Amongst all of the craziness here, the weather is a constant. It is the monsoon season now and it has not even been that rainy, but temps are slightly cooler in upper 80's, low 90's, with more of a breeze than we usually have. This morning I read the paper on my balcony and didn't sweat to death. Loving winter in the tropics!!!
The kids started school on Monday and I think everyone is happy to be back into a routine. Because their school is mainly expat kids, it is a constant revolving door, especially at Christmas and summer breaks. Both kids have had students leave their classrooms and are getting new students over the next few weeks!
Nate isn't traveling much this month, so everyone is happy about that!
I am feeling a renewed sense of excitement as we start 2014 and our continued life abroad…
I am so glad that we went home for Christmas break! It was great to see family and friends in Chicago and especially to spend time with my dad, who has been sick since we left the states on this adventure. I am so happy to report that after a diagnostic surgery on Dec 26, they FINALLY got to the source of his illness and he is now being treated AND is feeling better already!!!! The doctors were able to confirm from tissue samples that were taken during the surgery, that he has sarcoidosis, a condition that can be cured by steroids alone, and should eventually go away!
This is a huge blessing after the roller coaster ride of doctors visits and tests that came up inconclusive for over 4 months. It was so tough being so far away while all of this was going on. It was like a black cloud was hanging over our first months here. Now that he is on the mend, I feel like we can start living here, instead of feeling guilty for not being back home. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, they worked!!
We came back to 2 new things that are guaranteed to make life here easier…a car and our helper!!!
The Toyota Picnic was delivered when we got home and we are loving the freedom that comes with having a set of wheels!!!! It feels so much more normal to be able to hop into a car to run errands, go to school, etc. At times we were hesitant to do things because it was such a cluster having to take a cab, then thinking, what if we can't get a cab home, etc. The car allows us to do more exploring on the weekends, cruise around the city, throw the bikes in the back to head to a park, etc. And Mia is of course over the moon that I am finally driving a mini-van, well, kind of :)
Next week I have to be at school 3 mornings in a row for meetings and volunteering. I would normally dread it, having to get a cab during morning rush hour and then getting a cab home from the school is so tough because of its location. It puts a damper on going there, which is a terrible feeling! Now, I can just buzz up to school and park in the carpark, no problem!
My driving is pretty darn good, I must say. I still always try to hop in the left side, which is the passenger side here! And I often have my windshield wipers going, when I try to turn on my blinker, because those are opposite too! I am feeling more confident driving the wrong way, but the driving here is crazy, lots of weaving, motorbikes driving down the middle line, sandwiching themselves between the cars, but so far, so good!
We came home to a spotless house, with food in fridge, thanks to our new helper, Josephine! She had moved in just 1 week prior to us leaving for the states and I think spent 3 straight weeks organizing my house! Our clothes were all ironed and hung by color, every article of clothing in drawers is so neatly folded, sheets were ironed, pillows fluffed and I think you could eat off of any surface in this house!! YES!!!
It has been great having her around. She cooks, cleans and runs errands. She is sweet, humble, hard working. We are learning to tag team well together. The kids really like her and it's nice having a constant babysitter when needed. I am so much less stressed out with her around :)
The whole situation is a little unusual for westerners, but so commonplace here. The helpers are a part of the fabric in most Asian cities, so it's more the norm than not, as not only the expats use them but the Singaporeans as well. There are hundreds of thousands of migrant maids who live here.
Josephine is my employee, by law. I am 100% responsible for her. If she gets sick, I have to take her to the doctor (and pay for it :), if she gets in trouble, I have to deal with it, if she needs a new cell phone, I have to approve it with the cell phone company. It's kind of like having another child around, even though we're close in age!! Kind of weird, but mainly awesome :) I have a feeling that when our time here is done, she may be what I miss most about Singapore!!!
I think we are also out of the "variable" phase of this whole journey. Where every day seemed to present us with new, different and often annoying and unforeseen tasks and challenges. We are adjusted--the kids are comfortable at school, our condo feels like our home, friends have been established, I know my way around, where to shop, etc. I think life will just be easier as we move forward. I am feeling confident and positive and that definitely helps all of us (and now that it's in writing, I have to stick to it, right??!!).
As I am already looking into flights back home for the summer, I am realizing that we are almost a quarter of the way done with this assignment and by summer we'll have only a year left. Time is going fast and I think it will continue to pass even faster in the coming months. No better time than now to start really enjoying this place AND get our travel on. Next stop, the beaches of Bali, at the end of the month!
So, cheers to 2014 from Singapore! I hope everyone's new year is off to a great start!! Please keep up with your emails, texts and phone calls…they really make my day!! xo
The Picnic!!
Pool fun in January!
Back in Sing! No more coats!!
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