Since moving out of the hotel we have been without internet service, until today!!! Hooray…we are connected again to the world..and all of you back home!!
We’ve been pretty busy moving into our home. Earlier we wrote a bit about our condo so I won’t mention much here except to add a few more pictures to give you a better idea of the place. We moved in on Friday, June 28th and cooked our first meal on Sunday the 30th…spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, a bean and pea salad, and a mango/orange/watermelon bowl for dessert, all washed down with a couple of glasses of Argentine Malbac…Mmmmm, Mmmmmm…nothing like a home cooked meal. Two days ago we entertained our first guests…Will, Allie and Grant Chisholm. It was so good to talk with them and share travel adventures. They just found their home…a condo on the other side of the polo grounds from us…a little more than a stone’s throw (maybe five stone throws if you have a strong arm!!)
It is quite common here in Malaysia to have help at home. Our condo is complete with an additional bedroom, bathroom, living area for a maid. We are so lucky to have contracted with Flor to help us. Flor is the most wonderful, sweetest, hardest working person we have ever met in our lives. We have adopted each other and have become a family of three. I am in awe of her abilities and feel a bit spoiled. You set a dish down, turn around and it is washed, dried and put away. Every stick of clothing has been ironed and hung up. I used to have a 5 second rule when I dropped food on the floor…I have upped that to 10 minutes!!!! Heidi says I have a lot to live up to when we return to Washington….hmmm, what do you think she means by that???
Been spending time at school getting acclimated…long days. Probably won’t be blogging much about school but I will add some pics of the school for you to see. It is quite different from the public sector….this school is quite well resourced. Example: Science time and you are teaching using a Foss Kit….you do not try to quickly set up in your room, no, you take your class to one of the two science rooms where a science assistant has set up all the materials you will need for the explorations/experiments. You just bring your laptop, hook-up, and teach the lesson. Once the lesson is complete you take your class back to your room. It is rather astounding. The library is humungous…about three Kenroy/Lee libraries would fit into the space. The gym is massive with unicycles, lacrosse sticks, earth balls, etc. etc. The pool is 6 lanes, 25 meters, with starting blocks and touch pad timing. My favorite spot is the Koi pond..very peaceful. The grade level blocks are similar to Rock Island in that they are designed with a pod concept where all six rooms surround a central teaching/meeting area. Each grade level pod has its own copy machine. Each classroom, grades Prep Reception through grade two, has a teaching assistant (aka, Para), grades 3 to 5 have one assistant for each grade level. All students take a foreign language (Spanish or Mandarin) and all fifth grade students play an instrument. Art is taught…not crafts, but art, taught by three certificated art teachers. Heidi and I are astounded and feel so lucky. Here are a few pictures of the school.
Finally, the fruit of the week!!! Heidi and I are trying a different fruit each week…except Durian. This week, MANGOSTEEN. It is the size of a plum, sort of an acorn shape, with a leathery covering. You slice around the circumference, just through the outer layering, then twist, and off comes the bottom half revealing the segmented, white flesh. Pop it in your mouth be ready for taste-bud ecstasy!!! So sweet. Mangosteen is not related in any way to Mangos except perhaps the sweetness. It has taken over as my favorite fruit.
Tomorrow we are taking a break from school and going to visit Chinatown….should be fun.
Our Adventures 
You are having such an adventure! Please don’t get too spoiled. Wish your new family was here– I had to clean house—all by my self. She looks like a sweetheart. Sorry I missed your phone call on the 4th. Mom
Hello Judy,
Don’t worry, we won’t get too spoiled. You would love Flor and I think you would quickly become her favorite person!! Hard to believe we have been here already 3 weeks….blink and Heidi will be home at Christmas.
We miss you all dearly.
Love, Bob
Have to get on the computer to see slide show. Busy with grand kids. Having a fun holiday weekend. Love all your narrative. so glad you’re Foodie!!
Kay,
This truly is a Foodie’s paradise. We ate at a Mexican place last night, La Mexicana….I always thought South couldn’t be beat but I was wrong…the best, absolute best Mexican food ever….and the Margarita’s were also tasty!! Gonna be hard not to pack on the pounds!!!!
B-
Love your new “office” Bob! Everything looks wonderful!
Brenda,
Hi Brenda,
So good to hear from you. Heidi and I are sitting on our deck drinking a bottle each of Duvel Belgian Golden Draft and watching the clouds roll in….looks like we may be store for a storm. We can see Allie’s place across the way…they move in on Tuesday. It will be nice having them so close. We miss everyone, but are enjoying this adventure. Soon school will consume us for awhile.
Hope you and Sophia are getting a bunch of time together!!
Bob-
I think the chlorine might be a bit harsh on your cushy chair, and dealing with parent complaints in a speedo might put you at a disadvantage!
I don’t know…the speedo look just might be intimidating!!!! particularly if I pair it with mirror goggles.
Miss you guys….we need to set a time for a Skype call.
How is the Ellensburg office going??? Has Jack been accepted to Harvard yet?
Dad-
Wow and wow! What a beautiful place. I have a feeling Veronica will definitely visit you two after she sees these pics.
Mandy,
We are heading up to that resort I showed you all pictures of, will publish pics upon return…when you see them, you and Berta will be fighting over who will be the first to join Veronica!!
Bob-
I drank a mangosteen juice for awhile-supposed to be very healthy. The school looks incredible! Dan says tell Will to come back for Columbia Chorale :).
Hello Ruth,
Well, if Mangosteen does have medicinal powers, then I shall be extremely healthy while living here….just bought enough to fill a basket.
I will pass Dan’s words onto Will…the Chisholms are truly enjoying themselves….particularly Will. The first Musical is Legally Blonde and he is already preparing the music. They just got their condo and are now looking for a car.
Today we are taking a short holiday to a beach resort….will write about it upon return.
Bob-
Well, Bob, I see that your grand adventure has begun…and I nearly missed it. It occurred to me this morning that I haven’t heard from you in ages, so checked Facebook: Nothing. Then I took a look as a chat we exchanged in December, and found the link to this blog. Nice job blogging, Bud! I’ll look forward to following you and Heidi as your adventure develops.
Hi Karl,
Glad you found it…yes, the adventure has begun. Gonna mostly stay in Malaysia this year as school will consume so much of our time…a lot to learn. There is so much to see here in this beautiful country. Next year we will begin to venture out to see Thailand, Bali, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, etc. And as we venture out, I will try to be like Karl, and venture away from the tourist spots to get a true feel for the country….will even eventually try durian. Hope you are doing well.
Bob-
Thanks for putting that skeleton in the science room in your pics. I’m sure you did that just for me! Looks like you’re really roughing it. Love you
Rhonda, I did actually slide Bobby Bones into the viewfinder just for you….thought you would appreciate it.
Almost embarrassed to share where we are…sitting on chaise lounges on our deck at the Pangkor Laut Island Resort gazing out at the Straits of Malacca…just off the Indian Ocean…a little slice of Heaven….will post pics upon return.
Hope you are healthy and enjoying the summer weather.
Bob
And, how do you know it’s a male skeleton…lol. Enjoy your time at the resort. Does your condo have a pool?
Rhonda,
What makes you think Bobby is a Boy’s name? Like Pat, Sam, or Chris…it’s rather androgynous!
Our Condo has a very nice pool…about 20 meters long and 10 meters wide….almost always empty.
Unlike the newer condos, we do not have a workout center.
Bob-
Heidi, I am so glad that your beautiful purse was featured on the coffee table in house photos. It looks great! Think about you often and hope you and Bob cherish every single moment of your adventure. We have really enjoyed the photos and can’t wait to see more of your little get away. I can almost hear your sigh of contentment! Hugs, Heather :}
Hello Heather,
Heidi and I are heading down to the spa….I have asked if she will describe her experience on our next post….this place is AMAZING !!! It is the ultimate getaway, the mother of all romantic spots!!!!
We will try to post tomorrow.
Hi from Heidi !!!! Miss you!!!
Heidi and Bob-
Looked at Pangkor Laut Resort and I thought, YUMMY. The resort looks amazing and that water, so inviting. I did see this resort on a travel program once and the food was featured, as was the rooms. My dream is to have a few nights on one of those hotel rooms over the water. And maybe even with the glass floor so you could see all the fish whilst sipping champagne and various tropical fruits. Glad you are enjoying, we are happy here and ready to make this our home. Hugs, love, rose And for you Heidi, Mexican has small, short people, and no clothing for tall folks, or even someone larger than a 2 short. So there I was laying on the beach in my lounge chair, just loving the beach and waves, when I heard… HEY LADY, I didn’t look up but the woman next to me said I think she wants you… I look up and there is this tiny lady holding up what looks to be Omars’ tent and saying to me … Lady, look I have BIG dress, just for you! I just wanted to die, of course, all the people around were laughing. Just one of those things. No, didn’t buy dress, but would have made a good king size bedspread.
Rose, so pleased you and Gary are loving Mexico. I love reading your blog. I continue to try and comment to no avail….doesn’t seem to like me.
You would definitely LOVE this place we are staying….it’s like the final location for one of those Bachlorette shows…complete with the Fantasy Suite. (Not that I have ever watched that show) Service beyond belief! We will blog as soon as I get pics of the spa…couldn’t bring the camera with me for our treatment.
Love to you,
Bob-