Tikka powder

I can't get enough of this stuff, it's beautiful.

Catching up.... or not

You know when you get behind in something and think you'll catch up but the idea of doing so is too daunting so you keep putting it off longer and longer?  That's how it's been with our blogs.  So I'm cutting losses and starting with the here and now: it's Dashain season and in a few days we will have a week vacation!  The Dashain swing at our house finally fell down last month, but Tegan got to play on one that was put up at school.  Monday we will fly kites and Wednesday be on our way to Thailand for some R and R.

Disneyland

Exhausting and so much fun!  A little bit different than the last time we were there.

Road repair

Last week I noted to a friend while we walked home that I thought a dip in our road was getting worse. True enough, the next day on our way to work there was a big hole where the dip once was. Coming home we saw the hole had been "repaired", ie. filled in with rubble.

Shockingly, this method didn't seem to work as this morning the hole was back, this time with a branch poking out to alert drivers.

 

Paris from a different perspective

Both Jeremiah and I had been to Paris before, and I'm glad we had because this trip was totally different than the Paris I think of. Instead of meandering through the Louvre, sipping coffee with croissants, and seeing the sights at night all lit up, we carried children around, managed oozing Nutella crepes and sought out playgrounds. Not that any of that was bad, just different and a wee bit exhausting.

We bought some good kids books...

watched boats go by...

wondered where all the keys were...

put on temporary Shakespeare tattoos with water from the public fountain...

and rode the carousels ("again please, again?")

Seeing the sights in and around Rodez

While in France for spring break we got to see some of the beautiful architecture and countryside around Rodez. Cathedrals are of course the thing the see while in Europe, and these didn't disappoint (except from Tegan's perspective since she had to be quiet while inside!). It was equally nice to walk small roads of small towns and admire the cobblestone and stone buildings, such a contrast to the brick buildings of Kathmandu.

Moving abroad with young kids

Have an infant or toddler (or both!) and thinking of taking your family abroad to live? Already taken a job abroad and are thinking about what you need to plan for your little ones? Though our kids were born while we were already abroad, we have some thoughts on this based on our experiences and those of others we know.

1. Seek out other families already settled in your new country well before you leave - what advice do they have?

If you are going overseas because of a job that regularly places people overseas they should be able to help with your transition. But if you are on your own find blogs/message boards/etc with families already living in the country or town where you will relocate to and reach out. I get emails all the time and do my best to answer questions. Ask them the questions you know you have, but also ask what their day to day life is like, this can give you a better idea of what to expect.

2. Think ahead to what you might need for the next few stages.
Will your baby start eating solids and need baby food? Start walking and need shoes? Will your toddler hit a growth spurt and need a whole new wardrobe (seemingly overnight as is usually the case)? What medicines will you need? Diapers? Training diapers? Once you have brainstormed, try to figure out what will be available in your new country. It's also good to know about shipping into the country and if there are restrictions.

3. People will have opinions about your move, and will probably voice them. Be ready with your response.
We come across a lot of surprise, polite questioning of motives, the "oh your families must miss you", and "I could never do that because..." (which is really often a judgement in disguise). We know why we live abroad and the benefits for our family and share these to varying degrees depending on the individual. Some will never understand. Some will be inspired. Some will live vicariously through you.

4. Make a plan of communication with family and friends.
Find a time that Skype works for you. Set up a blog. Facebook pictures. Email. Do what works for you and the folks back home.

5. Bring traditions from home and start new ones.
Christmas in a country that is Buddhist will never be the same as Christmas at home. Easter will go by without a blink of an eye. And you will have new holidays to learn and celebrate. Make the best out of all of it. Bring things from home or recreate holiday traditions and find some new things your family can do and possibly take with you when you leave.

6. Find other families to hang out with.

It'll help. For everything ranging from figuring out where to buy the good diapers to what preschool options are out there to venting about ____. Support networks are always a plus.

7. Think of some routines for bed and nap time that are not place specific.
Moving abroad will inevitably involve many different cribs/beds/airplane seats/laps/car seats - you name it - both during the trip there, but in settling-in and travel once you get there.

8. Know that things will be different, and different is ok, it can even be great! (Though fried pork fiber for baby? Not great).

Are you raising a young family overseas? What advice do you have?