Stop waiting for the next house

In my never-ending procrastination of doing housework, I was browsing through blogs this morning and came across this blog - www.thenester.com

As I skimmed through the blog, I came across a post that said "Stop waiting for the next house".  It struck such a chord in me that I had to share this with y'all!  The years I was in Singapore I never truly felt like our condo was a home.  I knew it was temporary and that we would be moving on soon . . . 18 months or so . . .
I never decorated the condo to make it our own.  True, we were renting the property, but I had the mind set of why waste any money when we won't be keeping it.  (I'm also married to the FRUGAL Engineer Extraordinaire - which means all purchases must have a purpose).  It did buy a few items to bring back to the USA, but even that was limited as I didn't know where we would be living in the USA and if it would fit or match the house.  Most expats have more than one assignment abroad - companies know that if you are willing to uproot your family once you'd be willing to do it again!  

I've mentioned before that the Engineer & I have moved 10 times in 21 years of marriage.  There is very little permanence to our homes.  We hope to be in this new home out here on the edge of suburbia for a while - meaning longer than 18 months!
Anyway -  I loved that this blog site said it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.  She encourages you to reflect who you are and your family and all its imperfections in your decorating style.

What a relief!

I am a very simple, practical girl! I often feel I'm surrounded by all these creative women who can whip out curtains and bedspreads and have their furniture laid out just so and all their homes could be on the cover of Interior Designs.  It is a little intimidating!  It is sometimes just easier to say I'll wait for the next house.

I had a friend who moved quite often.  She said to me one day that "this was not her dying house" - meaning this isn't her last home.  On reflection however, she doesn't know that! It is easy to think of all the things that will go into our retirement homes, but no one knows what life will bring and we need to make the place we are living now, a home.

I've actually started decorating this house!  I'm trying to blend European, Asian and American items into one cohesive and pleasant atmosphere.  I'm not sure if I'm doing it right, but I am pleased with the results.  The Nester gave me the freedom to let go.  I'm going to enjoy this house and love it in all its imperfections for as long as we live in it.

Enjoy your home and make it your own!

Driving - which side am I supposed to be on?

The whole driving experience in Singapore took some getting used to for me.

I am an American and we drive on the right side of the road - not just the correct side of the road, but the actual right side of the road! - Ha Ha - just joking, but NO seriously it is the right side of the road.
For the record, Belgium and the rest of Europe drives on the right side also.  I think it is just the United Kingdom and British commonwealth countries or former colonies that drive on the other side. Don't know about South America or Africa as I have never been there, but I'm going to assume the same applies.
Anyway - It isn't too hard to get used to driving on the other side.  The hard part comes when you travel back and forth between the two styles often.
Then, one has to THINK - Okay what country am I in????!!!!!

Handy tip for those of you still traveling back & forth: I had an expat friend who said to always remember that the driver should be next to the center line. (Of course this only works if there is a center line and then again, if you are NOT driving on the Isle of Skye where the road is only one lane for both directions!!!  - - Then again, You have to be driving the correct car,also)

The Engineer Extraordinaire & I had a little game with this back&forth thing.  The first person to hit the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal owed the other a special treat - and if it was multiple times on the same trip one got bonus treats! I confess the Engineer usually won, but I attribute that to him being an engineer and his expertise with machinery - It has nothing to do with skill!

The hard part about driving in Singapore was the actual driving test.  Even though it was written in English - It was not the English of a native English speaker!!!!!  Anyway, I passed the test and was permitted to drive in Singapore.  Although, it did say that "if I suffer from bouts of giddiness that I shouldn't drive". - - -Truth be told - - - that was on my test!

If WittyGirl is in the car with me - we usually suffer many "bouts of giddiness", but they didn't need to know that.  I'm not sure why I went through the hassle of getting a license in Singapore as I hardly ever got the car to even drive anywhere.  I walked most places, used the MRT and taxis!  MM will say it "Built Character" - I supposed it did!

Upon repatriation, I had to get a new Texas Driver's license because mine had expired in the years I was an expat.  I dragged my feet about getting it renewed as I was dreading having to take a driving test again!  The Texas driving test is not nearly as gruelling as the Singapore test. Grace was upon me because you have up to two years  (in Texas, if you previously had a Texas license) to renew your license without consequences.  I was two months shy of the 2 year deadline.  This all took place this past summer before I had a house or address or car for that matter.  My parents actually drove me to the Dept. of Transportation to get an new license. They walk inside and waited until I had finished all the paperwork.  I felt like a 16 year old again.   Anyway - All went well and I got my new license (the picture of the woman on my license can't be me - she looks way older than the last picture!).

I'm not sure why but the ability to drive gives you a sense of freedom and empowerment!  I think it has to do with choice.  I don't have to plan my day around a bus schedule or worry whether the taxi I ordered will actually arrive on time.  I just get in the car and go.  It is a good thing to have a valid license.  Out here on the edge of Suburbia, you have to drive everywhere!  Nothing is close - the first store of any kind is at least 5 miles away.  I have to count my blessing though, I could be like the Pioneer Woman and have to drive 5 miles just to get off my property!

HAPPY DRIVING!

Fragrance

Here is my God Whisper moment of the week.  I found this while researching scents yesterday.

Enjoy!

http://www.gracegems.org/Miller/sweet_fragrance_of_prayer.htm

Scent Memory

As a freshman in college, at some orientation or fellowship gathering we were asked to share a scent memory as an "ice breaker".

What is a scent memory?

A scent memory is when you remember a place, time, person or event when you smell a specific scent. 

All of us have scent memories.  It is part of our psychological make-up!  I absolutely love the idea of using scent memories as an "ice breaker."  It gives a little more insight into the person you are getting to know.  A scent memory is always tied to a story.  The story gets you to open up a little more about yourself and share on a deeper level. As a shy person, this would give me a way to step out on a topic that was easy.

Here are some common scents that trigger many people's memories that are easy to identify and share stories with others:

Rain on hot pavement (asphalt)
Freshly mown grass (hay)
A baked holiday goodie (pies, cookies)

I bet just reading those three triggered a memory for you!

Here are a couple of my scent memories:

Orange Blossoms -The smell of orange blossoms always makes me think of Indian Princesses (The YMCA had a program when I was a kid to promote Father/Daughter Bonding - You were divided into tribes and basically went camping with other girls and their fathers - I think they are now called Adventure Princesses to be politically correct).
Anyway, the camp we went to was in Micanopy, a tiny town in Florida near Gainsville (or at least it used to be a tiny town).  Well, we lived in South Florida so the drive to the camp took us up the Florida Turnpike. When I was a kid, north of Orlando on the Turnpike was nothing but Orange Groves for miles and when they were in bloom it was the sweetest smell.  Sadly, most of the orange groves along the Turnpike no longer exist!

Kerosene -  I rarely encounter this smell anymore, but this immediately makes me think of my grandmother's house (GG's mother).  It has a distinct smell.  My grandmother used a kerosene stove to heat her house.  I was on a holiday trip in Cambodia when I smelled kerosene and it threw me for a loop.  Here was a smell I associated with colder weather and my grandmother's old house, but I was in sweltering heat in a small town in Cambodia.

Not all scent memories are pleasant!  I think it is God's way of protecting us.  Like the smell of gas.  For me it is the smell of hot electrical wires - it has a distinct scent.

This leads me to talk about scents in another way.

You - Your Home - Your Home Country - ALL have a unique scent.

You rarely can smell yourself or your home - and I'm not talking when you stink from sweat.  I'm talking about your signature scent.  It is a blend of your pheromones, the shampoos you use, perfumes you might wear and foods you eat.  Same with your home - It is a blend of each of the home's occupants, including pets, the cleaning supplies you use, laundry detergent, the foods you cook, and the building products used in the home.  You may notice the scent of your home when you've been away for a while on vacation, or if you can remember when you came home from college - it was the home scent.

The only other way I can describe it is by Sears stores.  No matter where you are in the USA - Sears stores have the same smell - To me it smells like tires and fabric, might be different for you.

Well, I think your home country has a scent too.  It is unique.  You'll notice it upon repatriation if you've been away awhile.

What prompted this post was the smell of Jasmine and Sunblock!  

Just me saying those two scents probably prompted a Scent memory for you expats!

What place or country was it ? ? ?

Those two scents together immediately make me think of Thailand!  It seems most taxis in Thailand have Jasmine hanging from the rearview mirror.  Most hotels present you with a Jasmine wreath on check-in and most of my trips to Thailand were to Phuket and we were there to enjoy to beach.  For me, this involves copious amounts of 50 sunblock as I am VERY fair skinned and burn easily.

I am going to make a game of this tonight at supper! I'll encourage you to do the same with your family.  You might just learn something new about your spouse or children!

I'm going to name a scent and ask each person what it makes them think of.

PRATA . . .

Cinnamon . . .

Sawdust . . .


For the Christians among my blog followers here's a verse for you:

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

EASTER EGG-POCKING

One of the joys of repatriation is being able to enjoy the different holidays as you know them.

EASTER - is special to me.  Not only is it the core of my Christian faith, it is a fun holiday in the CLAN and in my childhood memories.

We tried very hard to make Easter special in Singapore.  They don't have the same candy there as we do in the States.  They don't really have white eggs (they would bring some in around Easter for the crazy Americans willing to spend an exorbitant amount of money) so no egg-dying. Food is expensive - a spiral cut ham  or whole leg of lamb  - way too much!

I recall an Australian woman, in line in front of me at the market, debating whether or not the rhubarb she was getting for the special dish she was going to make for the holiday was worth the price.  She went back and forth three times and ultimately decided against it!  I was sad for her because I have had that struggle several times over there.

When you are an expat, you also learn what is important to your kids and sometimes they surprise you!

My kids, they missed Egg-pocking!

Now for those of you who don't know (I didn't before I married the Engineer),  Egg-pocking is a South Louisiana tradition.  Apparently, different families have different ways of conducting the Egg-pocking event.  I will be sharing the CLAN's version as that is all I know.  (I don't think there are official rules because there seems to always be a little bickering going on especially if your egg loses!) Incidentally, you can find YouTube videos or  search Google - Egg-pocking and find out about how other families do this.

Anyway this is what I can tell you about Egg-pocking.  Each person chooses their own egg.  You either dye it or decorate it.  I didn't have my act together to dye the eggs, but the kids preferred decorating their own anyway.

 This is mine

This is the Engineer's

Now for the "pocking"  - Your egg faces off with an opponent.  

You tap the eggs together and the one that gets "pocked" loses.

The winner faces off with another egg and it goes on until the victor takes all. (I have never known the CLAN to actually give a prize to the victor, you just get lots of bragging rights to being the victor)

 Some claim there is an art to obtaining the victorious egg. You have to hold it the right way, use one side or the other.  I have heard of cheaters Freezing their eggs beforehand.  And then there are the pranksters who sabotage the competition by using a raw egg!  MoustacheMan and GG had never been with the CLAN before on Easter and had thus never heard of "Egg-pocking".  Didn't hurt their chances as MM won this year's pocking event .

Hope y'all had a fantastic EASTER!

Greatest Country??!!!.

As an expat, I have often been asked the question - What is your favourite or the best place you have been to?

I never really liked being asked this question.  I feel each country is unique.  Each one has good and bad points and you can't really compare.  I also feel that when you visit a country, your visit experience influences your opinion.  (ex. - Were you held up in customs, Did you get food poisoning, Did your room turn out to be a suite instead with an ocean view, Did you have the most exciting ride of your life?, etc.)  When you live in a country, I think that is when you form a more accurate opinion.  There is something about experiencing day to day life that sets it apart!

This past weekend the CLAN (the Engineer's extended family) got together in Louisiana at his parents place.

The CLAN is BIG!  At any given gathering, there are at least twenty-five people (paper plates necessary).  The CLAN is very welcoming and usually the number of people balloons to include neighbours and random acquaintances off the street (not really, but there are always a few extra people included as extended family).  At this particular CLAN gathering, my CowboyBro-in-law(BiL) and his wife, CowgirlSis-in-Law(SiL) came with their kids from Colorado.  CowgirlSiL's parents also came down from Ohio.  For the blog, we will refer to her parents as Mr. & Mrs. "S".  Now we haven't seen Mr.& Mrs. S since CowboyBil and CowgirlSil's wedding ten or so years ago.  My parents, MoustacheMan- MM and Gorgeous G'ma- GG were also present.

So, my parents, Mr & Mrs S, CowgirlSiL, and I were chatting over coffee and tea (for me, of course) after breakfast one morning.  The conversation turned toward our repatriation.  GG said to Mrs. S how thrilled she was to have us back in the States and close to them. I don't know if we will EVER be forgiven for the 4 years we took TSS & WittyGirl to the other side of the world away from all the G'parents!

Mr. S says to me, "You must be happy to back in the States"

I replied, "Yes, VERY happy!  Don't get me wrong, I loved our time over there.  It was an incredible experience and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity, but there is no place like home.  An expat assignment makes you realise the USA is truly the greatest country of all!"

BACKGROUND:  People have said this to me before - "You must be happy to be back in the States" - and I've replied exactly the same as I did to Mr. S. -It has almost become a rote answer!

Mrs. S chimes in and says, "Interesting, Name the top 5 reasons, off the top of your head, why you think the USA is the greatest country of all!"

WOW!!!!!

I was blown away by the question!  I had never been challenged on the statement - most Americans just nod and agree with me!  Secretly, I think Mrs. S is a Social Scientist like me- she must be a tea drinker.  I am so glad she asked me to name the reasons - It made me think and these are the conversations that I started this blog for!

Off the top of my head - sitting at that breakfast table I could only come up with two reasons.  Mrs. S. was kind and said I could get back to her with the others (She wasn't going to let me off the hook, though).  So it has taken me a week to come up with the top 5.  I have struggled with writing these into the blog because the written word has many limitations, the worst being - You will not not read it as I meant it to be read! - Does that make sense?  This is a conversational question and is supposed to move and flow between participants (preferably over tea or coffee).  So, as you read the reasons below, please keep in mind that I am being concise with my answers for the sake of the blog and I probably have much more to say with examples and stories.  Also, in coming up with my reasons, I discovered that they are interrelated - there are threads that tie my reasons together and I found that to be very interesting.  This weaving together of threads is another reason this is meant to be a conversation and not written word.  When you pull on a thread it leads your thoughts or the conversation in another direction.  

That being said here are my reasons the USA is the greatest country!:

1. OPPRESSION IN OTHER COUNTRIES

I have visited eighteen countries and lived in three. One third of the countries I have visited, I would describe as oppressive - meaning the government unjustly inflicts hardship on its people. (Now this is an example of how, if we were conversing, we could go in many different directions - we could talk about the government itself, this history of the people, the culture as reasons why there is oppression - see what I mean? - Also, my opinion of a particular country I visited could have been tainted by my experience on THAT particular trip and what the country was going through at THAT particular time).
One country in particular, put me over the edge.  I could NOT reconcile what their government did to their people.  They had no hope, no way out of their situation.  It broke my heart.   I regretted ever booking the trip.  I'm glad my children saw country's special sites and I'm also glad they saw the oppression too as it deeply affected us and made us grateful we are Americans. I PRAYED my family through the rest of our time there.  I distinctly remember the greatest feeling of relief when our plane touched down in Singapore. Remember, how I said I don't like to name my favourite place - well I can definitely name this country as my least favourite.
I think every American should have to live in, not just visit another country.  For all our government's flaws, it does not oppress its people.  Even the most down-trodden among us has the freedom to change and the hope of change.  This leads us to my second reason.

2.  FREEDOM OF CHOICE

Many may argue that the enormous amount of choices we have here in America is a bad thing.  I'm on the fence on that.  However, I deeply believe the FREEDOM we have as Americans to make a choice is a good thing.  The BILL OF RIGHTS is a good thing!  I will tell all Americans to read those BILL of RIGHTS - get to KNOW them.  Teach them to your children.  It is what sets the USA apart from other countries.  This is what our men and women in uniform defend!

3. CLEANLINESS

Again, this is a conversation that can go in many directions!  I say "cleanliness" because we have access to clean water (out of a tap, no less).  Americans, in general, take this for granted.  If you have never been outside the USA, then you might not know that clean water is rare!  It is precious!  It is a luxury! You have to PAY for it - to drink or use a restroom, brush your teeth, take a shower.  They don't automatically refill your glass at dinner!
This is not to say that the USA is the only "CLEAN" country -Singapore is quite a clean country itself.  I'm just saying the USA has access to clean water, clean food sources, clean medical facilities.
Actually, in my opinion the USA is the most wasteful country - but that would be another blog topic for another day  isn't it nice that I have the Freedom to choose to speak about my country - even if it is a negative!

4. FOOD 

Now this came up at the breakfast table.  I say FOOD, not because I think America has the best food! (In my opinion, Belgians make the most delicious food - See post on April 8). There is a lot to be said about home cooked food - the food you are used to, that you grew up on! However, I say FOOD because we have it!  We have super huge grocery stores stocked with tons of food.  The USA also grows its own food.  And it is cheap!  I know, we Americans think it is expensive and that the prices are going up, but in reality we pay less for food than other nations. Now before we go off on a tangent - Yes - I do know there are people who go hungry everyday in the USA. - Remember what I said about how I'd rather this be a conversation so we can talk about it!  And YES - I do know we are becoming a more obese nation with all our abundance of food.  And YES - I do know we are a wasteful nation and much of our wasteful habits could feed the world.  My point is that Americans as a whole, have access to an abundance of food.

See what I mean - #4 would have involved a whole morning of conversation maybe two pots of tea!

5. CHRISTIANITY

Now this ties back into #2, but  Mrs. S. asked why I believe the USA is the greatest country and so I'm sharing my experience as to why.  I am a Christian.  Our family is Christian.  The USA is a Christian nation.   For all you Atheist/Agnostics who are squawking right now about separation of religion and state - hear me out (because I know thousands of you are reading my blog - ha ha).  The USA was founded on Christian principles!  READ the Founding documents, if you don't believe me.  Living in Singapore, I encountered all five of the world's major religions!

WittyGirl came home one day in Singapore when she was in 2nd grade from a birthday party of one of her classmates.  She had shared with her friends something about what God had shown her. One of the girls challenged her that she had no right to think she could speak to God as a friend.  WittyGirl was upset by this and had to stand up for herself and what she believed in.  When WittyGirl retold the story to me, I was surprised!  I had explained to my children before we moved to Singapore that there are other religions and that not everyone had the same beliefs as us.  This never would have happened in the USA. I had failed however, to give my children the tools to defend their beliefs.  As a parent, I was unprepared for this. I had taken for granted that everyone knows about God and Christianity on some level.  In the USA, even if your neighbour was Hindu or Agnostic it didn't affect your family.  In the USA we have freedom of religion.  In Singapore, we were also free to practice our religion.  Some nations don't give that freedom.  As a Christian, though, the USA is great!  The USA is founded on Christian principles and we aren't challenged much on what or why we believe.  As a Christian, though, that is also a BIG REMINDER to not take it for granted.

So  Mrs. S, these are my top 5 reasons.  I would love to brew a pot of tea and share more!

Insects, Lizards, Critters & such

I am not a skittish person.  I am not deathly afraid of insects or snakes and such.  I actually like watching the National Geographic Channel and think most critters are pretty cool.  I have a healthy respect for the dangerous ones, but realise they are part of the Circle of Life.

As a child, I watched Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom - I can still hear the music and the host's voice!  As a child, I also relocated several bugs and lizards into containers so I could watch and observe them. (WittyGirl inherited this habit) I grew up in South Florida - close enough to the Everglades to be considered sub-tropical.  THEY say "Everything is Bigger in Texas", but then, I think THEY have NEVER been to the Tropics - Insects and Reptiles can be GIGANTIC in the Tropics! I haven't verified this, but I believe the further south you travel in the Tropics, the Bigger the critters become.

Singapore is 90 miles from the Equator - pretty deep into the Tropics.  One would think that being a metropolitan city of 5 million people, there wouldn't be space for critters because of all the buildings and people.  I don't know how it exists, but Singapore is a city inside a jungle with all the wild life that includes.

I've explained how Singapore homes are made of concrete, not sheetrock on the inside.  There aren't any screens on the windows!  Basically, anything can fly or crawl in.  This is disconcerting even for a non-squemish person!  At first, I HATED the geckos. However, I quickly learned that a few geckos in your house aren't bad as they eat the insects.  WittyGirl started naming the geckos in the house. Dobby was the biggest one.  I don't have a picture of him -geckos only come out at night and are quite skittish of people - go figure!



This is on the ceiling of a restaurant in Thailand.  It is  easily 10 inches long!

This is one of Dobby's offspring, I think.  There is no way I would ever pick up Dobby himself - he was bigger than my hand!

This is a Cicada  - I know it is hard to get perspective, but this bug is the length of my whole hand. Cicadas are the bugs that buzz in the heat of summertime in the US.  Well, for some reason in Singapore they make a high pitched siren like sound.  A friend's son called them Screaming Headache bugs.  I think that was accurate.

Spider - who knows what kind - would cover my palm if I was brave enough to hold it in my hand.  I regularly encountered these on my walks in the Botanic Gardens!  Warning: If you do the Rainforest Trail, just after dawn, be careful to dodge their webs. I freaked out one time because I walked into a web on the trail - It was an AFV moment! - The trail was deserted - no one saw me - now, I know why.

Now in all honesty, Spiders do not bother me all that much.

What does bother me . . . and these do NOT live in Texas are the Water Monitors!

This guy is at least 4 feet long and was just a few feet off the path in the Botanic Gardens.  I regularly encountered the monitors.  They give me the Heebie Jeebies!!!
They do this "I'm Big & Bad swaying walk".  You can hear their claws click if they are on concrete.  They can swim - thus the name Water monitor! It wasn't till about 2 years into my Expat assignment that I learned they can climb trees!  Unbelievable!  I lived on the 2nd floor of a condo! REMEMBER what I said about how anything can get in?!  Monitors are all over Southeast Asia!

We stayed on the 1st floor of a very nice hotel in Bali, Indonesia.  This is what I woke up to my first morning! I am on my patio taking these pictures!

Did I mention they are fairly silent? They can sneak up on you!

I was at another resort on an island in Malaysia, reading a book by the pool on a lounge chair, watching WittyGirl swim.  I heard a rustling . . . I glanced around and right behind the row of lounge chairs headed my way was a big monitor!  I stood up and ran away to the edge of the pool in case I needed to save WIttyGirl.
Mind you I'm at a resort in Malaysia - not everyone speaks English.  I wasn't sure what to do ---yell? - I didn't want to start a Panic!  So I stood by the pool and watched the monitor go under several people's lawn chairs checking out their bags and stuff.  They were oblivious had no idea a monitor was right under them!!!!  He finally moved on, but when I turned around  the Bartender was laughing at me.  I asked him what was I supposed to do - - - He said nothing - that the monitor was looking for an easy meal.  GROSS!!!!  EEEEEWWWW!!!! Heebie Jeebies!!!!!

Supposedly the "water monitors" are relatively harmless - - -so THEY say.  It is apparently their cousins  the Komodo Dragons that are the real bad boys.  Incidentally, the dragons live on an island off the coast of Bali!!!!  Do you remember me saying they can swim?????!!!!!

On one of my last walks in the Botanic Gardens they posted this on the information board (Sorry for the glare - iPhone)  - zoom in so you can read it!

I don't agree with the statement that they are shy and more afraid of me. HA!

As I was leaving Singapore, out on Sentosa Island they have an exhibit that we went to see at the aquarium.  This is what happened . . . 

I kissed the monitor - GOODBYE!

Pretty real looking, eh?

This whole post started because it is supposedly Spring here in Texas.  It was 38F this morning!  However, the little green lizards are starting to come out.  One was on my kitchen window - outside.  I like the little green lizards - They are a plus to repatriation and that I no longer have to be concerned if a monitor is going to be on my walking path!

Springtime???

What has happened to our weather???

Yesterday morning, bright and early, under the pretense of walking the Chewbacca, I accompanied TechSavvySon to the bus stop.  It was a balmy 75 degrees F!  I even commented to TechSavvySon that it felt just like Singapore with the humidity!  He was wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt.

An hour later . . . I take WittyGirl to the orthodontist  . . . still warm . . . not quite as humid, getting windy.  I'm wearing a lovely sundress that I recently bought off of Modcloth (Great site - check it out).  Her appointment concludes about an hour later . . . We walk out and it is 10 degrees cooler and VERY windy.  The cute sundress is no longer appropriate!!!  By the time I make it home it is 54 degrees F!  

CRAZY WEATHER!

I had plans to go to the nursery and get some warm weather plants.

I had to reach up to the top of the closet for the sweatpants I had already put away for the season!

It is mid-April in HOUSTON!

I googled it.  The average low for April is the mid-60's.

The low last night ended up being 40F!

20 degrees below the average!!!!!

Now - I'll be honest . . . I am NOT hoping for the hot weather to be here yet!  However, I am ready to wear Spring clothes and enjoy planting a garden without sweating too much and with the assurance that my plants aren't going to freeze!!!! (see post on March 28th).

You can see my hickory tree knows it is Spring - It is leafing out nicely!

I've been working on adding pages to my blog so posts might be fewer this week.

Keep your plants warm!

Have a fantastic day!

I

Time is of the essence

Time . . .

There never seems to be enough of it!

I know that God gives each person the same 24 hours in a day whether you are the President of the U.S. , CEO of a world company, or a repatriated housewife!  Whether you live in New York City, Bali or on the Isle of Skye, it is the same amount of time.

Since repatriating this past summer, I feel as if I have NO TIME!

I get up at 5:30am on a regular basis now. (Mind you, this is the earliest I ever have on a consistent basis in my entire life - the time TSS was an infant doesn't count because I never slept those years)

In Singapore, I got up at 6:30am because I had to put the kids on the bus to the American School at ungodly time of 7:07 - my poor babies! - Now TSS has to catch the bus at 6:15am.  My poor baby!

You'd think since I start my day a whole hour earlier that I'd get more accomplished.  Sadly, this isn't the case!

I'm trying to figure out why this is? ? ? ? ?

As an expat, I had time for morning quiet time, exercise, tea/lunch with friends, general management of the household, extracurricular activities of the kids, grocery shopping, planning trips, guiding at the museum, playing tourist around Singapore and Supper on the table when the Engineer walked in from work! And that was a typical day for me.

I remember thinking that life in the big city of Singapore moved pretty fast.  However, out here on the edge of Suburbia, I'm barely managing the household with grace, getting the kids to their activities and Supper on the table for the Engineer when he walks in!

The house is much bigger than our condo.  I do have to drive a farther distance out here on the edge to get anywhere (kids to practice, grocery store, etc.), but I don't understand how that can eat up that much more time - It doesn't make sense!

It could be a time management thing.  However, I consider myself an organised person - (remember the YLP and list making).  If it was time management, I doubt I would have gotten things accomplished in Singapore.

SO WHAT IS IT?

Today, I feel like blaming the American Suburban lifestyle for my lack of time.   I thought about blaming Daylight savings since they don't do that in Singapore, but savings implies more time and that isn't right!

Anyway - my quest this weekend is to figure it out, get organised, get back on track - FIND THE TIME.

Chewbacca

There is a whole lot of guilt that sometimes goes along with being an expat parent!  You promise your children - It'll be great - What an adventure! 

Actually to be honest, as the trailing spouse (don't you love that term) - You often have to promise yourself things ,too  - - - One day I'll find the Kashi dark chocolate granola bars and they won't be $11 a box!

In Singapore, I wouldn't let our family have a dog.

Before you accuse me (like my kids did for 4 years) of being a mean mama, I had several valid reasons.  First, we have always had BIG dogs - Labs to be exact.  They are just too big to be trapped in a condo with no place to run hourly! Then, they are expensive to transport in and out of the country - we are talking thousands of dollars.  The quarantine was a factor. The boarding was a factor for whenever we took a trip or the summer holiday.  I did NOT have a helper for 2 of the 4 years we were over there.  I refused to deal with the constant care a dog requires (the shedding, the bathing, the chewing, the vet bills and the POOP) and I knew better than to listen to the children say "We'll help out and take care of him!" -HA

So I bribed them with We'll get a dog when we are back in the States!

WARNING: All you expat parents - eventually you will repatriate and will have to come through on all your promises.

I mentioned that I have a brand-spanking new house out here on the edge of Suburbia, right? New carpet, wood floors, Persian carpets bought at auction in Singapore, - working on getting rid of yucky 15 year old couches that should never have left Singapore, etc.

About a month into our new home - the promise of the DOG came up.

I will admit I was dragging my feet on the DOG issue. I tried to put it off until we were more settled - workers were still coming in and out of the house - I'm still repatriating!

For the record - I am a dog lover!  I have always had a dog (usually a lab mutt from the pound).  For me, a dog is part of the family. The Engineer Extraordinaire has always just tolerated my dog loving tendencies and hated it when I treated the "hunting dog" like a pet!  He has always believed that a dog should be outside in a pen and that the dog needed to be useful - like for hunting, herding, basically earning his dog food with useful employment! The Engineer is NOT an animal person!

So imagine my surprise when I got blindsided by the normally, practical, FRUGAL, non pet-loving, Engineer Extraordinaire! 

I think we need a dog for the kids.
WHAT???!!! I'm not ready to take on a dog right now - I'm still repatriating!.
Yes, we need a dog for the kids.
Don't you remember the constant care a dog requires - the shedding, the bathing, the chewing, the digging, the vet bills - - THE POOP!!!!
Did I mention that I have a brand-spanking new house? - -It is pristine - never been, peed, pooped or thrown-up in or on!  Our kids are tweenagers and I think we might be beyond this.
Yes -But this will teach the kids responsibility!
WHAT???!!! - - -Who do you think will end up being responsible for the dog? HUH??!!!
We won't get a big dog. Just a small one that can stay in the house - go with us on vacation.
WHAT???!! - - - Who are you?  Where is my husband?  What kind of little dog goes hunting with you?  I refuse to have some little, yappy dog!
We won't get a yappy dog!  Remember our friends in Singapore who had the cavoodle?
Yeah - sort of - Isn't that a designer breed from Austraila? Costs a ton more than a pooch from the pound.
I've been doing some research on this and in the US they are called Cavapoos - They don't shed, rarely bark, are smart and only get to 20lbs.  Oh here - look - I found some online . . .

And that's where I lost the battle - - - Once WittyGirl saw the puppies. It was over!

I have to admit that when I saw this picture I was swayed a bit.

This is how the breeder's get reluctant moms to get their kids a puppy!  We ordered him off the internet from this picture and they shipped him to us on an airplane.

I tried very hard to NOT like him, but he really is too darn cute.

He does this whole body wag and always greets me wagging.

True to the Engineer's research - he doesn't shed, rarely barks , he's very smart, potty-trained easily and as of 6 months old weighs 15lbs.  He's transportable and very friendly.
He doesn't chew everything in sight like a Lab, nor does he try to dig to China in the backyard.  The kids LOVE him, but I'm the one who is learning responsibility! - Wait - I already learned this!

Don't you just love his goatee.

Doesn't he look like a wookie?

Anyway, - Chewie is short for Chewbacca which is the name we settled on.
He is my daily companion and healer of repatriation woes.  He'll be a constant star on the blog!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PROMISE!

IN LIMBO ON HOLD

We have reached the six month mark of living in our new home out here on the edge of suburbia!

Some days I feel as if we left Singapore eons ago, other days it was just yesterday.  Isn't that how life is . . . 

Yesterday, it seems I was sitting TechSavvySon in front of the TV to watch Thomas the Tank Engine, but today, because of Teenage Boy Brain Syndrome he had to run, I mean R U N for the bus!

I remember this feeling in Singapore around the six - eight month mark.  This feeling of having one foot in each place, but not really belonging anywhere  - I'm calling it "In Limbo on hold"!

*in limbo

1. Lit. a region of the afterlife on the border of hell. (In some Christian religions, there is a limbo set aside for souls that do not go to either heaven or hell. This sense is used only in this religious context. *Typically: be ~; remain ~; stay ~.) The baby's soul was in limbo because she had not been baptized.

2. Fig. in a state of neglect; in a state of oblivion; in an indefinite state; on hold. (*Typically: be ~; leave something ~; put something ~.) We'll have to leave the project in limbo for a month or two. After I got hit on the head, I was in limbo for about ten minutes.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Like a good researcher and because I know my dad will ask, I looked up the definition of IN LIMBO.

I REALLY DID laugh out loud at definition #1.

There were/are days in expat or repatriated life that do feel like living on the border of hell (see earlier post on Container loading day)

I remember trying to define the feeling in Singapore.  One of my expat friends described it as "going nowhere while everything else is flying past".

I think the feeling is easier to deal with as an expat since you are surrounded most likely, by other expats experiencing the same thing.

Out here on the edge of Suburbia, they don't have time, patience or understanding for you to get a grasp on your feelings and insecurities and expect you to deal with it promptly and move on . . .

For some reason, this week in particular, I have missed my Singapore expat friends.
I think it has to do with this IN LIMBO feeling that creeps in around the six month mark.

I need a repatriated neighbour out here on the edge of Suburbia!!!!

I regularly read the Pioneer Woman's blog.

My husband LOVES her recipes because she makes "MANLY" meals! -  - She makes girly meals too, but she wakes up before dawn and cooks a huge breakfast for hungry cowboys using LOTS OF BUTTER - The Engineer's favourite meal and one of his favourite ingredients!

Anyway, a couple of days ago she posted a quote I had never heard, but immediately fell in love with.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight

Phyllis Diller

This is my new theme quote for the week and has gotten me out of my IN LIMBO ON HOLD funk!

SO SMILE

and set things straight!

Din Tai Fung & Chick fil A

There are things as an Expat you miss thoroughly from your home country!

Free parking
Target
Paper plates for cookouts . . .

Mostly, it has to do with food!

In Singapore, I missed good Mexican food!  As a matter of fact, I planned that as soon as we got out of the airport, each trip back to the States, we would stop at the nearest Lupe Tortilla restaurant. (This plan only works if your port of entry is in Texas!)

For my children - the place is Chick fil A.  While I'm pretty sure you can find a McDonald's on most continents - Chick fil A is only to be found in the USA!  Sadly, not even, every state in the USA!  My BFF, just recently took an "expat assignment" to Minnesota - They DONT have Chick fil A! 
Incidentally, One of the selling points for our kids living out here on the edge of Suburbia was that we have a Chick fil A within 5 miles - matter of fact, it is right in front of Target!
Now that I have a tween and a teenager, Chick fil A doesn't quite have the same appeal as it did when they were in elementary school.  However, I am starting to experience the  bottomless pit stomachs of growing teenagers!

THAT brings us to the flip side.

When you repatriate, there are things you desperately miss about your expat country!

I miss walking everywhere.
The Botanical Gardens

But again, it mostly is about food!

In Belgium, there are bakeries, chocolatiers, and tea rooms within walking distance of your home.  I will say it again - Belgians make the most delicious food on earth! - - AND, sadly, even if you follow the recipe exactly, it doesn't taste the same outside of Belgium! 

In Singapore, there are thousands of restaurants! Two, I miss, dearly!

Din Tai Fung and TWG Tea Salon

For those of you who don't know, Din Tai Fung is a restaurant that I believe was started in Taiwan.  There were several branches within my regular walking route.  They serve steamed dumplings that were hand stuffed and folded just per your order -- OH and don't forget you can get this really delicious appetiser in chile sauce -- YUUUUMMMM!!!!!

My mouth is watering right now and there is NOT A DIN TAI FUNG IN TEXAS!!!! - Something to consider if you have to repatriate to the edge of Suburbia!  I have heard that they DO have Din Tai Fung in California.  My hope is, it isn't like the Belgian experience and it tastes the same even though we are outside of Taiwan, or Singapore!

Even more than Din Tai Fung, I MISS TWG Tea Salons!

I'm going to have to make a post just on my love of TWG to do it justice!

There is no place like it in Texas or the USA that I have seen for that matter.  Now, Belgium and Europe they GET the idea of what a tea salon is supposed to be.  This is the one place where America has let me down!  I tried VERY hard to convince the owners of TWG to open one in Houston - They didn't listen to me. I'm heartbroken as their most excellent patron!

I am VERY hungry now as I'm typing this post.

I'm a little disturbed that I have to drive 5 miles to get to the closest food options!

Anyway, my kids will tell you they miss Mr. Prata the most.  Good prata is only made by the guys in the Hawker Centers or at Mr. Prata and every Wednesday for lunch in the American School cafeteria.

SO you expats enjoy your favourite restaurants in your assignment country because one day you will repatriate and 

I think I may have Mexican food for lunch!