Move in, unpack and get busy!
That was clearly our theme for this last month.
Our new village, Don Haang, is a river culture. We have rivers on two sides of us. One small one runs through the village, and the main area river, the Nan River is just almost visible out the back of the rice fields behind us.
This time of year is boat racing time.
Our village team has been practicing nearly every day for a couple of months now. It is so important to the village that at the village meeting only a couple of days after we arrived, it was voted that participation is mandatory for men up to age 55. You either row or pay money to support the rowers.
Greg even had a chance to try out his skill at rowing. He is in the yellow shirt and in the big straw hat.
So far we have been to three races. These are multi-day events, sometimes with over 100 boats competing.
Our boat is the closest to the shore in the top left. The guys are wearing blue and red shirts and orange headbands. Go Don Haang!
It has been a great way to become part of the community, to show our identification with the people of Don Haang.
Even though I could barely recognize any of the rowers, and if I had to pick them out of a line up and say if they were from our village or not, it was hard not to get into the cheering spirit when our boat went by.
That’s us in the lead!! Faster boys, faster!
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A wonderful gift from a gracious God, giving us this perfect opportunity to work towards ‘becoming’Thai Lue and a member of Don Haang
The words on our shirts are the names of the two boats. Petjambii and siisoontaun You can certainly see us a ways off in these shirts. And no, it was NOT cool enough to need long sleeves. 
Hello Tina, I found your blog. My family is moving to Chiang Mai next year (expats, not missionaries). I realize you have recently moved, but I am hoping you have time to answer some questions – finding a church, other home schoolers, etc. Please contact me if you have time and can lead me. Blessings, Jennifer
You’re baaaaack! lol
Wonderful to see photos of your house with the fresh paint and looking all cosy
Is it EVER cool enough for long sleeves? (showing my geographical ignorance – I just think of it as a hot place)
Looking forward to hearing about how the English classes go, the fun little anecdotes that are inevitable when living in another culture…