Diwali (part 2)

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

My Diwali started with a nice, long sleep.  Ravi got up with the girls, and then forgot to wake me up.  I was finally woken when Ravi decided he wanted a nap and was feeling a bit run down.

So I got up and hung out in the living room with the girls.

Diwali decorations in our living room

We had some food (but not Jalebi, since Ravi was fast asleep by this point), and then got ready to go to them home of Ellie’s teacher.

A Diwali tradition is to wear new clothes.  Ellie wore the salwar we’d bought at the Diwali bazaar the night before.  Rhi wore one of the outfits I’d had made for the wedding that she’d not yet worn.  I wore something better than new clothes–clothes I’d last worn pre-pregnancy.  Hurray!

Ellie in her new salwar

Very shortly after this photo was taken, I learned the folly of a 10 dollar salwar.  The seam on the inner thigh split (not because it was tight, but because the word was roughly worth 10 sgd.  I’m guessing the tailor attached to our dry cleaner is probably going to charge me at least another 10 to resew the hems.

On the drive over to our friend’s home, I decided to play Ellie some Indian music.  I put some of my favorite music from a few movies (Kahbi Alvida Naa Kehna and Salaam-E-Ishq) onto my iPod and played it for her on the drive over.  She alternated between asking me to play her the Disney Princess Christmas CD I’d just bought (No, I have no idea why I brought that on myself) and trying to sing along.

We were warmly welcomed into my friend’s home.  Ellie insisted on carrying the snacks we’d brought as a gift, and giving it to them herself.  She did a pretty good job at wishing people “Saal Mubarak.”  Then she went and was very social, making new friends and following her teacher around like a puppy.  I chatted, and the baby was passed around, occasionally making her way back to me, but very much enjoying making new friends.

I loved how their diyas went up the stairs

We stayed for a while, and enjoyed sharing the holiday with friends.  I was struck again, much as I was at the wedding of another friend from school, how far we’ve come in the time we’ve been here.  We’ve been very lucky to have found a wonderful group of friends, and how fortunate we have been to be adopted (in a sense) by the staff and some of the other families in the class.

Rhi, Ellie, and her beloved teacher

We had to head home because I had a ticket to see Elaine Paige at the Esplanade Theater that night.  When I bought the ticket, I hadn’t realized that the date of the concert was Diwali.  I did feel a bit of a pang about abandoning my children to watch American Football with their dad instead of doing the Diwali activities I’d planned.  However, when compared with the chance to see Elaine Paige sing in person (context–I’m a HUGE broadway fan and she’s a HUGE Broadway/West End legend who doesn’t tour often), I have to admit I’d still make the same choice.

But first a photo with mama before leaving.  You can see my mendhi on the hand holding Ellie.

Our friend’s mom gave the girls Diwali packets (much like a red packet at CNY-an envelope with a small amount of money in it), and we’ll be writing her a thank you note over the weekend.

When we got home, before I headed out to the concert, I asked Ellie to help me make a video to send to her Dadi and Dada.  Below you get to see her say “Saal Mubarak!”

We didn’t get to all the Diwali stuff I wanted to, so I have officially extended our celebration through the weekend so that we can get to the jalebi and sparklers and so forth.  Not quite traditional, but it works for us.

Filed under: Holidays, Identity, Singapore | 4 Comments »

Diwali (part 1)

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

We generally skype my in-laws almost every Sunday.  Which was handy because I needed to ask them about Diwali.

I found Lighting a Lamp:A Diwali Story  on Ellie’s bookcase.  I guess I bought it ages ago.  I’ve gone on a few book shopping sprees looking for Indian characters/subjects for kids.  E is only getting old enough for them now, but I’ve forgotten individual titles/topics.  Luckily I found it when I was reorganizing her bookcase.  It’s one of those books which says something like we do this thing which is traditional, we do that things which is traditional without the context of why.

I read this wikipedia entry and walked away feeling more confused that I was when I started reading it.  In part because I’ve never heard my in-laws call Gujarati’s North Indian and they aren’t South Indian.  We’re not Hindu.  My mother-in-law is Jain, but we don’t really talk about that part of her life (apart from her being vegetarian-my FIL isn’t).

I wanted to start some traditions, but I had no clue which ones were relevant, or why, or how to “do Diwali correctly.”

So I asked.

My in-laws gave me some information, which my father in law then followed up with a helpful email (which I’m paraphrasing in the quote below)

The new year starting on Wednesday is Vikram Samvat 2069 or 2069th year of Indian calendar.

Gujrati:

  • New year greeting is Sal Mubarak … Happy NewYear
  • Wear new clothes, visit elders to wish them Sal Mubarak, eat sweets.
  • First day of the month Kartak. The name of the day is Bestu Varsh (the year is seating- signifying start of new year)

Tuesday is Diwali – festival of lights ….

  • Firecrackers,
  • Rangoli (decorate the entrance with colored powder)
  • eat sweets
  • have small oil lights.

Dhan Teras (13th) is on Sunday -

  • close the books
  • Laxmi Puja or Ganesh Puja.

Monday is Kali Chaudash (14th),

  • celebrate goddess Kali for victory of good over evil.

I also found The Story of Diwali at Bookaburra in United Square.  It does a great job of simplifying the story of Rama and Sita (from the Ramayana) into a kid-friendly story (warning for small/easily scared kids–there’s killing and demons-but good triumphs), which is theoretically the origin of the holiday and the tradition of diyas.  But my father in law is quick to point out that

the story about Rama and Sita is not clearly related to these dates because their existence was at least 4-5 thousand prior to beginning of the Vikram Samvat (year one.)

This is a bit different from Christmas or Easter, which as a Catholic, I was raised to believe that the events happened ON THAT DATE (although as an adult skeptic and a historian I can give you a very long lecture as to why, even given the historical Jesus, the dates are hogwash).

So, with all of that in mind, we selected and began some new family traditions.

We put up Diwali decorations, including decorations of Ganesh and Laxmi up in our home (pictures of that tomorrow)

We went to the Diwali Bazaar in Little India to pick up diyas (lamps), a new outfit for Ellie, some sweets to bring to our hosts tomorrow, and some sparklers.  Inspired by a friend, Ellie begged for mendhi, and I will totally confess to bribing her with the promise of it in exchange for good behavior.  I have zero shame over this–it worked (and the Diwali Bazaar was pure wall to wall madness–people shouting in megaphones to get you to come to their stall instead of their neighbors stall, tons of people–something that has to be experienced to fully understand)

She was very good, so we stopped at the first mendhi set-up we saw.  Ellie was over the moon when they offered her different colors to pick from (news to me-I’ve only ever heard of/gotten the traditional mendhi) and told me it was fast-dry-only need to sit still for 5 minutes (also new to me–and a huge relief–I was having daymares as to how I’d get her to sit still long enough for it to stain without smudging).  After she got her mendhi done, I gave in to temptation and had the top of one of my hands done (I need the palm free and useable if need be, and I needed the other hand to steer the stroller).  I got the traditional kind, so I’ll put a picture of mine in tomorrow’s post.

E got pink and blue on one hand and pink and green on the other.

We read the Story of Diwali book as a family (well, until Rhi got tired and crying–E and I finished it while Ravi soothed Rhi), which dovetailed nicely into lighting the diyas (candles in clay pots) as the legend wraps with people lighting those candles and putting them in the windows to celebrate Rama and Sita’s return.

Lighting a diya with Mommy’s help (you can see some of my mendhi, but it’s still orange and hasn’t darkened yet)

Tomorrow we’ll go to a party, say Sal Mubarak to our friends, wear new clothes (well, E and Rhi–I’ll get to do something better–I get to wear something I haven’t worn since I got pregnant), read the Light a Candle book, light some more diyas, and light sparklers.

Our evening in a nutshell

Filed under: Holidays, Pictures, Singapore | Leave a Comment »

Diwali and Indian Identity

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

We took the girls on the “Small World” ride at Disneyland.  Ellie loved the singing and dancing dolls.  Europe, America, the North Pole–all great.  But as we entered Asia, she practically leapt from her seat, pointing.

“INDIA!  LIKE ME!” she shrieked.

Ravi and I were somewhat thrown; not because she isn’t (half) Indian, but rather that we’ve done very little to give her any sort of Indian identity.  I make Indian food a few times a month (which for her means rice, naan and papadum as she skips the chicken).  She has a few outfits, mostly for weddings.

We aren’t very culturally Indian.  We don’t speak Gujarati or Hindi (me because I haven’t picked up more than a few words here and there, Ravi because he refused to learn).  We are not practicing Hindus or Jains (although my mother in law is Jain), nor was Ravi raised to be Hindu or Jain.  We don’t really observe any Indian traditions.  I have a few saris and some salwar but I don’t wear them on a day to day basis.

If anything, our big concern/push has been to instill an American identity.  Ellie very much identifies as Singaporean, even though she’ll tell you she’s American (or at the least that Ravi and I are from America), she is very firm that she is from Singapore.

Earlier this week I told her she had been born in America, in Boston.

Looking skeptical, she shook her head.  “No, I don’t think so, Mommy.  I was born in Singapore.”

The identifying as Indian was somewhat out of the blue for us.  I mentioned it in passing to Ellie’s preschool teachers and they told me that she is very vocal in class about identifying as an Indian girl.

What I’ve learned from my husband’s experiences growing up is that as parents we don’t get to dictate our daughters identities.  Rather, it is our job to accept them and help them feel at home in their own skin.  If that identity is Indian, then my goal is to give Ellie support and to help build some family traditions that support that identity.

When our New Zealand friends arrived in Singapore, I suggested we go to dinner in Little India and see the streets lit up for Diwali.  We had dinner at The Banana Leaf Apolo, and then after dropping them at the taxi stand, Ellie and did some wandering around Little India.  We saw the lights lit up for Diwali, bought some Diwali decorations for our home, and a few lamps.

“What’s Diwali?” Ellie asked me.

“A festival of light,” I answered.

“Why?”

“……” I realized I didn’t know.

The truth is that I know very little about Diwali.

Our family does have a Diwali tradition, although it’s been spottily observed since we moved abroad; we eat Jalebi on Diwali, made by my mother in law.  However, I have no idea why we do that.

I asked Ravi and his comment was that it’s a festival of light and the new year.  That was his total knowledge of the holiday, having grown up Indian and having lived in India for several years.

Which is why I’m seeking out books on Diwali to share with the girls (any kid-friendly recommendations are very welcome).  It’s why I bought jalebi mix (so I can make the jalebi this year) at Mustafa.  It’s why I’m attempting to educate myself a bit more about Indian holidays (I’ve learned a lot about Indian culture during my relationship with Ravi, but very little about the holidays).  It’s why I’m grateful to have been invited over to someone’s home for Diwali.  And it is why I want to start building traditions for our family around Diwali.

Filed under: customs, Holidays, Singapore | 14 Comments »

Wordless Wednesday-Children’s Day Party

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

So Ellie doesn’t have school on Friday because of a holiday called “Children’s Day,” which is apparently celebrated most places that aren’t the US.  Today (Wednesday) her class had a party, and they said the kids could dress “outrageously”–so I assumed it was sort of kind of like Halloween?  Hence she went to school dressed like this

Most everyone showed up in fancy dress clothes, but luckily Ellie/Ariel joined a Snow White and a Spiderman as interpreting outrageous clothing as a costume.  Not that Ellie cared one way or the other–I think she’d dress like this daily if I’d let her.
As E attends a Kindergarten (Nursery is part of K, more or less–at least for the purposes of this holiday), she has Friday off from school.  Somehow I didn’t have this on my calendar, so it was a bit of a surprise when I got this week’s schedule last Friday.

Filed under: Education, Holidays, Singapore, With Kids | Leave a Comment »

Mass Lantern Walk 2012

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

As part of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a Mass Lantern Walk in Chinatown this past Saturday night.

Not pictured–the giant “Sponsored by Singtel” lantern.

Lion Dance before the kick off

We arrived at the start of the walk just a few minutes before it actually started (aka about 20 minutes late due to traffic), and just in time for the Lion Dance.  It was loud and chaotic, which are two good words to describe the entire experience (but not in a bad way).  I had picked up some cheap lanterns at cold storage and had dropped a glow stick in them (traditionally laterns use fire which seemed like a bad combination with my 3 year old and a paper lantern).  I definitely felt a bit of lantern envy when I saw the amazing variety–the straight up spherical paper ones, but also elaborate ones in the shapes of the dragons and such, themed ones (like a thomas the tank engine lantern-no joke), and battery-operated ones that lit up and did stuff (a bug with flapping wings).  Sadly it due to the low light and constant movement, I had to toss a number of photos–it was not the kind of environment that is tri-pod friendly (although I, along with many other amateur photographers had mine with me).

Ellie is not amused

Ellie had been sick all day Friday, but had seemingly bounced back on Saturday.  She insisted she wanted to go to the walk.  Although she hasn’t sat in a stroller in almost a year (and even then mostly to transport her around airports when she was too tired to walk), she ASKED for her stroller.  This should’ve been our first clue that it wasn’t a good idea.  But we tried.  About a minute before the walk began, Ellie started crying and wanted to go home.  Ravi decided to take her home and insisted Rhi and I stay (especially as he could tell I really wanted to do the walk, and knew I’d been looking forward to it).

Doing the walk (which went up a main street, down a side street and then looped on New Bridge road), I really enjoyed the diversity of Singapore.  You hear a lot of talk about how diverse Singapore is, but it’s moments like the walk that really show it.  In the picture above you can see the Mid-Autumn Festival’s lanterns strung in front of the Sri Mariamman Temple.  For a spell I walked next to a Buddhist mom and her daughter and we chatted about pre-schools.  Later we walked past some older Aunties who chatted up Rhi in Mandarin (I may not know much Mandarin, but I know Mei-Mei for Little Sister).  We shared street space with women in Saris holding their lanterns.  Expats galore took part.  And no one seemed out of place.  It’s just how Singapore is.  (Which is not to say that there aren’t simmering xenophobic tensions, class tensions, etc)  This de rigeur diversity is absolutely one of my favorite parts of Singaporean life.

At points I felt a little bad about bringing Rhi to such a loud gathering without getting her some ear plugs or some such (if you watch the video you’ll understand–we were never NOT near some very loud drumming–awesome drumming–but loud).  I wasn’t sure if I should’ve taken her (as opposed to sending her with Ravi), but she loved it.  She loved the lanterns, she was interested in what was happening, she flirted shamelessly with everyone who noticed her, and even appeared unfazed by the loud drumming.

One of the many drummers

Lantern by the entrance to Chinatown on New Bridge Road, where the Lantern walk began a final loop.

Dancers.  Can someone tell me more about them?  If I were in the US, I’d think of the outfits as Polynesian inspired.  I’ve never seen anything like them related back to Chinese Culture.  Please, share in comments!

Ditto.  Please share in comments if you know the significance of the women dressed like this.  I feel like I was missing out on a lot of the significance and nuance of what was happening around me, and I’d love to know more.

This drum team was AMAZING.  I loved that there were a number of women (I’ve mostly seen men when I’ve seen this style of drumming at Lion or Dragon dances) and I love the synchronicity and drama of their movements (as well as the sound of the drums).

There was a main stage just before the walk ended, and if you check the video you’ll see the group performing at the end of that video.

Close view of some lanterns

So here we have it, another experience in my quest to explore more of Singapore.  We were in town for the Lantern Festival of 2010, and tried to do a few family friendly things– see here, here, and here. Last year we were still out of town during the festival.  But this was our first year really trying to engage with the festival.  Ironic, then, that unless they’re going to be up for a few more days, we’ll have missed out on the Clarke Quay lantern displays (we kept trying to see them with the girls, but every time we planned to, something would come up)–anyone know if they’re already gone, or how much longer they’ll be there?

I would’ve liked to have stayed longer, but I was needed at home, so shortly after we finished the walk, Rhi and I left, missing out on the night market and other experiences.  Below is a video with various clips of the sights and sounds from that evening.  Sorry for any shakiness in the video–hard to push a stroller with one hand, record with the other and walk all at the same time.

Filed under: Holidays, Pictures, Singapore, Uniquely Singapore, Video, With Kids | 2 Comments »

Children’s Theater on sale now–

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

I was browsing the sistic website, and got very excited about some upcoming/ongoing children’s theater.  All shows are on sale now and had tickets available as of last night.  Keep in mind these reflect my interests and do not represent every show available that every kid might possibly like.
If an event crosses months, it’s listed in the month in which it begins.

September…

October…

November…

December…

January 2013…

 

 

Filed under: Holidays, Singapore, Theater/Shows/Events, With Kids | 2 Comments »

Mooncakes!

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

In the spirit of the last post, I resolved to try mooncakes this year.

What is a mooncake? (quotes are from Wikipedia)

Mooncake (simplified Chinese: 月饼; traditional Chinese: 月餅; pinyin: yuè bĭng) is a Chinese bakery product traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival / Zhongqiu Festival. The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching, when mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four most important Chinese festivals.

Typical mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4–5 cm thick. A rich thick filling usually made from red bean or lotus seed paste is surrounded by a thin (2–3 mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges accompanied by Chinese tea. Today, it is customary for businessmen and families to present them to their clients or relatives as presents,[1] helping to fuel a demand for high-end mooncake styles. The caloric content of a mooncake is approximately 1,000 calories (for a cake measuring 10 centimetres (3.9 in), but energy content varies with filling and size.[2]

I first saw mooncakes during our first year here.  But I was too scared to try one.  We missed the Mid-Autumn Festival last year due to travel.  So this was our year for mooncakes.  When a good friend heard that we wanted to try them, she gifted us with some.

L-R-The bag, the box, and the side of the box which notes the flavor (White Lotus Paste with Egg Yolk) and where the Mooncakes were from.

This is what you see when you open the box.

Looking at a moon cake from above

Side view of the mooncake with the utensils they gave us to cut it into pieces.

Inside of the Mooncake, cut in half.

All four of us tried the mooncakes, but sadly the only person who liked them was Rhiannon.

I was really surprised by how sweet the mooncakes were.  It was a very strong/concentrated sweetness, but not sugary–I’m not quite sure if there is an analogous flavor that I could compare it to (that I’ve had–remember I have a limited palate).

We finished several of the mooncakes in our trying, and then gifted away the rest, as I didn’t want them to go to waste.

Ellie’s mooncake

One of Ellie’s class projects last week was to make their own “mooncakes.”  Ellie was thrilled that it was pink.  When I tasted hers, it was like a sweet taffy (no egg yolks there).

Ellie, eating her mooncake

There are two kinds of mooncakes-the baked ones, like ours at the top, and “snowskin” mooncakes.  Given our lack of enthusiasm for the more traditional flavors, I decided to pick up some double chocolate snowskin mooncakes from Polar at Great World city.

Exterior of the snowskin double chocolate mooncake

“Snowskin” refers to the fact that they are cold and must be kept in the fridge.  I was told to take them out about 20 minutes before serving them.

inside of the double chocolate mooncake

Okay, so it’s basically a giant chocolate truffle, but it allows those of us who have limited palates to participate, so it’s not all bad :)   They were okay, if very rich (duh, double chocolate).

If you want to see more mooncakes, go to this gallery of more than 25 different kinds (including Angry Birds shaped mooncakes).

Filed under: food/drink, Holidays, Singapore, With Kids | Tagged: , , , , | 12 Comments »

What do I love about SG that has NOTHING to do with my children?

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

I met a new friend a few days ago while Ellie was in school.  We had a wonderful conversation, and I look forward to hanging out with her again.  But she asked a question that threw me…”What do you love most about Singapore that has nothing to do with your children?”

I had to stop and really think.

When I’m asked what I love most about Singapore, almost everything that comes to mind are things that relate to my children–the zoo, the water play areas, the education my daughter is getting, the warmth of the country toward children, and so forth.

My immediate reaction was…and this surprised me a bit…the weather.  More to the point, I love wearing shorts and flip flops year round.  I love having the option to swim almost every day (although I will confess it’s been a while since I’ve been in the pool).  I love never having to shovel snow or chip ice off of my windshield.  Yes, I bitch about the humidity and yes, the non-stop heat does wear on me such that I look forward to visiting cooler climates with unreserved glee (Australia in May–18 degrees C sounds delightful…for the week we’ll be there).  Yes, I miss the beauty of a New England Fall and the slight nip to the breeze.  But I don’t miss winter and I don’t miss spring.

You can’t do this in February in Boston

However, we could move to Southern California and get perpetual summer.  So I feel as though I need to dig deeper.  So, here we go…a complete stream of consciousness, in no way organized list of reasons I love Singapore.

1-Learning about a new culture.

Apart from Michael Fay and a few pop culture references, I knew nothing about Singapore before December 2009, when Ravi applied to GNB and they suggested the SG office, as opposed to the London office we were hoping for.  Living in Singapore for almost 2 years has begun an education in what is truly a remarkable country.  No other country has accomplished the move from third world to first in such a short time (and we can debate the pros and cons of how that happened, and I’m happy to, but no one can deny that it is impressive).

Singapore is a mish-mash of cultures, and unlike the US, which is all about integration and submission to the dominant culture, Singapore acknowledges those cultures through public holidays that relate to Muslim and Christian holidays, Indian festivals and Chinese New Year.  I can attend distinct cultural events.

CNY

Thaipusam photo, courtesy of Paul Chapman (flickr stream here, blog here)

When I am confounded by Singapore, I have wonderful friends who help explain and give context.  I am deeply grateful to have Singapore Actually and Kirsten (among others) who are willing to answer and explain things from the mundane to the deeply complex.  Learning about Singapore has enriched me because it makes me re-examine so many assumptions I never realized I had.

2-I appreciate the United States (and Boston) more

We all take what we have for granted far too frequently.  In the US, I took everything from Target to Cape Cod for granted.  I am a Massachusetts native and I have never made it to Cape Cod…because I always assumed I could get around to it eventually.

It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in those things that annoy me about the US, such as the ongoing concerted effort to restrict women’s access to contraception, that I forget those things I love about the US.

Living in Singapore has made me appreciate my rights, especially my right (obligation, really) to criticize my government and to vocally advocate for change.

I also appreciate American “stuff” more.  Getting a package from my mom or in-laws with my favorite brand of BBQ chips (Wachusett Chips-made and only available locally to home) is cause for celebration.  Watching the Daily Show with Ravi is a ritual.  I’m happy that Ellie and Rhi have access to Sesame Street.

3-I’ve become a more serious photographer here

I had been getting more and more into photography after getting a digital camera.  Moving from Singapore turned me from casual vacation (and baby) photographer to amateur photographer.  I have been motivated to take a class and read up on how to make my pictures better, and long after our kids (or we) break or lose whatever souvenirs we leave Singapore with, my photographs will remain my favorite way to look back upon our time here.

Kirsten and I took the girls to Marina Barrage last Friday so that Kirsten could do a photoshoot of them (which turned into E after Rhi decided to sleep through most of it).  While we were there, I took this picture looking back at the city…and I can’t wait to go back there and do some more photography.  I also love shooting in the Botanic Garden, Sentosa, and around the city.

Loving this shot

4-The chance to travel to places I wouldn’t otherwise

I really enjoyed visiting Phuket…but let’s be real; I would never have gone there if we didn’t live regionally.  Australia, sure. Japan, probably.  But much of the region would just not have made my “traveled to” list because it was just too damn far away for places I only want to visit for 3-4 days (when it would take that long to shake off the jet lag).

As the girls age, I’m hoping to do more regional travel, like Angkor Wat, Vietnam, and so forth.  One of the negatives of not having a helper is that I don’t have the support person to do travel with the girls and Ravi only has so much vacation per year (although his allotment is generous, there is a limit).

Big Buddha, Phuket, Thailand

5-The Taxis

By far my most shallow reason for loving Singapore, but no less valid.

For close to two years, taxis were my primary mode of transportation.  I love that they are plentiful (usually).  I love that I can SMS for one, and it will come get me, usually in 5-7 minutes.  I love that they are cheap.  I am deeply amused by taxi uncle wisdom (usually).

Cabs in New York and Boston just aren’t even in the same galaxy as SG cabs and I would have lost my mind trying to get around SG without them.

Thanks, W, for inspiring this post!  Readers, what do you love best about Singapore?

Filed under: Asia, Attractions, cars/driving, customs, Expat to Expat Advice, general places, Holidays, Phuket, Pictures, politics, Random Stuff, Singapore, Thailand, Travel by Continent, Country, Uniquely Singapore | 10 Comments »

Better late than never?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

I was recently scrolling through pictures on my phone and found a bunch of pictures I’d taken for the blog and then totally forgotten about.

From Christmas, the hours sign at a local grocery store.  I wanted to share it because there have been so many holidays where a grocery store being open on a major holiday would have been a major deal, and they just aren’t.  Even after 2 Christmases in Singapore, it still strikes me as so strange that most everything is open, and that some places are open even longer to benefit from the public holiday business.

From Valentine’s Day, a pretty decoration at a local mall, Orchard Central.  I noted it because (a) it’s pretty and (b) “Seasons of Love” is one of the major songs from a favorite musical of mine; Rent.  In fact, “Seasons of Love” was our recessional song at our wedding.

Finally, some cute Year of the Dragon pictures.

The front and back of a “year of the dragon” themed regular coke box (sadly, the cans were not decorated…I’d sort of hoped they would be).

A set of “Year of the Dragon” Mickey Mouse themed Kleenex…Elanor LOVES these.  We generally do buy the Mickey Mouse or Winne the Pooh boxes of Kleenex, but I was amused that these appeared in the stores in time for CNY, and disappeared immediately after.

The large Year of the Dragon statue from Resorts World Sentosa (and the only picture I’ve taken recently from this set).  Hard to convey exactly how large this is from the picture, but the bottom pedestal is much taller than me.  It is a truly impressive large statue…and it rotates!  Ellie spent a good 10 minutes running circles around it when we were there last weekend.  No, I have no idea why other than she’s three and thought it would be tremendous fun.

Filed under: Holidays, Holidays (Not Singaporean), Pictures, Singapore | 2 Comments »

Small Tidbits

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

There are a multitude of things I want to mention but none of which really merit a blog post on their own.  So let’s call this one “small tidbits”

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QPX Hair Removal Update

I tried QPX back in early December and I promised to update you guys once enough time had passed that I felt I could really evaluate how it went…   5 weeks out was the first time I felt like I had to shave my underarms after getting it done.  Once my routine settles a bit, I’m going to spend one of Elanor’s pre-school sessions getting QPX for my underarms again and for my full legs.  I’m sold!

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I want to publicly thank my friends who have been instrumental in helping me figure out my post-B existence…while some are friends in real life, many are people I’ve never met in person, who made an effort to reach out and lend a helping hand or a kind suggestion.

Laura from Expat Adventures in Singapore suggested the part time cleaning lady we’ve hired.

Notabilia suggested the service we found our new baby sitter through (which I will review at a later date)

Kelly from Our Big Expat Adventure hooked me up with our potential car leasing company, and offering to cat sit the next time we’re out of country

Claire from The Dot Diaries is helping to keep me company on Wednesday when my dishwasher is getting delivered (“some time between 10-6″) not only to catch up on our lives, but to make sure someone is home in case it’s delivered whilst I’m doing a pre-k run.

My friends EK and MP for babysitting the girls so Ravi and I could go and see Wicked this past Sunday night with the tickets we’d purchased months ago as a mutual Christmas present.

My friend EM for offering to try out being a mother’s helper

Kirsten from Funny Little World for offering up her babysitting services once she’s back in Singapore.

Thank you also to the readers who have reached out via email as well, or offered a virtual hug.

You are all appreciated and I am more grateful to you than I can say.  It is not an exaggeration to say that I don’t know that I could have gotten on the plane to come back to Singapore without you.

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I have chosen to go with a new medication that will allow me to keep breastfeeding for the time being.  I never started the medication that was hostile to it, and while formula is going to be part of our life (I just don’t have the time to pump regularly, and I don’t want to, honestly) I am hopeful that we can continue breastfeeding as Rhiannon’s primary method of feeding for the next bit of time.  I don’t want to pressure myself into putting a clock on the wall, but if I can be mentally healthy and breastfeed, I would like to do that.  If the new drug doesn’t work out, then we will revisit what decision is right for the family.

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We’ve now had the cats for a year!  I don’t blog about them much, but Gandalf and Kerowyn are doing well.  I can’t bring myself to throw out the broken baby swing because they’ve taken to using it as a bed, and seeing them curled up in it together is just sweet.  I’d show you a picture, but they haven’t been there whenever I’ve gone to get my camera.

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I finally got a smile from Rhi on camera

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Ellie’s school had a CNY party last year.  It marks the first class party that the parents weren’t invited to. Which is not to say that every parent didn’t whip out a camera and get a shot of the kids in their CNY finest.

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I am LOVING our household of just Ravi, myself and the girls.

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YA books I’ve read and enjoyed recently—

  • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  • The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
  • Scored by Lauren Mclaughlin

Don’t skip them just because they’re marketed as “young adult” books.  I really discovered the YA genre when I taught middle school, and I have to say that some of the best writing I’m coming across in fiction these days is in this genre.

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If you like American politics, are on Twitter, and are a West Wing Fan, you really need to be following @Pres_Bartlet  @joshualyman  @donnatella_moss  especially during the GOP debates.  You’ll laugh so hard you’ll cry.  If you’re me, you’ll just keep hitting RT

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Using the down escalator at Shaw Center on Saturday night took a chunk out of my stroller’s wheel.  I hate using escalators with strollers, but sometimes Singapore gives you no choices.  As a PSA, be careful that your wheels are in the middle of the stair if you must use the escalator.  Secondary PSA-Motherwork at Great World City can replace a Bugaboo Bee wheel when/if needed for a small fee (it is not covered by warranty–damn)

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Okay, enough rambling from me…

Filed under: Book Review, Education, Helpers, Holidays, Pictures, politics, Random Stuff, Singapore, Theater/Shows/Events, With Kids | 22 Comments »

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