On the one hand, I'm feeling immensely proud of myself. Someone had given us directions to a CarreFour store, so we set out to find it. We had never been that direction before, but we still found it, no problem. Granted, it was pretty much a straight shot to get there, no fancy navigating required. Still, we did something on our own.
On the other hand, I feel like a child. We walk up and down the food aisles and look at all the stuff they're selling, and honestly, I don't know what it is. I don't know what it's made of, what to make with it, how to cook with it, nothing. Even when they give English subtitles, and they often do, I'm still clueless. It's like starting life all over again.
So what's a CarreFour store like? This one is pretty new, and it's really nice, similar to Target, I suppose, but way nicer and fancier. I really liked it, and I suspect we'll go back frequently.
My Thai House: the front door
I've never had a front door like this, a three-part deal. They first part is the double, wooden doors, which both open wide and have these connectors at the bottom, which connect to the house to keep them open. The second part is a pair of screen doors. A/C is so expensive, so there are large, screened windows everywhere. It's nice this time of year. The third part is a set of nice curtains, which is where you get privacy when you want it.
Hmm, now that's different.
Hmm, now that's different.
A pineapple cost how much?
Yeah, we bought a whole, fresh pineapple yesterday for $0.20. It was yummy in pineapple chicken stirfry and as fresh fruit.
My Thai House: The front yard
Ok, this should be the first of many posts about our new house. Since we're now in a new country, I've started a new Flickr site, where you can see pictures of our new house.
Driving around town
A friend came to take us around town and show us where to go to get some shopping done. And they wanted me to get used to driving here. Did I mention they drive on the wrong side of the road here? Did I mention they put the steering wheel on the wrong side, too? Did I mention it's been about 5 years since I've driven a stick? Did I mention I've never driven a stick left-handed?
Well, anyhow, off we went. We drove around all afternoon, and I didn't kill a single moped driver. That's a good start. I did drive on the wrong side of the road once, but fortunately it was while we were still in our neighborhood and no one else was around. You want to know what I did all day long? I turned on the windshield wipers whenever I went left or right. The truck is a little Toyota, so it looks the same as our Sienna, but the deal on the steering column that has the wipers and the one that has the turning signal are reversed. So every time I changed lanes or turned, I turned the wipers on. I think that's going to take a while to get used to. Otherwise, I guess I did ok.
There are bunches of mopeds here. And they don't observe any traffic rules. They ride in between the lanes while the cars are driving in the lanes. They weave in and out of lanes without signaling or checking to see where the cars are. At a light, they all drive up to the front of the line and zoom off like a swarm of bees when the light goes green. It's crazy. No wonder there are so many accidents with mopeds. I've been discouraged from buying and driving a moped, and now I know why. I think I'll listen to the advice I've been given.
Our shopping was, by-and-large, successful. We got a lot of stuff we need. Shopping's not necessarily so hard--once you know where the right stores are--but it's really time consuming, because you go to this store to get the best beef, and this other store to get the best coffee, and this other part of town to get computer parts, and so on. It takes a long time to get what you need. They have some Wal-Mart-like stores--we went to a Tesco Lotus, which was pleasant--but many items are better found somewhere else.
In some ways, it's like being in the Middle Ages. You know how some medieval town markets grouped merchants together? The gem-sellers were here, the silver merchants were there, the leather products were somewhere else. It's like that here. So when we looking for some computer accessories, we went to the computer part of town. There were (at least) three mini-malls in a row, all full of little stores selling computer stuff. It's pretty cool--if only my wife would give me more time to look around! But we got a mouse pad, a surge-spike protector, and looked at a UPS--the power goes out randomly around here, I'm told.
Overall, it was a successful day shopping!
Well, anyhow, off we went. We drove around all afternoon, and I didn't kill a single moped driver. That's a good start. I did drive on the wrong side of the road once, but fortunately it was while we were still in our neighborhood and no one else was around. You want to know what I did all day long? I turned on the windshield wipers whenever I went left or right. The truck is a little Toyota, so it looks the same as our Sienna, but the deal on the steering column that has the wipers and the one that has the turning signal are reversed. So every time I changed lanes or turned, I turned the wipers on. I think that's going to take a while to get used to. Otherwise, I guess I did ok.
There are bunches of mopeds here. And they don't observe any traffic rules. They ride in between the lanes while the cars are driving in the lanes. They weave in and out of lanes without signaling or checking to see where the cars are. At a light, they all drive up to the front of the line and zoom off like a swarm of bees when the light goes green. It's crazy. No wonder there are so many accidents with mopeds. I've been discouraged from buying and driving a moped, and now I know why. I think I'll listen to the advice I've been given.
Our shopping was, by-and-large, successful. We got a lot of stuff we need. Shopping's not necessarily so hard--once you know where the right stores are--but it's really time consuming, because you go to this store to get the best beef, and this other store to get the best coffee, and this other part of town to get computer parts, and so on. It takes a long time to get what you need. They have some Wal-Mart-like stores--we went to a Tesco Lotus, which was pleasant--but many items are better found somewhere else.
In some ways, it's like being in the Middle Ages. You know how some medieval town markets grouped merchants together? The gem-sellers were here, the silver merchants were there, the leather products were somewhere else. It's like that here. So when we looking for some computer accessories, we went to the computer part of town. There were (at least) three mini-malls in a row, all full of little stores selling computer stuff. It's pretty cool--if only my wife would give me more time to look around! But we got a mouse pad, a surge-spike protector, and looked at a UPS--the power goes out randomly around here, I'm told.
Overall, it was a successful day shopping!
ADSL
Getting net access was really easy, mostly because a friend had an account and modem already setup and waiting for us. It's an ADSL connection, so I plugged it into the phone line, added Time Capsule, connected the iMac, turned on and secured the wireless network, and finally added Ann's laptop. Easy as pie.
Curious about my connection speed, another friend directed me to speedtest.org. Connecting to their Atlanta server, I'm getting 1750 kbps up and 580 down. Not good, but not bad. We tested a video Skype to my folks back home, and that worked pretty well, which surprised and pleased me. So far so good.
Curious about my connection speed, another friend directed me to speedtest.org. Connecting to their Atlanta server, I'm getting 1750 kbps up and 580 down. Not good, but not bad. We tested a video Skype to my folks back home, and that worked pretty well, which surprised and pleased me. So far so good.
Stress
I read a security article a while back about a company who wanted to install stress-measuring devices at the security checkpoints in airports. The idea was that a genuine bad guy who is trying to smuggle a bomb or something onto a plane would be really stressed out when going through security, and these devices would be able to detect this stress, thus leading (so they claimed) to his capture. If the airports we went through had had this system, it would have flagged me as a bad guy. Visualize the four of us going through security...
Ok, where's the passports? Put the right boarding pass in each one. Take your coats off, kids, and put them here. Now take your shoes off and put them here. Ok, get these carry-ons onto the belt. What? All electronic devices must be taken out? Oh, jeez, I've got a Time Capsule and a Wii in there. Which bags where they in? Where's the keys? That's right, I put my keys and watch and ring in my coat pocket. Oh no! I already put my coat through the scanner. Ann, here, hold the passports. Now you go first to make sure no one scarfs our stuff on the other side. Ok, kids, hand me your bags. Now you two go through the scanner. Put the carry-on bags through the scanner. Put the personal bags through. Put the laptop and camera through. What? Why didn't you make it through the scanner, kids? Oh! Duh. I forgot the iPod in its little case on your belt. Sorry, mister-who-is-in-line-right-behind-me, I'll get all these bags through any minute now. (Really, didn't you see all our stuff? You shoulda chosen the other line, I think.) Ok, kids, back through the scanner. There, is that all the bags? Did I forget something? My turn through. Wait, where's my passport? Doh, I gave that to Ann, and she's on the other side. Oh, that lady on the other side of the doorframe has it. Whew. Thank you. Oh oh! Why is there a red light on that machine scanning our bags? Sure, I don't mind. You can take my daughter's bag over there and give it an extra special scan. Yes, I'd be very glad to stand exactly right here and not move and not reach out and grab the bag while you search it. Oh. Sigh. A water bottle from the last flight. I guess we forgot to take that out. I'm really sorry. Yes, it's totally our mistake, and we won't make it again. Yes, please feel free to re-scan the bag. Ok, so do we have all our stuff? Count the bags again. Count the kids again. Everyone get your shoes on. C'mon, let's move out of the way of the other passengers. Ok, let's repack Time Capsule and the Wii. Who's got the passports and boarding tickets? Where's my watch and ring again? Exhale. We made it. Now, where's our gate?
We did this in Norfolk, LA, and Bangkok. It was easily the most stressful part of the trip.
Ok, where's the passports? Put the right boarding pass in each one. Take your coats off, kids, and put them here. Now take your shoes off and put them here. Ok, get these carry-ons onto the belt. What? All electronic devices must be taken out? Oh, jeez, I've got a Time Capsule and a Wii in there. Which bags where they in? Where's the keys? That's right, I put my keys and watch and ring in my coat pocket. Oh no! I already put my coat through the scanner. Ann, here, hold the passports. Now you go first to make sure no one scarfs our stuff on the other side. Ok, kids, hand me your bags. Now you two go through the scanner. Put the carry-on bags through the scanner. Put the personal bags through. Put the laptop and camera through. What? Why didn't you make it through the scanner, kids? Oh! Duh. I forgot the iPod in its little case on your belt. Sorry, mister-who-is-in-line-right-behind-me, I'll get all these bags through any minute now. (Really, didn't you see all our stuff? You shoulda chosen the other line, I think.) Ok, kids, back through the scanner. There, is that all the bags? Did I forget something? My turn through. Wait, where's my passport? Doh, I gave that to Ann, and she's on the other side. Oh, that lady on the other side of the doorframe has it. Whew. Thank you. Oh oh! Why is there a red light on that machine scanning our bags? Sure, I don't mind. You can take my daughter's bag over there and give it an extra special scan. Yes, I'd be very glad to stand exactly right here and not move and not reach out and grab the bag while you search it. Oh. Sigh. A water bottle from the last flight. I guess we forgot to take that out. I'm really sorry. Yes, it's totally our mistake, and we won't make it again. Yes, please feel free to re-scan the bag. Ok, so do we have all our stuff? Count the bags again. Count the kids again. Everyone get your shoes on. C'mon, let's move out of the way of the other passengers. Ok, let's repack Time Capsule and the Wii. Who's got the passports and boarding tickets? Where's my watch and ring again? Exhale. We made it. Now, where's our gate?
We did this in Norfolk, LA, and Bangkok. It was easily the most stressful part of the trip.
Details, details, details
I consider myself to be reasonably organized person. We've been preparing for months to get ready to move overseas. We've had list after list of all the things we needed to do for this move. And yet, somehow, inexplicably, when it came down to the last week, we still had a million things to do. Actually, it was about 60 things to do, yet it sure feels like a million when the deadline of an airplane departure to Thailand is breathing down your neck. Get the van ready to sell. Buy a couple last minute birthday gifts for Jacen--we do arrive on the day of his birthday after all--and a belt for me. Send thank you notes. Call a friend. Pay off a bill. Get enough cash for the trip. Repack the bags one last time. And so on. Somehow we got done on time. Barely. I can't quite imagine doing this and being unorganized.
MacArthur sermons now free!
I love good, expository preaching; it's the best kind of preaching by a long shot. When I'm studying a text, I love to download a sermon that a expository preacher has preached on the same text and listen to it. So when a great expositor indexes his library of sermons and makes this freely downloadable on the web, that's cause for shouting. John Piper's sermons are available at Desiring God. Danny Akin's sermons are available at SEBTS. And now John MacArthur's sermons are available at Grace to You!
Photos: Emmy's best friend
Emmy loves animals. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see her grow up to be a vet or a biologist or a zoologist or whatever. Ann's folks have a border collie named Brandy, and she spends every minute possible hanging around her. Brandy is a blast. She fetches soccer balls, catches frisbees, attacks sprinklers, and other fun stuff.
Photos: Lawn mower
Like any boy, Jacen wants to drive. So Ann's father taught him how to drive the riding lawn mower and then turned him loose to mulch the leaves in the backyard and in the neighbor's yard. Jacen had a blast!
Photos: Family Pictures
It's been a while since we've had some good family pictures taken, so we asked a friend to take a few. This one with the yellow tree was my favorite. There are two others near a cypress tree.
Photo Gallery
I've been working on my (limited) photography skills the last few months, so I decided to set up a gallery to display some of my better shots. Since I use iWeb for my website, I started by using the built-in gallery. It was lame. But a friend pointed me to SimpleViewer, so now I set it up to be my gallery. Take a look and tell me what you think.
Online Backup
I've written before about having an offsite backup plan. After reading an article in a magazine, I decided to give Mozy a try. I started by using the free version, which lets you automatically backup 2 GB of data online. It's not much space, but enough to backup my documents folder. I like that it encrypts the data, so that (allegedly) not even Mozy employees can read my data. This won't backup all my data, but it will at least protect the most important parts.
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