"TCIS and Thana City"

We know how to have fun and keep ourselves busy in Thailand. We live in a two-bedroom six-condominium complex in Thana City, about 30 km from Bangkok. We rarely go to Bangkok, perhaps once a month for a vigorous Thai massage, because there are enough places to go and things to do closer to "home." Thana City has swimming pools, cafeterias, mini-shops, salons, and bars. Close by is the golf course and country club, two markets, and shopping malls with theaters. These are the places we frequent to take a short break from work.

On his first year Brian was the only Music teacher at TCIS, teaching General Music to about 400 students from Grades 1-8. He also taught Choir/Dance Band as an elective in high school. During the second semester he coached the high school varsity basketball team. The following year he implemented the intensive 5-year music program that he proposed for middle school students. Under this program every student in 6th grade were provided with a music instrument by the school and subsequently by their parents so within the next three years TCIS will have its concert band. Interest in his music program grew after he successfully held music concerts involving all students during Christmas and Spring. He uses the Finale software to arrange songs and create original compositions for his classes. Brian plans to continue coaching and playing basketball, his second love after downhill ski racing. Brian also plays golf every Friday at Thana City with with other teachers.

Tonette became 9th grade homeroom advisor, while teaching Business, Web Design, Computer Research, and Computer Technology, which are electives in the high school. She is also the administrator of the upper school's computerized master schedule and grading system, or as Brian puts it, "she's in charge of report cards for Grade 7-12 and is in a bad mood four times a year." Tonette is also a co-advisor of the Student Council that is very active in school and inter-school activities, and community service visits. Every year the Council raises money and donations like used clothing and toys, school supplies, and tootbrush for an orphanage, school for the blind, home for the elderly, and other beneficiaries. While Brian is out playing golf or basketball she stays home working on the computer. Her favorite hobby is designing websites and editing digital photos. Her most ambitious project to date is the YaYa Cafe and Eric Stephens Memorial Fund that her Business Management/Accounting class set up in honor of a departed colleague. Every Thursday YaYa Cafe holds a food sale with a different international theme, e.g. Mexican Day, Italian Day, Sandwich Day.

The activities that we enjoy doing together are traveling, going out, and watching movies. Before YaYa Cafe became a time-consuming activity, we hosted Movie Night every Wednesday in our apartment for other teachers in Thana City. We have almost 600 movies in VHS, DVD, and VCD formats to show via our home theater system. Once in a while we have Dinner & Movie when we cook a special recipe, like pasta, gumbo, and tacos. We love to cook and enjoy throwing theme parties like Sandwich Day and Mexican Day. Anytime we're in the mood for Thai cooking we'd go out for authentic and fresh street food. Brian loves the sweet pad thai noodles and cha-nom-yen or brewed tea mixed with condensed milk, sugar, and served with lots of crushed ice in a plastic bag. Our favorite Thai dining place is any of the all-you-can-eat cook-your-own food buffet for 69 baht. They're everywhere now!

On holidays we travel. We have already been to Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau. During summer 2004 we traveled to Germany and Australia before going home to Washington. Within Thailand we have visited Kanchanaburi (site of Bridge on the River Kwai), Krabi, Phuket, Phi Phi islands, Koh Samed, and Koh Tau where we got our basic and advanced scuba diving licence. The countries we'd like to visit in the near future are Australia and New Zealand , Japan, and China.

In August 2005 we will start a new life teaching at the International School of Islamabad in Pakistan. Brian will be teaching Choir for the first time. Tonette will be teaching Robotics and Yearbook, also for the first time. We are taking with us five cats -- a stray cat who moved in our place last November and gave birth to 4 kittens in December. We can't wait to start having babies once we get there.