"Mummy, I will be working my butt out!"

Kai made this comment.

You see, once school starts in two weeks time, Kai will move to P4. Yes, he kinda of jump grade. If in Singapore, he would still be in P3. That means, while it is still summer vacation here, I have been giving him his P3 work so that he could catch up on his P4 work when school starts. Back home, he had a 'crash' course. I had a really good lady who was waiting to go into the medicine faculty in NUS (National University of Singapore) to come in and coach Kai on his P3 second semesters' work. She really did a great job. But of course, I must give credit to Kai for being a fast learner which the tutor also commented.

Just in case you think the kids are having holidays (actually one of Kai's classmate emailed him with this, "enjoy your holidays in Shanghai."), they are actually having homeschooling with yours truly.

The kids were asking for a 'spare me' day. I guess I must constantly remind myself that living a nomad life, education for the kids must not be restricted to just going to school, doing school work...it should also encompass other aspects of learning. Ok, mummy's heart has softened. I brought them to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.


Here we go...


Do not disturb, learning in progress. Here, they are discouraging people from eating shark fins. It was an interesting read and Kai thoroughly enjoyed himself.


The Indiana Jones...(Since coming back from Japan, Ann is into showing her peace sign)


The kids find this creature the most interesting...it's our first time looking at one. It is not a sword fish but a saw fish!


Into the deep blue sea

Presenting the sea creatures which we saw....









Finding Nemo


Straight into the shark's mouth...don't play, play...it is the real thing!


Having fun with other 'animals'.


With the penguins and...what are my kids doing in a fish tank?

This is my personal favourite...

Can you spot the crocodile? In case you think this is fake, this is actually real. The kids and I were really amazed by the ducks, fishes, turtles and the crocodiles all living peacefully in the same pond. Really, they are a great example for us...inspite of the differences and not forgetting some are predators, they all can live together without hurting each other.

Hot? You got to be kidding

Before we left for Shanghai, everyone was telling us that it is very hot now that it's summer. I have packed all summer clothes and one hootie only. I have been tricked! Looks like we have brought in the cold weather. It has been raining since we arrived and last Thursday, there was a flash flood. Staying in the service apartment reminded me of life in Macungie...yes, you said it, it is cold!

Living life like a local

Although I could live life as an expat but to do that, it would really defeat the whole purpose of travelling and living overseas. However, I am not an extremist, safety and good health are two things I will not compromise.

Uncle Zhou, he will be the one who will be helping us to move around in Shanghai during our three years here. I have requested that he bring us to a local market to have a look-see...

Really, you will never know until you have been there and done that. The local market is really not as bad as I imagined. In fact, food are pretty fresh. We bought some nice fresh figs for only RMB13.


One of the fresh figs. (Today, I brought the kids to the supermarket to buy two apples and guess what, both were rotten)

During these couple of days, I have learned that the Chinese pay very close attention to the presentation of their food...


Some of the dishes we had

And yes, you can see clear skies in Shanghai...





I have made a self-discovery...inside me, I am more of a country girl. DH said I have lived in the city for over three decades, how can that be. But looking back and recalling the past, I have always enjoyed my childhood life best when my parents brought me to the village where my grands used to live. My visit to the NZ farm was most enjoyable and of course, my one year stay at my American kampong house was the best experience I have ever had and attending church service at the hilltop was heavenly. Although there were inconveniences but there was a kind of joy, inner peace that are beyond words. I have told dh and Kai and Ann that my retirement plans will be to run my own famers' market.

Each journey is indeed a new discovery.

Shanghai...we have arrived

We finally arrived at Shanghai after a turbulent flight. We landed safely and this time, there was no sci-fi movie characters on board. I guess the H1N1 has become so common, there was no need for all the temperature taking. Although, scanners could still be found at various check points at the airport.

The day before, at the Saturday evening service, the song, The Potter's Hand was sung.

Beautiful Lord
Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure
All of my days are held in Your hand
Crafted into Your perfect plan...


I know it was God's way of telling us that our days, our lives will be held tightly in His hands and His plans for us in the days to come are nothing but perfect plans only.

Seize the opportunity

One fellow blogger has this wonderful description of her blog which I find most appropriate in summarising up my life right now...

"One is never lost...but has merely arrived at a destination which one is not aware of. Take the opportunity to explore and discover" Lostlessness

Here we go again...

Packing and unpacking are part and parcel of our lives now...


Living out of these luggages for the next few weeks


The movers are here...again


In one day, the whole house was emptied.

It was with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to this wonderful house. It was with great sadness that we have sold away this house...

The Bible talks about a season for everything. So true, when it is time to let go, we just have to let it go.

We will leave for Shanghai in two days time, what adventure awaits us, we are not sure. I just pray that the family stay together, work together and hang tough together in this new country.

Will try to update the blog as often as I can. Understand that blogger is rather difficult to access in Shanghai but will do my best. In the meantime, we ask that you remember us in your prayers as our family make this move. Stay blessed.

More long lost treasures

While doing more packing for the shift, I found these treasures...


My very first pager. Yes, now it can be considered an antique


One of the gifts from dh (boyfriend, then). A very adorable pair of papa and mama bears

Saying her goodbye

Ann spent her last day in her pre-school distributing these cupcakes. I couldn't bake them this time but I helped her to make them look beautiful.


Butterfiles and stars for all her teachers and friends and aunties


All packed into lovely red and blue boxes

Making preparations to uproot...again

The hardest part about relocation is when I am making all the necessary preparations to leave. It is so draining to hang tough for the kids and the family...I guess the stress took a toil on me and I fell sick. But I tell you God has His amazing ways of picking me up. While packing, I found a card from my US church pastor and family...



All of a sudden, my spirit was lifted up.

These couple of years, I have learned that God doesn't just answer prayers when we close our eyes, kneel down and pray in church. Because of that, I have learned to talk to Him practically everywhere and anywhere. I sometimes find myself talking to Him as if He is right in front of me or venting my frustrations to Him as if He is like a long-time friend. God being God, of course I believe He can present Himself physically to me and answer me but that isn't the whole idea of the cross. He has chosen instead to respond in very perculiar way like in this instance...through a card. That brings me to my next line of thought...being a pastor. In my many years of being a Christian, I have found that the most successful pastors are not those who preach the best message with the most thought-provoking theologies...but those who have a passion for people, those who have the time for people...for to me, that exemplify Christ. Isn't the whole ministry of Christ, the whole purpose of Christ, the work at the cross...all point to God's love for people.

Little Miss Independent


Little Ann was awarded the Miss Independent award in her preschool. Any award is a form of encouragement to the child and an assurance for them.

Yes, Ann has displayed her spirit of independence at a very young age. As a baby, she always felt secured and often has no problem sleeping. I have heard of mothers sharing with me that they have to pat their babies to sleep every night. No, not for Ann and not for Kai too. They are very independent 'sleepers'.

When Ann started playschool, she was left very much on her own. I never have to watch over her and stay with her, she was comfortable being with her teachers and friends. Even the one year that we were in the US, Ann was left alone in the classroom with her friends. The teacher told me to stay around the school in case I was needed but...I never was. From day one, Ann was able to socialise and make friends easily in all her schools. Perhaps, that was also the very reason why it was always sad for her teachers and classmates to see her leave.

It is not unusual to find Ann picking up a book and flipping through them all by herself. When comes to meal time, she will often bring out the chairs on her own, set the table and wait for me to bring out the food. Many things, she can do independently without being asked.

Yes, I am so blessed!