Bits and Pieces

So today I realized, that no matter the country you are in, it is just unpleasant to grocery shop with 4 kids. While mine behaved fine, they just added to the craziness of me trying to 1) find the items I need in a store I'm unfamiliar with, 2) look for labels with any inkling of an English word so I can tell what it is. Thankfully Sammy's group's secretary accompanied me or else I'd still be in that grocery store with a deer-in-the-headlights look.

Went to open a bank account today. Interesting notes: 1) there is no such thing as a joint account here, so each person has their own separate account 2) the guard at the door actually acts more like a manager; he was answering questions about forms from people who weren't sure what to fill in; etc. Kinda weird. He did not carry a gun either - just a long stick and 3) a trip to the bank often takes an hour...just so many people in line and then so many forms to fill out.

Well, supposedly our container arrived this past weekend and now we are awaiting the customs process. Am crossing our fingers . . . the air mattresses are ok but the inability to sit on a chair or couch is killing us. We've been eating on the floor . . . fun only for the first 5 minutes.

On a good note, I was able to use our infamous, million-dollar (it was outrageously pricey but does everything under the sun - even bakes a cake!) rice cooker (which we discovered is really a pressure cooker that happens to do rice)! Yeah! It was pretty good and only took 15 mins - 10 if I wanted more al dente - that speed will help that appliance earn it's keep in our household!

Weather here has been pretty hot and humid although it seems not as hot as Austin but WAY muggier.

Ah, one last story before I sign off . . . when we arrived, Sammy's company's driver came to pick us up. As we hit the freeway from the airport, he asked if I was thirsty. I can't even remember what I said but I think I said I was fine. He insisted that I drink (apparently that helps in the body's ability to transition from the flight). So he pulls the van to the right lane of a 3 lane highway, puts the car in park and then grabs a water bottle from the back of the minivan. There is no shoulder. I hear various sounds of honking in the background of other cars veering around us. We weren't maybe 5 minutes from the airport and I thought, this is it! This. Is. It. :*) But it wasn't. I swear, a defensive driving teacher would go into convulsions if he rode with us and saw all the weird maneuvers I've seen.

Still no access to FB yet . . . my "IT guy" is a bit busy but I hope to get on soon!