Good morning! We are so sorry that we haven't been able to update the blog. We had difficulty getting internet access and once we got to Tsunami Volunteer Center, we have been so busy that we haven't had time.
It is so incredible to be here. We flew from Austin on March 1 and landed in Tokyo. We spent two nights there. When we were leaving Texas, Gordon said that we should take jackets. I thought he was out of his mind. We were going to the jungle you know. I am so glad he did as it was FREEZING in Tokyo. We aced the subway system. It is so easy and well marked and huge. In Boston and London, the subway is a rats maze compared to Tokyo. We were there at rush hour and I was a bit concerned because I have seen the pictures of people actually being shoved into subway cars with big poles! There were so many people but it was so orderly. Everyone lines up and waits calmly. Really amazing. We went to the "historic" section of Tokyo, visited a few temples, burned some incense and ate some things that were weren't sure of the origin and had a good time. The highlight was that we visited the Kodokan Judo Center. Gordon plays (yes, they call it play) judo and he has wanted to go here forever. This is where Jigaro Kano invented judo in the 1800's. Gordon was so excited! We got to watch practice and some matches and it was really neat.
We were leaving the next afternoon. I woke up in the morning and Gordon said, "Guess what it is doing outside." I thought "Oh great. It is raining and we have to drag all these bags to the train to get to the airport!" No rain, but it was snowing ! It snowed and snowed and snowed all day long!!!!! Apparently, it was completely out of the norm. But what is the norm anymore? Cool summers and snow in winter in Texas. Craziness!!!
Anywho, we got to the airport. No problems. Checked in and waited. My host mother from Thailand had arranged that her sister, Nelly and brother Nah Suan would pick us up at the airport. Because of the snow, we were 3 hours late. They stood at the arrival gate with a sign saying "BJ" for three hours. We felt awful about it.
We get to Thailand and I just couldn't believe that I was back and that Gordon was with me. We kept saying, "Can you believe that we are in Bangkok?!?!" It was so fantastic. It wasn't too hot either so that was nice. This is a pretty cool time in Thailand, relatively speaking. Mostly high 80s and 90s F. We stayed at Nah Suan's gorgeous home in Bangkok. He is a highly respected architect in Thailand. All my (Thai) mom's family are very smart. Both my host mom and dad are doctors. So we visited and went to bed. My Mom and Dad were driving up from Rayong, where I used to live for a year, and were going to pick up my little sister, Nit, ( means little) from University and come to Nah Suan's in the afternoon.
Our first morning in Bangkok, Nelly drove us to the Royal Palace area. She showed us the market, the ferry to cross the river and many little shops and stalls. The smells and sounds are so foreign to us.
........I have to go now. It is about 8:15am and we are about to leave for our building site. Gordon and I have been on a building team. In the past three days, I have become a "bricky". Laying bricks. They aren't actually bricks, but cinder blocks. I partnered with a woman from Quebec who is an absolute doll. She is here with her daughter who is about my age. We were laughing yesterday because we never thought that we would develop a preference for different kinds of cement. We are about to leave so I have to run. We hitchhike to the site about 20 km away. More on all that later. Things are reall;y interesting. All my love and Gordon's too. Big hugs and kisses, Bridgett
It is so incredible to be here. We flew from Austin on March 1 and landed in Tokyo. We spent two nights there. When we were leaving Texas, Gordon said that we should take jackets. I thought he was out of his mind. We were going to the jungle you know. I am so glad he did as it was FREEZING in Tokyo. We aced the subway system. It is so easy and well marked and huge. In Boston and London, the subway is a rats maze compared to Tokyo. We were there at rush hour and I was a bit concerned because I have seen the pictures of people actually being shoved into subway cars with big poles! There were so many people but it was so orderly. Everyone lines up and waits calmly. Really amazing. We went to the "historic" section of Tokyo, visited a few temples, burned some incense and ate some things that were weren't sure of the origin and had a good time. The highlight was that we visited the Kodokan Judo Center. Gordon plays (yes, they call it play) judo and he has wanted to go here forever. This is where Jigaro Kano invented judo in the 1800's. Gordon was so excited! We got to watch practice and some matches and it was really neat.
We were leaving the next afternoon. I woke up in the morning and Gordon said, "Guess what it is doing outside." I thought "Oh great. It is raining and we have to drag all these bags to the train to get to the airport!" No rain, but it was snowing ! It snowed and snowed and snowed all day long!!!!! Apparently, it was completely out of the norm. But what is the norm anymore? Cool summers and snow in winter in Texas. Craziness!!!
Anywho, we got to the airport. No problems. Checked in and waited. My host mother from Thailand had arranged that her sister, Nelly and brother Nah Suan would pick us up at the airport. Because of the snow, we were 3 hours late. They stood at the arrival gate with a sign saying "BJ" for three hours. We felt awful about it.
We get to Thailand and I just couldn't believe that I was back and that Gordon was with me. We kept saying, "Can you believe that we are in Bangkok?!?!" It was so fantastic. It wasn't too hot either so that was nice. This is a pretty cool time in Thailand, relatively speaking. Mostly high 80s and 90s F. We stayed at Nah Suan's gorgeous home in Bangkok. He is a highly respected architect in Thailand. All my (Thai) mom's family are very smart. Both my host mom and dad are doctors. So we visited and went to bed. My Mom and Dad were driving up from Rayong, where I used to live for a year, and were going to pick up my little sister, Nit, ( means little) from University and come to Nah Suan's in the afternoon.
Our first morning in Bangkok, Nelly drove us to the Royal Palace area. She showed us the market, the ferry to cross the river and many little shops and stalls. The smells and sounds are so foreign to us.
........I have to go now. It is about 8:15am and we are about to leave for our building site. Gordon and I have been on a building team. In the past three days, I have become a "bricky". Laying bricks. They aren't actually bricks, but cinder blocks. I partnered with a woman from Quebec who is an absolute doll. She is here with her daughter who is about my age. We were laughing yesterday because we never thought that we would develop a preference for different kinds of cement. We are about to leave so I have to run. We hitchhike to the site about 20 km away. More on all that later. Things are reall;y interesting. All my love and Gordon's too. Big hugs and kisses, Bridgett
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