A Book Drive

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In honor of my dear friend Heather in Brazil, I wanted to participate in a birthday book drive she is conducting in honor of her beloved (step)mom-Kelly who died in September, 2008-after a long battle with MS. I love books and reading and was excited about this project. Heather has been my friend for over 20 years now and has always been there praying for us and encouraging us on through some of our darkest moments AND she is one of the few that comments on my blog-LOL!!

Since returning to Thailand in August I have been reading once a week at a new Thai school in my neighborhood. I had watched as this beautiful, most colorful, elementary school was being built last year, wondering how I might be involved there once it was completed, it's walking distance from our house. After it opened I just walked into the administrator's office and offered to come and read to some of the children once a week for some exposure to English, an enhancement for their school. (Of course I had Nok with me to translate! I keep encouraging her because her English is better than anyone who works at this school, but sadly she doesn't have the "paper". She left school after Jr.High to begin working which is not that uncommon here but she is one smart cookie! and such a hard worker!)

So every Tuesday I go and read 2-3 books to 8 classes of 3-5 year children. After a couple of months the principal asked if I could come everyday!!! No! but I have recruited my friend Kelly from TX to join me and she now reads to the children every Thursday. We do meet and do some minimal planning, trying to coordinate the things that we cover each week-colors, numbers...

Yesterday I took the boys with me to read to the children and to help me donate the books in honor of Heather's Kelly. I had found 8 bilingual books to donate, one for each class. The new school is impressive but they have few books, in fact I have contacted Esso's Country Manager in hopes that Esso can help fill their library with many books in the future. They have an empty room designated as a future library that I want to see filled-that's one of my goals before we leave Thailand. Each class was so excited about their new book and it was extra special to me knowing that I was doing it as an extension of my love for my friend Heather because of her love for her Kelly.....

2010 International Day

Since moving to Thailand and attending an International School my favorite day of the entire school year is International Day. Today, Saturday in Thailand was a mandatory school day because of all the events planned for International Day. All day long I worked at the American table. We served Louisiana Gumbo, chocolate chip cookies and brownies with all the proceeds being donated to the many charities that the school supports. Most of the 52 countries that have students attending the Regent's school were represented with a food table, a stage performance, a country style show or in the parade of nations. It really is such an amazing thing to participate in. I love the calling out of every nation with their respective flag to join the parade of nations. It must be a smidgen of the feeling of attending an opening Olympic ceremony! What an awesome experience for our boys! except Dustin who is still in quarantine for another 4 days with the Swine Flu in our home.

Not only did he miss International Day but also the Battle of the Band competition at their school. Ever since we enrolled at our new school the boys have looked forward to forming a band and competing. Dustin and Nathan played a big part of choosing the song and forming the band. Dustin had to write the violin music for their violinist because they couldn't ever find the violin sheet music. It was so disheartening when Dustin got sick and couldn't participate. The band was so disappointed because he was playing the lead guitar part and had a solo. They had little time to rehearse without him but Nathan stepped up and played most of Dustin's part and despite all the obstacles-their band won!! I was so proud for all 8band members that represented 7 different nations!!! How cool is that?!

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Influenza

The H1N1 flu has been sweeping through the boys' school and now it looks like we have caught the bug. On Monday night Dustin started complaining of a headache and during the night he developed a fever. All day Tuesday he continued with aches and pains along with the fever. I couldn't find a thermometer until Monday evening and after another round of Tylenol his temperature was still over 103 degrees so I drove him to the night out-patient clinic at the nearby hospital. His nasal swab tested positive for influenza and we wait 48 hours to find out if it is the infamous swine-flu. His temperature was still over 103 so he was admitted. He is receiving IV hydration and antibiotics because the Dr. thinks he may also have a bacterial infection. His temperature finally returned to normal this morning and he is getting lots of rest.

I thought I was kind to offer to stay with Dustin in the hospital allowing Mark to stay at home and rest in our bed but he ended up drawing the shorter straw! Nathan woke him up 4 times vomiting AND Mark woke up this morning to a living room full of water. For the second time since moving into this house the line to our ice-maker has broken, flooding the kitchen and living room. I ran home to shower this morning and Mark had towels everywhere, our Persian rug in the driveway sun, and was playing nurse to Nathan. He cancelled some morning meetings and conducted a conference call at home in order to stay home this morning from work.

The boys have been practicing for weeks with a band from their school that is supposed to compete on Friday in the annual Battle of the Band competition. If they start feeling better maybe they can attend the competition wearing masks? I'm sure the other band members panicked this morning when neither Nathan or Dustin showed up at school.

Busking

Today, I went up to the school to watch Dustin busk?! We are continually learning new ways of saying things here in Thailand. During the lunch break Dustin and two other girls performed in a busking event. It's the same as putting your hat out there and taking donations for your performance. The school has been trying to think of creative ways to collect money to be sent to the country of Haiti. They sounded great and I threw 100Baht in the hat for Haiti!