Learning Thai

I'm really enjoying my first week in langauge school. It definitely makes me feel like life is flying by to be so much busier (and the house is dirtier!), but I'm learning a lot. It feels strange to have homework again for the first time in a long time! The school is called In Lingua and my teacher's name is Tuk. It's in a high rise office building next to a big shopping mall about a 40 minute bus ride from our neighborhood. My favorite thing about the Thai language is that it makes sense! Ie: I just learned that "desert" is called "talay saai" "sea of sand" and a "stroll" is a "duen len" (walk fun)...a snack is "ahan len" (food fun). It also feels good to have more time out of the house (while Tom works at home investigating everything from language schools to Thai business) to practice Thai and to see the city. Just riding the bus home yesterday I saw all kinds of interesting sights.....construction workers taking a siesta lying on the ground right in the middle of the construction site, a girl riding a baby elephant down the sidewalk (for people to feed to make merit), one motorcyle taxi driver rubbing another's shoulders (touch between men is much more common and comfortable here), and a few things I won't mention!!
The girls are doing really well too. We continue to be amazed by the way kids can adapt to a new culture- embracing and accepting things that we find really strange. Last night they were both really proud of themselves for eating spicey squid legs from my salad! They are both really into drawing. Many times in the day you can find them in their "craft corner" coloring away or drawing in the new sketchbook from Grandpa and Grandma. They also love playing in their new pool- trying to find ways to stay cool and heat rash free as we head into the hottest season of all, March - May.

By the way, CONGRATULATIONS MARTIN AND SYLVIA!! I'm so excited to have a brand new nephew, Elliot Hans Witmer Rhodes! We love you guys.

-Candice