Santisuk (Peace) Music & Art Center entry and lounge area.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Open Market Artist
Kennedy painted, John and I sang, Poppy & Jasper sold cookies under the sky until it rained, then it got a little crazy. The teens and all the rest of us huddled under a tarp while Kennedy and John tried to get the tarp up. Here the tarp is up and Kennedy is under it with his easel.
Jasper & John & Teens
It was raining hard but we managed to get the tarp up, Kennedy got soaked. Jasper had a great time and everyone had fun. Some of John's music students are in the background. We are getting to know them some now.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Future Music Room
This is the room we chose for John (our Filipino partner) to use for his music practice room.
Center Front
This is the front of our new Peace Music & Art Center in Takuapa, Southern Thailand. We are on the bottom story. There is a coffeeshop on the right side. This is across the street from the Wat Yan Yaw temple which was used as a morgue after the tsunami.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Mudball boy
Here's the boy, covered in mud. He and a Thai friend had a mud-ball fight for fun at the orphanage. (I think my son lost.) He loved it!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Emergency in Bangkok
Just a note to let you know we live about 12 hours south of Bangkok, so we are not in any danger where we live.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Glass Art in Walkway
There were dozens of these beautiful glass sculptures lining the bridge to the museum.
Glass Art Tacoma WA
I absolutely loved the beautiful glass artwork that filled Tacoma, Washington. This shot is part of the ceiling of a walkway that was filled with it. We saw some incredible, monsterous glass art chandelliars, too. Thanks again, Dave & Darlene, for the wonderful day we spent together.
Friday, March 27, 2009
My Army Days
Here's a few pictures from a friend (thanks, Leora) of my Army days. The first one I'm at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey learning German. This particular day I'm scrubbing the floor with my friends because we are all in trouble.
The second one is me and my dear friend Leora at Desert Storm after the U.S. won the war.
The third one is me in Desert Storm blowing sand off my Cokes.
So strange to see these pictures again, so glad someone brought a camera!
The second one is me and my dear friend Leora at Desert Storm after the U.S. won the war.
The third one is me in Desert Storm blowing sand off my Cokes.
So strange to see these pictures again, so glad someone brought a camera!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Whoaaa, how did we get back here so fast?
Our time in the U.S. felt much too short. I didn't feel ready to come back, but this was how the plans were laid and here we are. I feel hot and dazed, jet-lagged and still adjusting to culture and our bug-infested house. Our first day of homeschooling, today, was a fiasco of finding items and hoping I had brought it all back from America. I didn't.
We didn't get to see everyone we wanted to, and some folks we wanted to see more than we did, but again, time constraints.
Someday I want that full year. So far it has just been a few months here and there, which is better than nothing, but someday it would be nice to spend a year. (I wonder what we would do? Kennedy would hate it unless he took art classes or something.)
Our dogs were shaggy, but alive...so glad about that. We took them to the poodle parlor the day after we arrived and we got our beautiful dogs back. They probably need therapy for being left alone for such long stretches of time. At least they had a big yard and each other.
We got up early and ran on the beach this morning, dragging the kids with us.
So sleepy...must be jetlag
We didn't get to see everyone we wanted to, and some folks we wanted to see more than we did, but again, time constraints.
Someday I want that full year. So far it has just been a few months here and there, which is better than nothing, but someday it would be nice to spend a year. (I wonder what we would do? Kennedy would hate it unless he took art classes or something.)
Our dogs were shaggy, but alive...so glad about that. We took them to the poodle parlor the day after we arrived and we got our beautiful dogs back. They probably need therapy for being left alone for such long stretches of time. At least they had a big yard and each other.
We got up early and ran on the beach this morning, dragging the kids with us.
So sleepy...must be jetlag
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Funny Signs We Saw Along the Way
"Aloha Septic Systems"
"Stupid Prices"
"7 Demon Saloon"
"Yahweh's 666 Warning Assembly"
"nunhems"
"Stupid Prices"
"7 Demon Saloon"
"Yahweh's 666 Warning Assembly"
"nunhems"
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Oregon, Washington, Idaho
Tomorrow Kennedy and I leave for our 10 day trip to visit friends, family & churches in Oregon, Washington, & Idaho. After we come home we will leave in another 5 days after that for Chicago, Iowa & Indiana. This could be the most boring post ever in my blog...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Being In America
We've been in America since December 4th, about 7 weeks now. We've gotten over reverse-culture shock and are enjoying the USA thoroughly! We'll be here until March 19th.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Our Airport-Closure Adventure
We knew that time was tight between the end of our conference in the Northern end of Thailand and our flight out of the country from the Southern end. We figured that since we would be flying there would be no problem getting home in a day and giving ourselves 2 full days before our flight to the U.S. We were scheduled to fly back to Southern Thailand on December 1st and get on our flight to the U.S. on December 4th.
We flew to Chiang Mai with no inkling that the beautiful new airport we transferred at in Bangkok would be seiged by protesters just a few days later. At our conference we realized that we were not going to be flying back.
The alternatives were train, bus, rent a car or rent a mini-van with a driver. Being economical we chose the train or bus, and in the end, due to scheduling, it had to be the bus. It would be a grueling 20+ hour trip home, but we weren't overly concerned because Thailand has beautiful VIP buses that are really nice to ride in.
Unfortunately there weren't any left when we showed up at the bus station.
In the end, we found ourselves jolting along in a dirty bus breathing unsafe amounts of exhaust and fuel fumes. In the middle of the night we tried to doze as the lady next to us vomited and our bodies and heads ached from the fumes and cramped seating. From 9 a.m. Monday December 1st until 11 a.m. Tuesday December 2nd, we were just longing for the whole ordeal to be over and be back safe at our house here in Southern Thailand.
I was so grateful to arrive home today; headachy, dazed and sore, but thankful.
Tomorrow we pack and get our house ready for our 3 1/2 month trip away, and the next day, Thursday, we fly.
Hopefully.
We flew to Chiang Mai with no inkling that the beautiful new airport we transferred at in Bangkok would be seiged by protesters just a few days later. At our conference we realized that we were not going to be flying back.
The alternatives were train, bus, rent a car or rent a mini-van with a driver. Being economical we chose the train or bus, and in the end, due to scheduling, it had to be the bus. It would be a grueling 20+ hour trip home, but we weren't overly concerned because Thailand has beautiful VIP buses that are really nice to ride in.
Unfortunately there weren't any left when we showed up at the bus station.
In the end, we found ourselves jolting along in a dirty bus breathing unsafe amounts of exhaust and fuel fumes. In the middle of the night we tried to doze as the lady next to us vomited and our bodies and heads ached from the fumes and cramped seating. From 9 a.m. Monday December 1st until 11 a.m. Tuesday December 2nd, we were just longing for the whole ordeal to be over and be back safe at our house here in Southern Thailand.
I was so grateful to arrive home today; headachy, dazed and sore, but thankful.
Tomorrow we pack and get our house ready for our 3 1/2 month trip away, and the next day, Thursday, we fly.
Hopefully.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Seashells
She looked mad, remembering the seashell given to her by a young missionary that had just came back from a visit to the ocean. "Why did she give me this thing! It didn't cost anything, she just picked it up from the sand!" I was speechless. The intensity of her annoyance really surprised me. Then she showed me a cross-stiched bookmark another young missionary had made and given her. "Look at this! It is so cheap, what kind of present is this for me, her teacher, for Teacher's Day!" I don't remember what I said, but I put the cultural information in my brain-file.
What was that all about?
I understand the young missionary's thoughts. "Oh, I'm at the ocean and I'm thinking about my beloved Thai teacher. Here's a shell, I think I'll pick it up and bring it to her to show I was thinking about her."
Then the bookmark, "I'm really stretched for money right now but I know I need to get something for my teacher to show her I appreciate her. I know! I can cross-stitch a bookmark. I know the Thais like cross-stitch, and if I do it myself she will know I felt she was valuable enough to do it myself, not just buy something."
For another Westerner, the thoughts would be understood and appreciated. "How lovely my friend thought of me even though she was away from me." or "She made this for me herself, to show me she values me."
For the Thai teacher, free or cheap gifts convey that the giver feels she is low in value. That day she complained to me about all the cheap gifts her missionary students give her. She wants big gifts, expensive gifts, gifts that really show how much they love her. Yet, for the westerner, there is no obligation to give any gifts at all, really. Even a card is an extra bonus, after all doesn't their money pay her salary? Who is she to feel she ought to get big gifts?
This is one of those cultural things where everyone means well but nothing goes very well. On teacher's day I made sure I bought her something big and flashy, and not made by me. I bet she shows it to all her new students and says, "THIS is a good Teacher's Day present!"
What was that all about?
I understand the young missionary's thoughts. "Oh, I'm at the ocean and I'm thinking about my beloved Thai teacher. Here's a shell, I think I'll pick it up and bring it to her to show I was thinking about her."
Then the bookmark, "I'm really stretched for money right now but I know I need to get something for my teacher to show her I appreciate her. I know! I can cross-stitch a bookmark. I know the Thais like cross-stitch, and if I do it myself she will know I felt she was valuable enough to do it myself, not just buy something."
For another Westerner, the thoughts would be understood and appreciated. "How lovely my friend thought of me even though she was away from me." or "She made this for me herself, to show me she values me."
For the Thai teacher, free or cheap gifts convey that the giver feels she is low in value. That day she complained to me about all the cheap gifts her missionary students give her. She wants big gifts, expensive gifts, gifts that really show how much they love her. Yet, for the westerner, there is no obligation to give any gifts at all, really. Even a card is an extra bonus, after all doesn't their money pay her salary? Who is she to feel she ought to get big gifts?
This is one of those cultural things where everyone means well but nothing goes very well. On teacher's day I made sure I bought her something big and flashy, and not made by me. I bet she shows it to all her new students and says, "THIS is a good Teacher's Day present!"
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
"Flying" Golden Tree Snake
Here's a snake we welcome to our home! This is the beautiful non-venomous "Golden Tree Snake" and it is eating a gecko. It hung up there for a very long time and we think the gecko was so heavy it was having a hard time hauling it up.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Ginger Is Home!
Whoever took her decided to bring her back, so Ginger is home with us again, and we are so happy!
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Ginger Stolen
Ginger, our beloved teacup poodle, shown here a few months ago, was stolen yesterday. We were warned this might happen, because she is so unusual and beautiful, and we tried to keep her safe, but yesterday she slipped out the gate while Kennedy was leaving. The neighbors saw her for a bit, but they couldn't tell us what happened to her. We are heartbroken. She was so friendly. She is full-grown in this picture.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Fish heads and Fish eyeballs
You know you've been in Thailand awhile when:
You are always served fish with the head on and your friend asks for the eyeball.
Your son isn't sure how to shake hands.
You spray mosquito repellent on every evening at dusk, and stay inside the house.
Toads live in your shoes and in your kitchen.
Walls are covered in geckos, flat surfaces are covered with gecko poop.
You are always served fish with the head on and your friend asks for the eyeball.
Your son isn't sure how to shake hands.
Snakes, centipedes, scorpions, giant spiders & leeches are part of your everyday life.
Your kids haven't had Kraft Mac-N-Cheese for 2 years.You spray mosquito repellent on every evening at dusk, and stay inside the house.
Toads live in your shoes and in your kitchen.
Walls are covered in geckos, flat surfaces are covered with gecko poop.
You pick up a tiny branch in your bathroom and it turns into a bug.
Everything is covered with a weird greasy grime.
Shoes disintegrate within a year or so.
Everyone is smiling at a funeral, including you.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Come See Us On T.V. !!!
Here's the long waited moment when we finally get to see the show they did on our team at the center next door about the wild foods they hunt down and cook up. (Too bad they missed the python last month.)
(60 minutes) Remind Me Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Phuket, Thailand TV-PG
Join Andrew in Phuket, a tropical paradise and a favorite of travelers from around the world. He'll venture beyond the stunning beaches to discover the Thais who live in this part of the country embrace life on all levels and feast on all things.
http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-schedules/series.html?seriesId=31753&start=40
It will also run: Sep 9 11 p.m. ET Sep 10 2 a.m. ET Sep 10 9 p.m. ET Sep 11 1 a.m. ET Sep 11 7 p.m. ET Sep 15 9 p.m. ET Sep 16 1 a.m. ET"
T.V. Schedule
"Sep. 09 10:00PM ET(60 minutes) Remind Me Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Phuket, Thailand TV-PG
Join Andrew in Phuket, a tropical paradise and a favorite of travelers from around the world. He'll venture beyond the stunning beaches to discover the Thais who live in this part of the country embrace life on all levels and feast on all things.
http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-schedules/series.html?seriesId=31753&start=40
It will also run: Sep 9 11 p.m. ET Sep 10 2 a.m. ET Sep 10 9 p.m. ET Sep 11 1 a.m. ET Sep 11 7 p.m. ET Sep 15 9 p.m. ET Sep 16 1 a.m. ET"
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Leech Up The Nose
Ginger sniffed a leech and it went up her nose. We pulled it out and it was full of blood. Poor Ginger...
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Staphylococcus aureus
We are so relieved that Poppy does NOT have methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, like we feared. She has a tetracycline-resistant Staphylococcus aereus infection, which is not as serious.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Froot Loop, Cobra-Battler
Here's our silly little poodle, who has ferociously attacked 3 cobras now and somehow avoided being bitten. Our little hero. He's almost always the first to find them and alert us to the danger. Today Kennedy thought for sure he was a goner, the snake struck at him several times but didn't pierce through for some reason. (Too much fur?)
Cobra pics 006
"When at rest cobra's heads are not very distinct from the neck, but when threatened and on the defensive the ribs in the neck can be expanded to create the famous cobra 'hood'. -Snakes Of Thailand (Quoted from this book.)
Monocellate Cobra
Froot Loop our dog found it by the dryer on our porch. We have had around 10 sightings of juvenile cobras in the past month or so.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Baby Cobras
Jasper and our dog Froot Loop found a juvenile cobra just outside our front door 5 minutes ago. Kennedy found one 2, 3 weeks ago, and another was found in our yard last week. Which means a clutch of eggs has hatched nearby and we've got a cobra snake problem. Sigh. My stomach feels like jiggly jelly. The cobra we just saw slid down a drainpipe. Oh Lord have mercy....
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Hands-On Homeschooling
The day our co-workers skinned and butchered the python was a "just-next-door" field trip for Poppy and Jasper. They managed to see the entire process and not get sick...unlike me. Poppy ate some snake for lunch, Jasper ate some of the chickens the snake had killed, and I'm still unable to make myself try the snake. Go, kids, go!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Reticulated Python Pics, Bang Sak
Not a Burmese, but a Reticulated Python...a juvenile. This is the longest recorded snake known. Poppy ate some for lunch yesterday, and Jasper ate some of the chicken that Tanom prepared from the hens that the snake killed.
Life is an adventure.
Life is an adventure.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Burmese Python-Snake of the Month
We are going to eat it for lunch today. The neighbor on the hill found the snake squeezing 3 of his chickens and killed it. After he killed it he called Tanom to come get the dead snake and chickens. Today Len and Gi are skinning, gutting and roasting the big snake. Tanom is doing the chickens.
Poppy and Jasper have been watching the whole thing...great educational opportunity for them. I have been watching, too, until my stomach can't take it anymore and I have to run home. Poppy is the bravest of us all. "I'm going to eat some of that snake!"
I'll upload a picture later.
Poppy and Jasper have been watching the whole thing...great educational opportunity for them. I have been watching, too, until my stomach can't take it anymore and I have to run home. Poppy is the bravest of us all. "I'm going to eat some of that snake!"
I'll upload a picture later.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Southern Thai Ladies
Not everyone dresses like this, of course. These ladies look like they are working fields.
Southern Thailand map
Map of our ministry area. We live on the West coast, on the Andaman Sea, just above the big island dropping off in the middle like a tear-drop...that is Phuket.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
City Pillar
This is the city pillar for Surat Thani, the next province over from us here in Phang Nga.
The foundational sacrifice when establishing a city. It was general practice that human sacrifices were made when establishing the walls and gates of a city. The belief common at that time was that the ghost of the person who died violently would protect the city site. Tradition says that a pregnant woman would be regaled for
several preparatory days, and then ceremoniously thrown into the foundational hole, face up. The pole of planting was driven through the pregnant woman’s baby-in-the-womb, through
her own body, and into the ground, by public authorities. Thus, violent death, the blood of the baby, and the pregnant woman, forms the foundation of the City’s safety and prosperity.
The city pillar is the home of the guardian spirits, the defending demons. Those spirits must be venerated each year to avert their wrath.
Every major city of Thailand has a city pillar where it is said that the guardian of the city resides. This protective pillar is known as a lak muang. All these pillars are the locus of the spirit of the city, and the ceremonies are performed to maintain good relations with it. Offerings are made and ceremonies carried out to pay respect to the lak muang, in order to ensure the continued safety and prosperity of the city. Monks chant sutras at specific times around the pillar, and offerings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables are made to the spirit of the place.
Some excerpts taken from:
http://vccm-th.org/modules/AMS/index.php?storytopic=3
and
http://www.chiangmaitouristguide.com/05-2004/feature1.html
The foundational sacrifice when establishing a city. It was general practice that human sacrifices were made when establishing the walls and gates of a city. The belief common at that time was that the ghost of the person who died violently would protect the city site. Tradition says that a pregnant woman would be regaled for
several preparatory days, and then ceremoniously thrown into the foundational hole, face up. The pole of planting was driven through the pregnant woman’s baby-in-the-womb, through
her own body, and into the ground, by public authorities. Thus, violent death, the blood of the baby, and the pregnant woman, forms the foundation of the City’s safety and prosperity.
The city pillar is the home of the guardian spirits, the defending demons. Those spirits must be venerated each year to avert their wrath.
Every major city of Thailand has a city pillar where it is said that the guardian of the city resides. This protective pillar is known as a lak muang. All these pillars are the locus of the spirit of the city, and the ceremonies are performed to maintain good relations with it. Offerings are made and ceremonies carried out to pay respect to the lak muang, in order to ensure the continued safety and prosperity of the city. Monks chant sutras at specific times around the pillar, and offerings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables are made to the spirit of the place.
Some excerpts taken from:
http://vccm-th.org/modules/AMS/index.php?storytopic=3
and
http://www.chiangmaitouristguide.com/05-2004/feature1.html
Monday, June 09, 2008
Mass Possession At School
Last week dozens of school children became possessed in the same way as the adults do at the annual Vegetarian Festival here in Southern Thailand. Teachers called in ambulances. This has happened before in Southern Thailand, there is good documentation on one website that I found, and their interpretation of what was happening. I put a link to it to the title above.
It was on Thai t.v. news, but I couldn't find it on the English internet Thai news sites. I will keep looking in the next few days for something about it on the internet, but it will probably be a private resource because this is probably going to be viewed as something a little embarassing to the country.
It was not a welcome event, in any case, at a school. At the Vegetarian Festival, however, thousands of adults, both men and women, believe they are chosen by the spirits to be possessed. They are then skewered with metal rods, usually in their mouths, and parade in groups going to houses and businesses to bless the occupants who have prepared a table for the spirit ceremony for them, including special food and tea.
It was on Thai t.v. news, but I couldn't find it on the English internet Thai news sites. I will keep looking in the next few days for something about it on the internet, but it will probably be a private resource because this is probably going to be viewed as something a little embarassing to the country.
It was not a welcome event, in any case, at a school. At the Vegetarian Festival, however, thousands of adults, both men and women, believe they are chosen by the spirits to be possessed. They are then skewered with metal rods, usually in their mouths, and parade in groups going to houses and businesses to bless the occupants who have prepared a table for the spirit ceremony for them, including special food and tea.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Asia Giant Forest Scorpion
A little more info on our latest visitor...
It's scientific name is "Heterometrus Spinifer"-same size as the well-known Emperor Scorpion, but much more aggressive.
This one is a juvunile, about 4 inches from head to end of tail. It will grow bigger, up to 6 inches or so.
It already looks huge!
The kids want to raise it, of course. They are already running around looking for bugs & lizards for it to eat.
It's scientific name is "Heterometrus Spinifer"-same size as the well-known Emperor Scorpion, but much more aggressive.
This one is a juvunile, about 4 inches from head to end of tail. It will grow bigger, up to 6 inches or so.
It already looks huge!
The kids want to raise it, of course. They are already running around looking for bugs & lizards for it to eat.
Burma Doesn't Need Aid...They Have Frogs!
That's what the junta is saying now; the victims can eat frogs, fish and edible weeds they find around...they don't need aid, just send cash to the government.
Here's some excerpts from the regime's official newspaper:
"The government and the people are like parents and children," the paper said. "We, all the people, were pleased with the efforts of the government."
(Liars, liars, pants on fire!)
"Myanmar (Burmese) people are capable enough of rising from such natural disasters even if they are not provided with international assistance," the newspaper said.
"Myanmar people can easily get fish for dishes by just fishing in the fields and ditches," the paper said. "In the early monsoon, large edible frogs are abundant."
"The people (of the Irrawaddy delta) can survive with self-reliant efforts even if they are not given chocolate bars from (the) international community," it added.
No aid agencies are known to have provided chocolate bars to victims of Cyclone Nargis. (Excerpts and last sentence taken from the Bangkok Post http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=127914 )
Here's some excerpts from the regime's official newspaper:
"The government and the people are like parents and children," the paper said. "We, all the people, were pleased with the efforts of the government."
(Liars, liars, pants on fire!)
"Myanmar (Burmese) people are capable enough of rising from such natural disasters even if they are not provided with international assistance," the newspaper said.
"Myanmar people can easily get fish for dishes by just fishing in the fields and ditches," the paper said. "In the early monsoon, large edible frogs are abundant."
"The people (of the Irrawaddy delta) can survive with self-reliant efforts even if they are not given chocolate bars from (the) international community," it added.
No aid agencies are known to have provided chocolate bars to victims of Cyclone Nargis. (Excerpts and last sentence taken from the Bangkok Post http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=127914 )
Friday, May 30, 2008
Look What We Found....
We found this big scorpion this morning in our livingroom! We had to drag the dogs and cat away from it, they were determined to play with it. It was climbing and crawling all over the place until we finally managed to flip it into a container. It sure looks menacing, and BIG.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
What Will They Find?
3 weeks after the devastation the Burmese military junta is now allowing aid workers into the country to help the survivors of the cyclone disaster that left over 100,000 dead.
The feeling here among the Thai and ex-pats is unbelief and a sense of outrage that people already suffering should be subjected to gross neglect for the sake of the military junta's agenda. Not to mention the selling of donated aid for the survivors for personal profit, or the demand of thousands of dollars in corruption money for those aid workers who were finally allowed to enter the country a week ago.
The feeling here among the Thai and ex-pats is unbelief and a sense of outrage that people already suffering should be subjected to gross neglect for the sake of the military junta's agenda. Not to mention the selling of donated aid for the survivors for personal profit, or the demand of thousands of dollars in corruption money for those aid workers who were finally allowed to enter the country a week ago.
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