To nuke, or not to nuke

I don't own a microwave. I've never actually owned one, though most places I have lived have had one. Some people think I'm a little bit nuts for not having one, my own mother for example, but I kind of like it. I spent about half my years in Argentina living with a friend who had a no microwave policy and from watching her, I learned how to make and reheat anything you wanted without one. So when I moved here and had to outfit an entire kitchen from scratch I knew that a microwave was a want, not a need. 

I don't have anything against the microwave and honestly, most of the time I forget that I don't have one. I've grown accustomed to stove top popcorn and reheating food in the toaster oven or on the stove. I do sometimes think that maybe blasting our food with radiation is not the best plan in the world and can get a little puffed up about the whole thing, about not relying on such a modern contraption, but I wouldn't say I'm anti microwave. I certainly eat plenty nuked food at other people's houses. 

But now I'm thinking of buying one. Friends who are moving to the States are selling their Magic Machine, an oven/microwave combo that just might revolutionize my life. Or at least my corn muffins. It can literally bake or nuke, depending on the setting. If I recall, it might even grill too. I've seen entire Thanksgiving dinners created in one of these things. Pie, turkey, you name it. Problem is, it doesn't toast, which means it can't replace the toaster oven and thus I end up with another gadget in my rather small and crowded kitchen. The only place for it, in fact, is on top of the fridge. A bit unsightly. And then there's my pride, joining the throngs across the globe with the ability to reheat a cup of tea in 30 seconds. To nuke or not to nuke, that my friends, is the question.  

I'm getting a roommate!

This weekend I have a project to work on: get my guest room ready for someone to be able to live in it for awhile. On November 2nd my friend Gillian returns to Bangkok and is going to be staying with me, probably through April or May, though really, it's Thailand, so who knows. My apartment is pretty small for two people, but Gillian stayed here while I was in the States this last summer, so she knows what she is getting into. It will be a little tight, but I think we can make it work. 

I am excited to have a roommate for awhile since there are things I miss about living with people. And making room for her is forcing me to go through a lot of stored stuff, and thus throw a lot of it away, which is always a good thing. The real question, of course, is whether Gillian is going to survive my quirkiness and the empty tea mugs I leave strewn about the place. Though the fact that she comes from Northern Ireland tells me that the mugs might not be entirely foreign. I do enjoy tea drinking roommates! 

The Inn at Parkland

The Inn at Parkland is officially open for business and awaiting your arrival! 

Painted Apartment

Last week I finally had my apartment painted, and am now really close to having it "done"!  Today I dropped off a few things at the frame shop, including my NYC print, and once I have those up the only remaining task will be linens for the bed in the guest room.  I took a few more pictures today to show you the new colors and new furniture arrangement. I hadn't planned on rearranging, but this sort of came to me as I was putting things back after the painters, and I kind of like it.  I'm really pleased with how everything has turned out and the apartment is the peaceful oasis that I hoped it would be for me.  Can't wait to host visitors! 

New living room arrangement

Still looking for the perfect throw pillows, but otherwise love my little sitting area.

Other end of the living room.

I love the white doors!  The first time I walked into the bathroom with everything white my first thought was that they had replaced the light bulb as well! 

Kitchen and front door. 

The picture makes me feel like I can stand in my kitchen and look out the window at Iguazu Falls.

The purple came out pretty dark, but I like it. I think I want my NYC print on this wall.

Finally got a real nightstand instead of using a chair :)

Blown fuses: getting plugged-in in Bangkok

I love my little apartment and it took great strides this weekend in finally coming together. On Friday my new chair, footstool, and end table were delivered. Two more end tables will be coming in September. On Saturday I bought a new night table at Ikea and got it assembled this morning.  All of that means that I am now ready to choose paint colors so I can paint, frame and hang pictures, and then tackle the guest room.

But I'm also having a small issue this week with the electrical outlets in the apartment, or shall I say, the lack of electrical outlets.  It's been an issue since I moved in, but it came to a head this week when I started blowing fuses :)

Imagine this.  In the entire apartment, there are a total of 8 individual plugs: four sets of 2 each.  One in each bedroom, one in the kitchen area, and one in the living room.  Into these 8 outlets I must plug in a refrigerator, hotplate, toaster oven, living room fan, TV, laptop, speakers, internet modem, 2 living room lamps, bedside lamp, bedside fan, cell phone charger, and on occasion a rice cooker, electric grill, or guest room fan.

This week my problem was that I was grilling meat and veggies and wanted the fan on (since the grill makes the kitchen hot) and was boiling water for pasta at the same time.  All 3 of these things, and the fridge, were plugged into the same set of 2 outlets with a power cord and it just kept blowing the fuse (which of course is located above my head so I had to drag a chair into the kitchen so I could reach it to keep flipping it.  Eventually I gave up on the fan and had to eat the pasta side dish later since I couldn't cook it at the same time as the meat and veggies. 

The problem, really, is that I am a Western foreigner living in an apartment that is not designed for a Westerner and all of her gadgets.  I guess I am lucky that I don't requite a hair dryer or a curler or a straightener of any kind, considering there isn't an outlet to be had in the bathroom and I'm already in enough danger with my web of power strips and extension cords that I wouldn't want to be dragging one across a wet bathroom.  Don't worry, I shall try my best not to burn the place down and though I managed to give myself a good 220 volt shock at one point last year, I have yet to electrocute myself in the new apartment.  I'll do my best to keep it that way :)

New Apartment Tour

Today I am resting from daily life- staying home to recharge and get through the last two weeks of school without completely burning out.  I've been working on a little video tour of my apartment for all the folks back home.  Yesterday my friend showed me how to use the movie maker on my computer and now I think I'm hooked.  Keep in mind that the apartment is not "finished", but it's at least unpacked and more than functional and this will hopefully give you a feel for the place.

(Oh, and I'm not sure why the captions disappear so quickly starting half way through... still learning the ropes of the movie maker)

This is Thailand

In Argentina, when stuff happened that was crazy or frustrating or "just how things are" in Argentina, we always just said well, "Bienvenidos a Argentina", which means welcome to Argentina.  Here, when that stuff happens we say well, "This is Thailand".  And yes, there have been several moments like that lately. But there have also been moments that are just as much Thailand to me, and way more positive.

• It takes 8 days and bazillions of phone calls to get the internet working in the apartment. This is Thailand. 
• When you call the internet company call center instead of getting an operator on the operator line you get a chance to leave your name and number for them to call you back. Maybe. This is Thailand. 
• You come down with nasty food poisoning and you're not sure what it was that you ate that caused it- there are several good candidates.  This is Thailand. 
• Your apartment doesn't have a stove, so you get a counter-top hot plate.  After a week of using it only for the tea kettle, you go to heat up some leftover rice soup and it doesn't work.  Try the tea kettle. Works. Put the saucepan back on. Turns itself off.  Kettle. Heats up. Saucepan. Turns off.  Over and over and over.  Turns out that the saucepan doesn't have a stainless bottom, so it won't work on the hot plate. Have to replace one or the other (going to replace the hotplate I think, since someone just gave it to me and I specially chose this nice saucepan). This is Thailand. 
• Laying at home on the couch recovering from said food poisoning without any internet so your only communication with the outside world is the cell phone. Which promptly runs out of minutes due to use and your friend has to buy and deliver phone cards for you. This is Thailand.  
• Your friends spend their time and energy battling the internet problem with you, translating for the service technician, sitting on hold with the Thai call center line, giving them their number to call back, and fiddling with the modem for you.  This is my Thailand. 
• Friends who deliver Gatorade, carbon tablets, rice soup, phone cards, and later bread and bananas to your home on the couch when you are sick.  This is my Thailand.
• Colleagues who cover for your classes and follow the sketched out plans you wrote for yourself when you couldn't send in sub plans.  This is my Thailand.
• A friend who lets you use their US phone card since you can't skype your mother to tell her you're sick, not that she can do anything but simply because when one is sick you must tell mom.  This is my Thailand. 

Yes, this is Thailand, and I'm quite happy to be here and to be feeling much better and be back online at home.

Apartment update

If I could choose one word to describe life lately it would be BUSY.  As we're in the last month at school, things there are busy and only going to speed up.  And while that has been stressful, it has not held a candle to the rest of the crazy busy-ness of moving.  I got moved in just fine and have spent this past week working on getting internet and a kitchen.  Today, the kitchen (including a sink) was installed, so now all I'm waiting for is internet. I'm all signed up and the line should be activated on Tuesday, at which point I hope to start feeling more human.  After the kitchen installation today I was able to unpack the kitchen, so things are feeling better already.  Now, very little remains on my "must do now" list.  The rest (including painting) will wait until after the summer break.  The temps in Bangkok continue to be sky high and it's quite humid, but I'm hearing that the rainy season may start as soon as Wednesday and the temps will fall with its arrival.  Can't come fast enough (especially with Nak Suu starting back up tomorrow!).  Once the internet is up I'll post some pictures of the new place- though it's incomplete it will give you a feel for it.  So far, I love it and I'm so glad I chose this one. And, my landlady has been delightful to work with, which makes things like this week's deliveries and installation so much more pleasant. 

Hard to believe that just one month from today I'll arrive in Chicago!  Looking forward to Michigan summer soooo much!!!

Moved In

I am writing this post from my new couch (that my friend and I assembled today) in my new apartment.  I’m typing here, though I’ll have to go back to the old place later to paste it into blogger and post it.  No internet here yet, which will probably be the most trying bit of the first week here (perhaps I should mentally prepare myself for a two week process…).  But this post is not about problems, not about struggles or overcoming.  This post is about God’s awesome provision.  

Two weeks ago I had my personal retreat at the Tree House, the main theme of which was “Do not worry.  Seek the One Thing and God will take care of the many things.”  Of course, it’s one thing to do that when you are in a Tree House. It’s quite another when you’re in the thick of moving.

One evening this past week I had a little moment of panic.  I was definitely freaking out about all the things I needed to do and buy for this move, and was worrying about the money, worrying about the time and energy, worrying about doing all these things on my own.  After a short time of panic, I finally wised up and lay down and prayed and handed it all over to God.  All the money, all the details, all the help I needed and didn’t want to ask for.  

A friend had already offered to bring the pick-up truck from her ministry and help me take the stuff in that so I didn’t have to walk or get a taxi to take it.  And then, without my asking, another friend just pulls out her calendar and asks, when are you moving?  I’ll come help.  Wow!  One of the things that had made me panic was realizing there are things that houses just come with in the States, that they don’t here, that I need to buy- in particular, a stove top or hot plate type item.  And so I was all wondering where I buy one or what kind to get or how much they cost… The next day, I was telling a friend about how I had completely forgotten about that bit when she tells me that she has an extra hot plate that she doesn’t use and would I like it?  Practically brand new.  And she won’t take any money for it, though she is going to let me take her for a massage on Monday. 

And the help just kept pouring in.  I needed a ride home from Ikea Friday evening to pick up the couch I wanted, so I asked two people at work that had vans/trucks, hoping one would be free. They both were, and were both willing to help!  And then M-Day arrived on Saturday morning and I get a text from another friend.  What time was a I moving my stuff, and did I want any help?  Yes, please!  And to put the icing on the cake, as my friend came with the pick-up truck, she had three teenage guys with her to help!  Needless to say, it then took less than an hour for us to get everything down the four flights of stairs, into the truck, driven to the complex next door, and hauled up the elevator to the 6^th floor.  

God is just so amazing in how he has provided for the many things this week.  There are more things to buy tomorrow, and unpacking to do, but he made “the worst of it” incredibly easy and fast and in many ways, even fun since I was with friends.  And in terms of unpacking, there’s actually a lot I can’t do right now. The new kitchen stuff is being installed next Friday, so I am going to wait until after that to unpack the kitchen stuff, and pretty much all I have are my clothes, a few books, and the kitchen stuff (okay okay, and my plants and lamps and rugs and pictures…). 

But today was definitely an illustration for me of the body of Christ at its best.  My family, who would normally help me in a situation like this, is far away.  But here in Bangna, God has provided brothers and sisters in Christ who have come alongside me and helped me. Where I had need, He provided through them.  A beautiful picture indeed. 

Creature of habit, on the move again

In the past two years, in three countries on three continents, I have lived in four different places, and on Saturday it will become five.  And I am not a big fan of change.  Years ago, at another time when the residences far outnumbered the years, I noticed something about myself when I move: I never want to leave the old house behind even when I am excited for the new one. 

I am a creature of habit, strong habits, and I fully move in and become at home wherever I live.  I establish my little routines.  So every time I move, something small inside me wonders if I'll be able to make the habits and routines fit in the new place.  When I move from somewhere big to somewhere small, will everything fit?  Of course it always does, I am just one person.  When I move from somewhere small to somewhere big, will my timing and routines still work if they are more 'spread out'?  Of course, they always do.  For as much as I hate the changes and as much as I have quite the habits and routines, I have learned that I am also quite adaptable.  Whether I am on Primera Junta or España, on Old Woodward or Bashian, at ICS or at Parkland, the new place soon becomes home and my routines make the adjustment. 

So it is with excitement, though also a twinge of sadness, that I am packing up my little studio this week and preparing to move to the new Parkland apartment.  I've really liked living in this apartment, more so than I thought I would.  I thought that having a studio would be weird to me, but I actually enjoy it.  I thought that being on campus would be horrible and I would feel like I never left work, but when I'm in my room I actually forget that I'm still on the school campus- I'm in my own world. 

By Saturday, I will buy furniture for the first time in my life (that $20 Salvation Army couch in college does not count)- I'm buying both a new couch and a new mattress for the new place.  I will purchase dishes for the first time, instead of enjoying lovely sets handed down through the family or using ones that belong to roommates.  I'm picking out silverware.  And thinking about paint colors.  It feels a bit strange, even though I am well old enough (older than most buying that stuff for the first time), but exciting too.  It might take a bit of time to settle in, but I know it will be home soon enough, as it has always become so in the past. 

The end of House Hunters Int'l Bangkok

Good news! I have found a new apartment, and a great deal at that.  On Monday morning I got an email about several apartments available to rent, one of which was in the complex that is my first choice.  The price was quite low, so I wondered what was wrong with it, but went to see it Monday evening.  To my great surprise, the apartment was quite nice.  It's the same 2 bedroom corner unit that I've looked at several times in this complex but at last I found one that was in good shape but not too expensive.

The apartment has a couple of bonus features, namely a washing machine and a water purifier, as well as 3 air con units and a new TV (Tigers on the big screen!).  It has two balconies and a decent view of a field and the city beyond, instead of a view of the apartment complex or my school, both of which are very common here.  At about 600 square feet it's a tight fit for 2 bedrooms and one bath, but it works.  The only problem was the kitchen.

It reminded me of one of my favorite old movies, an early 90's British comedy called Jack and Sarah which I quote from all the time but no one ever gets.  There's a scene where Sarah is looking at rooms to rent and they are looking at this one dumpy flat, the only thing she can afford, and Jack looks around the room and says, "I thought you said it had a kitchen."  The guy whips back a sheet hung on a wire across the back of the room revealing a small stove.  "Well," Sarah says, "I wasn't planning on having any large dinner parties."  Thankfully, I don't either. 


Thais have a bit of a different definition of kitchen.  If you've got a bit of counter and a small fridge, that's a kitchen.  This kitchen has a counter with cupboards below, a full size fridge (I'd actually prefer a smaller one, space-wise, but that's okay) and two burners, like a big hot plate.  What it lacks is a sink. When I inquired about the sink, they showed that it does indeed have one- on the balcony.  Luckily, the landlady was willing to install one in the kitchen.  I mean, I may not be much of a chef, but I can't really see myself filling the tea kettle on the balcony in the morning in my pajamas.  She actually also going to put in some cupboards above the sink and a bar from which I can hang utensils and things.  I'll probably move the last weekend of April and the kitchen stuff will be installed May 4th. 

The whole thing is odd to explain and I'm just going to have to take pictures once I move in at the end of the April.  If we keep the bit of counter she already has and add a sink unit, there is no room for the fridge. So essentially it will be in the living room, though they are really just one room.  It's going to be a bit odd, having the new bits be different from the existing counter piece she has, but ah well.

The important thing is that I have a good apartment at a good price with a guest room.  I'm already dreaming and picturing what it will all be like once I get moved in and have things the way I want them.  Open for visitors shortly!

Apartment Hunt Continues...

I feel a little bit like I am in an episode of House Hunters International, except that I don't have a real estate agent running around doing the hard part narrowing down the list for me :(  What I do have is an awesome friend who called the phone number I saw on a sign and set up an appointment for us to see an apartment today.  The location of this one was fantastic, but the unit itself wasn't great.  It would be workable, but the main thing was that it didn't really have closets and the AC units were ancient.  A few other tiny things made it not really worth the price.  So then we walked circles around the entire complex looking for "For rent" banners and called one place- but it was already rented.  There are lots of studios available and a number of 2 bedrooms for sale, but no other 2 bedrooms for rent that we could see.  We went in one of the buildings because my friend that lives in that building mentioned some units with signs on the interior doors, but we didn't see any on the 2 bedroom units.  I am so grateful for a friend who was happy to go looking with me- makes it fun instead of a chore and makes the decision less weighty when there is someone to see and evaluate with me.  Plus, then we were able to go for Frappe-something and dinner after :) 

So, hopefully one of these days I'll find a 2 bedroom unit that's in decent shape that doesn't have a view of my place of work. 

The Apartment Hunt Begins!

As I have known all along, I am going to move out of this apartment by the end of the school year.  Not only does the school need it to house next year's new teachers, I will need space to house guests.  I have, what I consider, the best unit in the building and being on campus really hasn't bothered me as much as I suspected, but the studio just isn't practical with wanting to be an open place for visitors.  And so, it starts. 

I checked out my first apartment today at the complex next door to the school. Location is super convenient and lots of teachers live in the (huge) complex. I wouldn't mind being somewhere a bit more, unique, but I think the commute might override that.  The unit I saw today had some great features- awesome built-ins throughout and a great floor- but my favorite part by far was the way the space was divided up.  There's an office/bedroom type space adjacent to the living area, with a movable wall.  90% of the time I can keep it open and have a bigger space with an open feel.  When guests come, wah-la, a bedroom!  The place has lots of windows too and the view (6th floor) is over the pool and park area, much better than parking lot or looking out at ICS- ick!  Who would want to stare at their workplace all evening!  Anyway, drawbacks are small/lack of kitchen counter space (Mom, you would die), no guest bathroom, and maybe more money than I'm hoping for.  But, all are things I could get over.  Will try to see a few more just for comparison's sake, but there's a lot to like about this place! 

Apartment Tour

Here's a little video tour of the apartment so far.  I am still working on moving furniture around and trying different arrangements, but this give you an idea.  Everything except the furniture was either brought with me or purchased this week.  That would be why my suitcases were so heavy...

The end of the shopping is in sight!

I promise that the daily updates will end soon- otherwise I am going to lose my entire overwhelmed audience!

Today was another shopping day, first at the Walmart-like store and then back to my favorite IKEA-like place.  Yesterday when I went we had these big shopping carts full of stuff and we live basically across the street from the back of the building, so they let us walk them home and one of their employees walked with us and took the carts back.  Today I was leaving alone with another cart full so I asked if I could take it and bring it back (or something like that, it was more gestures than actual words).  Instead the guy from the day before came over and pushed the cart back for me.  This time they got smart and took me out the back where the unload the trucks so we didn't have to walk around the building. 

A few funny things about living here:

• Sinks and taps don't have hot and cold water- there's just on and off.  The water is maybe a few degrees below room temp.  I suppose if you want cold water you put it in the fridge.  If you want hot you have to heat it up somehow.  My shower has a hot water heater between the tap and the spout that has been added, so I do have a hot shower option.  I don't always use it.  
• Parking at the mall is insane, so they have a special parking level, floor 2 1/2 that is only for women (and the woman must be driving, not in the passenger seat).  Floor 2.5 has a large pink "Lady Parking" sign.  There is even an attendant at the entrance to make sure you're a lady.  There's ample parking available on 2.5, which makes me wonder, who are all these men parking at the mall?  
• Buying a cell phone in the States is obnoxious and takes way longer than it should.  Buying a cell phone in Argentina is obnoxious and takes way longer than it should.  Buying a cell phone in Thailand is obnoxious and takes way longer than it should. 
• I continue to find more and more Spanish speakers on staff- people who have studied more Spanish than me and lived in Spanish speaking countries longer than me, so it's a bit intimidating to be teaching it.  I keep thinking there must be someone more qualified than me!  Don't get me wrong, I want to teach Spanish and am glad they asked me, but I do feel like a bit of a fraud with it.  

My apartment is mostly set up now. There is nothing on the walls yet and I have a big TV sized hole to fill in my entertainment center, but otherwise I feel good.  I talked to someone today about a plant nursery nearby so at some point I can get some plants- the living room needs them.  

Hot water system in the shower.