In between home and home day 14 - 15

 Day 14 we lived twice... 

...we crossed the International Date Line in flying home. It was a smooth journey home, with only standing in line over and over again through various airports being the worst thing that happened to us.

We arrived in Ottawa 

    to be met by Jasmin's long-time friend who has been texting with Jasmin daily the full 5 years we were in Asia! How special is that?!

    to wait more for our luggage - but it all arrived without any damage or adventures.

    to be met with grandparents bringing a suitcase of winter coats and mitts for this stupendously tired and cold family.

    to gather around the table to eat a long remembered YeaYea's chicken ala king supper

        enjoy hot showers

            and fall into bed.

Day 15 Home, yet not home yet

Because of our long flight home starting at 2am and the resulting messed up sleep schedule, jetlag didn't stand a chance. We all slept pretty well, and more or less made it through the day... 

    although Dad had a morning nap 

                    not much school got done (really some did, how amazing is that!?)

                   and at the end of it Aiden fell asleep on a friends' couch and our words were getting nicely mixed up!

Mom and Aiden went out in the afternoon with NiNi and got Mom a driver's license, Aiden some winter boots, and Jasmin some snow pants. This was all that was needed (except one more pair of boots) after Mom spent the morning searching through our stored goods - somehow she'd managed to store enough winter clothing to keep us all warm, even though she'd only guessed at Aiden's 10 year old size.

And in a rather last minute arrangement, we went for supper at some long-time friends' house - like we couldn't stand being so close and not get together right away 😄It was a fantastic way to end the day. Just like before we left, the kids were loud in their eager fun together, and the parents had tons to say to each other!

In between home and home day 13

Today  ...

A final Asian hotel breakfast of rice, noodles, and soup 

A final attempt to get ahead with school and university work sharing computers in our hotel rooms

A final lunch (well, just snacks) from 7-11 and roasted eggs off the street

A final use of BAHT cash

A final repacking of our bags

A final supper with our Bangkok friends 

A final wait for dad talking with someone, listening to the mix of familiar Asian languages

And later, A final drive through Bangkok traffic to the airport

A first and hopefully final reunion with a lost (left behind) bag

And much later (2 am), a final flight out of our so familiar and much loved Asia, headed to our no longer so familiar home in Canada.

In between home and home day 12

 Today

We got up late - so nice to have that choice!

We are well despite skipping lunch altogether.

Grace and Mom sang worship songs for an hour for morning church.

Mom and the kids braved the "cold" to go swimming - laps of the small pool in each stroke.

We got in some read aloud.

Mom worked on a presentation about second language acquisition for our friends with an English school.

We attempted to go to evening church at the church we used to attend when we lived here, but after trying two different locations we discovered it doesn't have an evening service any more.

Mom and dad have the presentation to our friend and two of his staff (and Grace who was interested). We started at 8pm and finished after 11 - So many questions and discussions!

In between home and home day 11

 Today we lost and found...

We flew back to Bangkok this morning, discovering on the way that Grace accidentally left her hand bag at the gate in Chiang Mai😬

With prayer, we approached our airline for lost bags, thinking maybe we could have a Chiang Mai friend pick it up for us. We learned that if the bag was found, our airline would fly it to Bangkok for us to pick it up!

All the way to the hotel we prayed it would be found. And it was! So now we just have to coordinate pick up on Monday night when we are back at the airport to fly to Canada...

We also were reunited with the rest of our suitcases, so now Mom has the job of yet again repacking - for Canada this time!

The rest of the day we spent recuperating in the hotel room: debriefing, planning, snoozing, catching up on work set aside for the last week.

2 more days before the big journey...

In between home and home day 10

 Today 

We all realized it's the last day and there was a flurry of side meetings to get in all the necessary exchanges before people started leaving.

There was a lot of prayer and praise together as we reflected on the week past and the weeks ahead.

Jasmin's allergies cleared up after the rain last night that cleared the air.

Mom bounced from meeting to meeting while dad fielded the logistics of our check out and early morning flight back to Bangkok tomorrow.

Now we can start truly thinking about landing in Canada...

In between home and home day 9

 Today:

More meetings... And the beginning of a new shawl on Mom's crochet hook

Dad's presentation got unusually interrupted: two hotel workers brought in a large computer monitor and started setting it up while he was speaking to the group even to the point of unplugging his computer that he was presenting from!

More school... that yet again got interrupted as:

The kids got locked out of Mom and Dad's room so Aiden didn't have computer access for a bit, and,

Dad met with one of the counseling centers here this afternoon.

Aiden got to jump in the freezing pool with Mom for a little bit after she was done with meetings. And then, there were boys on the small yard playing soccer so Aiden joined for an hour before dark.

In between home and home day 8

Today we had an intense morning; Mom in meetings and kids in school. And then, after lunch, the whole team of us went to Art in Paradise and just had fun together! We have loads of pictures...

2D Café coolness

Asian version of Lamppost waste and Cair Paravel?

The fun was good for us as a team, evidenced by the increased volume of conversations in the vans coming back, the laughter over a shared supper, and no one wanting to break up the group by being the first to leave to our rooms.

But now this evening, back to work for Mom & Dad -- and Grace who as a live class to attend tonight.

...Weird to think next Wednesday will be our first full day back in Canada...

In between home and home day 7

 Today:

Aiden discovered that the resident cats appreciate him coming to breakfast! This was yesterday, but today they were all back around his chair again. Of course, now he's fed them bits on purpose.

More meetings for Mom, more school for kids, more great food for all...

Mom saw a greater coucal bird (and sunbirds, doves, and another bird we've yet to identify).

The kids got in a swim as well, so they do get out of the hotel room!

In the evening, Mom got to visit one of the families she is SAFE consultant for.

We had chocolates, cookies, and fudge delivered to us by one of the local SAFE consultant's family for Valentine's Day.

Grace is taking her mid-term exams this evening!

In-between home and home day 6

 Today began the conference week...

meaning

• lots of yummy food at more times than anyone can be possibly hungry for (though Aiden gave it a good shot!)
• Mom was gone in meetings all day and has plenty new things swirling in her head
• the kids buckled down to a calm day of school - with dad for a change - and got a satisfyingly big chunk done despite juggling the sharing of computing devices
• Dad took Grace to visit Payap University to explore the realm of ethnomusicology and delighted to see Grace light up and buzz with enthusiasm of a program at the crossroads of all her interests and delights: music, story, languages, serving God. So, this gal in her first semester of her bachelor's degree already has plans for her master's degree!

In-between home and home day 5

 We began today early...

...by joining the 7:30am English service of our friend's Anglican church! We quite enjoyed the liturgy, partially because we were more familiar with it after our Easter week of liturgical exploration.

We rejoiced today greatly...

...Dad was privileged to be the one to lead one of our friend's employees to Christ after church.

We traveled today slowly...

...After the morning rejoicing, we wandered the streets a little hunting a money exchanger and lunch. We were successful in both, finding a Subway for a more salad based lunch and an exchanger with good rates. Then, a long ride to the airport, long lines though the airport, and a long wait at our gate - made longer with a flight delay. But we made it here to Chaing Mai for the week.

We amused ourselves today widely....

...singing while we waited for Dad, phone games, crochet, drawing, sudoku, random Puppy/Boopie wars, reading, roaming conversations...

...it was amusing to listen in to the kids' wandering conversation along the way today: along with their usual world/story creations, they covered topics like the ontology of video games, the existence of the 4th wall in advertising, and the philosophical definition of audience - not exactly expected topics for casual kid conversation!

We switch gears today...

Mom transitions into SAFE work mode and will "disappear" for the week of staff meetings, while Dad runs the family. Tonight Mom will orient Dad on the schooling that needs to happen - and where everything is packed :)

In-between home and home day 4

 Today we ate well again courtesy of our friends 😊 

We reciprocated the blessing with a prayer walk through of his English school business this morning and a business consultation this evening.

By the time we got back to the hotel, no one felt like going anywhere else so we stayed in. Grace had to play a video game (to write a critique essay on it) for one of her courses, so the kids enjoyed the afternoon 🙂

Mom did some more sorting and packing, preparing us for flying to Chaing Mai tomorrow under strick 7kg/person luggage limits. She'll be very glad to properly unpack and not have to repack immediately when we finally get to our home in Ottawa!

In-between home and home day 3

 First full day in Bangkok...

     We sleep in luxuriously 

          have a scrumptious late breakfast

               Kids get a bit of school done

                    Aiden and Mom check out the gym

                         while Dad has a nap and Grace does school

                                Another lovely meal given us for lunch (well before we were hungry)

                                    Dad has preparation for Chiang Mai meetings to do

                                        so Mom and the kids go on an adventure 

                                            looking for a suitcase to replace the ripped bag

We walked the 2 km to the SkyTrain station upon discovery that a Grab car would cost over 100 bht.

    We took the Skytrain to MBK mall, a nice nostalgic trip past many stations and destinations we used     to go when we lived here.

        Imagine our surprise to discover just inside the entrance - a Tim Hortons!?!

            We anticipated searching long for just the right suitcase at just the right price but...

                nearly within sight of the entrance, the very first store with luggage for sale had exactly what                 we were looking for at a decently good price!

                    Unfortunately, we used up nearly all our Thai baht paying for it as the store did not take                         card payments...

                        to the point where we didn't have enough cash for the SkyTrain fare back to our hotel...

                            so we wandered around a little while Mom tried to contact Dad about getting more                                 baht without success.

                                Eventually, we decided to wander through the many malls on that street back                                             towards a previous SkyTrain station to perhaps get a lower fare.

                                    It didn't work, as the fare goes by zones rather than by stops...

                                        and the idea of walking back didn't fly as the thought of navigating the bumpy                                         sidewalks with a suitcase so far was not pleasant thought,

                                            so Mom booked a Grab car.

Traffic in Bangkok is bad any time, any day, but trying to go anywhere at the end of Friday afternoon...

    it took us longer to get back than the walk-train-shopping took all together!

        Yeay, despite the size difference, the bag's contents fit in the suitcase without trouble!

            We all stayed in for the rest of the evening, snacking on leftover food from yesterday instead of             going out again.

                Dad has a zoom call this evening, and Grace a university class on zoom also. Even in the                         middle of in-between, life carries on.

In-between home and home day 1&2

This must be one of the smoothest travels we've had in...forever? So we started keeping a thankful list.

1 We were all up in plenty of time for a 7:45 am departure, even though we were up late the day before.

2 Taxi arrived on time and the van was not very late and dad had the phone number of the driver so anxiousness was tiny. Fail point one passed uneventfully.

3 One of Aiden's friend's actually came to see him off.

4 We didn't get lost (this happened last time we we're leaving here with a ride from church!) or stuck in traffic (quite conceivable considering where we were going and at what time of day) on the way to the train station.

5 It was easy to get tickets and we didn't have to pay any luggage fees as the website suggested. 

6 Taxi was cheaper than expected so the taxi donation given actually bought our train tickets too!

7 We had time to bathroom and snack before the train. 

8 Despite the lift bearing a sign that it was out of order and we'd started to lug all our luggage down the stairs to the platform...dad discovered the lift to platform was not broken after all so we got down without multiple trips up and down the stairs.

9 We got on the train with no problem: no protests at the amount of luggage, plenty of time, etc. 

10 Our big bag broke open but we lost nothing out of it and Mom used the straps from our tubs to keep it together until we can replace it in Bangkok.

11 Mom was still able to break the 100 RM bill that was undepositable after not using it to pay taxi.

12 We arrived hungry at the border but food was available before immigration so we didn't have to wait longer.

14 We had an extra long wait as we were forgetting the time change but that meant dad had time to work on his presentation and we had lots of time to get through immigration and customs to be ready for the train.

15 We had a difficult talk about beds and luggage with mixed language abilities once on the train but we got it settled ok in the end. 

16 There was no food car on train like before to order food but food became available before we were too hungry (sellers jumping on with their wares at some stations).

17 Our beds were made right away so we could sleep early as we were all tired.

18 the train was not too full so our luggage was not a problem and sleep was easier. 

19 We got good breakfast food from sellers walking the train, though we almost made one miss getting off as we were slow with the money.

20 God sent us a Thai angel when we needed help. We discovered upon arrival that the terminal train station had been switched a few months ago without notice or fanfare. So we got off the train, not knowing where we were, not where we'd arranged pick up, and without working phones as our Thai sim wasn't working. But the guy who'd been beside us on the train offered help: translation of our questions and the answers, a phone to use to call our friend who'd arranged the van for us, found us luggage carts, and escorted us to the correct exit to meet with our van!

21 We were told we'd have to wait for the van maybe 1/2 hour but he was already there when we got to the correct exit!

22 Our friends have blessed us with a free stay in 2 adjoining rooms at their hotel so we will sleep well each in our own beds whereas usually in hotels we are sharing one room and three beds max.

23 Mom and Dad went lunch hunting after arriving at the hotel on a vague memory of Mom's and it was correct!

There's likely more that could be added to this list, but mom wants a nap while dad is out trying to get a Thai sim card working in his phone. Then likely a late supper with our friends and then quiet sleep! First stage of our journey from home to home done. Thank you God for all these and more!

Cross world countdown day 1

 This is it! Tomorrow we embark on our journey from home to home... With a week in Chiang Mai "on the way" so that we actually arrive in Canada on the 21st.

Not sure if we'll manage to keep up in-between daily posting...

Today 

Dad sped read books so we don't have to take them and finalized a few hanging arrangements for handing over items borrowed.

He also (following our provider's insistent instructions to upgrade router firmware) killed our internet...oops. so we've done without this last day.

Grace worked on getting much of her week's university work done so she'll be clear for travel days, being remarkably patient with spotty internet using her phone as a hotspot.

Jasmin worked on finishing a writing project.

Aiden finished up a little bit of school and the played furiously a last hurrah with his friends, only arriving home about 7:30 pm just in time for an odd last leftovers supper.

And Mom? She did everything else🙃 Not exactly. She gathered and packed the final things, trying to arrange things most usefully for our many overlapping requirements. Fed people (even the desired tandoori chicken on the 'before we leave' list!), cleaned the fridge, emptied rooms, passed on the last things we're not taking...

And yet this morning she took the time for a final physio session since on the weekend she'd started having a bit of foot trouble and even nerve pain again😬  Since she is now clear of that, the time taken out for physio was well worth it.

And Mom got help weighing the suitcases, taking out the mounds of garbage and recycling gathered from around the house, and now she's going to take a hot shower and rest while the rest of the family rearranges furniture according to the landlords specifications and cleans.

We leave tomorrow morning at 7:45am. For the train station where we will take a komuter train to the border. Then an overnight train after crossing the border. A nice trip except when accompanied by

Hoping we and it all arrive together at our many destinations 😊 

Cross-world Countdown day 2

Things are going surprisingly well - we are not crazy busy with tons of last minute must dos. Thank you God!

Aiden got to the end of a unit in both math and French so we're in a good place to stop schoolwork for a bit while we travel.

And he got to play with friends again all afternoon and evening! He came home so ravenous, he ate all the leftovers as well as what we had set aside for him!
It's going to be a bit of a shock to be with just family while we travel and settle for him... but we're glad to see him enjoying every last bit of time with them.

Mom had enough time free today to take a neighbour's kind offer of a souvenir shop together. She bought us a batik tablecloth and Mom a handmade Indian blouse! Very generous, indeed.

Dad met with yet another potential PhD advisor this morning, yet we are still without the final go ahead for him to officially start. But, it is looking much better than before, even though these last few have basically said, "Great idea. I'm not the best fit, let me introduce you to someone else."

We got in the last loads of laundry just in time this morning as the washing machine left shortly after it finished the last load! 

And the bikes have all gone to new homes (save two that we will leave with a friend to be picked up after we leave).

In between all the other things of the day, Mom sorted and packed odds and ends and clothing.

We managed to have an hour of read aloud after supper.

Mom spent the evening collecting all our recyclables and garbage... an amazing amount considering how small and relatively empty our place is!

And at the very end of the day, Mom and Dad worked on weighing all the packed suitcases so we hopefully won't have any surprise overweight fees.

Cross-world countdown day 3

 We all were thinking "this is the last time..." statements all day today: Last time biking this road, last time worshipping together with our church, last time down in town, last time seeing these people, last time eating these foods...

Church was good but made bittersweet with all the goodbyes on the way out.

Aiden got in more last time plays and swims with friends all afternoon and evening.

We joined an evening goodbye and hello party with colleagues (three newish families who came in July and us leaving) with food, games, and prayer time. More bittersweet good times. And we also took the opportunity to give away pantry items like spices and other dry goods so now cooking shall be more of a challenge... Unfortunately (or fortunately?) Mom forgot the sauces in the fridge so we still have those to use!

A couple of last loads of laundry and a careful accounting of clothing as tomorrow we loose the washing machine. Along with the realization we hadn't accounted for the bed sheets in all the planning... We'll need them to the very end and yet we still need to wash them and give them away...hmm...

A little bit of packing done.

And ouch, Mom had some nerve pain in her leg last night and today and is walking with a bit of a limp. Maybe we can fit in a physio appointment?

Cross world countdown day 4

 Our last Saturday...

A few items left, completing yesterday's sales.

The landlord arrived unannounced to view our paint job and arrange the key hand over... 

unfortunately right when Aiden and a friend were dismantling and smashing for garbage some shelves in too poor a condition to even give away.

Dad finished another book so we don't have to pack it.

2nd last laundry done - only one load when usually on a Saturday we have 2or 3. (Washer leaves on Monday)

Mom wrestled with Aiden's phone, trying to load some audio or e-books for the journey. She managed only one.

The kids got in perhaps the last swim...

...the pictures don't do it justice: the game is loud, somewhat rough, and often the spray is full waves of water! Aiden 'in heaven' with a full compliment of friends and his sisters!

Mom heard from one of Aiden's friend's mom that he told her we're going to take a train to Hong Kong! Guess we need to go over our plans a bit more (even though it feels like we do so repetitively already!)

We have begun having more unusual meals as we run out of staple things like soy sauce and cooking oil. Everyone wanted more supper this evening and mom could only come up with more of one of the ingredients!

Our house is echoey now... We're all glad we'll be out most of the day tomorrow.

 

Cross-world countdown day 5

 Mom and Aiden did a final market shop this morning after a careful inventory and meal Planning. Hopefully they did a good job and there won't be food left over. of course we took the opportunity to enjoy breakfast there also!

Today Dad was out all day: arranging things with our visa bank deposit, meeting people to say good bye, buying Aiden sneakers (since his started coming apart on our Penang Hill hike on Tuesday!)

Mom had an unexpected trip to Tesco to join the shoe buying as there was a buy one get one free deal going and she could use new ones for running.

We got packed enough to take a photo for our van driver to verify that he doesn't have room for people as well as luggage. But our church has arranged that also, so we have every journey leg covered now - but we still have to buy komuter train tickets the day of travel.

We're down to only 5 items needing to be sold! This is a fantastic sale result - an obvious God thing, so we're expecting those 5 to sell this weekend also.

Aiden played his last soccer game - in the rain. Thankfully the major downpour happened afterwards - on his way home so he stood in the doorway absolutely sopping wet! Welcome to life new sneakers...

And Jasmin still is for being time to draw, write, and post. Check out her latest posts... jasminjoyhu.blogspot.com

Cross-world countdown day 6

The floors got mopped today - properly! - after all the painting and cleaning and moving the floors were awful so that feels good!

More items sold today so we're down to 2 bigger items and a bunch of small ones that need to be sold. That feels so. much. better. for Mom... Thank you God! And yet, Aiden says, "I feel like I'm having culture shock before we even leave now that big things are missing." These final in-between days are the hardest indeed...

Some family friends stopped by to say goodbye just before supper.

School still happened despite everything being in upheaval. Kudos to the kiddos for sticking at it!

A trial run pack of a carry on, and all suitcases weighed since Dad went and borrowed a scale today after our luggage scale broke and Mom didn't find a replacement out shopping.

And a late gem from Tuesday: on our way to Penang Hill we passed a tucked away store labeled Assassin Robotics... and had a wild conversation about what that store actually holds... robotics for assassins? Robot assassins? Computer games all about assassins?  Quite the great marketing ploy, that signage is, since we all wanted to stop in and discover what exactly they were... 

Cross-world countdown day 7

 Eep! only a week! is the feeling of all of us today.

Painting finally completely finished, hurray!

School more or less caught up from our day off yesterday.

Sale went live this evening and Dad's been hopping, juggling phone calls and sales. We are happy and relieved it has begun! Although now starts the inconvenience of living without major household items...