We've made it to Thailand!

It's been awhile since my last post, and in that time I have packed up, moved half-way across the world, had a wild experience with a suspicious Tuk-tuk driver, and moved into a "mansion" in the outskirts of one of Thailand's major cities. It has been quite a few days!
Our new home in Chiang Mai IS HUGE! We have 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms inside, and then we have another "guesthouse" or housekeeper quarters with 2 rooms and a bathroom that is across the carport. It is BY FAR the nicest house I have ever lived in. The house is so big, that I did not complain when we went and hired a housekeeper. When else in my life am I going to be able to afford a full-time maid on a teacher's salary?
Right now we only have the luggage we came with, and for another month or 3 we won't have our things. I am working on how to get around. It seems that most people use bikes to ride around the housing area and the villages. Unable to wait for mine, we actually bought new TREK bikes for WAY less than the states. The only major danger is the crazy drivers and major potholes on the roads (along with the random crossing cattle or rooster!)
Yesterday I learned how to ride a Songthaew which is a pickup truck with benches built in the back and a covering on top. It cost about 10 BAHT each way (around 30 cents) into town. I have also ridden in a tuk-tuk, which is a motorcycle with 2 seats built onto the back (it's a bit scary to do that!). There are a LOT of markets around here, and everything is really really cheap. We have been eating out everynight, and dinner for 2 has cost us less than $5 total, so it is cheaper to do that than shop and cook (and I am having just a wee bit of trouble reading the Thai boxes). Fruit here is like HEAVEN and it is the sweetest stuff you will ever taste. We've been having a lot of that. So far I haven't seen much around here but the shops, but I have 2 years to do all of that.
The weather is a bit hotter than Florida, and it isn't summer yet when it will rain everyday. The only bad thing is the air quality--Thai's burn EVERYTHING, and they are burning the fields right now so the sky is pretty much smoky for 3/4 of the day.
Anyhow, that pretty much sums up everything so far. I am learning more and more each day. I have a feeling that the next 2 years are going to be quite an experience! Adventures abound!