At the end of the year.

When looking back on this year, it's amazing how much has changed.  There is the obvious,  a new country and new baby, but also the not so obvious.  Lost teeth, new BIG teeth,  hair grown and cut, kids grown and changed.  B slowly learning to read,  R doing multiplication and division.  Baby smiles and coos.  Small apartment to large large house.  Ease of public transportation in Virginia to the crazy congested hard to maneuver around Dhaka.  Biking, parks and green space, changes to dirt and cement.  Target changes to DIT 2 (market).  Even our names have changed from J and C to Sir and Madam.  My body change from thin to fat to thin again with new saggy tummy bits.  J's body changed from whole to torn, with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Family of four  turns to family of five. 


It's been a good year, and any hardships such as being separated for 2 months from my kids and husband were ok as we welcomed the new addition, Little J. 


Hope everyone had a great year too, and welcomed the changes it brought your way.  Have a Happy 2012!

Slacking off... not really

So I have been horrible at keeping the blog up, but I do have an excuse or two.  In Sept I flew home to Seattle.  I spent the next three weeks, shopping and preparing for baby.  Then lovely Little J made his appearance, and I spent the next five weeks preparing to get back to Dhaka.  With one days notice,  I was told to get back to Dhaka.  Jack had rupture his achilles tendon, and had to medevac to Singapore.  So, little J and I travelled for 36 hours to come to Daddy rescue.  A daddy little J hadn't even met yet.  We got home,  only to see Daddy for a day or so, before he left for surgery.


That is the last 2 months in a nutshell.  I am back home with my family (Dhaka home).  Three kids now, plus a invalid husband who can't walk.  Interesting.  I'm a little tired but thankful I don't have to go back to work until Jan.  I think I would have a nervous breakdown if I was working too.


I will try and post more now that I am home, but with new baby.... time to write is .... well.... lacking.  He's actually crying right now while I write this.  The sacrifices he makes so you all can be updated are tremendous.  LOL

All My Kids!

Phuket for Eid

This past week there was a holiday called Eid and it gave us 4 days off.  So we planned our first trip out of Dhaka.  We decided to go to a resort in Phuket, Thailand, and it was a great plan.  The beach was beautiful, the water crystal blue, sand soft and white.  They had great food, and pools.  For the kids they had a club with lots of activites.  We all had a lovely time.  


R was happiest in the ocean,  and with her Dad she swam and dived under the waves.  She is so brave.  I am scared of waves.  She also got to learn how to scuba dive in the pool,  made her Daddy so proud.  Once again, brave girl!  I'm to scared to breathe through some crazy contraption.  


B loved the pool, swimming and jumping in and out.  He also loved the ocean but liked to stay where he would not be knocked down by waves.  He did eventually, throw himself into the surf so his body would be carried a little way by the wave.  Very cute.


I got a horrid cold on our first day, but it was fine.  The salt air was good for the nose.  I lounged on the beach in the shade, and took in the scenary.  Everyday, a little baby elephant came by for a pet, and some fruit.  He was very cute.  I also gained a lovely 5 lbs with all the buffets, which I was happy with.  The food was so good.


J swam in the ocean and relaxed on the beach with me.  It was a truely lovely holiday. We also went on a little hike to a waterfall, where we waded and swam in a pool at the bottom.  It was in a National Park where they had some Gibbon research center.  Thailand is a truly lovely and beautiful place, and so CLEAN.  It rained one morning, but was done before we finished breakfast.  Within 1/2 hour of the rain stopping, they had men and a tractor cleaning up the beach from whatever the surf brought in, which was pretty much nothing.

 
 

We won't think about the 7 hour flight delay, trying to leave Dhaka, or the lovely arrival back at home time of 3am.  We also will forget that one of travel buddies brought with her, the Dhaka belly bug and ended up in hospital.  The holiday was perfect.  

School

So the kids and I have started school and work.  They are in their classes and I am in my office.  They have a fabulous time each day, playing on the playgrounds and learning all sorts of stuff.  I on the other hand spend my days  leaning over kids heads checking for lice,  filling ice bags, covering boo boo with bandaids, and dispensing tylenol to teachers.  "We are not in Kanas anymore, Toto"  I miss my NICU.  Will I ever get back?  I have to hope that I will one day, or so I keep telling myself.


The school is great,  lots of student 770 I think,  from age 3-18, with many nationalities.  The teachers are all great.  B has a wonderful Kindergarten teacher and he surprises me everyday with what he is learning.  He might actually be smart in that brain of his.  I get to see him have recess everyday outside my office window.  I love to watch him play soccer.  He is so outgoing!  R's teacher is perfect for her.  She is enjoying the focus on reading, and comprehension.  They are working on writing, which she is loving.  She's a great little 'starter' at her writing.  She is clever with her first sentences, drawing you in,  then it only lasts about 3-4 sentences and we are done.  I guess they will work on lengthening the stories eventually.


I really enjoying walking to school with them morning, and I like being done at 3:45.  I just wish I didn't have the in between part.  I guess I really enjoyed my time off in Virginia.  On the bright side, we are going to Phuket at the end of the month, to a resort.  Sounds lovely.  Can't wait!  Then we get back, and I leave to Seattle the second week of Sept.  When I get back, we are hoping Jack can take Parental Leave or R&R and we can go to New Zealand for Christmas.  This all sounds lovely to me!  

Ah Dhaka!

So we have been very busy.  Saturday, J and I went on a tour of Dhaka,  it was great.  We saw some tomb, parliment, a fort, Hindu street, and the Pink Palace.  It was a very full day, but  a great group of people and a fun filled day.  

Parliment

When they stare at you, stare back.

Saris anyone?

Busy streets of Dhaka.

After the tour, I had to run off to the school for orientation, and meet all the new teachers who had just arrived that day.  They put them to work fast here.  Then dinner party at the ARA afterwards.  Sunday, Monday and Tues we have been at the school, orientating.  It is a very large school and I'm quite lost but I know where the nurses office is, and thats all I need.

Last night the school took us out on a river boat cruise.  It was awesome.  The drive out there was crazy,  an hour through winding village markets and villages.  Dodging rickshaws and goats.  The closer we got to the water the narrower the road got.  We made it.  Then on to the boats for a lovely cruise down the river.  We stopped and had Bangladeshi takeout, then cruised back.  It was extremely hot, but definately something you don't get to do everyday.  I enjoyed it alot.  Then we realised those narrow winding street would have to be navigated back, in the dark.  Our driver was very good, and only almost had one head on collision, which was followed by much Bengli swearing out the window to the other driver.  Great trip.

Parks and STUFF.

The other day,  Shuspol, the kids and I walked to the park.  It's a nice little park by a mosque with a walking path all the way around it.  In one corner there is a kids area with slides and swings etc.  They are all metal and I'm sure very unsafe, but the kids had fun.  We had forgotten that it had rained earlier so they got a tad muddy.  No worries.  Mud washes off, right?  Well it washes off when your water doesn't go out.  Luckily, I got them clean, enough before the water shut off.

Also this week, our stuff from Seattle came.  We haven't seen it in a year!  It was awesome. Three crates of toys and clothes and kitchen equipment.  My craft stuff arrived and our TV too.  We can't use the TV here, but it's here none the less!  We need to buy a converter to use it,  Amazon is our Friend!    For days we have been unpacking.... well Shuspol and I have been unpacking,  the kids have just been making a mess.  Every game and puzzle and toy out on the floor.  It's crazy.  I'm exhausted.  Thank God for help, Shuspol has been cleaning all the kitchen stuff and putting it all away, mind you , I have no idea where she's putting it away but I'm sure I'll find it sometime.  Today, I even used my kitchenaid mixer..... oh that made me so happy!  I made carrot cake.  Hope it tastes good.

The humidity made the camera steam up. 

Best Week so far in Dhaka

Ok so it's only week 3 but, it's great.  Our UAB arrived, which is a small amt of stuff, about 750 lbs.  It had our linen in it, and the best part of our linen, is MY linen for MY bed!  Love love love my bed!  From the matteress topper to the bambo sheets, it's such a luxury.    I am so comfy in my bed, which is wonderful on my ever growing belly.  Our household help is in full swing.  Our housekeeper/ayah, is great.  busy busy busy, making beds, washing floors and laundry.  LOVE it!  she is great with the kids too.  Our gaurd/gardener, is awesome too.  After just a day, our garden looks so much better.  Instead of an overgrown jungle it's a cultivated and controlled jungle.  Great Job!  He is also great with the kids, playing soccer with them in the yard, and letting B help him pull weeds, even though it's more trouble for him.  He caught a frog for B, which Bwas over the moon about.  I did pretty well with it,  mind you the frog was about the size of a fingernail.  

Yesterday was my birthday, and we went out to dinner with friends.  It was a wonderful (spicy) thai restaurant.  They had a kids area with toys and swings, and movies.  The kids were so well behaved!  Thanks you, R and B, that was the best present you could have gotten me!  J did a great job.  After years of 'forgetting' or us being too busy on vacations, or moving, he actually got me a present.  I loved it.  Beautiful pearl necklace and matching earrings.  I love them!    Dinner was fabulous, and it was so nice to be out, rather than the American Club.  The Club is great, but this place felt so clean and fresh.  Could have been a restaurant in a big city in America it was so nice.

Shopping!

I was excited to go shopping with new friend S, and then later with L. The stores were great, my favorite had hand died fabric, with all sorts of textiles. I really wanted a salwar kameez and they had the most amazing colors. Nothing crazy with glitter or shiny things, but more western colors. The fabrics were bamboo and soft. They felt like they would be cool to wear and not sweat inducing. I also wanted some coasters to protect the furniture, and maybe some baskets, and a rug for the front entryway. Big plans!

The best laid plans.... Not sure how the rest of the saying goes, but for me something always goes haywire. I went to the one and only ATM, that we can use and my card was declined. It had been declined in iTunes the day before. CRAP! Off course I can't call my bank, since it is 11pm in texas.... So I will just have to window shop. Funny how you can tell your bank you are moving to the other side of the world, but they don't believe you, and so when said charges come through from said country, they turn your card off. It must have been stolen, or corrupted because no one really moves to Bangladesh.






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Getting use to Dhaka Life

So for the past week and a half I have pretty much stayed home. The one time I ventured out, I went to the American club and it was closed. I pretty much resigned myself to staying at home. Even in this big house, walls can close in around you. Our friend R, arrived and picked up his giant cat, and we went out shopping with him one day.

Last Saturday, M and L threw us a welcome shin dig, and it was awesome. I now know to go to the Westin to get fabulous bread! It was good to get out of the house, and with J in charge of transportation, I was good.

Yesterday was my first 4th of July as a real American, and I wasn't even in American. We went to the American club for some festivities. Kids had cake, ice cream, and cotton candy. There even was a magic show. I think they enjoyed it.





Today, I ventured out on my own again. I call for a car, by myself, and the kids and I went to a playgroup at the Bagha Club. We meet friends there, and it was good. B made a good buddy C, and we went swimming after. It turn out great. Even called for a car ride home and we made it back safely. I might get the hang of this yet.

I really need a cell phone, but my passport is at J's work, tied up with the travel dept. I also need J and passport photos. Lucky for me I have a bunch of photos now. Problem this week is they are having "hartals" which are strikes. Some protest against the government or something, and everything shuts down. They are having this tomorrow and the next day, as well as the first three day of next week as well. No phone for me. Darn, and I was just getting use to calling people.



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More house photos...

Front door


Living room


Dinning room


Stairs



Master bedroom


Office




Garden




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Sleep is over-rated.

This family seems to be suffering from jet-lag. I guess I thought we would transition our sleep a little better but that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe it's because the kids are kids and don't care about normal sleep, and J got sick, and I'm preggo. Those are my excuses. For me, I go to bed and two hours later wake up and my body assumes it's morning. No amount of me saying, No it's not, looking out at the darkness or drinking hot milk will put me back to sleep until about 3am. I should be glad, right? Back to sleep at three! But it is short lived because a small boy I know wakes up at 4. I tell me go back to bed, so he does, and returns to my room every 15 mins to see if it is morning. By 5-5:30, I usually just get up, because I can't sleep anyways. R is up too.

So this great sleeping has provided the family with some much needed quiet time in the afternoon. All of a sudden around three in the afternoon, things get really quiet. Today I found this....Super hero mid flight! Crash landed on armchair, dead to the world. R was asleep on couch and J in the lazy boy. Ah Naptime!


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