Thailand, we have arrived.

FORWARD

  We apologize in advance as this first entry is being written going on 52 hours of sleep deprivation.  Fits of uncontrolled laughter intermingled with tears streaming down our faces best describes our current state..

ARRIVAL

   We really are regretting not having tried to learn some Thai before coming, as you would expect it has been hard to communicate as we have tried to circumnavigate our surroundings.  From Carmen telling the Taxi Driver, “it’s NOT One, Two, Three” as he misinterprets the mispronounced Nawongwang Tiwanon road, too Marie single handedly offending every waitress in the cafeteria with her attempts at saying a simple “thank you” with each dish they brought, and finally Bethany’s frustration at getting a straight answer for the cost of a bunch of grapes. 

   We have also been debating for the last hour the message of this massive sign that sits across from our window, if only we could read Thai, our most important questions could be answered!  Any ideas anyone????

    But starting a bit earlier in our trip, the first leg was great as they had to change our seats and due to Bethany’s snide remark, “does that mean we get upgraded to first class” and Marie thankfully deciding to wear a classy outfit we were upgraded to hot towels, free cocktails and hot meals.  But that was less than 2 hours of a flight and the airline then progressively downgraded us so that by the end of our journey we had resorted awkwardly to tossing our legs up walls and into pretzel shapes around seat trays to taking turns annoying the flight attendants with our need to stand  in the aisle for half hour intervals.  

   

    Carmen’s vision of eating authentic Ramen in Japan (during connecting flights) was slightly crushed by eating it at the Tokyo Food Court at 4am with digestive consequences for all partakers, but surprisingly Sushi at the food court in the tiny strip mall in our Thai neighbourhood was quite delightful!  Thanks Thailand for saving Japan’s reputation!

    Our drive from the airport to the Nonthaburi Suburb where we will be staying took us past downtown Bangkok and we love how each of the tall buildings have very unique distinctive designs and we will post pictures later when we actually get to visit that part of town, but we can already tell we are going to love living in this city which we get to call home for the next 9 months!!!