a dip |
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| The lake |
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| An over look on one of the many small islands |
Monday, June 13, 2011
To work or not to work...
Number one question of moms right?
When we were close to getting to post a few positions came available, one being full-time and I really wanted to take the job. Thinking about it now, I couldn't even tell anyone what the job was that I was so desperate to take. I really just wanted a way to avoid having to deal with a huge culture shock and lack of friends.
Which brings me to my lack of friends, and one of the last job openings at the Embassy. If you know me, you know I have a really hard time breaking out of my shell and just talking to people, so being stuck at home with the girls attempting no-school preschool with Maggie while I try to keep the baby entertained and only having a maibahn around is pretty lacking in the adult conversation department. Lately I've also noticed that there seems to be some what of an insiders group with the spouses who do work. I like the other spouses around and can pretty much find something to talk to them about, but I often feel totally left out. I'm not in on the gossip, I'm left out of impromtue lunch dates and I'm not one of the girls. I don't blame anyone but myself for that, I could try harder to be around, but lets face it, having nonschool aged kids makes it pretty hard to just call someone up and ask to do coffee or lunch; or maybe I'm still out of the loop and have failed because I don't have a gabillion people around my house to take care of everything for me. I'm still very much unable to let go of being the person to take care of everything around the house. Anyway, I feel like if I applied for the last open job, I'd be more likely to be in the inner circle of people at the Embassy, if I don't apply the job I could A: be stuck at home with little adult ineraction or B: have to work much harder at finding people I get along with.
After living the working mom/ stay at home mom lives, I would for sure choose stay at home mom while my kids are little. It's my time to shape them and I don't want someone who lets my kid get away with everything raising them. Side story, I did go to lunch today with some spouses from the Embassy and I came home to find that Maggie had gone in my room tore it up, painted herself with deodarant and nailpolish and also our living room rug...I may not keep a close eye on her, but she knows if I'm home that will not be happeneing.
In the end I feel I've hit a brick wall, I like the people that work at the Embassy and would like to be more included, but I would also like MY girls to be raised to my standards, since Finn has done a pretty awesome job so far. I think in the end, I will give up the job prospects keep looking into school options and keep caring for my girls, while Finn is at preschool.
When we were close to getting to post a few positions came available, one being full-time and I really wanted to take the job. Thinking about it now, I couldn't even tell anyone what the job was that I was so desperate to take. I really just wanted a way to avoid having to deal with a huge culture shock and lack of friends.
Which brings me to my lack of friends, and one of the last job openings at the Embassy. If you know me, you know I have a really hard time breaking out of my shell and just talking to people, so being stuck at home with the girls attempting no-school preschool with Maggie while I try to keep the baby entertained and only having a maibahn around is pretty lacking in the adult conversation department. Lately I've also noticed that there seems to be some what of an insiders group with the spouses who do work. I like the other spouses around and can pretty much find something to talk to them about, but I often feel totally left out. I'm not in on the gossip, I'm left out of impromtue lunch dates and I'm not one of the girls. I don't blame anyone but myself for that, I could try harder to be around, but lets face it, having nonschool aged kids makes it pretty hard to just call someone up and ask to do coffee or lunch; or maybe I'm still out of the loop and have failed because I don't have a gabillion people around my house to take care of everything for me. I'm still very much unable to let go of being the person to take care of everything around the house. Anyway, I feel like if I applied for the last open job, I'd be more likely to be in the inner circle of people at the Embassy, if I don't apply the job I could A: be stuck at home with little adult ineraction or B: have to work much harder at finding people I get along with.
After living the working mom/ stay at home mom lives, I would for sure choose stay at home mom while my kids are little. It's my time to shape them and I don't want someone who lets my kid get away with everything raising them. Side story, I did go to lunch today with some spouses from the Embassy and I came home to find that Maggie had gone in my room tore it up, painted herself with deodarant and nailpolish and also our living room rug...I may not keep a close eye on her, but she knows if I'm home that will not be happeneing.
In the end I feel I've hit a brick wall, I like the people that work at the Embassy and would like to be more included, but I would also like MY girls to be raised to my standards, since Finn has done a pretty awesome job so far. I think in the end, I will give up the job prospects keep looking into school options and keep caring for my girls, while Finn is at preschool.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
how 'bout that storm
Last night we got home from a get together just before the rain started. I have to learn when the clouds actually mean it's going to rain or just hang over us and tease. All day yesterday big fat rain clouds hung around, but never produced more than a light sprinkle.
Anyway, it was a little late so we told the kids we'd give them a quick shower and put them to bed, but right as I started spraying Finn down the power went out...Screaming in a bathroom, not so easy on the ears. Good thing I put a lantern in their room and knew exactly where it was. Right after I turned it on, the power came back, but I said "Forget the shower, just get in bed." The kids fell asleep pretty quickly, but at around 3 a.m. the storm seemed to pick up its intensity and got really loud, even the rain was really loud.
Maggie woke up first scared of ants and mosquitoes in her bed :/ I got the lantern out and showed her that there was nothing in her bed, but for about 45 min she kept getting out and coming back in my room.
At 3:45 Finn woke up and came in my room, after Maggie conned her way into my bed, to tell me he was scared to be in his room alone. I was not about to give up my bed for them, so I shuttled them both off to their beds, where they both fell back asleep.
Mike managed to sleep through all the waking, but at around 4 a.m. we suddenly heard a noise on the roof that at first sounded like rain drops hitting the inside pretty hard. After hearing about someone elses roof caving in during a rain storm we both jumped awake. Mike even went through the house looking for leaks. Our stairs window seems to be really fixed this time, no waterfall on the stairs last night, but after a while we realized it sounded like an animal stuck in our roof. An animal walking on nails, kind of curious to figure out what it was, or is.
Tess managed to sleep through it all until about 4:30 when she decided she was ready to eat...so I'm sure you can guess that this momma is sleepy.
Anyway, it was a little late so we told the kids we'd give them a quick shower and put them to bed, but right as I started spraying Finn down the power went out...Screaming in a bathroom, not so easy on the ears. Good thing I put a lantern in their room and knew exactly where it was. Right after I turned it on, the power came back, but I said "Forget the shower, just get in bed." The kids fell asleep pretty quickly, but at around 3 a.m. the storm seemed to pick up its intensity and got really loud, even the rain was really loud.
Maggie woke up first scared of ants and mosquitoes in her bed :/ I got the lantern out and showed her that there was nothing in her bed, but for about 45 min she kept getting out and coming back in my room.
At 3:45 Finn woke up and came in my room, after Maggie conned her way into my bed, to tell me he was scared to be in his room alone. I was not about to give up my bed for them, so I shuttled them both off to their beds, where they both fell back asleep.
Mike managed to sleep through all the waking, but at around 4 a.m. we suddenly heard a noise on the roof that at first sounded like rain drops hitting the inside pretty hard. After hearing about someone elses roof caving in during a rain storm we both jumped awake. Mike even went through the house looking for leaks. Our stairs window seems to be really fixed this time, no waterfall on the stairs last night, but after a while we realized it sounded like an animal stuck in our roof. An animal walking on nails, kind of curious to figure out what it was, or is.
Tess managed to sleep through it all until about 4:30 when she decided she was ready to eat...so I'm sure you can guess that this momma is sleepy.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Mom, where are you?
This question is asked about 100 times in our house. Seriously! Finn started asking this question while we lived in our 2 bedroom apartment in VA...we had 2 bedrooms with a closet and bathroom, a living room and a kitchen...Total of 8 places I could possibly be, yet he had to know at every minute of every day where I was...
Now we live in a house with 4 bedrooms, an office, a play room, 7 bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a dinning room (most of these rooms aren't separated so I'm usually within sight.) I can see how it'd be hard to find me, but really did this horrible habit have to pass on to Maggie too?
Worse times to hear "Mom, where are you?"
When in the bathroom : Door's closed kid go away!
When trying to put the baby to bed: I told you what I was doing!
When I am in the same general area of the kids: Turn around bud.
Now we live in a house with 4 bedrooms, an office, a play room, 7 bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a dinning room (most of these rooms aren't separated so I'm usually within sight.) I can see how it'd be hard to find me, but really did this horrible habit have to pass on to Maggie too?
Worse times to hear "Mom, where are you?"
When in the bathroom : Door's closed kid go away!
When trying to put the baby to bed: I told you what I was doing!
When I am in the same general area of the kids: Turn around bud.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Van deck noi
Translated as Children's day! When I read the e-mail from Finn's school saying there was no school because it was Children's day I wanted to scream "Isn't everyday Children's day?!" I mean, I'm sure my mom told me this when I was a kid and I asked why there was a Father's Day and Mother's Day and not a kids day; a few FB friends said the same thing.
Finn came home from preschool yesterday and proclaimed that tomorrow is children's day so there is no school, so you can stay home and play with me all day, I know someone spit their wine out some where.
I love my kids more than I love my wine, but come on, REALLY? I am a stay at home mom from America, my whole life has been rededicated to my kids. I'm lucky if I get a hair cut once a year, god forbid I take a nap!
As a stay at home mom, I fully support take your kid to work day, where DAD gets to see how it is trying to accomplish something in a "normal" amount of time while entertaining a kid.
While driving today to go to a store where I thought I might splurge a little and buy the kids a crap toy they'd break in less than an hour, Finn asked me this "Why do we have to do what you want? Today is Children's day and we should be doing what I want!" Causing me to lose my mind and drive the wrong way on a one-way street. ACK! Luckily it's Laos and several other people were too.
The kids did eventually win, only because the activities I selected didn't actually involve me having to actually do much more than yell stop spitting on your brother.
According to Wikipedia lots of countries celebrate Children's day, but not all on the same day. Also according to Wikipedia Laos is in Vietnam! Not so trusting of Wikipedia anymore...
Next bid list, Mexico please, where I get TWO days dedicated to me ;)
P.s. Please DO NOT catch on in America
Finn came home from preschool yesterday and proclaimed that tomorrow is children's day so there is no school, so you can stay home and play with me all day, I know someone spit their wine out some where.
I love my kids more than I love my wine, but come on, REALLY? I am a stay at home mom from America, my whole life has been rededicated to my kids. I'm lucky if I get a hair cut once a year, god forbid I take a nap!
As a stay at home mom, I fully support take your kid to work day, where DAD gets to see how it is trying to accomplish something in a "normal" amount of time while entertaining a kid.
While driving today to go to a store where I thought I might splurge a little and buy the kids a crap toy they'd break in less than an hour, Finn asked me this "Why do we have to do what you want? Today is Children's day and we should be doing what I want!" Causing me to lose my mind and drive the wrong way on a one-way street. ACK! Luckily it's Laos and several other people were too.
The kids did eventually win, only because the activities I selected didn't actually involve me having to actually do much more than yell stop spitting on your brother.
According to Wikipedia lots of countries celebrate Children's day, but not all on the same day. Also according to Wikipedia Laos is in Vietnam! Not so trusting of Wikipedia anymore...
Next bid list, Mexico please, where I get TWO days dedicated to me ;)
P.s. Please DO NOT catch on in America
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