Durian Season

George and I went to Chantaburi (300km. from Bangkok (3-4 hours drive) to visit my grandparent.
They live on the beach with 4 dogs. My grandma prepared a lot of crabs and durian for me. And that is how my durian season begins....

It's really hard to find a good durian in Bangkok. Most of the farmer cut durians when it is quite not done.
That makes durian taste bad. My grandparent used to have a durain farm before so they know how to choose durian. I had to come all the way down here to eat it. 

I love crabs. I can eat a lot of it. And because we're near the sea, we can get a really cheap yummy fresh crabs. I ate a lot of it. I want to sell it in Bangkok but I don't know where I can sell it yet. I really think that people will love it. A good crab in Bangkok is too expensive and I think I can sell it a lot cheaper.

I mostly stay on the land. I don't swim in the sea anymore since I was 17 yo. 

When we first moved here, I and my cousin fishing and swimming on the weekend all day long. 

But after awhile I was kind of sick of the sea hahaha.

I just want to sit and watch it but George is very active. I don't think he can do that. He always asks me to walk on the beach or swim.

My grandparent's house also has a swimming pool. But we realized later that it needs a lot of attention and we don't have that. My grandparent are old and they don't have energy to clean it everyday. So now we have frog cycle pool instead. We have many kind of frogs. Sometime we have snacks, because of the frogs.

The durian my grandma bought for me was really big. I think it's 5-6 kg. And I ate it all by myself.

We spent only 2 days with my grandparent. I took durian with me. George was very kind to let be bring it in the car. He hates it. hee hee

After we came back, 4 days later, my customer who has a house in Chantabury gave me a durian. I was really happy. It seem small but it's a lot. I spent 5-6 days eat it. But 3 days later, the same customer gave me another one. I was happy again but another one will be scary! I can't eat it that fast.

I have to pack it in the freezer to keep it tastes the same. It becomes Durian Ice Cream.

Not only fresh durian I ate, two of my customers gave me a very big bag of durian chips. I was really stingy with the first bag. I didn't want to share but the second bag was sooo big. I wanted to share but nobody wants it. It's been 5 days already. I haven't finished it yet.

Lately, Bangkok is raining almost everyday. I found a lot of this in my garden. It doesn't look like in the movie but good enough. It's very fast in my opinion.

By the way, In already sign up for American Homestay 2014. You absolutely are going to meet her again!
George just found Apple Jacks at Villa Market. It's really expensive here. I can't wait to go to America again.

Rainy Season

I see some of the kids still updating their blog. That's awesome. I love to read how they're doing because I don't really see them in person.

It's been raining lately. I like that it is cooler than summer but sometimes it's too wet. When my shoes are wet , I feel uncomfortable and my feet are stinky! Hahahaha George and I have a new hobby fighting with taxi drivers. They're worse when it's rain and traffic gets really jam.


Not so long ago, in the end of May George got a appendicitis surgery. We spent 2-3 days figure it out what's wrong and I was very stress. There's a day I had to leave George alone in the ward because they don't allowed visiting. I didn't know what's wrong with George and what they are going to do and I had to leave. That's a disaster! But after  I knew he got the surgery and he's fine. I felt better and finally found peace.
It was hard for me to see George screaming and hurt.

I just realized how good Thai hospitals are. It's actually a lot better than any place in the world. You don't have to make an appointment or wait to see the doctor when you are sick (not emergency) I know that many country take 3-7 days just to make an appointment with a doctor. Also Thai's hospital are very cheap. That's a big difference.

We're quite busy lately. We got a lot of students at the center on weekend. Also we got a new teacher from Madison, WI. George is busy training him but sadly he won't stay so long. By the time he knows how to do it, he probably leaves.

We're still looking for more teacher. I wish I could have a real teacher from US who know to do this kind of job without a lot of training.

I have done 8 video clips from Homestay 2013. There're only 4 left. I think I'll finish it soon.
I'm happy that I see the kids miss America and miss American friends.
We have many of new customers come to talk to me about next trip already.
I think this year coming is going to be a great year.




1$ Rain Coat.

My definition about LOVE

I tried to write about what real love likes couple times. But I don't know how to make it sound...real, sound normal, not crazy, not dreaming dreamy and make people believe that it will happen to them eventually if they do it right.

Well it's different to explain about love to one who have found it and one who haven't found it yet.

The one who have found love, they understand immediately. No need more explanation. But one who haven't found it, they will never really understand till the day they've found it. They'll be curious and can't believe it.

When I was younger. I was looking for same type of guy in my imagination that I think they're good for me. I tried to make them right for me. With all the good reasons, they could be the one! I felt like they were but I couldn't imagine myself stay with any guys forever. No one! I couldn't imagine to have a baby or getting marry because I know some days I'll get bored. I'll be done with their behavior. I know someday they wouldn't put up with me and leave me. In my mind I felt something wasn't quite right. Something scared me and those things kept me protecting myself so I won't get hurt.

One day, I met my husband. He wasn't the guy I was picture about. Our date was a disaster (Disaster!) and I didn't want to see him again. His status was lower than I wanted. He wasn't my type absolutely (oh and I wasn't his type either). But destiny brought him back to me again and again. I was lonely and seem like only this guy stick with me at the moment. We started to know each other better. He still wasn't the guy I like. But he has one great thing that very important in relationship. He makes me feel Loved. He makes me feel likes no matter what happen he will stand by me. He will take care of me as best as he can. He will loves me no matter how bad I am. I have no doubt about that. His soul touches my heart. I know this time was going to be different. This time is real. I didn't try to make it real but it's just real.

So I give him my best. I don't scare to invest all of my energy with him. I'm very confident he will not hurt me.

We fight a lot in our first year together but mostly we fight because we want to stay with each other better. We want to make it work. I was sad but not a time I feel like he doesn't love me. We have a great thing together and whatever it takes. This is worthy.

That's the thing. When you feel so secure to be with someone, no matter what happens you know it will passes. You know what you have together is more than anything and both of you try your best to safe your relationship forever because you have LOVE as a base of your relationship. And LOVE is the strongest protecting wall that will protect your relationship to last forever.

A week later..

Hello Blogger,

It's been a week since we came back from USA. I can still write a million things I miss in USA. George and I still have jet lag but not so bad. We just sleep early and wake up early and sometime we don't know we're hungry and we wait until we feel bad but during the day time, we can work normally.

George and I have been working on the house. It's been 9 months since we moved into this house and the house is a disaster. It's so ugly and dirty. The only room we  can stay is the bedroom.

This week George gives away some of his 10 years old stuffs, also sell some in a really cheap price. He's so proud that he sold a truck of his stuff for 1000 Baht. He told me that he's smart to save those stuffs. It makes money. Well the truck service charge 700 Baht/trip for moving so I was confuse for an hour about what he proud of. Anyway, I am very proud of him. I know it's hard for hobo to give away stuffs :P

George painted his man cave, put the curtain and move the furniture in. It's a lot of work and the weather in Thailand is really hot. We drink a lot of water over here.

Let's see how George's man cave has improved.


THIS IS BEFORE...

AND AFTER...



He is working on it. It's not done yet. Also I still working on my princess palace. The orange room next to his cave. I like his cave better. I don't have any furniture in my room! only a bed. So I try to move whatever I like in the house to my princess palace. I hope it'll be more beautiful than George's cave soon.

Our house is so colorful. Our bedroom is purple. We worked on this room together but it's also my room. After George is finish his room, I think I will move his messy stuffs to his cave. He always ruin my bed sheets by his sweat!


BEFORE...

AFTER...

I'll show my princess palace(guess room) after it looks better.
Today we're going to see Star Trek 3D. We saw the 10 minutes preview last year and it's pretty impressive. We went to watch IRONMAN 3 last Sat. It's cool too!

Tomorrow we'll open the center as usually for the first day. We're very excited. We have no idea how many customer will show up. Also we're going to meet a lot of new students.

Oh since the home stay this year went so well. We're now put the sign to sign up the students  already so we'll have more time to manage everything if we more than 12 kids. We also change the register deadline from December to be November and Early Bird is before September 30,2013.

It's a lot of work and last year when we let people sign up until the end of December. We're too late for the plane tickets on the day we want to leave and also we can't contact any school and host family after December 22- Jan 5 because it's Christmas and New year long holiday.

This is it for today.
bye

We're in Thailand.

We woke up around 6 o'clock. We get ready quickly and ate breakfast. We also ate a lot of snack because we still have a lot left and we have to eat all of it before we catch the plane. The girls in the laud room were very inactive this morning. George asked me to go in there and make them move. In my quiet room was also busy. Gam tried to find her stuffs that she forget somewhere somehow in the room. Didi also keep finding her turtle doll. In just realized that her shampoo can't pack in carry-on bag. Around 7:30 am. We help each other move 24 big suitcase and 20 carry-on bags to the first floor in front of the hotel. Gene, Pokpong and Gam were very helpful. They used the carts to move all the big bags. Sai and In were the guard, watching the bags in front of the hotel. The rest of the kids help to carry small bags. I was managing the suitcases that arrived in front of the hotel.

The weather was pretty cold that morning. It was 7 Celsius. Sai and In weren't dress for that weather so they're cold and can't stand outside the hotel. My dress was be able to adjust so I wasn't cold. I always feel lucky about this kind of thing.

We took only 15 minutes  to move all the bags. Good Time!
The hotel shuttle bus came 10 minutes earlier than the schedule. The other hotel's customers looked at us and made a sad face. I think they know they'd not be able to take this shuttle because we'll fulled it.

The driver came down and talk to us and other customer. He called another guy who are a driver for this hotel shuttle bus to come in the same time so he'll only takes us and the other driver will take the rest of the customer. The driver was really friendly. I think a little bit too funny (to be crazy) He's making joke about he's going to cry when he saw all the suitcases. It's 8 am in the morning. Good exercise. Hahaha

He dropped us at Terminal 5, Korean Airline. At chicago airport, they charge for carts $5 so we don't want to use it. Good luck that the gate and checking bag point close to each other. We waited until 9 am. Korean airline finally opened their counter to check in the bags. While we were waiting, we ate the food that we still have lelf. We couldn't finish all of it.

Korean air just has a new rule to weigh the carry-on bag. They have a sign that it can't be over 12 kg. I was a little bit shock because it wasn't like this on the way we came and all the kids put a lot of weight in carry-on bag. But nobody has problem with the airline even our carry-on were over weight EXCEPT George!

The girl who serviced him gave him a hard time. I'm on George's side this time. He wasn't be a cranky customer but that girl was annoyed him. George had to move his stuff out  but he can put it back anyway. I don't know what is the point to weigh carry-on bag. They didn't weigh me and kids' backpack but that girl told George to weigh his carry-on and backpack together in the same time and it can't be over 12 kg.

Anyway, we made it through the gate. The kids went shopping (again) at Duty Free in the airport. I saw Didi and June got a watch from Swatch. Pokpong got more headphone which costs $300. He actually got a same brand the day before. Sai, Jinny and Gam got perfume for their mom.

I didn't buy anything only snack and drink. It's really expensive in the airport. After that I took a nap because we had 2 hours waiting time.



Around noon I woke up and went to the toilet. I met George on the way. He bought something too. I asked him but he didn't tell me.

Anyway we were going to sit a part on the plane but George talked to the girl next to him to change her seat with me and she was fine with that. I moved my backpack, pillow and cover next to George's seat and then the girl on the next seat wanted to us to change the seat with her friends too. We're going to do that but it came out that her friends didn't want to move. hahaha. I and George were so confuse.

Geoge didn't sleep at all. The seat was too small for him. It was too small for me too but I'm smaller than George so I can manage to sleep. George watched 4-5 movies. I watched only 2 movies. I always sleep. I don't the food in the plane at all. Good luck that my lovely husband bought me milk and Apple Jack to surprise me. It was so sweet.

We stopped in Korean after 13 hours flight. George took a nap at the airport. I like Korean Airport. It's very clean and comfortable. Free wifi and nice chair. We're there for 2 hours. We gave the kids 1 hour to shopping (more) Gam was curious why we only have 1 hour. Well... what can I do but if we don't want the miss the plane we have to stick on that time and shopping wasn't that important.

On the second plane, George changed his seat with May. We sat together again. George didn't sleep. I slept all the time. I didn't watch any movie. It was 5:30 hours flight.

Finally, we arrive in Bangkok. A minute we walked out the airplane. The hot air blow in to my body. It's so HOT. (at night)
I called the taxi driver to make a meeting point while we were waiting the bags. Bangpun mom and dad came to see Bangpun inside at the baggage claim. They hug each other and after we took a group photo, they leaved.

After we got all the pack, George unpacked some of the bags to get Furby to Gene, Gam and Dada. Also some of Gam , Pokpong stuffs that can't fit in their suitcase. Then we moved to see their parent that wait outside!

June and Gene mom and dad were the first parent we saw outside. They came to hug and kiss their kids. All the other parent were waiting next to them. Pokpong came to say good bye to us first. His dad came to pick him up. In was the second family. Jinny's mom told me that Jinny told her when she was in USA that she wants to stay. She wants to study in USA. Also Sai, she wants to study in USA too. I understand why.. because I want to study in USA too.

Japan's mom got the present for me and George. It's a honeymoon at the resort near Bangkok. Gam's dad , Sai's mom and Jinny's mom also want to make party for us too. I'm feel so happy that they're very happy with our trip. George is super happy. He keeps talking to me that if he did something else for living, he'd never get this kind of feeling. Nobody says "Thank you , thank you so much for making me website" But this job, being teacher makes him get something better than that. I agree with him. It makes me feel special too. It seem simple but special.

And another good news! Jean from homestay trip 2012 got accepted to Manitowoc Lutheran High School. George is so happy for him. He knows that this is gonna change his life forever and we're a part of it.

I see a lot of change from the kids in this trip.
In wasn't try to help herself or do things by herself when I first met her at overnight camp. But on the plane back to BKK. She was sick and vomit. She cleans herself up and told flight attendant that she is sick and she wants medicine.

Gam, Didi and June are a great sister. They have tutur hour in the morning for In. They ask In questions, teach her English and cool words every morning. They also keep tracking In that she takes a shower and brush her teeth well. I really like to see that. They're so cute.

Sai, Jinny and Bangpun weren't interesting and see anything along the way but after a lot of talk. On the way to town, George and I finally see them point to beautiful graphic on the wall.

This year, we don't have problem with taxi . I mean almost but we didn't. George was tired and lack of sleep so when he knows that the car was on the 3rd floor he was a bit upset and he says sorry 10 minutes later. I talked to him before we get to Bangkok that I don't want to change taxi in the middle of the night that we have 10 big bags and tired from 24 hours flight. The taxi driver was actually nice.

We're home. The dog and cat are fine. The grass is very high. Some of flowers die. George went to sleep immediately but I can't sleep because the cat was talking so laud. He probably misses George and I. Nobody touch him for month and a half. He didn't let anybody touch him. After a while I can't stand his sound so I went out to get him and put him in the toilet in the back of the house so the sound isn't bother me so much.
It works!

Today we wake up at 9am. We clean the house and do some laundry. We don't really unpack yet. We want to clean the house first. I cut the grasses today and I almost die because it was too hot and I was hungry. We went to Major to watch Ironman 3 and eat lunch. After movie we ate ice-cream mango. It's a good day. Around 3 pm. we came home and do some cleaning. I felt so sleepy at 5 pm but keep wake up until now. I'm going to bed soon. George sleeps already. We don't eat dinner today I guess. Jet-lag might help us lose weight.


By the way, I miss America already. I was thinking about the road and sign in America when I was in a taxi. I see the difference between city in Chicago and Bangkok. I miss the weather. I think I fall in love with America.

Last day in USA, Shopping, Nuchy and Thaifood

Today we woke up a little bit late at 7 am. I finally had a good sleep last night. And because Didi's mom asked me about what time we will arrive on Friday so I dream about Didi arrives at the airport and her mom comes late so she cry! Hahaha.

 Gam wake up at 5 am everyday. But she is really quiet so she doesn't bother me at all but June and Didi like to whisper and my ears are ver sensitive. Today June and Didi didn't wake up early so I have more time to sleep.

 This morning I teach In how to survive from microwave her breakfast by telling her to try herself first and if it's over her ability, ask for help. I ate cereal for breakfast and rice with something. I ate just a little bit because I fall the milk glass and it's all over my dress! Messy!

 We waited for George at the Lobby. I met Japan's parent. I talked to Japan mom for a while before she left the hotel.

 Finally Prince George is ready! Hulayyy. He lead us into town. We took the train and bus and walk. We arrived at Water Tower, Magnificent Mile. It's shopping street. Most of the shops will be on the main street but also there're some malls. We let the kids use the map that we gave to them at the hotel to find the shop they want to go. June and Pokpong were excited and try to remember where they are.

All of them have to cote where to shop and then go together and they can move to other shop after everybody done from the first shop. Gam was so curious why she couldn't go by herself. Well.. The mall here is on the long street like Boston. We can't let the kids no limit. But if they find the mall they can spit.

 The kids get annoyed with each other because they dont like the same style so some of them spend more time at one shop. Bangpun, jinny bought Coach Bag and Bangpun was confuse which color better. Everybody tells her the same color so she buy it quicker!

 I was going to buy popcorn but too many people so I didn't buy it. Around 1 o'clock we walk to one f the mall and eat lunch at Panda Express. The kids want to walk in the mall so we let them walk by themselves for an hour. George and I got gifts for friends in Thailand. Girls got cosmetics. Boy got nothing from the mall because they spent all money at Apple shop.

 We went back to the hotel at 3 o'clock. Sai, Jinny,Bangpun,May and In packed their suitcases and carry on. Everything is packed. We went into town again for special dinner at Thai restaurant. George's second trip employee, Nuchy came to join us. She took care of the kids on the second trip so Gam, June and May will remember her.

 We met Nuchy at Clark blue line station and we took red line to Belmont then walked to the restaurant. Nuchy is studying here for Master Degree. She has been studig English course for 4 months now. She works in this thai restaurant on Sunday. It's a really nice restaurant. All employees and owner are Thai.

When we arrived, they already prepared drink and cooking food for us. We had 3 appetites and 3 main dishes. It's a lot of food and very delicious. I always full early. Sai who sat in my area had a lot of food. The kids love Thai food so much. Pokpong broke a glass. We took the leftover food back to the hotel with us. We maybe eat it for breakfast.

 The area that restaurant located is really beautiful. It looks like Boston so much. And a long the way, O saw a lot of cool shop and restaurant. It is similar to HauHin or Chaing Mai night market. While we were walking back to CTA. June, Gam, Sai,Bangpun,Didi get crazy and over active. They laugh all the way even we're on the CTA. I think they're very happy because we're going back to Thailand tomorrow. Or maybe the spicy noodle makes them drunk haha(Pad Kee Mao)

 We took the red line train back to Jackson station and took the blue line back to the hotel. Oh on the train, George told May to have a look at the poster about celebrating anime on May 17-19. She went to look as George said and then she starts to CRY! Oh my god! I was shock. I don't know what's going on. She kept crying and then she said 'I'm crying because I'm so happy..happy that anime from Japan is famous to USA! What!? And she said she feels proud. I know that May loves Japanese animation and do cosplay but I didn't know she loves it this much.

Sai thought that she draw the poster and she's too happy to see it here but no she didn't hahaha.

 We came back to the hotel around 9:30 pm. I took a long shower and pack my suitcase. Gam, June, Didi , Gene and Pokpong also packed their suitcase too. I felt so tired today. I don't want to move or walk. I got an headache and stomatchache. My legs are tired. I haven't get enough sleep for many days and sleeping is my first priority. I wasn't in a happy mode today. Tomorrow we have to wake up at 6 o'clock and check out at 8am and the hotel shuttle will take us the airport. We're going back to Thailand! See you soon Thai people~

Lincoln Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain

Today is another long day. We leaved the hotel a bit late because Lincoln Zoo open at 10 o'clock. We took the CTA into town as same as yesterday. I just realized it takes 10 minutes longer when we go in town because there're many train run in the Loop and sometime our train has to wait for another train. 

We took the bus from State street to Lincoln Zoo. It's not so far. I think Chicago city is small but there're so many tall building so I feel like it's bigger than New York City. I should search in google map and figure it out. George told me Chicago is smaller.

We arrived at the zoo around 11 o'clock. The weather is very hot. I thought I was in Thailand. George told me and the kids that today was gonna be a cold day so we dressed warmly but it came out VERY HOT. I took off some of my shirt. We gave the kids 1 hour to walk around in the zoo and meet for lunch at 12:30 pm. George, I and In walked in the zoo together. We went to see a lot of animal but what I haven't seen before were Polar bear, cockroach house (ton of cockroach) I was so ........excited.. Ape playing computer.  We met the kids for lunch. June, Didi bought doll slipper and hat. Seem like the girls love to shopping soooo much. We ate Taco and milk for lunch. I was so full because I ate all day. I like to prepare thing for eat. I carried soda and mama noodle.

On this morning I made 1 minute cake in the hotel. Gam,Didi and June like it. They like to eat my snack and food. I don't know why they're so hungry.

Today in the train when they saw me eating candy. One of the girl asked me for candy and then all of them asked me for my candy! Y Y I just realized why Gam and May ate chocolate in the corner at the airport on the way to America.

After lunch, everybody seem to be done with the zoo even they didn't see all of animals yet. I think because the weather was so hot and we're tired.

So we decided to move to Shedd Aquarium. It took us a while to Shedd because we thought we're in the right road and tried to find the bus stop and we couldn't find any bus stop on that road. After walk a while I was curious it might be another road next to us so we walked there and finally got on the bus.

When we arrived at Shedd. George didn't want to get off because he thinks the bus will turn around and stop in front of Shedd. Well.. It's not. So we have to walk further but good thing is the view near the lake is super beautiful that make us walk slower. Gam,June and Didi fed the duck and the duck follow them.

Water in the lake is so blue. I love it. We can see Chicago city from out here. I and In walked to Shedd and wait for George and the rest of the kids. George arrived at 4:16 pm. and Shedd was about to close. The staff was so kind he let us get in there even we it passed the time to get in there already which mean we didn't buy the ticket! Yayyyy  The girls bought some more dolls.



We was walking back to CTA station but I saw the sign to Buckingham Fountain which I heard it's very big and beautiful. I thought it's showing in 30 minutes so we walked there and wait for the show but the guy told us that they don't show until June! They just filled the water yesterday.

Anyway ,we had a lot of fun taking crazy picture together with George. I think he will post it soon. All the kids were in the photo.



We walked in to town again. We're so tired so we just ate whatever close to the CTA. We ate at Dairy Queen. I love Banana spit. Oh I mean the kids ate food like burger or hot dog or turkey sandwich but I wasn't hungry so I ordered cheese curds. Jean and Pokpong tried to steal my food!

Before we took the train home, I stopped by at 7/11 to buy some milk because I want to eat Apple Jack. We arrived at hotel around 8:30 pm. June and Didi wanted to drink my milk! What's wrong with these guys!

Dada and Japan came to see us. They're with their parent at 9th floor. Japan's mom told us about how crazy of the car park is. They walk a lot and pay a lot for parking(140$ per day) and the traffic to town is bad and it's a long way.

I should tell Pokpong about this. He wants us to rent the car and drive.
Oh about Bangpun Sai and Jinny, they're fine and keep talking talking talking and didn't see the world around them so George has to be very FIRM about what he wants them to do. I mean we try many ways but they like the hardcore way. So these days George and I talk to them A LOT. George and I also talked about friendship and how to take care each other today. We want everybody to be happy and enjoy the trip and to be good friends make a big difference.

Gam gave us a good laugh today. She is so forgetful. She forget everything. Since we've been here, she lose her toothbrush, ring, CTA card blah blah blah.

The girls in my room are so weird. They have a lot of fun watching Gam's foot skin that pill out. June and Didi were very supportive. They get so excited to watch Gam pill her skin. They took video too! In curious about what they did. Gam saves her foot's skin in her notebook. If you want to see it, you may ask her to show. She is very proud.