The Marsh Family
Monday, May 26, 2008
We're Home!!
Nothing real exciting right now I just thought I would let everyone know that yes we are home! We made it back to Kansas on Wednesday and began the search for our home on Thursday. We made an offer today so keep your fingers crossed!! We should know some time this week what's going on. I'll post lots more later - including pictures from our last party in PR...and what a party it was!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
It's now or never!
First, I want to thank my wonderful wife for keeping this BLOG (and me) going for the past two years. I think all who read this would agree that she has done a wonderful job with both tasks.
So, I figure if I'm going to do this BLOG thing, I'd better do it now. I'm writing in first person singular because, while my wife may share these sentiments, they are my views, and not necessarily hers. The entire PR experience has taught me so many things, and I don't regret it for a second. I have learned to appreciate the innocence of children, the potential of humans, and the love of a good woman. I have learned that no matter what the challenge, it can be faced and conquered. I have learned that in this world there is no room for cowardice, and your destiny is what YOU make it. I have learned how much I love and miss my family, and how happy I am to be from somewhere where shit gets done. I have learned what it's like to be the immigrant and the minority, so be nice, many who read this will never understand what that's like. I have felt the other side of racism. I have learned that at the end of some days, there is no better remedy than a cold beer or a smooth rum. I have learned that my friends are the greatest a man could have, and don't even get pissed when I call them when I'm piss drunk and missing home. I have learned that PR is a beautiful place with limitless potential and limited ability. I have learned that the friends I have made here will never be too far away (yo soy boricua pa' que tu lo sepas cabrones!). I have learned that blood does not make family, and that I have a new brother and sister who I will cherish forever. I have learned my strengths, and been humbled by my weaknesses. I have learned how to lead, and when not to follow. I have learned the importance of sunscreen. I have learned that year-round summer ROCKS! That said, I still secretly miss snow. I have learned that only Americans can truly appreciate Johnny Cash. I have learned that I can live on less than I made in college. I have learned that it is difficult to teach a Russian how to play Uno. I have learned that there is nothing better than coming home to two wagging tails (that's even better than the rum). To sum up, I have now lived a long-time dream that sometimes seemed a nightmare, but has taught me so much more than is listed above. Thank you to everyone who has helped us throughout this journey, and followed it on Kelly's fantastic BLOG. I especially want to thank Kelly, her folks, my dad, my aunt Sharon, and everyone who came to visit us. What can I say about the last two years? The same thing I hope I will be able tlo say about all the years to come. I have learned...
So, I figure if I'm going to do this BLOG thing, I'd better do it now. I'm writing in first person singular because, while my wife may share these sentiments, they are my views, and not necessarily hers. The entire PR experience has taught me so many things, and I don't regret it for a second. I have learned to appreciate the innocence of children, the potential of humans, and the love of a good woman. I have learned that no matter what the challenge, it can be faced and conquered. I have learned that in this world there is no room for cowardice, and your destiny is what YOU make it. I have learned how much I love and miss my family, and how happy I am to be from somewhere where shit gets done. I have learned what it's like to be the immigrant and the minority, so be nice, many who read this will never understand what that's like. I have felt the other side of racism. I have learned that at the end of some days, there is no better remedy than a cold beer or a smooth rum. I have learned that my friends are the greatest a man could have, and don't even get pissed when I call them when I'm piss drunk and missing home. I have learned that PR is a beautiful place with limitless potential and limited ability. I have learned that the friends I have made here will never be too far away (yo soy boricua pa' que tu lo sepas cabrones!). I have learned that blood does not make family, and that I have a new brother and sister who I will cherish forever. I have learned my strengths, and been humbled by my weaknesses. I have learned how to lead, and when not to follow. I have learned the importance of sunscreen. I have learned that year-round summer ROCKS! That said, I still secretly miss snow. I have learned that only Americans can truly appreciate Johnny Cash. I have learned that I can live on less than I made in college. I have learned that it is difficult to teach a Russian how to play Uno. I have learned that there is nothing better than coming home to two wagging tails (that's even better than the rum). To sum up, I have now lived a long-time dream that sometimes seemed a nightmare, but has taught me so much more than is listed above. Thank you to everyone who has helped us throughout this journey, and followed it on Kelly's fantastic BLOG. I especially want to thank Kelly, her folks, my dad, my aunt Sharon, and everyone who came to visit us. What can I say about the last two years? The same thing I hope I will be able tlo say about all the years to come. I have learned...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Last Week in Puerto Rico!!!
I know people, I can't believe it either? Does it seem like we've been here for 2 years already? It sure doesn't to us! My how the time flies. From now until Wednesday will be a whirlwind of emotions. We're excited to come home and start our new lives but we will really miss our friends from here. At least none of them will be too far away and we can visit. Tomorrow the dogs fly home. We have to have them at the airport by 7am to fly to Houston where they will spend the day and then they get to KC tomorrow night. We leave San Juan at 9:00 am on Wednesday. Katie and Brent leave that afternoon so at least we're leaving on the same day. Anyway...
The last week has been a little crazy. Last weekend we spent a day at the beach with all of the dogs for a last time then Saturday night we drove to Fajardo to watch Matt in the All Star game. This week we had kids Monday - Wednesday until 11:00 and then work days in the afternoon. Pretty boring since we're already done with everything! Last night we drove to Ponce to get new tattoos and see Matt's team in the playoffs. Yep people, I said new tattoos! Katie and I each got one. Brent doesn't want one and Courtney couldn't decide what he wanted so he didn't get one. We both got a tribal sea turtle on our lower backs. They're so cute! A little sore today and a little red (I'm allergic to the adhesive on the tape they used afterwards) but they look nice! (Keep in mind that the pictures were taken during and minutes after the tattoo was done!) Here are some pics from our last week in PR. The next post will be a sad one....
I almost forgot! We think we caught a Coqui last night!! We named him Tony. This morning when we got out we realized he escaped....darn you Tony! And Matt brought his dog Zoe over to meet the boys today. She's adorable!!
The last week has been a little crazy. Last weekend we spent a day at the beach with all of the dogs for a last time then Saturday night we drove to Fajardo to watch Matt in the All Star game. This week we had kids Monday - Wednesday until 11:00 and then work days in the afternoon. Pretty boring since we're already done with everything! Last night we drove to Ponce to get new tattoos and see Matt's team in the playoffs. Yep people, I said new tattoos! Katie and I each got one. Brent doesn't want one and Courtney couldn't decide what he wanted so he didn't get one. We both got a tribal sea turtle on our lower backs. They're so cute! A little sore today and a little red (I'm allergic to the adhesive on the tape they used afterwards) but they look nice! (Keep in mind that the pictures were taken during and minutes after the tattoo was done!) Here are some pics from our last week in PR. The next post will be a sad one....
I almost forgot! We think we caught a Coqui last night!! We named him Tony. This morning when we got out we realized he escaped....darn you Tony! And Matt brought his dog Zoe over to meet the boys today. She's adorable!!
Sunday, May 04, 2008
I'm Sailing Away...
What a week! Last week Courtney bought some bananas and he was so excited about them. There was one peel that you could tell had a double banana in it...big excitement people! So he decided to check it out...
Students got out of school early on Thursday for "student's day" and then we didn't have school on Friday for "teacher's day". Katie's sister and her family arrived on Wednesday so we got to meet them on Thursday. Thursday night we had a party at Jorge's house on the beach. It was fun. Friday the Dills and company went out and about and Courtney & I did laundry and then went to see "Baby Mama" and watch Matt play for the Ponce Leones. He got traded to Ponce because they still have a shot at the playoffs and so Guayama wouldn't have to pay him all of his money. He did really well and we left in the 4th when Ponce was up by 35 points. Yesterday we drove to Isla Verde (right by the airport) for parasailing! Katie and I have been saying we wanted to parasail for months now and we finally got the nerve to do it. It really is not scary at all! We were freaked out in the beginning but once you're up it's nothing! They put our gear on us and had us "sit down". Well by the time they got me hooked up and I was trying to sit down we started taking off. My butt never hit the boat! We took Katie's camera on the boat and took a "before" shot and one of the guys on the boat took a few pictures. I took my underwater camera up with us and took an entire roll of film in pictures but they are geting developed now and we've already sent our scanner back so you'll have to wait for those pictures. Courtney got tons of pictures from land...we should have had the video camera!
The "before" shot on the boat...
Going up, up, up...
From the boat...
Aunt Katie and Braedon...
And finally, the Tsunami Guard. We heard this funny noise so we looked around and saw this man making big circles with his arms and then screaming and posing. I thought it was funny so I took his picture. While doing that this other man came and told us that he does that every day and he's doing it to keep the tsunamis away. Thank you, oh thank you, keeper of the tsunamis. Because of you we have been tsunami free our 2 years down here. We could not have done it without you!!
Students got out of school early on Thursday for "student's day" and then we didn't have school on Friday for "teacher's day". Katie's sister and her family arrived on Wednesday so we got to meet them on Thursday. Thursday night we had a party at Jorge's house on the beach. It was fun. Friday the Dills and company went out and about and Courtney & I did laundry and then went to see "Baby Mama" and watch Matt play for the Ponce Leones. He got traded to Ponce because they still have a shot at the playoffs and so Guayama wouldn't have to pay him all of his money. He did really well and we left in the 4th when Ponce was up by 35 points. Yesterday we drove to Isla Verde (right by the airport) for parasailing! Katie and I have been saying we wanted to parasail for months now and we finally got the nerve to do it. It really is not scary at all! We were freaked out in the beginning but once you're up it's nothing! They put our gear on us and had us "sit down". Well by the time they got me hooked up and I was trying to sit down we started taking off. My butt never hit the boat! We took Katie's camera on the boat and took a "before" shot and one of the guys on the boat took a few pictures. I took my underwater camera up with us and took an entire roll of film in pictures but they are geting developed now and we've already sent our scanner back so you'll have to wait for those pictures. Courtney got tons of pictures from land...we should have had the video camera!
The "before" shot on the boat...
Going up, up, up...
From the boat...
Aunt Katie and Braedon...
And finally, the Tsunami Guard. We heard this funny noise so we looked around and saw this man making big circles with his arms and then screaming and posing. I thought it was funny so I took his picture. While doing that this other man came and told us that he does that every day and he's doing it to keep the tsunamis away. Thank you, oh thank you, keeper of the tsunamis. Because of you we have been tsunami free our 2 years down here. We could not have done it without you!!
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