Who forgot the stroller for the big trip to the city?! Yup, me. The plan would have been to put the baby in the stroller because she now weighs in at 15 lbs, but after 1 day in the heat and trying to walk around I so would have put the screaming 2-year-old in it! The second we'd walk out of the hotel Maggie would scream her head off and whine to the point of incomprehension. It was not so fun, so with 4 days in the city of Bangkok I managed to see not one tourist site. I did however get lost several times and endure Maggie's whines with stares from plenty of people which lead me to continue my long list of things I'm not cut out for; newest addition: tourist alone with 3 kids.
We did get to visit the Bangkok Zoo, the aquarium, a play place for kids and ride on a river taxi...Most done with out Mike, but we did the taxi with him.
I did get home feeling happy to be home, which is something I was hoping going to "The States" would do for me...who knew a stressful trip to Bangkok would do it. Again, not the travel the tourist time.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Traveling with kids
Let me start off by saying I love my country, I do.
Earlier this month I had hit my "flight" mode of culture shock. I really just wanted to get back to "The States", to shop in a normal store where prices are laid out and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off, well, I know I am getting ripped off, but so is everyone else. To be able to drive a on a road where I know the rules of the road, heck to DRIVE. Until last night I didn't have a mode of transportation except my feet, a wagon and a bike. Anyway, there were lots of things pushing me to go back to the states, but 1 keeping me away. The travel! Just thinking about going through an airport with 3 children alone makes my eye twitch. Monday we took a trip to Bangkok for Mike's job. Getting through the airports with the kids was a breeze, and coming home from a very large airport was so simple. We were taken to our own special line to check in because we had 3 kids, then a special customs and immigration line was opened for us. Getting through security was a walk in the park. I didn't have to take the baby off much less my shoes. No one barked orders at me and made me feel like a 5-year-old child again. This is why I wouldn't go home. I HATE going through airports in the US. Yeah, yeah families get their own special line there too, but come on that's such a joke! We're moved from one line where things are actually moving to another line because we have kids where nothing is moving. There might be many reasons why the TSA security people are so RUDE, but really, I think it could be toned down a notch. Going through an airport in the US makes my hair fall out; here it makes me feel like traveling with 3 kids could actually be possible...
Until you forget the stroller.
Earlier this month I had hit my "flight" mode of culture shock. I really just wanted to get back to "The States", to shop in a normal store where prices are laid out and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off, well, I know I am getting ripped off, but so is everyone else. To be able to drive a on a road where I know the rules of the road, heck to DRIVE. Until last night I didn't have a mode of transportation except my feet, a wagon and a bike. Anyway, there were lots of things pushing me to go back to the states, but 1 keeping me away. The travel! Just thinking about going through an airport with 3 children alone makes my eye twitch. Monday we took a trip to Bangkok for Mike's job. Getting through the airports with the kids was a breeze, and coming home from a very large airport was so simple. We were taken to our own special line to check in because we had 3 kids, then a special customs and immigration line was opened for us. Getting through security was a walk in the park. I didn't have to take the baby off much less my shoes. No one barked orders at me and made me feel like a 5-year-old child again. This is why I wouldn't go home. I HATE going through airports in the US. Yeah, yeah families get their own special line there too, but come on that's such a joke! We're moved from one line where things are actually moving to another line because we have kids where nothing is moving. There might be many reasons why the TSA security people are so RUDE, but really, I think it could be toned down a notch. Going through an airport in the US makes my hair fall out; here it makes me feel like traveling with 3 kids could actually be possible...
Until you forget the stroller.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Things I took for granted
This is a list I started when I got to Laos of things I so took for granted in America
Motor vehicles: should be 'nuff said. Try living w/o one after years of depending on one. Especially after noting the next few things taken for granted.
Sidewalks: Try walking a stroller down a sidewalk here, you'll find cars parked on them, food stands set up and every so often a motorcycle driving on them. They are obviously not meant for walking on.
Paved roads: Again, try walking a stroller down our road, you may lose a wheel...just sayin.
Grocery stores: When you just need some spices, think again this particular market is only selling squirt guns and bug zappers today, but try again tomorrow and you might find that hose you've been looking for.
Pediatricians: Spider bite? Mosquito bite? Pink eye? could be anything, but no pediatrician to tell and good luck with the health unit that is always CLOSED. Oh and no motor vehicle...
A bug free home: Not having to sleep under nets or wear bugspray while in our house...
Asking for directions: language barrier much?
Online Bill pay: Cable is Thai, not Lao and paid for in Baht to someone in GSO? And Internet forget about it...
DEBIT CARDS:! really, I have to carry this HUGE wad of cash around in case the market is selling what I want today? No you don't take debit, or credit
There is probably a whole lot more that I will soon find out I took for granted, but for now these are the things I have most noticed and complain about, probably on a daily basis.
Enjoy this picture of how we've tried to overcome not having that beloved motor vehicle
Thursday, March 3, 2011
exploring Vientiane
The Pryor family invaded Laos almost two weeks ago and up until now I was feeling so LOST, I'm pretty sure it'll feel that way again Saturday, but yesterday I finally worked up the courage, loaded the kids onto the beast (double stroller) and hit the streets of Vientiane. We'd been exploring a lot before yesterday, but always with company. Mike, his coworker and a very nice Australian couple who took pity on me, but yesterday it was me and 3 kids. This took a lot of patience and keeping my senses open to my surroundings.
The Vientiane sidewalks were not made to walk with stroller, heck they are no longer for people to walk on. More often than not cars are parked on the sidewalks and now that every resident in Vientiane owns a motorbike, they drive on the sidewalks when traffic is just too slow for them.
Anyway, I got the kids out of the house while it was still cool outside and we walked along the Mekong River, I stopped to feed the baby while the older kids were fawned over by some teenage Lao girls.
Next along our route was a local grocery market. It's pretty yuppie, but I knew where to find it and needed some bread. We left spending less than 100k Kip(8000Kip to 1 USD), and the most expensive item I picked up was a Lao phrase book.
Since I could read the signs pointing to That Dam, one of the only land marks I know, I knew I was close to the American Embassy too. We stopped to eat a snack at That Dam then popped in to say hello to Mike. By this time we'd been out walking for 4 hours and it was HOT, so we called a taxi and went back home. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good time and now that I know how to get to places from this side of town, I have to relearn it all from the other side.
The Vientiane sidewalks were not made to walk with stroller, heck they are no longer for people to walk on. More often than not cars are parked on the sidewalks and now that every resident in Vientiane owns a motorbike, they drive on the sidewalks when traffic is just too slow for them.
Anyway, I got the kids out of the house while it was still cool outside and we walked along the Mekong River, I stopped to feed the baby while the older kids were fawned over by some teenage Lao girls.
The kids in front of what sould be the Mekong River, Thialand in the distance.
Next we went to the river park, which I had thought was much farther than it really was. We watched 2 different preschools play at the playground. The kids really enjoyed listening to the Lao children sing songs while they waited for their ride. Finn has enjoyed showing how strong he is by getting on the see-saw while Maggie is on it.Next along our route was a local grocery market. It's pretty yuppie, but I knew where to find it and needed some bread. We left spending less than 100k Kip(8000Kip to 1 USD), and the most expensive item I picked up was a Lao phrase book.
Since I could read the signs pointing to That Dam, one of the only land marks I know, I knew I was close to the American Embassy too. We stopped to eat a snack at That Dam then popped in to say hello to Mike. By this time we'd been out walking for 4 hours and it was HOT, so we called a taxi and went back home. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good time and now that I know how to get to places from this side of town, I have to relearn it all from the other side.
Friday, February 25, 2011
A princess bed
Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of having a princess bed. You know the four post bed with drapes around it. I even hung sheets around my bed to attempt the look, but it never worked. Well, all it really took to get my dream was move to a mosquito infested country. YAY!
The mosquitos really aren't so bad, as in biting bad, but they are everywhere and the only person in the house really effected is the baby. They love her, so I dug out my nets and hung them with the help of a Lao maintenance boy.
Finn doesn't want to be a princess, but I told him to choose what he thinks sleeps under nets....he told me just people do.
The nets mananged to stay up 2 days before the kids ripped one down...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Our Trip across the world
It all started two years ago when Mike passed his oral exam for the U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer. We were accepted, but what did that mean? We'd live all over the world and have experiences most people haven't had, but first we had to make it to D.C. No problem, we'd just pack the minivan and head that way...wrong. We ended up having way more stuff than we thought and the day we planned on leaving D.C. was hit with 20 inches of snow. Scratch that, new plan get a small UHaul and go the next day. Success, we made it. Next we had to bid on a job from a list of 94 cities all over the world. What the State Department calls flag day was a very intense, nail biting experience. As the Career Development officers called off the names of the cities, I scratched off each one we had asked to go to. Boy, our list was getting smaller and smaller and it was starting to feel like our name was never going to be called. Then I hear Vientiane, Laos Michael Pryor ...huh? Where is that? Well, I had a whole year to learn where it was, while Mike took language and I had a baby.
With a whole year in between getting our assignment and leaving, I had a lot of time to think about how to deal with a flight across the world. Reading blogs and getting advice from fellow Foreign Service spouses who had already made a trip this long...how long do you ask? 40 hours. Yup we were to leave D.C. at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and arrive in Vientiane at 1 p.m. Monday.
Here is a picture of how our bunch looked right before we found out our first flight had been canceled!!
Yes, the first of 4 flights was canceled, but no worries we were switched from 1 airline to another, and our flight was to leave 20 minutes earlier. We never thought to check on our flight status due to the fact that the day before we left the temp in D.C. was 74 degrees and sunny, but in just a few short hours it all changed and the wind picked up. Our tiny airplane couldn't take off. We make it through security with our 8 pieces of carry on luggage a car seat and a double stroller (remember entertainment for children for 40 HOURS), a car seat and a double stroller no problems.
Then we arrive into JFK airport...Dun Dun Dun...why so bad? We landed in a tiny Delta terminal and needed to get to a larger international terminal for American Airlines, which was our original airline. Oh did I mention in order to switch terminals we had to LEAVE the airport and go back through security. Remember those winds that canceled our flight in D.C., yup they were affecting NY too, but we had to take our 3 kids out in the cold and wind, did I mention it was 70 degrees the day before we left and we were due to arrive to 91 degrees in Vientiane? So I sent our winter jackets and only put sweaters and pants on the kids. Complain fest! The reps at Cathay Pacific (an American Airline counterpart) were pretty helpful in getting us checked in, but then realized we had an infant, but couldn't use the infant car seat on the airplane because there were airbags in the seat belts...never heard of that. So in order to keep us from having to hold Tess for 16 hours they rearranged our seats to put Tess and I in Bulkhead (sp) seats where there is this cool table that pops out and a bassinet can attach to it. Who is lucking out here? Me with the baby or Mike with Finn and Maggie?
We get our boarding passes and head for security. We have about an hour till our next flight to Hong Kong and I really want some McDonalds one last time before we leave for 2 years, but the line was long and our flight was starting to board. It was pure chaos trying to get on this flight where there were 3 cabins with 3 rows of seats, but we managed, and Mike had all the bags. Don't worry he pays me back for that one. Anyway, the kids get settled, and I get settled with Tess. The service on the flight was great, the bulkhead seats were great, did I mention there was an empty seat between me and the other passenger since Tess couldn't technically sit in it. So lots of leg room, no need to hold a baby, but we were in the middle isle, right by the bathrooms...so people would try to step over us to get to the bathroom on the other side of the isle without realizing that the bathroom they were just standing in front of for the past 5 minutes was EMPTY. Tess managed to cry about 1/3 of the flight and refused to eat most of it and Mike managed to spill just about every drink he got onto his lap. By the way Cathay pacific serves free booze! So if you're not pregnant or nursing...take some edge off.
Next stop Hong Kong...the flight attendants thought they'd be helpful by trying to get us onto an earlier flight for Thailand leaving from gate 15 at 8 p.m. (it was 7:30 when we landed)No problem only Mike is under the impression we don't have boarding passes for the next flight so we go in search of the Cathay Counter to get our new boarding passes, after about 10 minutes of running around I ask him to check to see if we do have boarding passes, because it'd be ridiculous not to if we weren't changing airlines, I distinctly remember the woman at the counter telling him we'd need to get boarding passes in Thailand, but maybe I wasn't paying that much attention, 3 kids ya know?...Ta Da they were in his bag so we head for connecting flights security...yup count it 3 times we've gone through security with 3 children 8 bags, a car seat and a double stroller. we arrive to gate 15 with 5 minutes to spare, but the flight is over sold and we're not on it...don't worry it wasn't our flight anyway, we needed to be at gate 60 on another side of the airport. We got to our gate with an hour and a half till our real flight left and i was happy to find free wifi and some Taiwan Beef Noodles. Maggie managed to spill Mike's on his lap. He came out of this trip smelling of booze and beef.
Next stop Thailand. Mike managed to get on the plane with all the kids and his backpack...leaving me with all the bags. Told you he paid me back.This flight was great, too easy, get on and 1 hour 40 minutes later we're in Thailand. We don't get the customs sheet the flight attendants were handing out because we thought the hotel we were staying in was in the airport. We weren't going to even step foot on Thai soil...wrong. We had to go through customs to get our bags, but wait where were our bags. There was a car seat, but no bags. In the long run the loss of our bags was no big deal, but to find where they were (JFK) took a while. We caught a shuttle to our hotel, which was actually right next door to the airport, and got settled in there. YAY! a bed to sleep in. We caught some much needed zzz's a whole 3 hours of 'em then went to the breakfast buffet before heading back to the airport. the Thai airport seems to be very well organized and we were taken to our own special line to check in to Thai airways because we had 3 kids. This airport experience was not so eventful, but we did have to go back through customs and security...Yup 4 times, we went through security 4 times. We must be pros by now.
Next stop Laos. This flight took a total of 50 minutes and all the kids slept. Which brings us to now. Living in a temporary serviced apartment in the city. Stay tuned for our first impressions of the city...
With a whole year in between getting our assignment and leaving, I had a lot of time to think about how to deal with a flight across the world. Reading blogs and getting advice from fellow Foreign Service spouses who had already made a trip this long...how long do you ask? 40 hours. Yup we were to leave D.C. at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and arrive in Vientiane at 1 p.m. Monday.
Here is a picture of how our bunch looked right before we found out our first flight had been canceled!!
Yes, the first of 4 flights was canceled, but no worries we were switched from 1 airline to another, and our flight was to leave 20 minutes earlier. We never thought to check on our flight status due to the fact that the day before we left the temp in D.C. was 74 degrees and sunny, but in just a few short hours it all changed and the wind picked up. Our tiny airplane couldn't take off. We make it through security with our 8 pieces of carry on luggage a car seat and a double stroller (remember entertainment for children for 40 HOURS), a car seat and a double stroller no problems.
Then we arrive into JFK airport...Dun Dun Dun...why so bad? We landed in a tiny Delta terminal and needed to get to a larger international terminal for American Airlines, which was our original airline. Oh did I mention in order to switch terminals we had to LEAVE the airport and go back through security. Remember those winds that canceled our flight in D.C., yup they were affecting NY too, but we had to take our 3 kids out in the cold and wind, did I mention it was 70 degrees the day before we left and we were due to arrive to 91 degrees in Vientiane? So I sent our winter jackets and only put sweaters and pants on the kids. Complain fest! The reps at Cathay Pacific (an American Airline counterpart) were pretty helpful in getting us checked in, but then realized we had an infant, but couldn't use the infant car seat on the airplane because there were airbags in the seat belts...never heard of that. So in order to keep us from having to hold Tess for 16 hours they rearranged our seats to put Tess and I in Bulkhead (sp) seats where there is this cool table that pops out and a bassinet can attach to it. Who is lucking out here? Me with the baby or Mike with Finn and Maggie?
We get our boarding passes and head for security. We have about an hour till our next flight to Hong Kong and I really want some McDonalds one last time before we leave for 2 years, but the line was long and our flight was starting to board. It was pure chaos trying to get on this flight where there were 3 cabins with 3 rows of seats, but we managed, and Mike had all the bags. Don't worry he pays me back for that one. Anyway, the kids get settled, and I get settled with Tess. The service on the flight was great, the bulkhead seats were great, did I mention there was an empty seat between me and the other passenger since Tess couldn't technically sit in it. So lots of leg room, no need to hold a baby, but we were in the middle isle, right by the bathrooms...so people would try to step over us to get to the bathroom on the other side of the isle without realizing that the bathroom they were just standing in front of for the past 5 minutes was EMPTY. Tess managed to cry about 1/3 of the flight and refused to eat most of it and Mike managed to spill just about every drink he got onto his lap. By the way Cathay pacific serves free booze! So if you're not pregnant or nursing...take some edge off.
Next stop Hong Kong...the flight attendants thought they'd be helpful by trying to get us onto an earlier flight for Thailand leaving from gate 15 at 8 p.m. (it was 7:30 when we landed)No problem only Mike is under the impression we don't have boarding passes for the next flight so we go in search of the Cathay Counter to get our new boarding passes, after about 10 minutes of running around I ask him to check to see if we do have boarding passes, because it'd be ridiculous not to if we weren't changing airlines, I distinctly remember the woman at the counter telling him we'd need to get boarding passes in Thailand, but maybe I wasn't paying that much attention, 3 kids ya know?...Ta Da they were in his bag so we head for connecting flights security...yup count it 3 times we've gone through security with 3 children 8 bags, a car seat and a double stroller. we arrive to gate 15 with 5 minutes to spare, but the flight is over sold and we're not on it...don't worry it wasn't our flight anyway, we needed to be at gate 60 on another side of the airport. We got to our gate with an hour and a half till our real flight left and i was happy to find free wifi and some Taiwan Beef Noodles. Maggie managed to spill Mike's on his lap. He came out of this trip smelling of booze and beef.
Next stop Thailand. Mike managed to get on the plane with all the kids and his backpack...leaving me with all the bags. Told you he paid me back.This flight was great, too easy, get on and 1 hour 40 minutes later we're in Thailand. We don't get the customs sheet the flight attendants were handing out because we thought the hotel we were staying in was in the airport. We weren't going to even step foot on Thai soil...wrong. We had to go through customs to get our bags, but wait where were our bags. There was a car seat, but no bags. In the long run the loss of our bags was no big deal, but to find where they were (JFK) took a while. We caught a shuttle to our hotel, which was actually right next door to the airport, and got settled in there. YAY! a bed to sleep in. We caught some much needed zzz's a whole 3 hours of 'em then went to the breakfast buffet before heading back to the airport. the Thai airport seems to be very well organized and we were taken to our own special line to check in to Thai airways because we had 3 kids. This airport experience was not so eventful, but we did have to go back through customs and security...Yup 4 times, we went through security 4 times. We must be pros by now.
Next stop Laos. This flight took a total of 50 minutes and all the kids slept. Which brings us to now. Living in a temporary serviced apartment in the city. Stay tuned for our first impressions of the city...
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A year at Oakwood
January 2, was our 1 year mark here at Oakwood, here's a look back at our VERY eventful year.
What a goof!
The kids made themselves at home
We got together with family.
We celebrated the Lao new year, in Virginia.
We found a new hobby.
We got pregnant, no pictures of that!
Mike took great pictures, as usual.
We celebrated July 4th in the best spot, with great friends (not pictured).
Started camping as a family...intruders are Susie and her dog :)
I made Halloween costumes.
We went apple picking.
We met Dinosaurs!
Mike introduced the kids to his favorite happy hour game.
So, we don't have photos from our flag day, but it was a special day. Although, completely shocking, we've grown more and more excited with each passing day...365 of them!
But here is a picture of Maggie when we first moved into Oakwood
What a goof!We survived Snowpocalypse.
The kids made themselves at homeWe got together with family.We celebrated the Lao new year, in Virginia.
We found a new hobby.
We got pregnant, no pictures of that!
Mike took great pictures, as usual.We celebrated July 4th in the best spot, with great friends (not pictured).Started camping as a family...intruders are Susie and her dog :)We were moved from B building to D...not too bad.
I made Halloween costumes.We went apple picking.
We experienced fall in Shenandoah!
We met Dinosaurs!Mike introduced the kids to his favorite happy hour game.And we welcomed #3!!! Tess.
Next stop... Laos!
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