School in Thailand

It seems that globally schools are in quite a fluid predicament. Thailand was super conservative in closing schools at the hint of an outbreak and not reopening until our community spread was basically zero. They actually allowed international schools to reopen the week that Forest's Kindergarten year ended anyway, so there was no return after March 6. 

He began 1st grade on August 13 and seems to be loving it, despite complaining about the all day mask requirement. I was a bit surprised that they are requiring masks during PE and recess since I'm pretty sure WHO and CDC have come down on the side of 'that's a bad idea'. But the rules and restrictions are constantly adjusting so we will see if there is any relaxation in the coming weeks (edit- they can now take their masks off in PE during the actual activity but must wear during any instruction time and may take their masks off if playing on the soccer fields at recess- but not on the playground equipment). 

Forest's school messed up big time last term in misinterpreting one of the government regulations and since they didn't follow it, we had to close for 2 weeks and by the time that period was over, schools were closed across the country. I am fairly sure that ISB is now being super-duper careful and since the Thai government hasn't said anything other than 'masks are required at school', they are really following that to the letter, even though other schools in our area are more laxed about it. 

The Thai government has also relaxed social distancing rules, but ISB is sticking pretty firmly to that as well. The music teacher posted a video in which they are all in their taped off boxes and wearing masks. 

Because of their cautious approach, we are very worried that Thailand will shut down at any sign of local spread, sort of like Auckland, New Zealand. So we are very grateful for the freedoms and safety we currently enjoy but are also anxious that it could all abruptly be taken away. The borders are closed here so we can't visit the US without jumping through crazy hoops to return. Being cut off from family and the USA is such an unpleasant feeling. We just pray every day that nothing tragic happens while we are stuck over here and even though it's such a mess in the US I think we'd jump at the chance to re-patriate. 

I think this Covid-19 stuff has spoiled any remaining innocence or naivety I had remaining regarding how adventurous and romantic an ex-pat assignment might be. We appreciate our experiences and the opportunities they've afforded to us, but will surely be hesitant to accept another job that keeps us separated from our family and country by an undrivable border anytime soon. It's already a situation where you give up so much control and comfort and this has ratcheted it up a notch (or 20). 

But back to Forest... I haven't been allowed on campus so his first day he had to navigate the new thermo-scan turnstiles on his own and a teacher's aid led all the 1st graders to their classes. Since then he hops out of the car/golfcart, easily and confidently heads onto campus and then beelines for the playground until the bell rings. (Unless he forgets his wristband to activate the turnstiles. Then it's panic attack city. Mom fail.)

I preemptively warned his teacher that he may display some anxiety and drastic shyness but she let me know that hasn't been the case at all. From videos that have been posted it looks like for the first time ever he is letting his energetic and boisterous personality show. One thing they did this year was to keep the classes intact, so all of Forest's kindergarten classmates are in the same 1st grade class. I think this was HUGE for him in being able to come right out of his shell from the get go. 

He's been such a happier kid since school has resumed and we are praying hard that it remains in person. Like I said, we assume that even if there is a modest outbreak of cases in Thailand, things will switch back to a virtual format. Until then, we are appreciating the heck out of school and not taking one single day for granted.

Private Villa on Koh Samui

We took a trip to Koh Samui the week before school started. Domestic travel is starting back up here but many hotels and restaurants are still closed. We'd been hearing mixed messages about how 'open for business' Koh Samui was, so decided instead of staying at a resort and risking that it's restaurants and pools weren't open, we'd rent a private catered villa with our own chef. It actually ended up being cheaper than getting a larger suite at a resort to accommodate all 5 of us. 

Our villa was AMAZING! 

Our view! Unfortunately this was the only time we saw the sun the whole trip. 

We rented 3 bedrooms of the 6 bedroom house and had our own pool and private beach. 

The beach was perfect! We were on the windy side of the island so the tide would come far in at night and then when it went out in the morning it left perfect little tide pools for Juliet to safely explore. 

We had so much fun hunting for hermit crabs and digging in the sand. She's a little water baby for sure so we were so pleasantly surprised by how ideal this beach was for toddlers. 

We figured Forest would get a little bored of just beach and pool for 4 straight days so tried to plan some excursions for a boat tour, snorkeling, zip lining, etc. So much was closed or only offered on weekends (we were there M-F). We did find an ATV tour to a waterfall and did that. It was quite the adventure! 

We rode for an hour in the bed of a truck to get to the ATV place. On the way we got to see a lot of the interior of the island including  farmers using monkeys to collect coconuts.  When we got to the ATV place it was VERY off road. Our wheels came off the ground several times. 

Such a cat person. 

We had a nice little hike and swim at the waterfall where our guide pointed out 'shy ferns', little plants who close up their leaves if you touch them. Forest was fascinated by this. 

Speaking of Ferns, we learned that 'Fern' is a common Thai name. Our concierge at the villa loved that it was Juliet's middle name. 

We also went to lunch at Crystal Bay Beach Resort which is situated on a beautiful beach with lots of rocks for climbing. 

The kids had fun exploring, but unfortunately I sliced my foot open on one of the rocks. 

Other than these two outings we mostly bummed around at the beach. 

Prior to arriving, the staff at the villa sent us a grocery form so that we were stocked with essentials from the start. 

Breakfast was included and then we would get a huge dinner cooked for us and use the leftovers for lunch. It was definitely the least stressful way to travel ever! Which in this season of life is much appreciated. 

We traveled with Forest around his 1st birthday and we still grumble about the experience. He was cutting molars, sleeping poorly and just super clingy and whiny. Juliet ended up being exactly the same! She cried so much on this trip. We brought our nanny along thinking it would be relaxing to have a built in babysitter, but nope. Juliet only wants momma so if she sees me, she will not accept any substitute. 

Nanu trying her best to let me have my morning coffee in peace. Ha! 

Plus she's a feral little tornado so being surrounded by water and other safety hazards meant constantly chasing her around. She's just in that age (12-24 months for Forest) where it's honestly easier to just stay home in a nice baby-proofed space. There will be no such thing as relaxation while traveling for a few years yet. 

Plus she's really turning out to HATE car rides. She becomes inconsolable but yet will not sleep a wink. So basically, it was as ideal of a vacation as it could have been and yet it was still hard. We had our nanny with us for Pete's sake and we were still like 'we are never leaving the house again.' Weenies. 

knock on all the wood she will still nap in a carrier for now!

Also, this was our first time flying in a post covid era. It wasn't too awful but the worst part is that the airport right near us is very limited in flights and didn't have ANYTHING to Samui so we had to make the hour long trek through Bangkok to reach the airport. Once there we had to fill out an extensive online travel history form for each of us (with seemingly irrelevant questions like 'yearly income'), and then we were asked to fill out a similar form once again when we went through security. 

PS. No one on the Koh Samui side ever asked to see these forms and we didn't have to fill out anything on the return trip. Of course, we had to wear masks during the entire ordeal and no food or beverages are allowed in flight (including bringing your own). 

no one said anything about our baby having milk on the plane. I can't imagine they can truly enforce that people can't even have a sip of their own water bottle while flying...

To summarize, renting a catered beach villa is amazing and I definitely recommend it. Traveling with a fearless, highly-mobile 12 month old who is cutting molars is never relaxing even in ideal circumstances and I do not recommend it.