Relocation...is it all glam?
If you are to ask people who have been relocating all their lives, 9 out of ten will tell you that seeing the world, experiencing the difference cultures and meeting the different people are the perks of moving around but is it glam? They will tell you, it isn't. The packing and unpacking are enough to cross out the word 'glam'!
I used to envy people who moves around the world, it really make their life more colourful but now that I am experiencing it, it is really not for the faint-hearted. But with life being so short, when opportunities thrown at you, you will want to make the most out of it for yourself, for your kids, for your family.
Not bragging about the role of a mother because I am one but really, without her being the pillar of the house, it is really difficult for the family to enjoy the bacon! The role of the mother is even more important when it comes to relocating the family.
There is a mums' forum where I am a member, many 'relocated mums' share about their experiences. Some people have questioned about how our kids feel with this 'unsettled lifestyle'. One mum aptly sums up with this answer "Although the environment is different, I will always try to make sure that the "home" is the same. At least if they are unhappy, home is always a sanctuary to them and we can always talk abt any problems".
Making the home a sanctuary is a huge task which I try my hardest to perform. I am no supernatural being and there are times I fail and fail badly but I will be in cloud 9 when I hear my kids always asking to go home when they are out. It shows that it is a place of rest, of security and of comfort.
But I do hope for a more settled lifestyle for the kids as they approach their pre-teens and teens. I know that will be a time where they will be making friends and want to be with them for most part of their lives. Yes, friends which I have made at that age are still the best of friends now. We may not see each other everyday, we may not chat on the phone for hours but when we do meet up, we are always able to continue where we last left.
This is our house, this is our home
For our American friends, this is a glimpse of our home...we live in high-rise cos' space is limited. We really enjoyed the big space in PA...looking at the pictures, you will know why...
Bird's eye view from our home. It has been raining alot since we came back. Guess is ever so gracious isn't it. He knows our body is adjusting and He is helping us buy sending cooler days...
Blocks and blocks of apartments or flats. At least 80% of the population live in houses like these. On a clearer day, we could actually see the central business district from our home
A miro-mini hallway leading to three bedrooms. The living room cum dinning hall...what's behind the big cupboard...
It's a library and ....
...TV corner. Yes, our home has always been kept empty so that the kids will have space. Now that they are growing bigger, we will soon be looking at having more furnitures. Just the other day, Kai was asking about having more chairs in the living room
Entrance to the kitchen. Turn left, you have .....
...separated bathroom and toilet all in the kitchen.
Our house is not as big as the one we had at Macungie but in it, you can find the same kind of warmth, love, discipline and...odour! Oh...but for sure, it is bigger than some apartments we saw in New York city.
For our American friends, this is a glimpse of our home...we live in high-rise cos' space is limited. We really enjoyed the big space in PA...looking at the pictures, you will know why...
Bird's eye view from our home. It has been raining alot since we came back. Guess is ever so gracious isn't it. He knows our body is adjusting and He is helping us buy sending cooler days...
Blocks and blocks of apartments or flats. At least 80% of the population live in houses like these. On a clearer day, we could actually see the central business district from our home
A miro-mini hallway leading to three bedrooms. The living room cum dinning hall...what's behind the big cupboard...
It's a library and ....
...TV corner. Yes, our home has always been kept empty so that the kids will have space. Now that they are growing bigger, we will soon be looking at having more furnitures. Just the other day, Kai was asking about having more chairs in the living room
Entrance to the kitchen. Turn left, you have .....
...separated bathroom and toilet all in the kitchen.
Our house is not as big as the one we had at Macungie but in it, you can find the same kind of warmth, love, discipline and...odour! Oh...but for sure, it is bigger than some apartments we saw in New York city.
Not the end of the nomadic life...
...yes, we have not ended our nomadic lifestyle yet. We are now waiting for the 'go' notice from the company. We will be leaving for Shanghai but the exact date is not out yet. So, for now it is Singapore.
Since coming home, we all have fallen sick. I guess our bodies are adjusting to the climate and the environment.
In PA, we were hardly surrounded by people but here, everyday, there are lots of activities and lots of people. Just last Saturday, we attended the church annual business meeting. The turn out was close to 1,000 members. Last weekend, we went down to Orchard MRT (mass rapid transit, the subway) to top-up our ez-link card. A card which entitles us to take the subway and the public buses by just tapping the card on a machine. Wow, the number of people at the Orchard MRT station gave me a dizzy spell.
In the midst of all these chaos, we celebrated Kai's 9th birthday. That's the most important part of having a nomadic lifestyle ... the family stays together and home is a sanctuary to all.
Celebration at Swensons - why are we still eating at places like these? It was the birthday boy's wish
Celebration part II. See how Kai has grown, he is now just touching my shoulder, very soon, he will tower over me
...yes, we have not ended our nomadic lifestyle yet. We are now waiting for the 'go' notice from the company. We will be leaving for Shanghai but the exact date is not out yet. So, for now it is Singapore.
Since coming home, we all have fallen sick. I guess our bodies are adjusting to the climate and the environment.
In PA, we were hardly surrounded by people but here, everyday, there are lots of activities and lots of people. Just last Saturday, we attended the church annual business meeting. The turn out was close to 1,000 members. Last weekend, we went down to Orchard MRT (mass rapid transit, the subway) to top-up our ez-link card. A card which entitles us to take the subway and the public buses by just tapping the card on a machine. Wow, the number of people at the Orchard MRT station gave me a dizzy spell.
In the midst of all these chaos, we celebrated Kai's 9th birthday. That's the most important part of having a nomadic lifestyle ... the family stays together and home is a sanctuary to all.
Celebration at Swensons - why are we still eating at places like these? It was the birthday boy's wish
Celebration part II. See how Kai has grown, he is now just touching my shoulder, very soon, he will tower over me
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