Paul and Thomas—first day of school. They’ve been home-schooled while living in Dubai. They left with Jim on his way to work. They looked great in their uniforms of navy pants and white knit shirt with the school’s insignia. Paul was nervous and kept tugging at his shorts.
We went with Martina later to pick them up after school. The International Community School is only about 15 minutes away. It is about 100 students, K-12, half Thai and half internationals. Classes in English, but international students learn Thai. Both boys had a good day—what they liked most—lunch. They taught us their Thai lessons on the way home.
We ended the day with around the world ping pong, a stroll in the neighborhood (picking fresh exotic fruit along the way), some fabulous pad thai and sticky rice with mango, and a rousing round of Mexican train dominos.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
August 12- In honor of Dad
The Queen of Thailand has the same birthday as Mel. And the King celebrates his on Katie’s birthday. Today is the Queen’s 76th Birthday. The Queen addressed the nation last night in a televised speech advocating environmental improvements, especially conserving the forests and cleaning up the water. She inspired people all over Thailand to “Go Green” to celebrate the national holiday (her birthday). The newspaper has stories of people planting trees and clearing water hyacinth from lakes.
We are impressed that the royal family uses their influence to inspire environmental improvements and to support organic food production and distribution. We don’t have anyone equivalent in our country. If any leader takes a stand it encounters as much opposition as influence. But another interesting observation was the format that they used to promote their ideas—one on television and the other at a mall exhibit, two venues that we can no longer claim as exclusively American.
In honor of Dad’s birthday, we took a cooking class. We chose the class for two reasons: it was vegetarian and it’s named and instructed by May Kaidee- in Dad’s honor even more so. And it was the first Thai name that I could easily pronounce. Anyways, the class was fabulous! We made something like ten or twelve dishes all in four hours and we ate them all too! There were 10 people in the class half from the UK half from the US (one girl actually just graduated from UC Davis which was fun for me), and we were paired up two at each stove. All the ingredients were prepped and placed in bowls which made the cooking easy and fast. She gave us the recipes and we went at it. After each dish we would eat what we made. By the end we were quite full. Some of the dishes included Tom Yam Spicy soup, Isaan Vegetables, Green Thai Curry, Pad Thai, mango with sticky rice, green papaya salad, and pumpkin Hummus. Everything was so fresh and pungent and divine. We also got to grind and mush our own chilli paste with a mortar and pestle. The class ended with May Kaidee leading us in song and dance. It was a true experience of all the senses! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone, but don’t judge by the looks of the restaurant- just trust the name.
I’ll post a recipe soon but for now here are some pictures…
August 11- Jim's Birthday and out in the city
In the morning we helped Martina prepare for Jim’s birthday dinner making polenta pizza, roasted butternut squash, cucumber salad, roasted chicken, ribs, and Thailand lime pie. In the afternoon while Jim and Martina took the boys to orientation at the school, Mom and I took our first adventure on our own in the big city- that is with the help of our driver Praset. First, we had a thai lunch (nothing remarkable but a good start) then we went into central Bangkok (about 45 minute ride) to the Grand Palace. This is where the Royal family used to live. It was very ornate and different from anything we had seen before. Though most people are drawn to the Emerald Buddha or the fancy architecture, we were most fascinated with the wall paintings trying to figure out the various depictions of people. People were drawn with all different skin colors, faces, body sizes, clothing, actions, and expressions. After awhile we were rather overwhelmed with all the tourists and bombardment of postcards, umbrellas, and tuk tuks. So we got a taxi and made it home just in time to get ready for the guests.
Two families came over for dinner to celebrate Jim’s birthday. We (the kids and I) played ping pong then we all ate a lovely dinner and heard stories from people’s amazing world journeys. Oh, and of course attempted to have Jim reminisce on his fondest birthday memories.
Two families came over for dinner to celebrate Jim’s birthday. We (the kids and I) played ping pong then we all ate a lovely dinner and heard stories from people’s amazing world journeys. Oh, and of course attempted to have Jim reminisce on his fondest birthday memories.
August 10- Olympics from the other side
amazing, all the way to the final lighting of the torch and the runner in the sky. This opening ceremony must have been especially inspiring to the Chinese to know that they have joined with the world and can even excel in ways that a few years ago were unthinkable.
We read on the internet that NBC edited it and changed the order of the athletes entry so that the Americans came later in the sequence in order to keep the audience. I hope they didn’t break the power of the artistry by interrupting too much with commercials. The nice thing about watching on Thai TV is that we didn’t have to listen to the commentary. Since it was in Thai, we just turned the sound down. You might try watching sometime with no sound at all. It is a relief not to have the constant prattle of the announcers.
One advantage of being on this side of the world was that we got to see the Olympic ceremonies when they happened—at night. But a disadvantage was that the selection of events was limited. Or maybe—your selection was limited. For example: Did you get to see Prapawadee Jaroenratta-natarakoon win the gold medal in weight lifting? She has rock star status in Thailand. WE got to see her lift that weight hundreds of times, over and over. And then there was Buttree Puedpong, the teenage taekwondo star who got silver. And Manus Boonjumnong who got into the semi-finals of light weight boxing. I bet that all you got to see was Michael Phelps swim one race after another when we got such endless variety.
Sunday churchWe went to church with Jim and Martina—it was the most diverse congregation I’ve ever seen. The MC was from Singapore, the speaker from Switzerland, and I lost track of everyone else. But everyone was warm and friendly and glad to see Martina and Jim back
We read on the internet that NBC edited it and changed the order of the athletes entry so that the Americans came later in the sequence in order to keep the audience. I hope they didn’t break the power of the artistry by interrupting too much with commercials. The nice thing about watching on Thai TV is that we didn’t have to listen to the commentary. Since it was in Thai, we just turned the sound down. You might try watching sometime with no sound at all. It is a relief not to have the constant prattle of the announcers.
One advantage of being on this side of the world was that we got to see the Olympic ceremonies when they happened—at night. But a disadvantage was that the selection of events was limited. Or maybe—your selection was limited. For example: Did you get to see Prapawadee Jaroenratta-natarakoon win the gold medal in weight lifting? She has rock star status in Thailand. WE got to see her lift that weight hundreds of times, over and over. And then there was Buttree Puedpong, the teenage taekwondo star who got silver. And Manus Boonjumnong who got into the semi-finals of light weight boxing. I bet that all you got to see was Michael Phelps swim one race after another when we got such endless variety.
Sunday churchWe went to church with Jim and Martina—it was the most diverse congregation I’ve ever seen. The MC was from Singapore, the speaker from Switzerland, and I lost track of everyone else. But everyone was warm and friendly and glad to see Martina and Jim back
August 9- Bangkok: His Majesty's Project
At Jim and Martina’s house—Wonderful breakfast of fruits
we’ve never seen—mangosteen, water apple, red dragon fruit, white guava . . .
The whole family piles into the van and Jim’s driver takes us to the Central World mall where Martina has heard there is a special exhibit of His Majesty’s project to support organic agriculture. The driver lets us off at the Sky train which we take into central Bangkok. “Mall” doesn’t quite describe the glitzy, multistory, exclusive shopping center with European boutiques.
The king’s exhibits are set up in different places in the mall—one shows how to grow sweet peppers, lettuces, chard, onions in small containers and even in plastic bags for people with small gardens. Another area sells foods researched and developed for Thai soils and climate—like avocadoes, vanilla beans and figs. People line up to buy chips made from shiitake mushrooms and carrots, juices and jams from passion fruit, persimmons, and berries, and all sorts of delectable things. We couldn’t resist the good prices and good products ourselves. Martina bought some things to try at home and Katie got a bag of kaki.
We go back home—first the sky train, then the air-conditioned van with Jim’s driver. It takes a bout 45 minutes to reach Ladawan, in southeast Bangkok where Jim lives. Jet lag has taken over by now and we all take a nap for the afternoon.
we’ve never seen—mangosteen, water apple, red dragon fruit, white guava . . .
The whole family piles into the van and Jim’s driver takes us to the Central World mall where Martina has heard there is a special exhibit of His Majesty’s project to support organic agriculture. The driver lets us off at the Sky train which we take into central Bangkok. “Mall” doesn’t quite describe the glitzy, multistory, exclusive shopping center with European boutiques.
The king’s exhibits are set up in different places in the mall—one shows how to grow sweet peppers, lettuces, chard, onions in small containers and even in plastic bags for people with small gardens. Another area sells foods researched and developed for Thai soils and climate—like avocadoes, vanilla beans and figs. People line up to buy chips made from shiitake mushrooms and carrots, juices and jams from passion fruit, persimmons, and berries, and all sorts of delectable things. We couldn’t resist the good prices and good products ourselves. Martina bought some things to try at home and Katie got a bag of kaki.
We go back home—first the sky train, then the air-conditioned van with Jim’s driver. It takes a bout 45 minutes to reach Ladawan, in southeast Bangkok where Jim lives. Jet lag has taken over by now and we all take a nap for the afternoon.
August 8 - Arrival
We landed just after midnight. It was a long day but not as bad as we thought- thanks to the movies on our personal screens. After we did all the coming into the country stuff, we were immediately greeted by Jim and Martina who were patiently waiting and ready to see us. It was so nice to have them there amongst all the unfamiliarity. And it only got better when their personal driver drove up to the curbside with a nice, air-conditioned van with seats all facing each other- very conducive for socializing. After a nice 40 minute ride we made it into the neighborhood and were welcomed into their beautiful home. How nice it was to have family (and beds) waiting
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Getting Started
August 7, 2008
In the sky
over water
being served a choice of American beef or Korean fish
watching movies in Japanese, Chinese, Korean or English—
The news is all about the Olympics and the heat wave in Korea.
Katie and I are going West to go East—
the way the whole world is heading.
Yet the magazine pictures are all about the East turning toward the West—
tall buildings and tree lined boulevards in Seoul,
night clubs and Olympic sites in Beijing.
Katie is 19.
This wasn’t possible when I was 19.
No one went to Thailand for summer break.
My mother never traveled with me.
It was unthinkable.
What was unthinkable then is possible now.
It makes me wonder what will be possible in another generation . . . .
Katie and I are going to Thailand to visit my brother Jim McCallie and his family—Martina, Thomas and Paul. He works for Coca Cola and moved to Thailand this year. They’ve lived in Singapore, South Africa and Dubai—we’ve missed the opportunity to visit them every time so Katie and I decided not to miss this chance.
We will be here for one month. We Are so curious about lots of things. Our blog may have a few themes--FOOD—of course! But not just the obvious eating great Thai food but other issues related to Katie’s field of study, international agriculture. She’s arranged for us to stay with a farming family in NE Thailand.
I’m curious about the AMERICAN IMAGE from half the world away—We will be here during the Olympics and while the American election process is underway. How do these look from the Asian perspective?
MOTHER-DAUGHTER TRAVEL—Well, as I said, we have no model for this. We are both eager to see how it goes. So far, so good.
Come join us as we go
In the sky
over water
being served a choice of American beef or Korean fish
watching movies in Japanese, Chinese, Korean or English—
The news is all about the Olympics and the heat wave in Korea.
Katie and I are going West to go East—
the way the whole world is heading.
Yet the magazine pictures are all about the East turning toward the West—
tall buildings and tree lined boulevards in Seoul,
night clubs and Olympic sites in Beijing.
Katie is 19.
This wasn’t possible when I was 19.
No one went to Thailand for summer break.
My mother never traveled with me.
It was unthinkable.
What was unthinkable then is possible now.
It makes me wonder what will be possible in another generation . . . .
Katie and I are going to Thailand to visit my brother Jim McCallie and his family—Martina, Thomas and Paul. He works for Coca Cola and moved to Thailand this year. They’ve lived in Singapore, South Africa and Dubai—we’ve missed the opportunity to visit them every time so Katie and I decided not to miss this chance.
We will be here for one month. We Are so curious about lots of things. Our blog may have a few themes--FOOD—of course! But not just the obvious eating great Thai food but other issues related to Katie’s field of study, international agriculture. She’s arranged for us to stay with a farming family in NE Thailand.
I’m curious about the AMERICAN IMAGE from half the world away—We will be here during the Olympics and while the American election process is underway. How do these look from the Asian perspective?
MOTHER-DAUGHTER TRAVEL—Well, as I said, we have no model for this. We are both eager to see how it goes. So far, so good.
Come join us as we go
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