ira on December 1st, 2003

We’ve still got that Bangkok feeling but have less than a month left to enjoy it before coming back home.  So we’re trying to do everything that we haven’t gotten around to doing yet.  We expect even greater activity when Olivia and Aaron arrive, including a trip to Krabi for some surf and, for Olivia […]

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ira on November 17th, 2003

At the end of that week, we took a long weekend in Hua Hin.  Hua Hin is a resort town known for its white sands, lush landscapes, restaurants, and European tourists.  We went down with Nigel, a Bangkok friend who spends weekends in Hua Hin, where he and his long term partner live. Nigel is […]

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ira on October 31st, 2003

Judy and I were both invited to speak at the annual Neurosurgery Review Course in Chiang Mai about the electronic medical office.  Dr. Voravut Chanyavanich from the NS division at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok started this annual review course. Thai neurosurgeons–including our friend Dr. Chaiwit from Khon Kaen and our recent acquaintances in the division […]

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ira on October 15th, 2003

We have made two trips to Chiang Mai.  At the end of September, we took a two-week “vacation” to Chiang Mai and environs that included a trip to the Golden Triangle and long-tail boat trip on the Mekong.  We were just there again (October 28-31) for a “Neurosurgery Review Course”.  The following comes from an […]

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ira on July 19th, 2003

Since the last update we’ve moved into a new apartment and have changed our daily routines.  We are eating in neighborhood storefront restaurants, including one that the Bangkok Post rated tops in the city for its renown Thai chef and …..for its hamburgers! We’re getting out to movies occasionally and seeing more of Bangkok and […]

Continue reading about Victory in Bangkok

ira on June 25th, 2003

I’m getting some more pages up while we still have a fast connection, because, as Judy writes below, we’re moving at the end of the week.  We’re excited about our new, off-the-beaten-path location, off-the-beaten-path relative to commercial and touristy stuff.  But, we’ll still be on the Skytrain route and can beat our way back to […]

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judy on June 18th, 2003

Other great news is that we’ve officially started Thai lessons and LOVE our teacher. We are taking 20 hours of semi-private lessons (i.e. just the 2 of us) for a jump-start and then, starting July 15, will begin a series of intense classes that meet 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. We just […]

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judy on June 18th, 2003

Ira and I are really enjoying ourselves these days. We have finally decided where we’re going to live until December 16. Not only have we decided that we’re going to stay in Bangkok, but we’ve found a very nice fully furnished apartment that only costs $500 (21,000 baht) per month and has one bedroom, a […]

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ira on June 18th, 2003

Finally, SARS is beating a fast retreat, according to the WHO, thanks to intense public health measures.  That is the biggest news in Asia.  And it’s happening none too soon: SARS has reeked havoc on the lives of thousands and crippled the Asian economy.  Thank all of you who have expressed concern for our personal […]

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ira on May 31st, 2003

That’s today’s big news.  Judy and I–along with 13 other great “native English speakers”–are walking off with certificates that attest to our status as TESOL teachers.  We’ve studied grammar and phonemics and done eight hours of practice teaching.  It was a great experience!  But we most remember the people, the other students, and the excellent […]

Continue reading about We’re official!