What is it like living in Thailand?

From Courtney: Living in Thailand has definitely been a different experience when compared to the American life. After living here for more than five years life is starting to settle down and feel more like home. Eating different foods, speaking another language, having different cultural cues and values, driving on the other side of the street, and not having black hair are just the beginning of a few obstacles to fitting in and making this new country our home. Praise the Lord for his help and grace during these first delicate years that we lived here in Thailand. Without Him, I would not be living here today. "In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33b Amen! This verse will make ya get out of bed in the morning :) My weekly schedule is quite simple and I love that. For the most part I am home with the kids. Although a couple of days a week I babysit my teammates two children while she home schools. This is a lot of fun and gives the children an opportunity to play with one another. One evening a week the 6 ladies on our team get together for a ladies night. We come together and share our lives and pray for one another. This is definitely a highlight for me during the week. During the evening hours the kids and I play with a few of our neighbor friends from our neighborhood. There are four families in our neighborhood with small children, and I am enjoying getting to know them all. This connection with our neighbors has really bridged my heart and love for the Thai people. Sunday church is a different experience for me in Thailand. Because there are no nurseries for the babies. Our family attends worship together or as long as the kids can remain in their seat or in my arms. This normally does not last long. Then I take the two kids and go in a room downstairs. Sometimes another mom with a baby will come in to, but mostly it is just me and the kids in a room by ourselves until the sermon is over. Lately, i have been trying to take Eden to a three and four year old Sunday school room. Sometimes this works well and sometimes she doesn't like it. I am in the room with her but i think it overwhelms her with 5-10 other Thai speaking children. Last week she said she was scared. You can keep us in your prayers. I believe this is just a season, but do pray for Eden that she would feel comfortable in the Thai Sunday school. After Sunday school is over, the entire church of about 150 eats together outside. They have a team of 4 women who cook up one Thai dish. It is really yummy :) Food for us is very different when compared to the traditional American meals. We eat entirely Thai food! Can you believe that? Yes, we have turned into Thai people. Mostly, we eat rice, rice and then some more rice! Where did all the bread and cheese go? Where is my Taco Bell! Well I do bring my Taco Bell sauce stash over when I am missing that taco supreme flavor. And I know some of you wonder how I stay so slim....well move over to Thailand and you will see why. Eating this diet mixed with 100 degree temperatures year round, no central air in our home it is plain to see this is a great combination for staying slim. Can you say Sauna?? We mostly eat rice, chicken, fish and a few vegetables with a different set of spices and sauces over the top. And the Thai people love their food Hot and Spicy! The heat is taken up a notch here in Thailand in your home, in your food, and outside. If you don't' like the heat stay away from this place :) The Seasons - There are primarily three seasons here in Thailand... Hot, Hot, and Hotter! On a serious note there are three seasons the hot season, the rainy season and the mild season. March and April is the Hot season where temperatures hang out around the 100 degree mark with little or no rain at all. May through the end of October is called the rainy season. Yes, it is still very hot but now you have rain on top of that. So now it is hot, rainy and humid! November through February are the mild months. It can get down into the low 70's at night and high 80's during the day for a couple of weeks. But for the most it stays around 90 as the high during these months and does not peek at that incredibly hot temperature where I can cook an egg on the concrete. Driving is a bit uncertain here in Thailand. Driving here is like eating a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. (under construction)