I can dream, can't I...

It seems as though we may never get spring here in the Lower Mainland.  As I write this, the rain continues to pour down in a deluge that could sweep away the entire backyard.
So today... I'm dreaming about Thailand and anticipating our future in a warmer climate.  I realize that the heat will be a bit much, most of the time, but today... I would take it over this rain in a heartbeat!

But alas, I'll just have to dream for now.

So... if I was in Thailand today... 

I'd enjoy a nice cold slushie from one of the local vendors...

... and a big plate of fresh papaya salad...

... perhaps a nice cold Coke...

... I'd enjoy sitting under the beautiful umbrellas at the beach...

... take in the beautiful greenery & foliage...

 ... get around town in one of these...

... maybe spend some time at the zoo...

... and just, all around, enjoy the warmth & beauty of Thailand :)

(pictures taken during our trip to Thailand in 2009)

My first words...

As much as I'd love to have lots of time to commit to language learning, I have to admit that this hasn't been the case.  Between internship, fundraising, parenting, sharing at Care Groups, socializing and everything else that life includes these days, language learning has been at the bottom of the list of priorities (unfortunately).

Thankfully, we're not actually required to do any language study prior to mobilizing, but we decided that we'd like to try to get a bit under our belts before we leave.  So... for now, although the lessons are few and far between, we press on with Rosetta Stone Thai whenever we get the chance (ie: during Callie's naps on our days off :))

Here are just a few of the random words I've learned so far (showing the English word, the Thai word spoken phonetically, and then the thai script.) :

Hello (female speaker)/ Sa-wat-dii-ka / สวัสดี
Thank-you (female speaker)/ Kup-kun-ka / ขอบคุณ
Girl / dek-puu-ying / เด็กผู้หญิง
Boy / dek-puu-chaai / เด็กผู้ชาย
Woman / puu-ying / ผู้หญิง
Man / puu-chaai / ผู้ชาย
Horse / maa / ม้า
Cat / maew / แมว
Dog / su-nakh / สุนัข
Elephant / chaang / ช้าง
Airplane / kruuang-bin / เครื่องบิน
Car / rot / รถ
In / nai / ใน
On / bon / บน
Under / dtaai / ใต้
Red / deeng / สีแดง
Yellow / luuang / สีเหลือง
Blue (sky blue)/ sii-faa / สีฟ้า
White / kaao / ขาว

There are actually quite a few others I could add to the list but I'll leave that for another day... :)