Friday July 27th - Unpacking Day

Just can't sleep in...even with the blaring music from last night and not much sleep...so we got up and started to finish the unpacking job.  (Is that an oxymoron?  Starting to finish?  English teachers?  A little help please...)

Today held many adventures in the Land of Smiles.  One of the first adventures was trying to figure out the washing machine.  While sitting at the computer typing yesterday's report, from the bathroom I heard, "Lowell, what's 40 degrees Celsius?"  First thought:  This can't be good.  So I go look at the washing machine.  Those beautiful red pants Devin was washing weren't quite so red anymore.  But the water sure looked pretty!  Guess it was a bit too hot...  We set the water temperature to SE.  Whatever that means.  The only other choices were 30, 40, 50, and 60.  All far too hot.  Problem solved.  Well, except for the red pants that aren't as red anymore. 

We wanted to do a bit more shopping to set up our home, so we hired another driver to take us to the Big C shopping center.  This was a one-way trip, without any other expectations.  (You could ride a few different Baht buses for 10 THB for each of us, with a pretty good bit of walking...and a pretty good bit of "Um...honey...where are we supposed to go?"  So for now, we're hiring somebody.  Far easier, and still relatively cheap.  Besides, we had to be back by 2 PM for delivery of the furniture we bought yesterday.  Lots of looking around...shopping...lunch (see the food page)...then hop the bus back.  Devin's feet were tired (really, we were all a bit tired...) so we headed back a bit early.  One purchase:  Mini tool kit with screwdriver.  Needless to say, this was a good thing, as the delivery folks brought the furniture to us at about 1:30 PM.  So much for the myth of "Thai time" always being late.

Alright, on to the book case.  With new screwdriver in hand, I set out to put the book case together.  Normally a pretty easy feat.  But I am spoiled, since I'm used to having a cordless drill with a bit for such a job.  Not much sweat equity (well...I take that back...I'd have been sweating even with a drill) using the drill.  This screwdriving was hard work!  After six screws my wrist hurt!  Carpal tunnel!  So I said to Devin, "I give up!"  I'll get the cordless drill later.

The two guys that came with the furniture were great.  They were putting our new table together when they saw my feeble attempt at assembling the bookcase.  What were they thinking?  Big American guy can't even put a stupid bookcase together!  But they were gracious enough.  One of the guys asked if he could put it together for us.  After trying to understand his English (which, by the way, is far better than my Thai!), I figured out what he was saying.  I asked him how much.  I obviously didn't do a good job, as he had no clue what I was saying.  Finally, he figured it out and said, "Whatever."  Meaning I could pay whatever I felt necessary.  Woohoo!  I don't have to have surgery on my wrists!

While they build the table and bookcase, I heard from the bathroom, "Um, I think I put too much soap in the washing machine."  So I walk back and see the front door absolutely covered in bubbles from the soap.  Luckily we have a front-loading machine, or this would have been the classic comedy clip of the washing machine with soap bubbles spilling everywhere.  (And all of you Devin defenders out there don't for a minute think I'm making fun of her washing-machine abilities.  They are far superior to my own, thank you very much.)  The adventures of using a washing machine without directions, while trying to get help from somebody that doesn't understand very much of our bad Thai, even while trying to be helpful.

After the guys finished with the furniture, we debated about what to offer as a tip.  I have absolutely no clue what is reasonable in this situation.  So we decided on 50 THB for each of them.  Being as it was hot, I also offered them a drink.  They accepted a Coke, and the money, and gave a Wai on the way out the door.  In Thai culture, there are no handshakes.  Instead, there is a Wai.  Hands placed together with a slight head-bow.  We're still not quite sure when/where to Wai.  We're working on it.  It's common to receive a Wai at the grocery store after paying.  I'm sure you'll hear more about this later.

So all of this got me to thinking a bit.  I just tipped the guys less than $2 each, and gave them a Coke.  Their response seemed to indicate that I had chosen a good amount.  Hard to describe here, but it seemed like they appreciated what we gave them.  I'm not trying to sound patronizing...so forgive if this does.  But Devin and I talked a bit about how lucky we are to have the wealth that we have.  (And in the US, we are by no means all that wealthy compared to some.)  On the other hand, I can't judge the lives of these guys either.  I don't have any idea what the daily wage is for furniture delivery guys here in Pattaya.  Just a guess that it's not that much, given how cheap everything was.  (And it's not bad quality either...)  Without very few exceptions, I have found the Thai very generous and thoughtful people.  Another thought struck me in the elevator today.  Coming up from an errand, I got into the elevator with one of the cleaning staff at our condo.  I had my ubiquitous sweat ring around my collar and spots of sweat all over.  (Sorry for the visual...but it was hot.)  The woman in the elevator commented that it was hot.  Typical small talk in the elevator, no different than you and I might have at the elevator at Columbia Tower in Seattle.  But as I left the elevator, I got the impression that she made the comment simply to make me feel better for standing there all drenched in sweat, while she had no signs of being hot.  I might be WAY off base here...and if I am, so be it.  But I've had a few people make the "sure is hot" comment.  And from what I've heard, the really hot season is over and we're starting the rainy season where it cools off.  (If this isn't the hot season...hmmm....invest in Gatorade stock!)

Our place is almost all together...and I feel like we're not quite as simple as we'd like.  But we don't have a car!  That sure feels good.  And we have some furniture that I'm not sure we planned on buying when we moved over here.  Then again, we did sell off/give away tons of stuff in Seattle before moving here.  So in the grand scheme of things, I'd say we're slowly making our way to a more simple existance.  And we get to see the world while doing it!

And to all of you friends and family that read the daily updates, thanks for the e-mails.  We love hearing from you, and we hope all is well in your half of the world.