Update/Interesting Facts

Well, even though in my last post I wrote about how I can now get online, I realized it costs a lot to do it!  So, I haven't been able to update like I want.  It's costing a lot for me to be on here now, so I better hurry...


Housing:


We are still in the temporary house, but now ALL of our stuff has arrived from Houston.  We have 300 boxes and all of our wrapped up furniture surrounding us.  It's a little crazy, and smells like cardboard.  So, now I'm anxious to get into a house.  Although they are supposed to give us a 4 bedroom, they have offered us a 3 bedroom since no 4 bedrooms are currently available.  The location of the 3 bedroom is PERFECT, but of course it's a lot smaller.  At this point, I'm ok with that, because location trumps size, and we want to go ahead and get settled.  BUT... as of today, they are telling us that we can't move into the 3 bedroom for another 6 weeks at least, and if we agree to take it and then a 4 bedroom opens up, too bad.  What to do???  Frustrating.




School:


The oldest 3 kids are now situated in school, and they all love it.  I am so happy with the schools here, even if the letter "z" is called "zed", and they say things like "brilliant" and "clever" when really maybe it's something that's just good or ok.  :0)






Other interesting facts:

• Eggs are brown.  No white eggs to be found.  I'm not sure Easter dye will look pretty on brown eggs.  
• Reverse Parking.  I still need to practice this.  Backing into an angled space is tricky!
• Pointing.  It is rude to point with the "pointer" finger, so everyone points with their thumb.  There's a certain technique to it.  It's not like a "Gig 'Em" thumb.  You have to make a fist and then rest your thumb on top and hold out your arm.  It's difficult to tell what people are pointing at, like the time a man  "pointed out" the immigration office to us, and we went on a 10-minute trek around 5 buildings until we ended up where we started, which turned out to be the correct building.  
• Toilet.  It's not a "restroom" or a "bathroom" or even a "powder room".... it's a "toilet".  Ask for a restroom and you'll just get a blank stare.  You have to ask for the toilet.  I feel a little dirty saying it.
• Light switches.  They are opposite.  To turn on a light on, you push the switch down, and to turn it off, you push the switch up.  Seems backwards, like so many other things here!

Still enjoying it though, despite many frustrations lately.  It's a bit of a roller coaster ride!

Back Online!!!

We are finally back online!  Ironically, we could have been online this whole time (the past 3.5 weeks) if we'd only known about a little app called MyWi.  Keith found out that we could download this app on our iPhone to make it act like a modem.  We can then "tether" our laptops to it, and get online.  I don't know how it works, but it does!  Technology never ceases to amaze me.

Where to begin?  So much has happened... maybe I will wait and collect my thoughts before doing a proper post.  For now, I am just excited to be able to get on here and type on a real keyboard!!!  Stay tuned...

Not what I'd envisioned

This is not how I envisioned my blogging venture... Tapping out letters with my thumb. Still no Internet. Sorry! It will probably be a couple of weeks before we are online. Keep checking back though, just in case.

Texting a post

I haven't updated the blog because I don't have wifi in the temporary house, so I am texting this post on my iPhone. In short, it has been a crazy week with the move and trying to get other things (ID cards, drivers licenses, phone, AC, etc) set up. Now Keith is off in Bandar (1.5 hrs away) looking at cars. He has to turn in his loaner car on Monday, but school also starts on Monday and we need transportation. At the very least, we will be renting a car from a coworker for awhile. We haven't been able to buy a car yet because we didn't have ID cards or local licenses. Couldn't apply for those until we got our passports back from BSP. Finally got it done this morning. Well, that's about it for my thumbs here. Hope to have Internet in the house soon, and I will make a proper post from my computer!

Packing up (again)

Time to pack up and move again.  Our little 2 week "vacation" here in the apartment ends tomorrow when we move into a temporary house.

                                                             "Hornbill" Apartments

Temporary 3-bedroom Home:

Here's how they (BSP-Brunei Shell Petroleum) do things in Brunei...  first you stay at either the apartment or a local (not very nice) hotel for anywhere from 1 week to who knows how long...  


Then you go into a temporary house IF one is available.  If not, you continue to stay in the apartment or hotel.  If so, you move into the temporary house for the next 2-6 months, waiting for a permanent house to become available.  


The permanent house you get is based on family size.  In this case, we actually benefit by having 4 children.  For one thing, we'll get a 4-bedroom home.  For another, we probably won't have to wait as long as the families with 2 or 3 children who are all waiting for a 3-bedroom home.  This is one of the rare instances where we are at an advantage with a larger family!


Obviously, they don't make the settling-in process especially easy.  But, at least our temporary home is not far-removed from "camp", and it's just down the road from the SupaSave grocery store.  Now I just need a car to get to the store, and everywhere else for that matter!   For those who were rooting for the "Mystery Machine", it had already sold by the time Keith called about it.  I guess it wasn't meant to be...  Still looking for the right vehicle.


Gotta go pack now!!!  

Cheetos are saving my life!

After a trip to the local grocery store, Landon was SO excited to have found Cheetos.
He said, "You know why I'm glad Brunei has Cheetos?"
Me: "Because you love them?"
Landon: "No.  Because they're saving my life."

We have found some other American products that have "saved our lives" here in the beginning.  It's exciting to see what they sell amongst the local products.  Of course, these things may not always be available...

    BREAKFAST                                                             

SNACKS

LUNCH

DINNER

It certainly makes the adjustment a bit easier to have some familiar foods available to us!

A lesson in Malay

The local language here in Brunei is Malay.  We are very lucky, however, because nearly everyone also speaks English.  On the other hand, it's kind of embarrassing (to me) that we Americans are almost the only ones who don't speak multiple languages.  The Europeans, South Americans, Asians, etc. all speak at least their own language plus English.

Even though we don't have to learn Malay to communicate, the locals greatly appreciate any efforts you make at speaking their language.  Hoping to assimilate into the culture at least somewhat, I have been picking up some phrases from the sweet cleaning ladies here at the apartment.  Now you can learn some Malay too!

How are you?
Apa Khabar (a-paw kuh-bar)

I'm good.
Khabar baik (kuh-bar bike)

Good morning
Selamat pagi (selawmut poggie)

Good night
Selamat malam (selawmut mollem)

What is your name?
Siapa nama mu (see-ahpa nahma moo)

What time is it?
pukul berapa (pookle barawpa)

Thank you
Tarima kasih (tareema kah-see)

Goodbye
Selamat jalan (selawmut jhollen)

I don't think I'll become fluent, but maybe I can pick up a bit more over time.
 Selamat jalan!