Another Year in Bangkok

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As some of you may know, we found out in the last few weeks that we will be staying in Bangkok for one more year. We are happy about this prospect because life in Bangkok is in many ways easier than Washington, D.C., not least because help with the children is affordable. Certainly with Levi and Bram, it will be nice to have the additional help until they turn two. Also, Max's school here is very nice and starts a Spanish language program for the coming year, so we're happy for him to have the opportunity to learn another language. Levi and Bram are now learning a combination of Thai and English - it's very funny to hear them say alternatively "no" and "mai ao" (literally, "not want" in Thai). However, we had very little time after our mindset had already adjusted to moving back to the U.S. and it was difficult to mentally readjust so quickly to the prospect of staying in Thailand. But, it helps that Max and I will be returning to Madison and D.C. shortly for a visit (Levi and Bram will be staying with Jim in Bangkok). So it looks like another year of travel blogs!

Levi and Bram turned one this month (very hard to believe) and I attach some photos of their very low key party here, which we had in our building lobby. Levi can stand without support and Bram is now crawling quite quickly. Their interaction with each other is fun - hugs and snuggles as well as pushes and shoves. It also seems like they work together to get things that they know they are not supposed to have! I would imagine this is a harbinger of the future.

Max has been attending sports camp and is excited to spend another year with his closest friends here. He now no longer has to wear ear plugs, so is enjoying the water without being encumbered with his ear gear. When we go to the U.S., we will have him see his doctor at Johns Hopkins to find out about getting a second surgery scheduled, so we (the whole family) will probably be back in the U.S. this year at some point in the not too distant future for a month or so to take care of this.

In the meantime, Bangkok continues to be an adventure. The baht has been dropping against the dollar, so things are not as expensive as they were last year. Plus, now Jim's brother is living in Shanghai and we hope to visit him this year. He also has his own travel blog, which you can view at http://www.travelblog.org/fred.php?id=299007

As for me, I now require glasses, though I mainly wear them only for reading and night driving. I attached a photo of the new me! I'll write again after my U.S. trip. I know there's a lot of photos this time, but I thought some of you might like to see more of the twins growing up.


Best,
Maddy

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