27 June 2008

Countdown

On the 25th we started into our last 3 months of teaching!! Justin has a countdown set up on his computer with the exact hours and minutes until we're done.

We had a meeting with Jason on the day to decide if we were going to extend our contracts. To no ones surprise we said no. We might stay on an extra two weeks though to finish out the term, but we haven't decided.

Other Thai-veleopments:
1. We have a buyer for our motorbike. This week we got the registration updated and insurance bought for the next year. We're selling it to a teacher at another school for 9,000 baht ($300). It's only a 1,000 les than we bought it for, so we're pretty happy. I'll be sad to say goodbye to it, but it'll be nice to have that checked off our list.

2. We're still working on the car. Our boss is still possibly interested, but if not we're going to sell it online most likely.

3. Justin's not been super well for the past few weeks. His shoulder is hurting again, I think from having more stress lately at work. He also got a stomach bug last week that hasn't left yet.

4. We're still planning our trip and working out details. If anyone wants to read up on the hike we're doing in Spain (el camino de santiago) here are some links on it.

Camino homepage



5. I also wanted to put in the link for Elaine's (JJ's girlfriend's) clinic page in Ottawa since she helped Justin with his shoulder pain. If anyone's ever in Ottawa and needs a massage therapist I recommend her! http://www.theoptc.com/

And on a sadder note, Justin's dad sent us an email about a little girl, Rosie, in Carbondale who got attacked by a bulldog on June 24th. She's having to undergo a lot of expensive reconstruction surgeries. A Reach Out To Rose fund has been set up to help the family. You can make a donation and read more about Rosie at http://www.reachouttorosie.org/

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Justin and Aleza: News of Thai-velopments(!) Excellent (!)Very good that you sold your motorbike. I'm hoping that you sold it for 1000 less baht (and not dollars) than you paid for it. Good luck in selling the car. So you are less than 3 months from being done! You have both done such a great job at both teaching and acculturating into Thai customs. We're really proud of all that you have done.
Justin, when you get home, we're going to have your shoulder looked at by some kind of shoulder specialist and finally find out what is wrong. It should be healed by now.
I looked at the Camino de Santiago maps, etc. and it looks great. Pretty long hike, tho, after you will have been to Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria,Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy.
Let us know if you need any of your light-weight camping supplies (or maybe you have them all with you). You may need to apply for a visa for Turkey and maybe Bulgaria?
Sounds like things are going great and you are really seeing the light at the end of the Thai-tunnel.
Mom is having a book club meeting today at the pool and I'm off to Chicago for Uncle Harold. Call us on Sunday. We miss you both and love you both.
Dad and Mom

jillyb said...

Hi J & A: I'll also send a reply to your email separately, Aleza. That dress is beautiful! I, of course, echo Dan's sentiments about how well you both have done teaching and immersing yourselves in Thai culture. We are also so proud of you. I'm not sure if I could have done anything so adventurous and been as successful at it when I was 24. It was also so fantastic to have such great "tour guides" for my trip to Thailand. I doubt I would ever have even gone to Asia, if you two weren't there. Kapkuhnkah! Little things keep reminding me of my wonderful vacation with you.
Of course, that's great news about selling your motorbike. I'm sure you'll do as well with the Sazuki, although I'm sure you'll also have mixed feelings about saying goodby to the vehicle that carried you to so many fun times.
Speaking of fun times - I haven't had time to check out the Camino de Santiago site, (although Paul already did!, on his own!), but hope to be able to have a little more time this weekend. I think I already mentioned to you that I wondered about doing that hike after all your other travels.

Hope Justin is feeling better soon; that's a bummer that he got a stomach but at the same time as his shoulder flared up.
I'll contact Dan & Jan about that little girl. I was in Arizona when that happened, and didn't hear about it til I read your blog. Had a good time in Arizona Daniel & I went to the Grand Canyon, which was awesome!
Starting to feel self-conscious about blog-posting, so will sign off soon. One more comment about your list: I think I already mentioned that it's a good thing that Justin wants to have a million dollars, as that would help with your travel goals. Also wondered, (although I know the lists are not set in stone plans) about whether you were planning on coordinating your separate travel goals.
I'm off to Yoga, and then errands, and work.
Miss you both lots. It was great talking to you!
Love Mom and Dad.