The Unexpected

The days are flying by at warp speed.  So much has transpired since I last posted.  Chad, Nate, and I traveled to South Korea in March to visit friends.  We enjoyed the beauty that Korea has to offer.  Unfortunately the tensions were high between North and South Korea so the guys were unable to visit the DMZ.  They were disappointed but we found other cool adventures.  Seoul is the city of themed cafes with dog cafes, cat cafes, and the like.  One of Nate’s goals is to collect a ring from each country he visits.  Well, we found a ring cafe and ventured out.  We spent two hours drinking coffee and watching Nate and his friend make personalized silver rings.  It was a cool experience and a true one of a kind treasure from our travels.

Korean idea of fun

Lunch Korean Family style

Adding our Love Lock in Seoul

Nate making his ring

Family photo in “the ville”

A mere 36 hours after we returned to Singapore, I headed out again to visit my parents in the United States.  It was intended to be a trip to check on my dad’s progress and offer a bit of respite for my mom.  Unfortunately, that is not how it turned out.  When I arrived, I went straight to the hospital as my dad was admitted again for complications. I had flash backs of my frantic trip in December.  Dad’s stay was short and we were able to bring him home quickly.  However, he didn’t stay at home through my stay.  After about 10 days on a new medication he developed complications and was admitted again (this time for much longer).  With everything going on, I was unable to see many friends or family except my parents

Meanwhile, Chad received some unexpected news.  Procter and Gamble decided to shorten our term in Singapore and let him know that they intend for us to return to the US this summer.  Chad contacted me in the US and we started the discussion on how to make that transition work well.  We are heartbroken to be leaving Singapore.  We’ve enjoyed our lives here and the adventures we have had the opportunity to experience.  Plus, Nate will be moving before his senior year of high school.  He was looking forward to the special program he was accepted into for next year.

After I returned from the United States, we began earnestly talking options.  We are unsure where we will live in Cincinnati as we sold our house there.  Plus, we want Nate to have the best senior year possible.  So, we are scouring the internet for houses and school districts.

In the midst of all this, Chad has been traveling extensively throughout the region.  While  Nate and I hold down the fort in Singapore.  I have also been chugging along on my degree.  I’m on my thesis class with only 3 weeks left until I graduate.  Seth attended UC this spring and enjoyed a few trips to Florida in the midst of studying.  Seth also started a photography business doing mostly landscapes and portraits. You can check out his business here.  He returned to Singapore the end of April.  We are so glad to have everyone together again. To add to the excitement, this week we welcome visitors from the US.  It’s a crazy time but we are making some great lemonade…:)

Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Flyer

Gardens by the Bay and Super Trees

So, what’s next?  We are planning a house hunting trip the beginning of June.  Then returning to Singapore to wrap things up, pack, move out of our condo, and say our ‘until next time’ to friends we are leaving behind.  We are anticipating being back in the States by the end of July.

Although this summer marks the end of time in Singapore, it does not mark the end of our adventures.  We are all changed from the experiences we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. No more will we view our daily lives as ordinary-whether we live in Ohio, Florida, Singapore, or Timbuktu, we are people who will forever have a perspective that is extraordinary and full.

Thanks for joining us on our journeys…

Much love to all.

Perspective

So much has happened since our last blog post… Some good, some bad with a bit of ugly thrown in.

We celebrated Thanksgiving like all Americans, with food and family.  However, that is where the similarities end.  We had a traditional Thanksgiving meal early in the week, with mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and ham (Ok, not traditional but Nate is allergic to turkey.  So it’s traditional for us which is a challenge in a very pork limited country.  But that’s a whole other story.)

Early Thanksgiving morning we hit the airport for a family escape to Bali, Indonesia.  We stayed in a lovely villa that Seth found scoping the internet.  It was close to the hub of activity but far enough to be quiet and relaxing.  The villa had a pool immediately as your exited the bedrooms as well as an open air kitchen and living room.  We rented scooters for our time there and traipsed around the area checking out shops, restaurants, markets, the beach, and the spa.  Seth made a video of our trip (click here to check it out).  We also saw some local places of interest including a beautiful temple on the water.

Off to Bali for Thanksgiving 2015

Visiting a temple in Bali

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we arrived back in Singapore we had visitors waiting for us at the airport.  Our friend, Nicole and her son flew in to enjoy a few days in Singapore.  We had a great time, sharing our favorite wet market, Joss Stick man, Singapore foods, and many other treasures.  Nicole and I even took time to visit a day spa in Indonesia.  It was lovely.  I’m so glad they were able to share our world with us for a few days.

Shopping in Chinatown

Unfortunately, our time together was cut short.  Early on the morning of December 4^th (our time), we received a call no one ever wants to answer.  My mom called a little after 3 am to tell me that my dad was in a serious car accident and was being sent to the hospital via helicopter.  He sustained multiple injuries including a head injury they were unsure whether he would survive.  Immediately, Chad went into action to secure me a flight back to the states.  With only hours until the only flight out on Delta, Chad booked me the last seat on the plane, helped me pack a small carry-on with bare minimums and sent me to the airport.  The flight home was the longest flight of my life as I was unable to get updates except on my layovers.  A little over 30 hours from the call, I arrived in Cincinnati for almost 2 months of constant medical care and crisis for my Dad and family.  (You can follow Dad’s progress here.)

Due to the serious nature of Dad’s injuries and multiple complications, we cancelled our family trip to Australia and New Zealand.  Instead, Chad and the boys flew back to Cincinnati in time for Christmas and to offer much needed support for the family as Dad transitioned in/out of intensive care.  After a little over two weeks in Cincinnati helping, Chad and Nate returned to Singapore for work and school obligations.

Christmas tree in Dad’s hospital room.

In the midst of all of the chaos, I continued to plug away at graduate school and Seth struggled to register for classes online.  Thankfully, my professor and school administration were gracious and allowed me to work as able and turn in work late without having to drop the class and delay my graduation.  Unfortunately, Seth’s school was not as helpful.  He had previously registered for several classes and went to add another only to discover that they dropped all but one of the classes he was registered for unbeknownst to us.  After much debate, Seth decided to stay and attend class in person at University of Cincinnati.  He is living with my parents this semester but already has an apartment lined up for next year.

 

I returned to Singapore in January with a sad heart.  Although my dad was making strides toward recovery and recuperating in a rehab facility, things were not as I had envisioned.  Not only did we no longer have Seth living in Singapore with us but we didn’t get to share our home with my parents.  Mom and Dad were originally scheduled to fly to Singapore with me and Seth on the flight in January for a three-week visit.  Instead, I returned alone.

Not long after I returned to Singapore, Nate left for his interim semester in Switzerland.  He joined 39 other students from his school (all but four were seniors) for a week of winter fun.  They skied, ice skated, learned about avalanche control, climbed the peaks to the top of Mount Fort and had an overall awesome time.

Nate in Verbier enjoying the view.

While Nate was away, Chad and I had our first taste of an empty nest.  It was a quiet week with a fun get away thrown in for good measure.  Chad and I took a few days across the Singapore Strait to relax at a resort and spa. We read books, relaxed, and enjoyed loads of delicious Asian food.  The owners of the resort we stayed at are Americans and cater to expats so they understood gluten free and I ate things I normally can’t eat in Asia.  It was delightful.

Our weekend getaway resort.

As usual, our life is anything but boring.  Although the past few months have proven how challenging it is to live almost 10,000 miles from family, we are so thankful for the many opportunities we have to live where we live and grow in the process.  I think I can speak for all of us when I say, I am a different person today.  And for that, I give thanks.

Until next time…

Gail

Singapore Stories

There is never an end to activity and travel in our lives.  I can’t believe it has been over 2 months since I last posted.  The time seemed to fly.

We’ve had a rough couple of months getting out and doing things in Singapore.  The haze from Indonesia has been extremely bad and lasted longer than normal.  In a typical year, Singapore has a few days of unhealthy air.  However, this year from the end of August to November the haze has been in the unhealthy to hazardous range.  The country even closed school for a day because of the concern for students.  It has made trips to the store, exercise, and any other outdoor activities difficult to manage.  Thankfully the rainy season has arrived and the fires are dying down so we can venture outside again.

Trying to enjoy F1 racing with the haze

Haze as seen from our balcony. Typically you can see buildings at the end of the island.

September brought much activity.  Nate was inundated with play practice. He would often be gone for over 12 hours each day with school and then practice afterwards.  It was very stressful for him but he loved every minute.  We enjoyed another year of Formula 1 Racing.  As part of the race series we had great concerts by Pharrell Williams, Maroon 5, and Bon Jovi.  Chad and Seth enjoyed the finals with our friends Steve and Brett LoVellette.  Steve and Barbara (former pastor and his wife from Cincinnati) were in town to see their new grand-baby.  We were happy to host a Cincinnati Chili luncheon at our house while they were in town.  It was fabulous to catch-up on the other side of the world.

Lunch with the LoVellette family

Seth traveled to Manila, Philippines for a baseball tournament.  The weekend brought non-stop activity with a tournament that included 5 games throughout the Manilla area.  Seth pitched and had a great time.

Seth Pitching

Teams in Manila

I spent September and the first week of October engrossed in school.  The faculty wasn’t kidding when they said that double classes were challenging.  I felt like I ate, slept, and breathed schoolwork. My family would agree.  I’m glad it is over and I’m back to my normal course load.  At the end of my crazy session, I received a fabulous gift box from friends in Cincinnati to spur me on in the final stretch.  It was just what I needed!  🙂

October brought the final product of weeks of work for Nate.  He had 5 performances in The Laramie Project over the first full week of the month.  He did a spectacular job!  We are so proud of him.

Nate in orange playing the role of Aaron McKinney

The week after his performance we divided to conquer the world.  Not really, we but did go in two different directions for Nate’s fall break.  Nate and Chad went to Germany for the week as part of Nate’s birthday gift.  They visited 6 cities and numerous historical sites.  It was action packed and filled with things that Nate loves – history, seaways, and snow.  Seth and I headed to South Korea to visit the Underwood family stationed south of Seoul.  We had an action packed week of culture (both military and Korean), shopping, and history.  Our touring highlight was a visit to the Demilitarized Zone and JSA.  Of course, the real highlight was spending time with good friends.

Seth and I in front of the JSA buildings for negotiations. We actually stepped into North Korea.

Nicole and I at the Third Tunnel

Chad and Nate in Berlin during a Segway tour

Nate on the train to Berchtesgaden to see Hitler’s Eagles Nest retreat

After our whirlwind trips it is back to work for Chad and school for rest of us.  We are gearing up for more travel and a grand adventure in December for Christmas and New Years.  Since our time in Singapore is limited as a family of four, we are trying to make the most of the opportunities in SouthEast Asia.

We miss connecting with our family and friends.  Yet, the adventure and growth we’ve experienced while living abroad is beyond our wildest imaginations.  We are forever changed in our view of life, the world, and our perceptions of people and places.

Thanks for joining us on our adventures.  Until next time…

First Summer

I’m so glad I don’t make a living as a blogger because we would be in the poor house. I often think about sitting down to chronicle our time, but it never manifests. Alas, I can think of no other form of procrastination, so here’s the skinny on the wonderings for our family…

May bought the end of a school year for Nate and a flurry of graduations in the states. Seth was able to enjoy the pomp and circumstance with many of his friends as they concluded their time in high school. He made the rounds on behalf of our family and celebrated with our other “boys” as they each transition into the next phase of life.

In June, Nate and I made a quick 36-hour stop in Cincinnati before heading to Orlando to see our favorite mouse with the family. Chad joined us in Disney after a long flight to the states filled with delays and a ridiculous layover. Our time in Disney was fabulous. We feasted on the many culinary delights of Disney while also enjoying the scenic resort at Animal Kingdom Kidani Village.

View from our room in Disney

It was incredible to wake up to see the zebras and giraffes grazing outside our window. We also visited the parks, the guys golfed and I was blessed to spend time with a friend from high school (thanks for meeting me Laurie!). The down side of the trip involved three out of four of us being ill at some point during the week. But we persevered and had a great time.

Visiting Animal Kingdom at Dinsey- feels like home

From Disney, we moved to our annual beach trip at Ocean Isle Beach (OIB), North Carolina. We had a great week with both Chad and my families, including parents, siblings and their children. The weather was unseasonably hot but coming from Singapore, it was very tolerable (although the rest of the family would strongly disagree). We branched out on our annual cooking night and made a typical Singaporean spread of Chicken and Rice. We even brought chopsticks for everyone to use. It was well received and even our picky eaters loved it. We spent the majority of our time in the pool as the waters were a bit shark infested. Several people were attacked in our area during our stay and our own family had several encounters with them. It was a trip to remember.

Humphrey side of the family at OIB

We returned to Cincinnati after our stint at the beach. Chad stayed less than a week and was exhausted by the time he headed back to Singapore. Between work obligations and seeing family and friends, he barely had time to sleep. We are rethinking things for next summer.

The three who spent the summer in the USA were always on the go. Seth decided that he wants to attend a state university when he starts residential next year. Therefore, we made the rounds of the largest state universities in Ohio. After many tours, talks, hours driving, and debates, Seth plans to attend my alma mater, Ohio University fall of 2016. It is one of four schools that offer his major plus they have the Burrito Buggy. It’s a win-win situation. Seth also had his fill of golfing, trips with his friends and concerts to last the year. One negative of his summer included poor results from his annual endoscopy. Unfortunately, his esophagus is a mess so treatment resumes and we will be returning to the USA in January for a repeat in hopes that things are back under control. Seth returned to Singapore in July with two friends in tow. They spent 10 days exploring the country as well as Indonesia. It was great for him to share his world with others.

Seth standing in front of gateway of Ohio University

Nate participated as a counselor in training again this year at Camp Kern. He hopes to be a full time summer camp counselor next summer.   He also enjoyed concerts and time with friends. We started looking at colleges for him since he is entering his junior year of high school. During our brief visits he solidified his major which limits his school choices. There are only four schools in Ohio that offer his choice along with a limited number of colleges in other states. It will make the visits next year a short list. His annual endoscopy was great with no changes to his routine.

Besides taking the kids on college visits, I spent time with family and friends. I did some runs with friends (really they were more like walks but who’s counting). Unfortunately, I spent the summer fighting off a constant cough and wheezing. I had hoped it would dissipate upon return to Singapore but it flared after the travels and lack of sleep. Thankfully, we have a great doctor in Singapore and she quickly got me on the road to recovery.

Nate and I returned to Singapore the beginning of August with friends in tow as well. Mary and Chris Vanderloo flew in on the same flight from Japan and hit the ground running. Nate introduced Chris to Asia and life here. Chris loved Singapore and hopes to return for another visit. Mary visited in January and experienced many of the local attractions at that time. However, she and I went to Indonesia for a day of pampering, it was pure bliss.

Spa in Indonesia- Pure Bliss

The Golden Jubilee or SG50 was a joyous occasion on August 9^th. The date marked the 50^th anniversary of the nation. There were festivities all year but the week preceding SG50 was filled with too many events to participate in. It was a spectacular time to be in country and celebrate with our host nation.

Black Nights performing for SG50 celebration

Enjoying SG50

After the weekend, we started back into our usual routine. Nate started school and promptly tried out for the school play. He was selected for one of the more dramatic roles. We are looking forward to watching him put it all out there for the production in October. Seth started back to college classes online and is starting the baseball season this week. I’ve been organizing and taking care of household needs in preparation for my school to resume next week. I will be taking a full course load the first session. I have been told to prepare for 50-60 hours of school work a week. It seems a bit overwhelming but I figure I can do anything for 6 weeks.

I don’t anticipate posting again until I complete my packed course load for school. We’d love to hear from everyone. Please feel free to call or write.

We truly are thankful for our many family and friends.  Thanks for journeying along with us.  Until next time…

Never a dull moment…

I am a terrible blogger!  I let weeks, even months go by between posts.  You probably wonder, “Are they still there?  Have they fallen off the face of the earth?”  Not really, I just get busy, put it on my to-do list and it never seems to happen.   😊

Today is the day for a long awaited post.  Yippee!

In March we met Chad’s and my parents in Hawaii.  It was a 6 hour time change for both families so that seemed like a good meeting place.  Unfortunately, it took us forever to get there since there are no direct flights.  We had layovers in Shanghai, China both directions- including 8 hours on the way home. (I doubt we will do that again!)

    Studying at Aulani

We spent our week in Hawaii relaxing at Aulani Resort with our favorite mouse (yes, it’s a Disney resort).  Chad, Nate and his parents went on a beautiful horseback ride through the area where Lost, Jurassic Park, and other productions have been filmed.  Unfortunately, Seth and I had to take time to work on school since we were not on spring break.  It was a great week to reconnect and get some much needed hugs.

Kualoa Ranch-Horsebackriding

                 Our family in Hawaii

Not long after returning home, Chad had symptoms of food poisoning.  The doctor believes he got it in China since he’s the only one who ate the food during our long layover.  He developed complications from that and ended up having two procedures and a 4 day hospital stay.  He’s on his way to recovery but still not back to normal.  We have determined that China and him don’t mix.  Out of the  four times he’s been there, he’s ended up in the hospital twice.

                Hospital Room in Singapore

Typical day in the Hospital.  Note that they eat 5 times a day!

On the bright side, I’m happy to report that the healthcare system here is stellar!  The doctor was able to see Chad quickly both times and get him into surgery promptly.  The hospital and nursing staff were caring and efficient.  Plus the hospital was equivalent to a 5-star hotel.  Food was served by a butler, while the pharmacy delivered your medications to take home to your room.  They even had high end toiletries in the restroom.  It was a nice place to recover and only a 15 minute walk to our apartment.

The day of Chad’s unexpected second procedure, Nate participated in a “Poetry Out Loud” competition. Earlier in the school year, every high school student performed an oral recitation of an approved poem.  Each teacher was able to choose 2 of his/her students to participate in the competition.

Nate performing at Poetry Out Loud

Nate was honored to be chosen and worked hard to prepare.  We had all planned to attend, yet with Chad’s unexpected procedure and subsequent hospital admission, it was not possible.  Seth stayed with Chad at the hospital while I went to the competition.  A series of events led to me arriving just as Nate performed, almost 45 minutes into the competition.  It was only by God’s grace that I arrived in time.  He did a fabulous job.  I am so proud of his performance.  Although he did not win, he is excited that he had the opportunity and looks forward to competing again next year.

Somewhere in that mix, Nate attended the SAS Prom with friends from school.  It was an adventure in shopping to prepare for the big day.

Nate’s Prom

Nate no longer fit into his suit or shoes so off we went.  Up till this point we had not shopped for apparel.  He’s a slim guy so that made things fun.  after it was all said and done, he cleaned up very nicely and had a great time with his friends.

This week started the transition to our hectic summer schedule.  Seth left for the States in Monday to be home for all his friends’ graduations.  While Chad is traveling to Manila this week.  It has been an odd week having a quiet house all day and just Nate and I at night. Nate is crazy busy and stressed as the school year wraps up.  The high standards of the school far exceed anything he has been a part of and it is overwhelming to him at times.  But he’s working hard to finish strong.

We are heading back to the States in a few weeks.  We have two weeks of family vacation planned before we return to Cincinnati.  Chad will only be in Cincy for about a week, starting on the 21st of June. So if you want to see him, that’s you chance.  The boys and I will be in there until the end of July/beginning of August.

It is always an adventure living abroad.  We are different people because of our lives here and though it is tough at times, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am so grateful for all we’ve experienced as a family and the opportunities to grow closer to each other.  It’s hard to believe that next month we will have completed our first year of our assignment in Singapore.  It has been a whirlwind adventure.

Thanks for supporting us and loving us!  We are glad to have you along for the ride.

Much love!  Hope to see you soon in the States!

Life and Chinese New Year

Our adventures continue living in Singapore.  February and the beginning of March brought more adventures and excitement for the family.

 

Extreme Sailing series Marina Bay

There are always activities going on around the island.  We were able to watch the first stop for the Extreme Sailing Series.  It was amazing to see the crews maneuver such large sailboats in tight turns and a rather small bay.  We also watched the practice session for the Chinese New Year Parade.

Nate flying at Fly by Foy

 

London group note that Nate is one of three male students on the trip.

In February, Nate went on his long-awaited Interim Semester with his school.  His group of 19 students and 2 teachers traveled to London on a technical theater extravaganza.  They learned about lighting, costumes, stage construction, makeup and many other aspects of the behind the scene workings of the theater.  They also toured the Harry Potter museum as well as the sites around Piccadilly Circus. One highlight included a trip to Fly by Foy which is a rigging company who designs and implements all the spectacular flying effects such as Peter Pan flying and the chandelier in Phantom of the Opera.  Nate was able to experience the joy of flight while there.  The group also went to see Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables.  Unfortunately, Nate became ill during the trip and missed Phantom and arrived home feeling poorly.  We whisked him off to the doctor when he arrived home and he spent the week in bed with a fever and upper respiratory infection.  Apparently the weather change and constant activity caused several of his class mates to return home ill as well.

Chad and Seth spent the same week in the Philippines with Chad’s work.  They had a grand time seeing the sights together and visiting many eateries in Manilla.  There is a large American influence in the country after WWII and American fare abounds. Since they are the foodies in the family, they had a blast.

Before the Brooks Marina Run 1/2 Marathon

The guys at the finish

When Chad and Seth returned on Valentine’s Day we conquered a 1/2 marathon that night.  It was Seth’s first 1/2 marathon.  It was an adventure running at night around Marina Bay and  a challenge to hydrate in the hot climate but we conquered the race.   Seth now has the running bug and is already planning his next 1/2 marathon.  He has a  goal  to run a full marathon before he turns 21.

 

Decorations in Chinatown area it is the year of the goat. Note the coins hanging to symbolize wealth.

Chinese New Year (CNY) is a huge celebration in Singapore and around Asia.  The first two days of the 15 day celebration are national holidays.  This year those days fell on a Thursday and Friday, so we had a nice long weekend.   CNY is filled with food, family, parades, decorations, and celebrations.  Traditionally when visiting a friend or family during CNY, you offer them two oranges when arriving.  Oranges are also used to decorate house, offices and businesses.  They symbolize prosperity, good luck and happiness.  Another tradition is the giving of the Red Envelopes or hóngbāo.  These are given to younger or unmarried people to symbolize the wealth.  The envelopes have money of even numbers but not 4 because it symbolizes death.  Eight to 10 dollars is very common.

Celebrating adulthood at Newton Hawker

We hit a big milestone this month.  Chad and I officially have an adult child.  Seth celebrated his birthday with a trip to Newton Hawker for Lemon Chicken and Sweet and Sour Chicken.  He also spent the weekend in Kuala Lumpur (or KL as everyone calls it) playing baseball with a friend’s team for a tournament.  I never thought I see my son travel the world alone as a teen but he is becoming a world traveler.

 

 

Thanks for joining us on this journey.  It’s hard to believe that we have lived here almost 9 months.  It is really flying.  Until next time…

First Visitors: Adventures Abound

We are back to our blog! So much has happened since I last posted that I will likely need two posts to cover everything.

We traveled to Hong Kong for Christmas break. We apparently have adjusted to the warm tropical weather because the 60˚F temperatures in Hong Kong nearly froze us. We had a wonderful time checking out the sights around Hong Kong. We spent Christmas day at Disneyland, which was awesome! It rained most of the day, which kept the crowds at a minimum and allowed us easy access to everything.   The guys ventured to a remote island one day to explore caves and had a wonderful day of exploring.

Hong Kong Disneyland Christmas Day 2014

Soon after returning home our nephew, Danny, and his girlfriend, Amanda, arrived for a week visit. They brought with them gifts from home for a late Christmas. We had fun opening our gifts while we Facetimed with my mom and dad.

Danny and Amanda

Puala Ubin Temple

Family checking out Pedestrian Night on Orchard Road

We were very busy during the week showing Danny and Amanda many sites and hitting as many hawker centers as possible. They loved the food and novelty of a culture so different from the USA.   One of the highlights was a visit to a small island, Pualu Ubin, off the coast of Singapore to explore for the day. We took a Bumboat to the island and rented bikes to explore. Of course just getting to the boat dock was an adventure, taking almost an hour from our apartment. However, we were rewarded with one of the cheapest and best hawker centers we visited. We were sad to see Danny and Amanda leave at the end of the week and hope they will visit again!

Michael Bublé

Waiting for Michael Bublé

Less than a week after our visitors departed, everyone was back to school. Nate and Seth started a new semester, while I resumed work on my first course toward my doctorate. Chad and I were thrilled to see Michael Bublé at the Marina Bay Sands. He was awesome and I would love to see him again.

Panda lounging at the River Safari

Resting in Little India after visiting Mustafas

We had barely returned to a routine when we greeted another visitor. Our dear friend and neighbor, Mary, flew in for a 10-day visit. She works for an airline so she has access to last minute flights at almost no cost. Mary and I painted explored new areas and experienced many beautiful places. We visited the S.E.A. Aquarium, the Jurong Bird Park, the River Safari, the Night Safari, Botanic Gardens, Marina Bay, Chinatown, Little India, and many more sites. It was thrilling and tiring all at once. We even spent a day in Malaysia after taking from the Newton Centre to Johor Bahru. We were so sad to see Mary return home after so much fun!

So much in so little time- I still have more to tell but need to wrap it up. Thanks so much for traveling along on our journey!

First Christmas in Asia

Lights on Orchard Road.

 

Christmas tree in the main shopping district. Note the palm trees next to the Christmas tree.

So much has happened since we last posted.  It is hard to believe that is already December and the holidays are upon us. With the average temperature around 86˚F, it feels like anything but Christmas.  The holiday season has a completely different feel besides the weather issue.  We lack the typical hustle and bustle of an American Christmas mall, no mad rush for the perfect gift or the best sale-for which I am thankful.  There is no black Friday since there they also don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.  We did most of our shopping online and sent it directly to family.  It’s an odd experience for us as we always had family close for the holidays.  Our furthest relative only lives an hour from our home in Cincinnati.

Our “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree 

Nate is wrapping up his first semester at school.  This week is exam week with early release everyday.  He should be finished by Wednesday if he gets a project completed early.  Then he has vacation until January 12th.  On the last day of exams there is a dance to celebrate the accomplishments of the students.  nate has learned so much in the first semester. His classes are engaging and he often discusses things he learned with me.  He’s adjusted well to school after being schooled at home for the better part of the last 6 years.  We are so proud of him.

Seth has been a busy college student.  He finished his first semester last night and is ready to rest.  He also has off until January 12th.  He has been busy with baseball as well.  The organization he plays for hosts the Turkey Tournament every year.  Teams came from all over Asia to participate.  He played 5 games in 4 days in the heat which was exhausting for payers and spectators.  Part of the festivities included a Thanksgiving dinner after games on Thanksgiving day.  It was a great time for all the teams to experience an American Thanksgiving complete with turkey and all the fixings.

Chad is busy at work.  He traveled to Vietnam and Hong Kong last month for over a week. He helped host colleagues in town last week which kept him on his toes.  Now he is in Manilla for the week.  There is never a dull moment with his job and he loves it.

I’ve been busy as well.  I started graduate school at the beginning of the month.  I am finally working on my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  I’m nervous to jump back into school after such a long break but I’m excited to learn about the latest research and tools to help me be a better therapist.  I finished my first race in Singapore last week.  Running in this climate is exhausting!  My running partner and I completed a 10k and were dripping as if we had been swimming.  But that hasn’t deterred me.  Chad, Seth and I are embarking on a 1/2 marathon on Valentines Day.  It should test our mental and physical stamina.  Thankfully it is at night so it won’t be as hot as my 10k.

Before the 10K at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2014.

We are staying in Asia for the holiday break.  We are going to Hong Kong for Christmas.  I see a trip to Disneyland Hong Kong on Christmas Day in our future.  I’m sure we will visit many other sites but we love Disney. 😃 Once we return from our trip, my nephew, Danny, and his girlfriend, Amanda, are coming to Singapore for a week.  We can’t wait to host our first visitors and family!  We are so excited to have them visit and to show them our world.

Thanks for joining us on our journey!  We’d love to hear from you.  Feel free to drop us an email or give us a call (fear not the phone only rings when we are awake).

We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  May the Light of the world shine brightly upon you!

Trying Thai (land)

Sunset at Serenity Resort
Phuket, Thailand

Our passports were stamped with a new county last month.  We journeyed to Thailand for Nate’s fall break.  We stayed in Phuket, a lovely resort area of Thailand.  It was an adventure from the start.  We left on a Saturday evening and arrived late that night.  We had arranged to have the resort pick us up from the airport, for which I am thankful.  We would probably still be driving around the island looking for the resort.  They have some signs in English but more than 75% were in Thai only.  Add to that to the fact that they drive on the left and rarely follow traffic signs, I was white knuckled the whole drive there.

We enjoyed our time and came home refreshed.  We rented scooters to get around the island and had a blast going from beach to beach and visiting the many cultural sites.  On one drive around the area we were held up in traffic for an elephant.  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  Seth videoed most of our driving adventures but unfortunately the video came out blank, I wish we could have shared it with you.

Big Buddha in Phuket

Family photo at one of our stops

Seth working on school at the resort restaurant after breakfast.

As most of you are aware our family has many food allergies.  We planned accordingly and picked a resort with a kitchen since most Thai food has nuts in it and both boys are anaphylactic.  It turned out to be yet another adventure for us.  We ended up “shopping” at a 7-Eleven across the street for the most part.  They actually had a pretty good selection of food.  Chad was resourceful as usual and enlisted the hotel staff to read the ingredients for us to ensure things were safe.  hat a lesson in trust that was for us.)  Turns out, the staff was spot on and kept us safe with our choices.  Although Nate and I ended up eating rice and sausage for almost every meal.

Nate and I flew home the following Friday while Chad and Seth continued onto Bangkok for a baseball tournament.  Chad and Seth had a blast with the baseball team playing at a lovely school in Bangkok.  The host team were wonderful and catered dinner for them after their first game on Friday evening.  It was a great time for Chad to connect with the other parents and Seth to put another country under his belt for baseball.  While they were there Seth’s coach, Oscar, spoke with Chad about the possibility of Seth playing baseball back in the US for a college team. Oscar coached professionally in both Europe and USA so he has many connections and could help Seth get on a team.  We are looking into the option but haven’t made any decisions at this point.

Baseball in Bangkok

Speaking of baseball, Seth is having the time of his life.  The coaches are fantastic and have really helped him take his game to a whole new level.  He’s improved so much that he hit his first ever home run the week before we left of Thailand.  He searched the woods for 3 days before he finally found his ball to keep as a memento.  Since being back from Thailand he hit another home run this weekend.  We had jokingly made a pact before the season that I would pay him $50 a home run, never thinking I would be out $100 already and they play year round.  This could get to be an expensive baseball season.

Nate had some exciting news before our trip.  His school requires every high school student to participate in an Interim Semester.  It is a week in January or February each year where the high schoolers leave the regular classroom to learn in the classroom of the world. There are 60 courses to choose from and the selection process is stressful.  The seniors get first pick followed by juniors and on down.  Since Nate is a Sophomore and our last name is at the end of the alphabet he had limited chances to get one of his selections.  The three main categories include service (everyone must complete one to graduate), eco-adventure and cultural.  And the courses range from service here in Singapore to trips to South Africa, New Zealand or Fiji to name a few.  Nate had planned to get his service out of the way but we encouraged him to shoot for the courses that really spoke to him.  Since the courses change every year we didn’t want him to miss out on a once in a lifetime adventure.  Nate is so excited, he was able to get his first choice and will be traveling to London learning all about theater.  They get to learn about lighting, props, makeup and all the things that go into a world class performance.  They also get to see at least three productions while in London.  Not only is he excited that he gets to experience something he loves but one of his best friends was also able to sign up and will be part of the 20 kids who get to travel together.

Thanks again for joining us on our journey!

Adventure At Every Turn

Adventure at every turn. That is how I tend to think about most of our days.  I’ve heard that most people never visit the majority of attractions in the area that they live.  That would not be said of our time here.  Every day is a new adventure, learning new things, seeing new sites.

We were privileged to attend the Formula One Races here in Singapore several weeks ago.  Three days of action packed time trials, test runs and racing.  The weekend consisted of a  Masters  (1971-1983 Formula One Cars) Race, Porche Carrera race and the true Formula One Race and many great entertainers.  We had seats in the Marina Bay Stands at a place where the cars must make a quick succession of turns that typically results in crashes.  However, they were very proficient and no one wrecked there.  Our view also included the beautiful bay with skyline.  We saw several groups/artists perform including Robbie Williams (UK Star), Ziggy Marley and J-Lo.  Robbie Williams played in a downpour and kept the crowd going.  Although we are not diehard fans so we left after a bit.

Formula One Car racing past the Marina Bay Grandstand

View from our seats at Race

Chad just returned from another trip.  He went to Spain for a leadership conference via Thailand.  (No, Thailand is not on the way but he had to present at a different meeting before the conference.)  He did have a little bit of time to explore the area. On his way home he had a long layover in Germany so he rented a car with his boss and drove to the richest country in the world- Liechtenstein.  It is a small country of around 36,000 people in the Alps.  He is working to fill up his passport with stamps.

Seth just returned from his baseball tournament in Manila, Philippines this past weekend.  He enjoyed being on his own although the team parents kept tabs on him.  He played against players who play on the Philippines’ national baseball team and in a stadium where Babe Ruth played.  They had a fabulous time even though they lost all their games.  It’s hard to win games when most of the players on his team are freshman in high school and the teams they played are from universities and colleges.  It was a great learning experience.

Singapore Team at Stadium in Manila

Seth playing in Manila

Nate had a long weekend off.  He ventured out to a water park with one of his friends.  They had a great time eating, riding rides and hanging out.  I love that he is finding friends to connect with here.  He is still working hard at school and finding his groove with studying.  He recently played his guitar for us after two months of classes at school and he is amazing.  I can’t believe how much he has learned in such a short time.  He has signed up to take the class all year so he will be unbelievable by the end of the year.  He may even give his Uncle Doug a run for his money.

I have settled a bit into a routine.  I run several days a week with my friend.  We are training for a 10K in December which should be fun.  The other days I start the day at the gym on the 20th floor common deck.  It’s an open air gym with views of the city and beyond.  I love to see the world come alive while working out.  I have also taken many trips to explore the country.  I’ve been to a huge coastline park with another friend and visited a ginormous store that reminds me of a Jungle Jim’s and Walmart mashup.  It has Walmart chaos with the wide variety of Jungle Jim’s.  I limit myself to small areas each time I go or else I get turned around.  The building is several city blocks with too many entrances. This week I ventured into the food area.  I can get several things that my family has been missing like pop tarts and cookie mix.  They also carry a large selection of gluten free baking products which makes me very happy.

We are hoping to visit Thailand together in the next few weeks.  Nate has a week long fall break and Seth has a tournament there at the end of the break.  It should be another adventure and passport stamp for the boys and myself.

As always feel free to me contact us at anytime.  We would love to hear from you!  Thanks again for journeying along with us.