Dolphin Bay

Well, here we are at our second spot in Thailand, Dolphin Bay. I feel like it is a throwback to the 50’s when east coasters would spend a good portion of their summers in the Pocono’s and perhaps still do at a camp-like resort. It is simply fabulous and I feel like every muscle and bone is melting into a relaxation I have never known.

We are deep in the tropics, and it is an entirely different feel. The temperature this time of year seems to be exactly body temperature day and night as well as the ocean. So strange. Humid, but perfect. I have smooth jazz playing on the computer while I write, Jeff and Wyatt exclaim every once in a while across the lawn during their ping pong game. The girls are napping while the coconut trees gently sway. My view is green grass, palm trees, a beautiful pool with a dramatic slide and then a hop skip and a jump………. the beautiful aqua sea.

Jealous? Well, the tropics are not for everyone. Asia is not for everyone.

We are here in Thailand for our yearly retreat. There are no words to describe the desperate need to collapse after the intensity China demands of you. Of course I continue to learn more from the veterans living this life. When you come out of country you crash, your system lets down you get sick and cry ;) You might even sob after you realize how long you have been holding your breath in a country that still does not offer all the things familiar to a westerner. After so much work of trying to jam your round plump body into a square peg, you are a little bruised and a little confused.

Thailand is a lovely combination of east meets west. With a large German and French influence….. many speak English and there is bread and ice cream. What more does a westerner need? It is entirely clear to me why the bible says that Jesus is “the bread of life” and not the rice of life. Is there any comparison?

But, of course Thailand is Asia and not all is bliss although the pictures look it. Jeff got bit by some nasty insect (Dr. thinks it's an ant) that blistered his entire foot and ankle. It has had him to the hospital 3 times, and keeps him from many pleasures and necessities.

Also witness: an inch-and-a-half cockroach in the bread basket last night, a tick on my shoulder, monstrously vicious mosquitos, and fire ants ready to advance an army attack at any given moment.

But, it rarely smells bad and my poor soft brain gets a rest from the demanding grind of Chinese. And the thought police are off duty. I can scream a great big “Hallelujah” and a “Praise God!” if I wanna. Maybe you don’t want to, but when it’s taken away, you start to think a little different a little deeper about it.

We have run into several families here from China. This is where so many westerners flock every year during Chinese New Year. The four weeks of Chinese fireworks just about send you to the loony bin, so good friends and neighbors happen to be staying where we are. Of course it’s not just the fireworks that send westerners here, but the dentist, health care and many company retreats and conferences for companies like ours.

It’s a beautiful wonderful life we have. But, it’s hard and harder still. So grateful for the challenge and adventure, but also for a small time out and rest!

Thailand Pics

The beach and some of the shells we found.

The night market:




This little guy was selling roses but we didn't have a common language and I think his counting skills were a little lacking (but he was darn cute and we loved every minute of it):


Floating Market:


Local wildlife:

Dropbox & Linguistics

Another sunrise picture from our apartment. See the cranes? There may be more high rises going up just in Kunming than in all of the Western United States right now.

Okay, so this is kind of a strange post and maybe even a commercial. But I found something really cool today.

I finished reading Theories of Second Language Learning for the other college this week. I read it into a digital recorder so that English learners can listen as they read along.

It was a really dry, academic book. Try saying out loud (over and over again) words like, nativization, denativization, markedness, creolization, pidginization, decreolization and depidginization. This book is tough for a native English speaker to understand (me, who has an English degree) let alone some poor Chinese grad student who has to slog through this thing in his second language!

But I don't have to think and it's a way to earn a little extra income during the break, which we're very thankful for.

Savana is doing it too and we weren't sure how to deliver the files once she's back in WenShan. MP4 files are big, too big to email.

I was trying to figure out if we could set up an FTP site (which is really old school) or some other solution when I found this: Dropbox. You get free 2G of storage and you can share it between home and work, multiple computers and multiple people for free. Very handy.

Disclaimer: If you sign up from the link above, I get more free space. ; }

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last day for packing and getting ready for Thailand. Everyone is mostly over their colds, except poor Savana, who is just starting. So keep her in your thoughts. We are hoping to thaw out our bones in warmer weather down there and come back rested and healthy to tackle next semester.

The "Holidays" are here

Kids in our neighborhood are starting to set off firecrackers and the stores are filling up with 'dragon' decorations and gifts. Last year was the Year of the Rabbit, but this year is the Year of the Dragon. Spring Festival (New Year) starts January 23rd.

We've all had pretty bad colds. Wyatt had walking pneumonia and Bobbie and I ended up with bronchitis. We are really grateful for the international clinic. Many of the doctors are friends. We're on the mend.

We are really enjoying having Savana with us as her clinic is also taking a break for Spring Festival.

I am finding that what had been so unfamiliar last year has become familiar this year. I had a long bus ride yesterday and as I looked at the faces I was reminded of how it felt last year to be out and about. Walking on campus, riding the bus, riding a taxi was a constant "Oh Wow" last year because it was so completely foreign. Then, we were learning to live and survive, but the excitement made us want to embrace it all.

This year, a lot of the 'wow' impact isn't there, which in many ways is a good thing. We are so much more comfortable and settled. And I think our focus has narrowed, we've found our niche and that niche is about the people that are in our life.

Several local friends are coming over tonight for dessert. We are excited because one of them is going to tell us the story of how she grew up.

We continue to be grateful for the opportunity to be here.

We leave for our annual company/meeting retreat in Thailand on January 18th.

And finally, here's a groom carrying his bride. Away from the apartment, after the fireworks. Sorry I can't explain it more, cause I don't know!

Siberian Seagulls

Green Lake Park

The Siberian Seagulls winter every year in Kunming. It is an amazing sight! Kunming is very proud of the fact that these beautiful crisp white birds land here every year. People come out in droves to experience it. They hover just over the water and at eye level. They are so thoughtful to mainly stay over the water and not your head! It is truly spectacular to be caught up in thousands of flying feathers.
Indian food for Christmas this year!
High pour, yummy Indian tea!
This is my women's English class. Aren't they beautiful! Half the class is Korean and half Chinese. On this day I took them on a field trip shopping to practice English using money and clothes vocabulary. So fun!
These are my students at Wisemen. Their music teacher did an awesome job teaching them guitar for a Christmas special.

Our family enjoyed the holidays and a much needed break. Everyone has been sick for way too long and would appreciate your pr_yers. Poor Wyatt had walking pneumonia, but seems to be on the mend.

Lexi, Wyatt and I start back to school Wednesday and Jeff and Savana are off until the end of February! It is wonderful having Savana with us during this time. She has come back playing the guitar quite well, and it is great to have her music back in the house. While Jeff and Savana are off they have picked up some extra work recording for Yuunan Normal University. It is quite cute to watch the two of them collaborate. Two peas in a pod!

Today Wyatt and I are going to the village with my good friend Zoe. Zoe has a friend who lives in the village and they will be celebrating a festival for the new year. We are looking forward to it, but I'm not quite sure what to expect. I think............. part of the celebration is butchering a pig. hmmmm. Which is why Wyatt wants to go.

Last night was my last class with one of my groups. Very emotional! I have grown quite attached to these children! I will also finish up with my other Thursday night class and transition over to just one school teaching just during the day now. A bitter sweet feeling!

I am very excited though, because my very good friend will be coming to visit in April! Whoo hoo! We will put on an Easter party for these students when she comes. So happy to still have connection with them and of course have my buddy come experience China with me!