Shifted but...

We have shifted and I am overwhelmed by the state of the house. I am beyond words to describe it.

From now onwards, I think i am only counting down to the days that I get to return to Singapore for holidays...If you ask me if it is bad, IT IS THAT BAD....

My Sweetest Angel

Many a times, I get depressed, Kyla seemed to notice and she would put on her best behavior.

This time the relocation is harder as we do not have the luxury of extra help and is just the four of us moving and trying to settle everything on our own. Worst, we had to stay in hotel first and move into the apartment a week later. Kyla, being a sensitive gal, seemed to notice the stress that I was under, said something sweet while we were out -- I was carrying quite a number of bags and she asked if she could help me with some of it as it was heavy and I had to carry Lezane too. Also, she would now and then asked if i was ok. She also kept reassuring me that she like Denmark. Her sunshine character engergises me and makes everything seemed more positive for now.

Thank you Kyla...and mommy loves u lots...

Touched down

We have finally touched down in Copenhagen. Not settled in for the moment until Friday when we shift into our new home in Amagerbrode. (We are residing in a city hotel at the moment.)

The long haul flight was not very easy with the two kids. Kyla was an angel on board but I have a devil, Lezane, who screamed and yell whenever he gets frustrated. Our only blessings were that he slept for half the journey. The rest of the flight was spent carrying him in and out of the toilet (his favorite activity was to wash his hands and wipe it and throw into the toilet bowl on board). How weird can it get right! Weikai and I kept counting down the hours for us to get out of the plane.

Finally at 0700hr,we arrived and our next challenge was to carry 12 luggages with 2 kids in tow to the van. Thankfully, we had Weikai's colleague to help. We were also pleasantly surprised by the pickup vehicle, which was a Mercedes van equipped with Wii, coffee machine, wine, movies, disco lights, microwave,etc and a super cool driver whose hair is styled like Didi. Kyla loved the van so much that she requested if she could take this bus to school. We were also thankful that we were given a family suite to stay in at the moment so that I could do a little cooking for the kids.

I hope I will enjoy this stay as much as I did for Peking. Will write more soon.

Toilet Training

Lezane is finally off diapers for the day now thou there are some misses now and then. But i must say it is a great achievement for him to be off diapers at 2 yrs old. His toilet training all started because in Denmark, he would not be accepted in school until he was toilet trained. It took us 2 weeks to get him to understand how to pee in the toilet (alot easier with kyla then) but our efforts (including my mother in law's) all paid off now. Great, it is alot of savings for diapers...

Happy 2nd Birthday to Lezane

With the Hengs With the Tays

Lezane had turned two last Wednesday when we touched down in Singapore. Overall, he is a very fun loving boy with a super fiery temper (maybe just like me). This year, we held three family celebrations in Singapore and Beijing, all of which I think he had enjoyed much (with the exception of not wanting to wear the jersey).

Although it has been a tiring two years (especially the past four months), it has been a bliss to have him. Mama, Papa and RouRou Love You, Lezane.

Adios Peking!

We are leaving Peking in a week's time. Gosh how time flies and we are already here for 4 months. Sounds really short but we had many adventures as a family and also as individuals here in the land of history.

Both myself and our kids have forged many friendships here (not sure if they do remember thou but the pictures will bring them fond memories), which I will remember fondly deep in my heart. Some positive outcomes from this relocation are:

1. Improvement in Mandarin for all of us

2. Slight improvement in cooking

3. Growing independence in the kids and myself

4. Stronger bondage between the kids and I

5. Greater variety in the kids diet, which included fruits and vegetables

Although, we are looking forward to our next destination and my month-long break in Singapore, I am already missing Peking (thou we still have a week more to go). Adios Peking and farewell to all my friends here...

When You Do Not Know The Language

We have been faithfully going down to the playground between 5.30pm to 7pm because Kyla has made some new found playmates. Lezane, too enjoyed the new friends' company (all gals thou) and the chain just goes on - Mummy Heng made friends with their parents. It was a time where mummy heng could have some proper adult communication as Weikai had been working hard so so often these days... Among our residential friends are Jamaican Ambassador's kids, families from Hongkong, US, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

Speaking of expat kids, particularly kids from the Afghanistan diplomat family made a deep impression in me. They have 4 kids (aged 1 mth old to 6 yrs old). Their kids are always playing individually (not with their siblings too) and no adults will be around to supervise them. They are a very very quiet bunch and always play by themselves. I think their quietness is due to the lack of understanding of Mandarin and English. Most of the time, I see the elder son self-entertaining himself until some other kids approach him to play. But most of the time, no one approach him, except for us and Kyla's playmates. He is a very nice kid - always helping me with Kyla's bike when she had trouble, while I was busy looking out for Lezane. Lezane and him love playing peekaboo with each other (as it is an easy game without having to communicate). He would also help to look out for other kids when they are in trouble. He would give up his seat at the swing when he was asked to. Never was he rough with anyone, unlike the French kids at our residence. Everytime I see him, I feel very sad. His eyes are filled with loneliness and sadness. I could tell that he wanted to make more friends and play with boys of his age. But it is not easy for him and his family as they are hindered by the language. He sets me thinking if Kyla and Lezane will also be alienated at school/neighbourhood when we move to a country that we could not speak the language and look different.