Poonersims

Poonerism (poon'erh'iz'm) noun  1. an adorable action or phrase done by Poon, usually as a result of being bilingual.

Sometimes, when Poon says something that is just totally adorable, I jot it down in my phone quickly.  For whatever reason, the first time I did this, I labeled the note "Poonerisms".   When he doesn't know how to express a certain word in English he will often just insert a word he does know, and usually ends up saying very expressive metaphors by accident.  Sometimes I correct his English, but other times I can't help but just enjoy the cute little things he says. I know one day he will be more fluent and will not make these cute mistakes, so I tend to treasure them.

Tonight he made me laugh again when he proclaimed his love for my country, which he has never actually visited.  It was just too cute.

Poon:  What are you doing?
Chrissy:  Watching a video before I start reading.
Poon:  You will not watch football with me?
Chrissy:  No, I will start to read for my class soon.
Poon:  But it's Thailand game.  It's my country.  You don't love my country?  I love your country...
Chrissy:  I do love your country, but you don't love my country.
Poon:  Yes I do.
Chrissy:  But you've never even been to my country...
Poon:  That is my dream, you know.  I will go to jump on your country *jumps into the bedroom* and see how is it.  

Engagement Photos

Back in August, I asked my friend Molly, who is an amazing photographer, if she could snap a few engagement photos for Poon and I.  She agreed, but unfortunately Poon ended up in the hospital and she returned to the States before he was released.  I was super bummed.  We decided to ask our Thai friend, Chris, to take some photos for us the day before I left (Thanks Chris! You're awesome!).  While he's not a professional photographer, he has always taken really nice photos during the summer, so we knew he would get some nice shots.  We didn't have a lot of time to prepare or think about poses, so we just went outside and winged it.  We went with a picnic theme since we are having a backyard picnic wedding.  I'm really happy with how they turned out, especially since they incorporate some of the things we love as a couple (picnics, badminton, sweets, and being nerdy)!

Here are a couple of our favorites.  Hopefully I will get around to editing all of them, but for now you can enjoy them in their natural state :)

Adios Amigo

Goodbyes suck.  They are the worst part of life.  Especially for a traveler.  Anyone who travels often and for long periods of time understands the feeling.  When you travel, you learn to make friends with everyone, anywhere, and usually in the midst of odd situations.  And inevitably, you always have to say goodbye.

I've been saying goodbye for four years now.  Twice in Kenya and three times in SE Asia.  I thought it would get easier, but it never has.  It's bad enough saying goodbye to friends; throw the love of your life into the mix and you end up being a big ole' crybaby when it comes to goodbye time.

Sobbing in the middle of the departure hall of an airport, in a country that hides their emotions, is simultaneously freeing and pathetic.  I don't even care anymore though.  I'm pretty sure the people at Udon Thani Int'l Airport know me by name by now, and they are probably quite used to my strange American antics.  Poon doesn't even try to calm me down anymore.  He knows better.  And, for the record, he cried on the outside this year, so I feel ok about it.  Usually he just "cries on the inside", so we've made progress.

Every year, before the crying begins, we always snap a picture in the waiting area.  I'm glad we continued this tradition each year.  But, I can't say that I am disappointed we won't have another one next year!

2012

2013

2014

Love's a Picnic

Ok, so love is not always a picnic, but we sure do love picnics!

There is nothing that Poon and I love more than a picnic.  Spending our afternoons talking and laughing on our picnic mat while watching the sun set behind the lake is our favorite way to wind down together.

I remember the first time he took me to Nong Phrajak.   I had been there countless times before with students during our summer programs.  That always consisted of massages and smoothies.  Little did I know, there is an amazing park full of grassy fields, winding paths, and walking bridges over the lake - all on a little peninsula that tucks itself right into the center of the lake!  Poon is a romantic at heart, or at least I imagine he is, because he loves taking me to the park to have picnics and play a little badminton.  It's become my favorite thing to do in Udon Thani.

This is us a year ago on one of our first picnics at Nong Phrajak.  We love this spot right under a big tree at the edge of the lake.

The walking bridge is another favorite spot.

This year we haven't had as much time to spend at the park between visiting family, running group trips, etc.  So during our last week together we are trying to make it a priority to have a quick picnic as many evenings after work as we can!  

Yesterday the weather was perfect.  Sunny but not too hot and a really light breeze rustling through the trees.  We set up camp (a woven straw mat, a few little pillows, and a couple of snacks) and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. 

Roots

One of the initial commonalities that bonded Poon and I, was the fact that we are both born and raised in small, southern, coastal towns.  We may be from countries separated by many oceans, but our love for the ocean is something that is such a strong part of who we are as individuals.

As a child, I grew up spending the majority of summer days at the beach, looking around for sea creatures hidden in the nooks and crannies of coral reef.  As a teen I spent many mornings at the beach surfing, reading, or swimming alongside dolphins (What other reason would anyone be homeschooled for?).  As an adult I still crave days spent soaking in the salt water, listening to the calming rhythm of the waves, and letting the sunlight envelop me and make my troubles seem a million miles away.

Poon grew up just steps away from the beach, surrounded by sea air.  The culture of his town is 100% sea-centric.  Everywhere you look you see fishermen hauling their nets out of the water to prepare their catch for sale at the local market.  Rickety wooden boats line the inlet as they return from their two weeks at sea, and now unload buckets of iced fish and shrimp.  Poon spent his teen years sitting on the beach drinking beer and singing songs with his friends as they barbecued fresh fish over an open fire.  His father raises shrimp in a salt water pond that sits right alongside the sand dunes, and if Poon still lived in his hometown, he would no doubt be doing the same.

I don't think either of us can fully articulate our connection to the sea, but the seaside lifestyle is something we both miss dreadfully when we are working inland.  Visiting his family in Hua Sai this past week allowed us to reconnect with that part of ourselves, and also share that part of ourselves with each other.

Some highlights from the ten days we spent at his parents' home.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

It's official!

Our K-1 Finance Visa papers are FINALLY signed, express mailed, and submitted to Homeland Security!

It took way more time than it should have to get all of the documents prepared, but with Poon's hospital stay, the lawyer being MIA for a bit, and being busy with work...

We took an entire Sunday afternoon to devote to getting passport photos taken, printing "evidence" of our relationship, and signing all of the paperwork.  Then, Monday we went in search of a store that could express mail our package to Florida.  I seriously love Thai prices because it only cost $30 to get a fairly thick envelop across the world in just 2 days!!!

Here's an example of screen shot we used as "evidence" that we are a real live (not internet groom) couple.  Because Facebook makes every relationship legit!

Fast forward a week and we just got word from the lawyer saying everything was submitted and we will receive confirmation in a few weeks.  It's so surreal for this visa to be processing in the hands of the government because I swear we've been discussing which type of visa to get, when to submit it, should we get a lawyer or do it ourselves forever - and now it's done!

It could take two months or four months or seven months, we really have no idea what to expect!  The lawyer says within 6 months, a family friend who went through this said 4 months, and some folks online said 7 months.  We are hoping and praying that it will be processed quickly with no delays or complications.  Once the US approves our application, it will get bounced over to the US Embassy in Bangkok, where they will handle Poon's interview and health screening.

As long as Poon is on a plane by March 1 so we can get married before my brother deploys, I could care less about the exact timing.  I will however, be heartbroken if it takes longer than that.

So now we wait!

Here are some photos we snapped while finishing up the paperwork.  Don't mind our messy room!  Poon was so intent on making his signature just right.

Andddd we're done!!!!  These are our "we are really excited and can't believe we are really doing this, is this real life?" faces.  I'm really awful at taking selfies.  

He Put a Ring on It

Yesterday was my 27th birthday, which I was dreading enormously.  I know the difference between 26 and 27 is minuscule, but 27 just seems so much closer to 30 than 26.  Which I guess, it is.  To soften the blow, my super sweet boyfriend planned a special surprise for me.

Now, we have been "Facebook officially" engaged since April, but we were separated by a few oceans and it was more the result of a string of conversations and decisions about our future than an actual proposal.  At the end of March, after setting a tentative date with my close family, I purchased an incredible, unique wedding dress.  Poon and I decided that since my family knew and his family knew, we might as well announce it to the world - and since we have so many friends spanning the globe, it was quite literally to the world!  At this point I was ok with not ever getting a "down on one knee" proposal.  In Thai tradition, that kind of engagement ritual is not practiced, so Poon had no idea how to even go about "proposing".  Plus, our relationship is anything but traditional so I had already thrown out all of my preconceived ideas of what an engagement and wedding should be like.

That being said, Poon is actually very traditional.  Once he found out what the typical American engagement entailed, he told me he would buy me a ring when he could save enough money.  I should also add that he was mortified that he had not asked my father for his permission before announcing our engagement.  And me, being the dummy that I am, didn't even think to let him know that would be important to my dad.  Gahhh.

When the summer rolled around and I arrived in Thailand, he immediately starting pulling me over to every single jewelry stand in Udon Thani.  And there are a lot of them!  After a month of looking around, we were in Central Plaza Mall and happened to stop at yet another jewelry counter.  I saw a few rings that I liked but I wasn't in love with any of them.  But then I saw it.  It was in a circular, red velvet box tucked back in a corner.  I immediately picked it up and put it on, and was instantly crushed that it was about two sizes too big.  Poon, having seen the look on my face when I first saw it, came over to take a look.  He asked the sales clerk if they had the same ring in a smaller size, but it was the only one.  Being a traveling vendor, they were unable to resize it.  I put the ring back in its box reluctantly and we walked away.  Poon drove me across town to another store that sold rings hoping I would find something else I liked.  But looking at more rings just made me love that one even more.  I kept saying "Man, I really wish that ring at Central had been smaller".  After a bit more pouting on my part, Poon asked the guy at this store if they could resize a ring purchased elsewhere.  Upon hearing that they were willing to do it, we drove sped right back over to Central.  Luckily the store had not quite closed up yet, so Poon sent me to a nearby store while he purchased my ring.

I wasn't sure when he was going to have the ring resized, and I tried to behave by not asking him.  One day we were shopping at Tesco Lotus (the Thai equivalent of Target) and while I was checking out he went "to go look at something".  As I was heading out of the store, I saw him at the jewelry counter, so he had to fess up that he had snuck the ring out to get it fitted.  He made up a bunch of excuses about why they couldn't get it sized for a while and I didn't even question it.

During the time the ring was getting sized, Poon and I were Skyping with my dad and stepmom.  We talked for a good hour or so, most of which Poon spent quietly listening.  Right before we were about to hang up, Poon said, "Wait Dad, I have to ask you one question.  I bought a ring for married for Chrissy.  I want to ask you if I can give her the ring?"  I was shocked, and I think my dad was surprised too.  We had discussed it, but I figured he might just send him a Facebook message.  Having him ask out loud and as face-to-face as we could be was really special.

It just so happened that my birthday coincided perfectly with my Thai visa expiring.  In order to get a new visa, I usually just pop over the border to Vientiane, Laos and apply at the Thai consulate there.  This requires an overnight stay while they process the visa, which gave us a whole day and a half off of work to celebrate my birthday away from Ricefields!  We had gone together for a visa run last year, but didn't have time to do much in the city.  We had eaten at an amazing little French restaurant during that quick trip and we knew we wanted to return there for another dinner.

So the night of my birthday we walked along the Mekong River enjoying people watching and checking out all of the little boutiques and cafes.  I had curled my hair for the occasion and was doing my best to keep my chambray shirt over my head to avoid the rain that was starting to fall lightly.  My hair arrived at the restaurant mostly intact.  The restaurant, Le Vendome, is adorable and quaint and French, and was a really nice relaxing way to enjoy a birthday meal.

We split a margherita pizza (which was salty and cheesy and delicious) and a lasagna.  Poon really enjoyed the food!

Then for dessert - which was the real reason we went back - we ordered the baked pear with chocolate drizzled over top.  I don't even like pears, but this dessert is amazing.  And it was just as good as we remembered it.

After dessert, Poon suggested I use the restroom while he payed the bill.  Of course I argued for about 5 minutes that I would just use it after the bill was paid and we were about to leave.  Poon insisted that I go to use it right away.  I finally gave in and reminded him to not leave the table since I was leaving my bag there.

A few minutes later I emerged from the restroom to find my bag sitting at our table alone, without Poon.  I was so annoyed!  I had JUST asked him not to get up and leave it there.  I sat down, fuming quietly.  Suddenly, bright flashes of light began erupting around me.  Confused, I turned to see one of the waiters holding my camera and snapping photos of me.  Poon walked out from behind me and kneeled down.  It wasn't until that moment that I realized what he was doing.  I started smiling like a lunatic while he held my hand and asked if I would wear his "ring for married".

It was a really nice night, and even though I had accepted not having an American-style proposal, I am really happy that Poon planned one out so well and even had someone there to photograph it!  I especially loved that he chose to set it up at a place we love and had built memories at the year before.

The bling.