Beijing...Something to start with

We spent 7 glorious days in Beijing, China. 7 Days I would NEVER have EVER thought I would do! I'm an American girl who grew up basically in the middle of the USA. I was happy just to go the neighboring state. So, finding myself in CHINA was like a dream. It sometimes didn't feel like it was me. Even now and looking at all the pictures it doesn't seem like I was really there. I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million times more, I LOVE seeing these different cultures and learning from them. It is perhaps more fun to me than some of the sites we see.

The first thing I noticed about Beijing was the grass, the kind I'm use to in the US. It was odd at first. Then we started driving more into the city and there wasn't much grass left to see. There are millions of people in Beijing, literally! And I think everyone of them owns a car and all were on the rode while we were driving to the hotel. They drive on the right side of the rode, unlike Singapore, and that too was weird at first. We looked like the tourists we with our heads looking all around and sometimes with our mouths wide open. We realized that Beijing is very much like the US. We even looked up the coordinates of Beijing and it is about the same coordinates as where 2 of my sisters live in Nebraska. The only thing that was different was the people were a bit shorter and didn't have the pasty white skin tone, theirs is a beautiful caramel brown.

Looks a lot like where I grew up

There were also TONS of bikes/scooters/motorcycles EVERYWHERE! I've seen bikes but these ones seemed to multiply! Some had seats on the back for the rider, some just had 2 or more people on them balancing and driving along, at the same time! Sometimes the bikes weaved in and out of traffic and the cars would honk. I will never again complain about Singapore traffic after being in Beijing. With all the people and cars and bikes it is an aggressive path to anywhere you may want to go.

this is a tame picture of traffic

The food was always good and always a surprise. Our tour guide, Lily, took us around most of the time we were there and we told her we wanted Chinese food and not Western food. She obliged and we had some of the most delicious food! We ate tons of vegetables that I'm going to start adding to our dinners and we had some of the best noodles I have ever had in my life! I even ate mushrooms AND liked them! We are expanding our palate little by little but I have not been disappointed yet! It's such a refreshing change from the same old food we were use to.

Beijing noodles! Even Henry, our Gnome loved them

One of the biggest things we noticed was all the Chinese writing on everything. DUH! I don't know why it surprised us at first. You go to any big city and most everything is written in the local language and maybe one more. English was few and far between on buildings and it wasn't one of the most widely used languages but we found enough people who knew enough English to help us to get what we wanted or needed. We went to a grocery store and I didn't see ANY English on any of the products unless it was part of the description of the product, Lay's potato chips were "English style". Chinese writing is beautiful and it almost added to the beauty of the buildings.

no idea what it says but it sure looks pretty

We live in Singapore, I have seen Chinese, they have seen westerners. However, in Beijing we were like a rare creature. People asked to take our pictures, A LOT! We had people silently stand next to us and pose, I think I scared one lady when I turned around and smiled for her picture! We all got asked to be in at least one picture alone. The kids were the bigger hit, they were asked so much that Jake and Nat both said their cheeks hurt from smiling. We would have been able to pay for our trip if we charged for the pictures, that's how much we got asked! I wonder what the people say when they show the pictures of us westerners to their families. Hope we left a good impression.

one of many pics taken of us

Spinning

We just got back from Beijing, China last night. 9 wonderful days. Some frustrating some not but all exhilarating!

I want to make so many blog posts but my history shows I'm awful at the frequent posting thing. Life gets in my way or writers block starts. There are still some posts I want to do about things we did in JUNE!

However, I just really don't know where to start on the things we did and the things we saw in China. Do I start with the Forbidden City and it's great architecture, or just the plain history of China which is really very overwhelming in itself. Do I begin with the people who are so kind and rude sometimes at the same time. Do I start with my take as an American overseas? Those things that may seem weird or rude to me but not to the natives of that particular country. Or maybe I should start with the Great Wall, something I only colored in on a map while in school, a place so far away it was impractical to really even think about! A place we loved so much we did it TWICE! So many things that I thought about and wondered at. I love how traveling makes me feel younger and makes me think of life.

So, we had a very, very nice trip. I'm so glad that we have been given this great opportunity in life. Not only for my husband's career but also for where we are able to go. It doesn't cost as much as if we lived in the states and it really is a totally different world then the one we were use to. I'm so glad I get to show these things to my kids and the conversations that we have over different lifestyles and cultures. It has been so fun doing these things.

I think I need to think more on what to write so I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures.

Japanese Garden

After the Chinese Garden we went across the bridge to the Japanese Garden. Our first look was of a bunch of tires with Bonsai trees in them. It wasn't very pretty at all and I think all of us were looking for the nearest exit out of there.

AND THEN .........





When we turned the corner and saw the most amazing lily pond! It was blooming and it was gorgeous! My mom is an art lover so I have grown up with art books and art replicas since birth. Turning that corner I felt like I was seeing Monet's lily pond paintings in real life! Honestly, I'm not sure what else was at the Japanese Garden except for the pond.



We sat at the pond for awhile. It was just so peaceful. Jake, my child who is always on the go, says he HAS to come back here to sketch pictures, it's just so great! Seriously, he said that! Natalie quickly replied with what a great idea and she was excited to come back too.

Natalie took this picture of a lily flower. It's one of my most favorite pictures. She also has a nice one of a butterfly on a rock. It was like some artistic spirit just came and invaded my children's minds! I'm not complaining at all! It was fun to see their creativity.

Grey even afforded Grandma a smile. I love all the green around him. Oh, and the Japanese lanterns were also in the garden! The lanterns were okay but I don't know how you can compete with the flowers and the water! Mom took one of me too. Of course I had to smile!

This is Jake on our return trip 2 weeks later. He was so quiet and peaceful. I don't know what he was thinking but he talked non-stop afterwards. The pond wasn't so much in bloom this last time so I need to do some research so we can go when it is blooming again. Even not blooming it was a heck of a good time. It was by far one of my favorite spots in Singapore.

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program.....

My laptop has been hijacked. The one with all my pictures on it! We have 2 computers and 3 laptops in this house but it was MY laptop that allows us to watch some of our missed American shows. So, my kids are currently watching Disney favorites that haven't made it here to Singapore yet through MY laptop that is hooked up to the TV. I can't get to my computer to give you the awesome pictures of the Japanese gardens or the Terra Cotta Warriors or the fireworks or anything else I want to do! The joys of motherhood and always sharing!
So, I will instead refer you to a cute little post I found one day while browsing through some expat blogs. This post talks about the "ugly expat". Even the comments are note worthy, alot of comments but all really good. 
So, here are the 12 steps to being an ugly expat, blatantly copied from this blog http://iwasanexpatwife.com/.

1. Don’t waste your valuable time researching your destination or its people before you move — a country’s history or dominant cultural values are no concern of yours. And for heaven’s sake, don’t throw away your money on any of that cross-cultural training mumbo jumbo — everyone knows what a scam that is.


2. Likewise, don’t bother reading up on the causes and symptoms of culture shock, or how to alleviate it. That’s what Valium is for. (Pack lots!)

3. Isolate yourself. Shut yourself up in your compound/condo and refuse all contact with local people. If there’s an exclusive expatriate club nearby, rejoice: you’re saved! Choose your new friends with care, weeding out any prospects who have Gone Native. (Being too chummy with the locals is a dead giveaway.) Successful candidates will have already aced the 12 steps and will embrace you as a kindred spirit.

4. show off your wealth, especially if you live in a developing nation. Your baubles and fancy toys will breed admiration and respect among the impoverished masses, who will revere you as a role model.

5. Under no circumstances should you eat local food. They eat that unsanitary crap because they don’t know any better; you do. (You can’t be too careful — who knows what you might pick up?) If you’re offered anything unrecognizable, be sure to show your disdain by peppering your refusal with terms such as “dysentery” and “intestinal worms.” Gagging noises are optional.

6. Let everyone know how backward the country is, and how much better things are back home. I can’t stress this enough — never let an opportunity to compare the two countries pass you by. It’s your duty to teach the local populace a thing or two, and opening their eyes to their own inferiority will endear you to them. (Bonus points if you can insult cultural and religious icons or other objects of reverence.)

7. Speak your own language exclusively, especially if it happens to be English. (If the locals haven’t bowed to global pressure and learned it already, that’s their problem.) In a pinch, speaking very s-l-o-w-l-y and very LOUDLY should help them understand you. Trust me, they’ll love being talked to as though they were 5 years old. If they still don’t understand, throw your hands up in disgust and walk away, muttering under your breath. There’s some body language that won’t get lost in translation!
8. Don’t try to understand — much less accommodate — local customs. If it’s not The Way Things Are Back Home, it’s irrelevant. (Let them know they’re not fooling you with that siesta thing, for example. Everyone knows daytime napping is nothing but sheer laziness. The steaming midday temperature is just an excuse.)

9. Treat your household staff like the servants they are. They don’t need a day off, and you and I both know that hot water would only spoil them. Since it’s for their own good, I’m sure they’ll thank you later.

10. Social networking was invented for people stuck in godforsaken places like this. Spend all day on Facebook, Twitter, and email, lying about how much fun you’re having. Then log onto Farmville and spend some quality time doing whatever it is people on Farmville do.

11. Drink. A lot. It makes life so much fun, both for you and those around you.

12. Take your frustrations out on your husband. It’s all his fault, anyway. If it weren’t for his precious career, you’d be back home among people who matter, instead of wasting the best years of your life in this hellhole.


I like this post. It makes me think about MY legacy I will leave here. It makes me become more aware of what I do, say and even think.
I do enjoy this expat lifestyle it is in many ways  a "break from real life". I try hard to assimilate myself to new ways and new traditions. I try to teach my kids that our way may not always be the best way but an open mind is! I don't want my legacy to be just another spoiled American expat. And because I see myself in some these traits I think I still have alot of work left to do for myself.

Someone special

Before moving to Singapore I worked at a school for kids with severe special needs. The ages were from pre-k to 21. I loved this job. I am very good at taking care of people and that is exactly what I did.

This week I found out that one of the students I worked with passed away last week. I didn't work with Nicole alot because she had her own full time nurse because of how severe her needs were. However, when I did work with Nicole I had a fun time. She enjoyed getting make up put on and having her hair brushed and braided. She loved Hannah Montana music and even let me borrow a CD to burn for my daughter. She was every bit a typical  teenager she just came in a different package. She was capable of all emotions and you could clearly read her face.  She had her fits and she had her joys.  She couldn't talk but she could blink for yes or no. She was a smart young woman and she touched my heart deeply. As all the kids I worked with did. I don't know her full story and what exactly made her special needs and honestly I don't care. I just know she will be missed by me. She taught me many things in the short months I knew her and I'm glad that I got to call someone so special my friend. May you have new dreams to achieve Nicole.

Chinese Garden Singapore

The Chinese and Japanese gardens were one of my most favorite places to visit. There was so much architecture to look at and the attention to detail is just amazing. This is the 13 arch bridge you cross to go into the Chinese garden area. It was fun crossing it, we almost felt like we were going into a whole new world!

 These are the Twin Pagodas. We only climbed the five flights of stairs in one of them since they are twins. The view of the lake is gorgeous from way up top and there a ton of birds just sitting out on the roof. It's so peaceful in this area you almost forget the big city is just a short ride away!

My kids love record breaking and inside the Main arch building there is a turtle museum which has a place in the Guiness book of world records for having the largest collection of turtles. We seem to have missed a picture of the building itself but fear not we have one of the GWR seal! My 8 year old was in charge of the camera at this time and he thought the seal was more important I guess. We did not go to see the turtles at this time so I have to take the kids back. I'm sure it won't be a problem!

Then we proceeded to the 7 storey pagoda. It was beautiful! On the way there we had to stop for Jake to take a picture of the bird. He was very patient and got a great picture. We passed by the line of Chinese heroes which included Mulan. My kids were surprised that she was a real hero and not just a Disney Character. We climbed to the top of the the Pagoda, well all of us but Grey. This is our picture of him from the top. He did buy us some water while we were walking all those stairs!

Inside the Pagoda. Great architecture but greater kids!

Looking all the way the pagoda. The spiral staircase. Loved it!

We then walk around a whole bunch more. Argued about where we were and what was left to see. Scoped out some great sites for family photos that I"m going to get done someday! So the Stone boat and teahouse is behind my mom and kids. We didn't actually go in it but next time we will. Then we ended up in the garden of abundance which has a bunch of chinese zodiac characters and statues. There were so many nice sculptures it was hard to pic one but the picture of Grey won out. He is miserable and ready to go home but he smiled anyway. I guess a goodtime for a teenager is NOT hanging out in the garden with his Grandma, mom and siblings. Who knew?

We ended somewhere around this area with chinese characters carved into rocks. It was pretty. I love this one, I have no idea what it says but the shape of a heart is cool. We did go around some fruit trees and flower bushes but we didn't take many pictures. We were on a mission to get to the Japanese garden which will need to be it's own post.

The Chinese Garden really did have a lot to look at. It was very peaceful and calming. I love the attention to all the detail in the buildings and gates and even the roof. We all had fun and I think even Grey had a little fun.

Alive and well!

Hello bloggy friends! Miss me? I have been entertaining my Mom. Time has flown by! We did so much around this cool little Island. It's so fun showing off my new "home". The differences between Singapore and America are vast and it was so nice to see someones face when they see all the differences!
My  mom isn't new to traveling though. 7 years ago she visited one of my sisters in Africa. So it was fun listening to the differences and the likes of America, Africa and Singapore. She was very happy that we had aircon because Africa did not! There's a story of her laying on the dirt floor begging people to kill her because the heat was just too much, it got to 130 degrees that day I guess. That did not happen here.
What did we do? We explored! We visited the Art Science Museum, the pottery jungle, Marina Barrage, New water facilities, the zoo, the treetop walk, fireworks on the bay and the Chinese and Japanese gardens. My mom also tried the fish for your feet and bubble tea. She never got around to the durian but I hear it isn't really good until August. I don't think she was sorry about that one! We also logged about 12 miles in the pool swimming laps and just having a good 'ole time!
Most of those places I haven't been to. I'll make posts about each one separately. Starting with my favorite ones. I just needed to update my blog at least ONCE this month!
I'm glad my mom came and that we explored so much. It was fun and it was tiring but I'll do it all again! I love this Island!

Finding

My last post was all about things I miss about my native country! But it's not all boo hoos and pity pots here. I really do like Singapore, sure some things are different but every time we've moved things are different, even when it was to another state in the UNITED states. It's just the way it goes. I do have to add one more thing I miss....an electronic dishwasher, but right now my dishwasher goes by the name of Natalie, Greyson or Jake.

So, things I have found in Singapore....

I have found sun, sun and more sun! I love the sun. I use to be a sun worshipper. Not so much now, I still love the sun but I use sunblock when out for a long time. I love, love, love the sun and how my skin can almost sizzle with the heat from that big orange fireball in the sky, it just feels good. I'd make a great cat.

I'm also one of the few people I know that likes this heat. Okay, maybe I don't like it but it is a necessary evil as it goes with my sun. I don't mind the heat so much and a good sweat is great for your skin. Seriously, my skin is nice and dewy most of the time. I just need to drink more water to make it look even better. Maybe I just was around snow too much and this heat is a good break. But really it doesn't bother me too much.

That leads me to the next thing I've found which is a pool! IN MY OWN BACKYARD! Not my own private pool, we share with the other home owners here but it's never crowded and we can go for as little or as long as we want without problems. Get hungry, just walk home real quick and grab a snack. NO PROBLEMS!

I have found lots and lots of people! People are in abundance here in Singapore. Population is over 5 million so chances are you will find someone to chill with. I like to people watch and Singapore has a lot of it for me! All these  people have their own little stories and their own little lives. They are all unique and they all live on this great Island.

I have found so many nationalities here. It's amazing really. There are Chinese, Japanese, Malay, Indonesian, Australian, European, Irish, American, Latino, Scottish, Korean and so many more I haven't even MET yet. I love how all these cultures and all these nationalities can blend so well together. How there is respect for all the differences and also a great acceptance of all the differences.

Along with the different nationalities I have found different accents. I can't even pick a favorite. It's not uncommon to hear  5 or more different accents when out and about. Heck, even just a quick lunch with friends can have me hearing at least 3 accents, that doesn't count mine but does count the Texan! Just picking the kids up from school is the same way. It's like an accent store!

I have found that I can relearn so many things. Mostly out of necessity but I CAN DO IT! Singapore has had a lot of things I have to relearn or I'd seriously go crazy. Things I thought I'd never have to learn, like math. I may complain about the metric system and converting pounds to kilos but I learned it! I have also learned bits and pieces of Mandarin Chinese, yes you really can teach an old dog new tricks.

I have found some of THE BEST thunder storms I have ever heard! These thunderstorms can shake your windows AND your marble floors! I love the way the thunder vibrates through the air and the lightning shines so brightly! And sometimes I still jump when the lightning strikes too close.

I have also found that I love traveling, even more than I previously thought. I love how close we are to so many things here in Singapore and I have a list a mile long of all the things I never knew I wanted to see. And now they are becoming a must see!

I have found that my kids adjust better than me but also voice their problems better than me.

I have found that the stress of an international move is hard on a marriage but can also be very, very good for it.

And I have found great friends. Friends that no matter where we end up in this crazy world that I know we will always have the common background of Singapore.

Missing

A few weeks ago a good friend of mine from Utah asked me what I missed and she could send me it as a little treat. I started thinking about all the things I really miss. Most things I have missed I have found a good substitution for so this was a little harder for me than I expected. If she had asked me this same question 4 months ago I would have easily answered it but now, 6 months into our 24 month stint I had to stop and think. That was nice, not having missing things right away but here's what I came up with as to things I miss.....

*I miss that a friends house is a 20 minute cab ride or a meet up at a crowded restaurant. I miss that I can't just "pop on over".
* I miss just driving, no math involved to convert distance of 3 meters or kilometers to the miles I am use to.
* I miss the US metric system. I have had to get use to grams, liters, kilos, pints and  some others I can't remember instead of my usual pounds or quarts. I have to convert many recipes before I begin cooking and my new kitchen scale is VERY handy!
* I miss Fahrenheit. Celsius is weird and always sounds cold.
* I miss the taste of real honest to goodness American fat milk! Without having to pay 5- 10 SGD for a tiny little pint. P.S. Still doesn't taste American.
* I miss big huge aisles where people aren't touching my butt and I don't feel like a bull in a china shop.
* I miss marks on my butter telling me in TABLESPOONS not GRAMS where to cut it, again thank you kitchen scale!
* I miss driving in miles per hour and not kilometers per hour. Although when we are going 100KPH Jake thinks we are speeding, we aren't. Well not too much.
* I miss doing a load of laundry in 1.5 hours per LOAD and not the 4-5 I am currently living with. Getting all my laundry done in one day is a distant memory!
* I miss not having to think about which side of the road I need to be on when I do drive. Turning can be a problem if there is no arrows for me. I really have to stop and think!
* I also miss riding on the right side of the car and not the left side. Someday I WILL walk to the correct door. SOMEDAY!
* I miss texting, I hate saying SMS which is really the same thing but I miss saying "text me" and having others understand me.
* I miss carpet. It was much easier to just vacuum it up and move along. You can see all the dirt on my floor at all times. It's GROSS!
* I miss a swiffer. Too much to mop up here to make it economical but somedays it would be soooooo nice!
* I miss hopping in the car and going. I love the cabs, they are my best friend but when something is forgotten at home it's so much easier to just "swing back home" or get in the car and drop it off at school. It just takes a little more planning for the cabs.
* I miss that I have to think of everything I need. I have had to refigure out the best bread, dish soap, laundry soap, cereals and milk all over again. If there is the option of an American brand it is just way to expensive to buy.
* I miss knowing where to go for items. We have been looking for rubber bands the last few days and they are NO WHERE! Not in office supplies or kitchen supplies or at the bookstore. Or craft items, even the big craft store doesn't always have what I want or need.
* I miss not having to pay an arm and a leg for particular items. Last week mod podge cost me $25 SGD. Wanted it so I got it. NEVER would have happened at "home".
* I miss not having to do time conversions. From Singapore time to Utah time gets tiring somedays. But I just found a cool conversion tool on facebook that may become my new best friend.

So, I miss lots of things. Most of them made my life simpler. Some I thought were necessities but I found myself not needing them as much or learning to live without. It's all in perspective. I have found some very good substitutes and many things that I will miss about Singapore when I leave here. But that is for another post. And to my good friend Amberlie, thank you for even thinking of me. You made my heart happy.

The bus wave

The kids take a bus to school here. We only have one car and since they go to 2 different schools the logistics are a pain to figure out. So, they take a bus. Grey gets to the bus on his own and can get off the bus on his own. With Jake and Natalie I have to take them to the bus and then be there to pick them up. Every morning they make sure that I am going to stay as the bus leaves so they can wave as it goes down the road. EVERY SINGLE MORNING! I haven't missed one yet but I guess there is always a possibility. This is what I see every morning as the bus takes off....

Pictures are courtesy of my friend Malia over at Postcards from Singapore. Thanks Malia!