We have been in Thailand about one month now. The time is really flying by. Before we know it we will be heading home (we only have ELEVEN months left!). We are really trying to make the most of this year. During our first month in Thailand we found an apartment, moved in, started work and started school.
We found a nanny, nanny Moo, who ended up moving in with us. Having a nanny has been really fantastic. She is very kind and an excellent cook. She also does all of the housework. We have not had to cook or clean in over a month! It’s amazing how having a nanny has freed up our time. We can come home and play with the kids or do work or read or watch tv. Returning to the U.S. without a nanny is going to be a big adjustment.
Sam and Jack have really gotten into school. It has been really fun walking them down to the lobby in the mornings for school pick-up. Sam has really enjoyed having computer class (he knows how to use a mouse now) and library time (he brings home a book every week). Today, Sam showed me the numbers he knows how to draw. Jack is really getting into it, too. He loves the van ride now and he comes home happy and excited to see us. His teacher has been sending home great reports of his progress. Chad finished his travel plan and submitted it to his supervisors in DC. Now, he is preparing to support a military excersize (occurring in Thailand this month), traveling and writing country reports.
We have gotten out quite a bit over the last month, taking short trips around Bangkok and the surrounding area. So far we have made trips to the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, we have rode down the Chao Phraya River and gone on a tour down the Thonburi khlongs (canals). We have visited the flower market (Pak Khlong Market), Damnoen Saduak and Taling Chan floating markets, and Chatuchak weekend market (one of the biggest flea markets in the world). Chad and I took a trip to Ayutthaya, the ancient city. Jack went on his first beach vacation to Ko Si Chang island and loved it. And… we met tigers AND elephants.
Where we have been in Bangkok:
The biggest adjustments:
-It is so miserably hot. You will hear about how hot it is…whatever you think… multiply by 100. And apparently, these are the mild months. Its not just the heat… its the humidity. We are in the rainy season, so it pours everyday. You would think the rain would cool things down but it just makes it more swampy.
-Everything is cheap. You can get a great meal for around 65 baht (2 dollars) or a taxi to pretty much anywhere for around 100 baht (3 dollars). Childcare is a fraction of what it is in the States.
-There is also a foreigner side of the economy. If you aren’t careful you will get charged double the price for a taxi or tuk tuk because you aren’t Thai. Entrance fees to everything (temples, aquariums, zoos) are usually double or triple for foreigners. Speaking Thai, knowing you can haggle, and just knowing that this double economy exists helps a lot to avoid the problem.
-Despite the fact that the average Thai earns 9000 dollars a year there is a very large luxury goods presence in the city. Higher end Malls/department stores line many of the streets in the newer city centers (Phloen Chit, Siam, Sukumvit,etc). Prices are about double NYC prices. Right now stores are offering the winter line of fashion….scarves, puffy coats, knit hats…perfect Burberry for Bangkok…just incase you were cold. The malls are a little strange, there is no city planning, so huge malls will be located adjacent to slums.
-Everyone wants to sell you stuff. The economy is built on tourism and it is very apparent. Go to any tourist attraction and you are going to have “YOU WANT? YOU WANT? YOU WANT” screamed at you the entire time you are there.
-The barista at Starbucks is bound to think you want an Americano no matter what you ask for… because you are American, damn it! Chad switched to Americanos just to make life easier….plus there is never any drip/brew coffee ready since they sell everyone Americanos.
-Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, wants to talk to, touch and hold Jack. We have had a number of people ask for pictures with him. He is probably the star of several instagram accounts.
-Thais have no concern for personal safety. Parents zip by with their children on motorcycles with no helmets (motorcycles are a MAJOR mode of transportation here), there is no such thing as seat belts, cars will NOT yield to pedestrians. Picture a little motorcycle: with a driver, behind them is a child (Jack sized) standing on the seat, and behind them another person holding the child up. This is every other bike we see…and there are accidents all the time.
-Stray dogs (“soi dogs”) and cats are everywhere. We were warned not to bring Buddy and Chopper to Thailand because of all the strays and rabies concerns (we all had to get rabies shots before we came out). And it’s true. The dogs and cats are EVERYWHERE. Every time Sam or Jack sees a cat they ask: “mean cat?” (they want to pet all of the animals so badly).
-The sidewalks are narrow, broken or non-existent. Stroller use in most parts of the city is simply not possible.
Great things about Thailand:
-As noted above: EVERYTHING IS CHEAP!
-The schools system is fantastic. Jack has a detailed schedule of classes for nursery school. It is the type of curriculum we would have had to pay a lot for in the states. Everything is super structured and well taught.
-The food. The delicious, delicious, delicious street food.
-Medical care is fantastic.
-The housing options are amazing. Our apartment is a spacious 4 bedrooms/4 baths with a nanny’s quarters (1 bed/1 bath). The overseas allowances are excellent which makes life easy.
-You can haggle on everything. We got 1,000 dollars off our rent simply because we asked.
-Public transportation is cheap and easily accessible (even though getting around with children in the heat with no car and no stroller has proven to be a pretty big challenge).
Overall, we are really enjoying being in Thailand. There is a lot to do and a lot of exciting things to see. We are very happy to be settled and very thankful that the boys are adjusting so well.
Photos from the month, not previously posted:
Will Travel with Toddlers 
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