The family on our bikes.

So last night we walked to get bikes at the bike shop. It used to be that the majority of the people in our city rode a bike to get where they're going. Now we are seeing people driving their own cars more and more. And these cars aren't just any cars. I'm talking all foreign brands. In fact I saw someone driving a Lexus SUV the other day! This is becoming a very wealthy city.
Anyway, so we get bikes and the man attaches a seat on the back for Lilia. Well we ride home through a university because it's quieter than the street. Lilia is in her glory. She LOVES riding on the back of my (Katie's) bike. This morning we biked to a foreigners grocery store about 10 min each way. Once we got back home she wanted to ride some more.
This morning I also discovered a local "grocery store" that had so many western things. It's a little smaller than an Eckard. They sold lots of great local things I needed, plus they have peanut butter, diapers and brown sugar.
We are really enjoying it here!

2nd Day in our Apartment

Well as you all may or may not know, Dave is no good in the kitchen. I mean all he can do is cook oatmeal and he usually burns it. He just gets bored and walks away.
Lilia and Dave were up early, I was still sleeping b/c I had another meeting. Dave comes and wakes me at 6am say, "Katie, I need your help." So I get up and see what's going on. There is orange juice spilled on the table and the floor, but since we have no paper towels or really anything to clean it up, plus there's Lilia, Dave needs my help. I start helping and then he adds, "Don't go in the kitchen." Naturally I ask, "Why?" I peer in through the door to see the floor covered with something. "What happened?"
Well in this part of the world most people have a cover over their burners to provide more counter space. This cover can be metal or glass or something like that. So Dave, so sweet and innocent, understand the cover to be something that distributes heat evenly and had placed the pot on top of the cover, then turned the burner on. Well minutes later the whole thing shatters, it was glass. Luckily Lilia and Dave were in the living room and also it shattered like a car window would in an accident.
Did I mention this is our first morning and only our second day in our apartment. I saw no broom or anything. How do I clean this up. Finally we got everything taken care of and no one was injured. We sure won't forget this any time soon!

Nothing stops people from getting to where they need to go!

1st Days in a Foreign Land

So it's Monday morning here and Dave and I are excited. This is the day we finally move into our apartment and it's beautiful! So we wake up nice and early, 5 am only to see that it's raining. Well it continues to rain, no wait, POUR for hours. Dave, Lilia and Andrew are making the trip in a taxi while I'm off to some required training. I walk out to the lobby of our hotel only to see that the rain water is to the top of the steps. I laugh in complete shock and think, 'Now what?' I'm meeting 3 other girls and we're going together. I make a call and they are waiting for me on the corner. I walk out into the rain and ankle deep water. It was CRAZY to say the least. All we could do is laugh. We walked most of the way there sloshing through the water.
Dave meanwhile is in our nice, dry hotel room waiting for it to die down. So eventually the flood waters subside and he moves into our two bedroom place.

Sydney Driggers with Lilia. They acted like sisters in Colorado. It was so fun watching them interact.

After traveling a long, long, long time we've finally arrived in Asia. Lilia did well for how long we were awake and traveling. The coolest part is that are staying in the same area as when we were here in 2005. It was fun to explore familiar territory this morning.
We took Lilia to this park that we knew and everyone starred at her. Many asked how old and boy or girl even though she was in a cute dress. They ask because since they are only allowed one child they dress their child how ever they want.
Many people stopped and took a picture with Lilia. Every comments on how beautiful she is.

Dave & Lilia throwing stones in the reservoir.

A view of the mountains from our hike this morning near Dillon Reservoir.

Goodbye Pennsylvania!

Our visa's miraculously came 2 days before we left for Colorado & we got on the 1st flight out of Philly when we were told there was only 1 seat left! We have been so blessed so far. Our friend gave us standby tickets and we didn't think we were going to make it, but we did.
Lilia did GREAT on the plane! She didn't make a peep except for the last 10 minutes while descending. That was because she was tired and had to be buckled in on my lap.
Our stay in CO has been great so far. Dillon is beautiful, you should come here sometime. It's only 20 min. from the quaint town of Breckenridge. The weather is crazy. We woke up (at 5:15am) to the temp being 58. Today is only a high of 67. Better rethink my wardrobe for the next 9 days!
We leave for Asia from Denver on the 20th. It's a long flight; over 12 hrs. We have to fly w/the jet stream. Oh well.
We're all doing great and enjoying ourselves!