Friday, May 9, 2008
Spring Update 2008
Well Craig made it back home to Kathmandu after 10 long weeks in Germany. He is now officially a certified Rolfer by American and European Rolfing Associations! He feels good about his knowledge and skills and is ready to take up his new career. He has picked up clients from Lincoln School (where I work) and is starting to let the process naturally unfold for him- through connections and conversations to the rest of the Kathamdu expat community this month. This week, he is giving a presentation at the US Embassy to explain Rolfing and promote his services. Things are really picking up for him here. Soon, I'll have to schedule my appointments!
Coming HOME!
In the meantime, the school year is plugging away for me; our last day is June 12th and we fly home, into Vancouver BC on the 16th. It has been a long and intense learning process for me. I have been teaching all new curriculum and content, including all freshman and Sophomore English for the first time. Much of the time, I felt like I was a first-year teacher all over again. Next year promises to be more of the same with all new content, courses, and curriculum once again. Although I’ve been really lucky with this pregnancy, and rarely sick, I definitely have less energy than I am used to. I’m really looking forward to a break and coming home.
PLANS: Right now, our plans are to return to the Northwest and stay in Seattle/ Billings for June and July. Then August, we get to move back into our house in time to get ready for the baby join us! Our due date is August 21st. It’s hard to believe that I’m already 6months pregnant! I sure missed Craig and it is great to have him back. Life is a challenge here in Kathmandu; it’s much better with the support of my loving partner.
PLANS: Right now, our plans are to return to the Northwest and stay in Seattle/ Billings for June and July. Then August, we get to move back into our house in time to get ready for the baby join us! Our due date is August 21st. It’s hard to believe that I’m already 6months pregnant! I sure missed Craig and it is great to have him back. Life is a challenge here in Kathmandu; it’s much better with the support of my loving partner.
Why does this guy look so nervous?
See how he's watching the cobra in Craig's hands? He promised that the venom was removed, but he doesn't look so certain.
Spring Break!
Craig made it back just in time for our spring break. We both got sick, relaxed, did some school work, and took a 10 day trip to Pokhara. In Pokhara, we found a nice hotel with a balcony and view of the lake to hang out in. We explored the tourist resort town and ate lots of good food. We hired a small canoe/boat across the lake and hiked up to the World Peace Pagoda. We went for an intense 3 day trek in the Annapurna range. Craig finally got to see the Rodhendenderon forests he’s been dreaming about, and they were incredible! We were both sick while we were trekking, but Shannon (Craig writing now, hey what’s up?) still made it up the section of stairs that have 4800 steps. Yep, 4800 mo flappin steps. I tried to help her get up them by helping her count at every hundredth one, but both of may suffer from a little bit of attention disorder, especially when exercising, and had a hard time with that one. Shannon did get through a couple of thousand at least. Me? I actually just waited for Shannon to count them and say it loud then I’d act like she was wrong and that the step we were actually on was the next hundredth. It worked every time. It was well worth the torture to see and be in the rhodi Forests. I mean these are trees that are big enough that it would take three people arm in arm to wrap the things. Absolutely frickin fabulous!! The last morning I hiked to the top of Poon Hill for sunrise and was welcomed with an absolutely breathtaking view of an amphitheatre of 6 peaks and the rest of the Annapurna range. Photos cannot do it justice. Next to what I see in the mirror everyday, easily one the prettiest things I’ve ever seen.
Humongous rhododendrons
This is the rhododendron forest we trekked through. Amazing. I think Joyce would like these!
The Yoga Retreat
We ended our trip with a 3 day respice at a Yoga retreat center where we gave each other mud baths, relaxed with meditation and Yoga, ate some really good food, and took a steam box. Yep, BOX with a pressure cooker making the steam. I’m all over that design. Nelson is gonna love this man. Cohen- you'll be on marketing...It was a perfect ending to spring vacation.
Should I be this big?
At the yoga retreat, we met an AK woman who was also 5 months pregnant. Why am I so much bigger?
Maternity Leave!
Shannon was granted a year maternity leave recently, so that means our options are a little more open now. Worse case scenario, we come back here in Nov. Or we come back in Jan. Who knows what will come up after junior is here. Actually, we’ve been calling the baby Chori or Chora, which is little boy or girl in Nepali. Other than that, we don’t have name yet either way.
I would write about all my adventures in Germany and Switzerland, but we want you finish reading this, so I’ll write a little something something on my own about that.
We’re off to a Cinco DeMayo party at some friends. I’ll need to be on my game to keep Shannon out of the tequila and keep her from dancing on the tables, She gets wild when she’s on the tequila (just so you know (this is a whisper now) Shannon really isn’t going to drink tequila). It’s the last day of a 4 day weekend for Shannon so we’re gonna have some fun. We spent yesterday celebrating my birthday by attending an acupuncture Meridian massage clinic. It was just what Chori and Shannon and Craig needed.
We hope all of you are well and happy and we look forward to seeing you soon.
With Much Love,
Craig, Shannon, and Chori, and Sebastian (our cat)
We’re off to a Cinco DeMayo party at some friends. I’ll need to be on my game to keep Shannon out of the tequila and keep her from dancing on the tables, She gets wild when she’s on the tequila (just so you know (this is a whisper now) Shannon really isn’t going to drink tequila). It’s the last day of a 4 day weekend for Shannon so we’re gonna have some fun. We spent yesterday celebrating my birthday by attending an acupuncture Meridian massage clinic. It was just what Chori and Shannon and Craig needed.
We hope all of you are well and happy and we look forward to seeing you soon.
With Much Love,
Craig, Shannon, and Chori, and Sebastian (our cat)
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