Moved In

I am writing this post from my new couch (that my friend and I assembled today) in my new apartment.  I’m typing here, though I’ll have to go back to the old place later to paste it into blogger and post it.  No internet here yet, which will probably be the most trying bit of the first week here (perhaps I should mentally prepare myself for a two week process…).  But this post is not about problems, not about struggles or overcoming.  This post is about God’s awesome provision.  

Two weeks ago I had my personal retreat at the Tree House, the main theme of which was “Do not worry.  Seek the One Thing and God will take care of the many things.”  Of course, it’s one thing to do that when you are in a Tree House. It’s quite another when you’re in the thick of moving.

One evening this past week I had a little moment of panic.  I was definitely freaking out about all the things I needed to do and buy for this move, and was worrying about the money, worrying about the time and energy, worrying about doing all these things on my own.  After a short time of panic, I finally wised up and lay down and prayed and handed it all over to God.  All the money, all the details, all the help I needed and didn’t want to ask for.  

A friend had already offered to bring the pick-up truck from her ministry and help me take the stuff in that so I didn’t have to walk or get a taxi to take it.  And then, without my asking, another friend just pulls out her calendar and asks, when are you moving?  I’ll come help.  Wow!  One of the things that had made me panic was realizing there are things that houses just come with in the States, that they don’t here, that I need to buy- in particular, a stove top or hot plate type item.  And so I was all wondering where I buy one or what kind to get or how much they cost… The next day, I was telling a friend about how I had completely forgotten about that bit when she tells me that she has an extra hot plate that she doesn’t use and would I like it?  Practically brand new.  And she won’t take any money for it, though she is going to let me take her for a massage on Monday. 

And the help just kept pouring in.  I needed a ride home from Ikea Friday evening to pick up the couch I wanted, so I asked two people at work that had vans/trucks, hoping one would be free. They both were, and were both willing to help!  And then M-Day arrived on Saturday morning and I get a text from another friend.  What time was a I moving my stuff, and did I want any help?  Yes, please!  And to put the icing on the cake, as my friend came with the pick-up truck, she had three teenage guys with her to help!  Needless to say, it then took less than an hour for us to get everything down the four flights of stairs, into the truck, driven to the complex next door, and hauled up the elevator to the 6^th floor.  

God is just so amazing in how he has provided for the many things this week.  There are more things to buy tomorrow, and unpacking to do, but he made “the worst of it” incredibly easy and fast and in many ways, even fun since I was with friends.  And in terms of unpacking, there’s actually a lot I can’t do right now. The new kitchen stuff is being installed next Friday, so I am going to wait until after that to unpack the kitchen stuff, and pretty much all I have are my clothes, a few books, and the kitchen stuff (okay okay, and my plants and lamps and rugs and pictures…). 

But today was definitely an illustration for me of the body of Christ at its best.  My family, who would normally help me in a situation like this, is far away.  But here in Bangna, God has provided brothers and sisters in Christ who have come alongside me and helped me. Where I had need, He provided through them.  A beautiful picture indeed. 

Moving, it's like getting blood drawn, jing jing!

Moving is like getting blood drawn, and here's why:

• When the idea is proposed is doesn't sound all that bad. 
• As the time draws nearer, you start panicking.  
• You panic because you've done this before, you've been here before, and suddenly you remember how horribly unpleasant it is.  
• There's no backing out: you've just gotta get through it.  
• The panic is really quite silly. 
• Doing it by yourself makes you feel more grown up. 
• It goes so much better if there is a friend there to do it with you- to help you move, to hold your hand and distract you as the needle goes in. 
• You get quietly envious of those people who only have to do this once per decade, or so. 
• It has a purpose, there is a good and logical reason why you're doing this. In the moment though, that doesn't necessarily help much. 
• It's painful and uncomfortable. 
• It's quite possible that it leaves a bruise. Hopefully a small one.  
• Costs more money than it should. 
• And then, it's over.  Life and living return to normal.  And while in your head you promise yourself that was the last time, in your heart know it's coming again some day...

Creature of habit, on the move again

In the past two years, in three countries on three continents, I have lived in four different places, and on Saturday it will become five.  And I am not a big fan of change.  Years ago, at another time when the residences far outnumbered the years, I noticed something about myself when I move: I never want to leave the old house behind even when I am excited for the new one. 

I am a creature of habit, strong habits, and I fully move in and become at home wherever I live.  I establish my little routines.  So every time I move, something small inside me wonders if I'll be able to make the habits and routines fit in the new place.  When I move from somewhere big to somewhere small, will everything fit?  Of course it always does, I am just one person.  When I move from somewhere small to somewhere big, will my timing and routines still work if they are more 'spread out'?  Of course, they always do.  For as much as I hate the changes and as much as I have quite the habits and routines, I have learned that I am also quite adaptable.  Whether I am on Primera Junta or España, on Old Woodward or Bashian, at ICS or at Parkland, the new place soon becomes home and my routines make the adjustment. 

So it is with excitement, though also a twinge of sadness, that I am packing up my little studio this week and preparing to move to the new Parkland apartment.  I've really liked living in this apartment, more so than I thought I would.  I thought that having a studio would be weird to me, but I actually enjoy it.  I thought that being on campus would be horrible and I would feel like I never left work, but when I'm in my room I actually forget that I'm still on the school campus- I'm in my own world. 

By Saturday, I will buy furniture for the first time in my life (that $20 Salvation Army couch in college does not count)- I'm buying both a new couch and a new mattress for the new place.  I will purchase dishes for the first time, instead of enjoying lovely sets handed down through the family or using ones that belong to roommates.  I'm picking out silverware.  And thinking about paint colors.  It feels a bit strange, even though I am well old enough (older than most buying that stuff for the first time), but exciting too.  It might take a bit of time to settle in, but I know it will be home soon enough, as it has always become so in the past. 

Jungle Luxury

This past week, I had the chance to walk out of my daily life, cross a river, and spend three days enjoying God and the jungle of rural Thailand. In the process, I made many discoveries.  One such discovery, and this may come as a shock to some of you, is that I love nature.  I love green things and flowers. I love the songs of insects at sunset.  I love sitting beside the water. I love being outside, even if that means getting a little sweaty.  And most importantly, I love nature and all of these things best when I can enjoy them from the comforts of a luxury boutique hotel. 

The Bangkok Tree House did not disappoint.  I expected a quiet place to spend time with God and explore his creation, and I found the perfect blend of both.  My days consisted of solitude and reading and prayer, but they were also built around bike rides down elevated jungle paths, menus entirely in Thai, peddling around parks and gardens, stumbling upon a Thai market one day and a 200 year old temple the next, and evenings in the tree tops watching the sunset light up the sky in one direction and the lights of Bangkok light it up in the other. 

The time in solitude with God was great- lots to reflect on and pray over as God continues to implore me to trust him fully, to surrender my life to him, to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness before all else.  I have never done anything like this before- taken a few days for myself on a personal retreat, not one organized by a group or church of some sort.  I kind of expected to get bored or a little bit lonely, but to my wondrous surprise, I was none of those things.  I found that in a very real and concrete and unemotional way, God's presence was my constant companion, and was more than just enough.

One of the unexpected joys of my retreat was that outside the hotel, when I would go out for meals or exploring, I used only Thai.  There are quite a few foreigners (farang) in my area, and it was a fun change being the only one around (I counted 4 that I saw in 3 days, and 3 of the 4 were within 10m of the hotel).  As I'd ride by on my bike, I'd hear kids call out after me, "Hey, it's a farang!"  Others would see me and shout out hello in English.  At one point, on the way home after a hot sweaty ride to the park, I stopped for something to drink. I was hoping they had Thai iced tea, but had to get an orange soda instead.  The guy asked me where I was from, and I explained that I was from the States, but was living and teaching in Bang Na.  He was quite complimentary of my Thai.  I kept insisting that no, it really isn't that good, but he continued to be impressed.  It's not that 3 days of ordering food or saying hello in Thai and all that actually improved my Thai, but I think it did improve my confidence, which at this point is what I really am lacking.  I feel confident in my lessons, but still quite shy to speak in public because I am well aware of how much I don't know or understand.  But this was a step in the right direction. 

I took a million pictures- of the beautiful, eco-friendly Tree House, of the surrounding area, of the temples nearby- but the blogspot photo loader is a bit slow so I won't put all 150 or so here.  Those I have on facebook. But here are a few of my favorites!

First floor of my nest: the dressing room looking into the shower room.

View from the second floor bedroom.

The nests.

Tuesday evening on my rooftop.

Bike path.

Breakfast! Also: toast and eggs (you get to special order what you want)

Wooden window shutters inside 200+ year old temple nearby.

Park a few miles bike ride away.

Little gift left on  the bed each day.

Nearby temple.

Sunset from the roof Wednesday night. My favorite times were evenings on the rooftop patio.

What hot season means to me

(Yes yes, I will write about the Tree House, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow:)

To me, hot season in Bangkok means:

• sweat beads on my upper lip 3 minutes after stepping outside. 
• carrying around a hankerchief to wipe the sweat.
• the AC is set to 18C but my thermometer says it is 30C in here- can't keep up.  (I can't wait to move, the new place has cheaper more efficient AC!)
• lots of sweaty clothes, lots of extra laundry.
• fresh fruits and veggies for dinner, too hot for anything else.
• not stepping out of the house without an umbrella- for the sun.
• taking a shower, again.
• hanging out at the mall, so they can pay for the AC.
• afternoon naps.
• no make up if I'm going to be out for longer than 5 min, just going to sweat off anyway. 
• praying for rain!
• paying for taxis instead of taking the bus. 
• Thai iced tea in the afternoon- and probably being up all night from the caffeine.
• still thinking it's a doable trade from a Michigan winter :)

To the Tree House!

This time tomorrow I am going to be heading just down the road to the "Green lung of Bangkok" for a three day retreat at the Bangkok Tree House Hotel.  They just opened and I saw they had a lot of availability this week after the Songkran holiday, so I wrote to the owner and asked for a discount- telling him I'd make a great ambassador for his hotel :)  To my great surprise he agreed, and when I arrive tomorrow, I'll be the only guest!  I think other people are coming on Wednesday.  So I get an early check in, late check out, and not just a private porch on my "nest" but a private pool as well, if I'm the only one there!  I am really looking forward to some time away with God and time "outside" the city and urban jungle- especially since it's only a few miles away so I can easily go back.  It will be good to take some time away to journal and pray and be in the Word and just let all the transitions settle.  I feel so much more at home here now, after Singapore especially, and after all the changes and chaos of the last 2 years it will be good to stop and reflect and praise God for where he has brought me.

I promise to take lots of pictures of my Tree House nest and the areas I explore by bike (it's going to be roasting hot, but I want to take a bike out anyway) as well as the amazing organic food.

Here's a CNN article about the hotel which gives you a good feel for it, as well as the hotel's website.

Playing Songkran!

First, my apologies that I don't have any action shots.  Impossible to take pictures in the midst of having buckets of water dumped on you. But hopefully these shots from the breaks in the action will give you a feel for things :)

I headed out in the back of a pickup truck with the directors from the program where I teach English, along with their family and some of the kids that we work with.  They rented a second truck to pick up a bunch more kids.  At times we had 2 adults, 7 kids and two large tubs of water in the back of the not-extended-cab truck.  Needless to say I'm a bit sore and bruised today!

I had a great time though!  We drove around with buckets, sponges, and water guns to help us get the water from the big tubs onto the people we passed by. There were frequent spots where people on the side of the road had water guns, hoses, and buckets of their own and that was when the greatest fun ensued.  Many people (including us) put ice in their water because hose water is just so warm here- yesterday had temps in the high 90's with a heat index soaring above 100.

The other crazy part is that there is this powder that they mix with the water and smear all over people.  It seemed to me that the drunker the people, the more into the powder they were.  Their favorite thing to do with it is rub it directly on you, especially your face and their favorite targets were the farangs (foreigners) of which we had several.  Some areas downtown have massive Songkran fights where it is wall to wall people with water guns and balloons and heaps of the sticky powder (and cheap beer of course)- and close access to rub it on you- I think I'll stay away from there thanks. 

All in all it was a great way to spend a searing hot day and probably the longest I've been out in the Thai sun since I got here.  Even my SPF waterproof sunscreen couldn't keep my nose from getting pink.  Today my goal is to stay mostly dry.  A few water squirts are okay, but hopefully no large buckets of ice water over the head... gotta stay alert and in taxis!

Our team ready to head out!  Moments after this picture I was soaked :)

We stopped to refill the water tubs at a friend's house.

The one lying in wait for me with the gun has a 75% chance of landing in my math class next year... revenge will be mine!

We stopped for snacks and ice with the other truck we rented.

Math student and English student- love these girls!

Songkran: Bangkok's mass exodus

Tomorrow is a big day- it's the first day of my spring break and the first day of the Thai Festival Songkran.  The article will give you some information, but this is what I have gleaned so far about Songkran:

• It is the traditional Thai New Year, though their official New Year has been moved to January 1. 
• It's the biggest holiday of the year and lasts for 3 days, April 13-15.
• It is a time when people return home to be with their families, especially people who live and work in Bangkok but come from the provinces. 
• As such, Bangkok empties out- no traffic!  Several of the food vendors on my street have already closed shop.  
• It's a time when people show respect to their elders.  In an assembly on Tuesday, students came and poured scented water on the palms of the teachers to show respect.  
• Timed towards the end of the hot season, it's a water festival and many Buddha statues are washed, along with some other public buildings/places. 
• It's advertised as people "gently splashing a bit of water on each other" but it's really an all out whole country water fight.  
• If I want to leave my apartment this weekend, I need to put my phone/camera/money etc. into ziplock bags, as I could get splashed or sprayed at any time. 
• In Bangkok, they also like to douse you in talculm powder, creating a white muddy mess. 
• There are certain areas where there are big water fights, where people go to "play Songkran".  

Primarily, I hope to stay away from Songkran and make it from my apartment to the taxi and then the taxi to wherever I am going without getting wet.  But, I also figure I need to experience the festival to some degree as I'll probably travel for most Songkran breaks (whereas this year I am staying in Bangkok).   Tomorrow, though, I will join Nak Suu kids and staff when they go to one of the communities where the kids live and play Songkran.  I can't stay for too long (I need to get back to grocery shop and make dinner for friends who just had a baby) so I hope there is a bus in that community- taxi's aren't too keen to pick people up after they've had their Songkran fun :)

I'll do my best to take some pictures of the craziness!

Resurrection Reflections

Easter is not the most poetic Christian holiday of the year, nor is it the most widely celebrated. Christmas takes the distinction on both those counts.  But Easter is the most important day of the year, dare I say, the most important day in history.  For me, unlike Christmas, there is no 'one way' I celebrate Easter.  I know, shocking... thirty-some odd Easters and I don't have a right way yet.  There are years that I observe lent, and years I don't.  Years that I attend church on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and years I only get there on Sunday. There are years that I am greeted with He is Risen! followed by He is Risen Indeed! and a hearty rendition of "Christ the Lord is Risen todaaay, Haaaaaaaaaleluiah!".  There have been years I've been to Easter Vigil and times I've gotten up for sunrise service.  Sometimes it's 30 degrees and others it's 90 (and that's just in Michigan!).  I've spent Easter Sunday in the Detroit area, in Holland (MI), Prague, Buenos Aires, and now Bangkok. 

But one thing that strikes me across all the different settings and services and menus and temperatures is an awe that death has been defeated.  That truth and justice and righteousness have won.  I am one of those terrible people who reads the last page of a book, just to make sure that it all ends well before I start reading. With Harry Potter in particular, I needed to know that the right team was going to win. If I were a Lord of the Rings fan, I'm sure I'd be the same way with those. 

You see, I can handle the battles, the ups and downs, the scars and struggles and wins and losses, as long as I know that in the end, Light is going to win, that when it's all said and done Darkness will be defeated.  Easter is both the turning point of history, and the end of the story, the last page in the book.  When Christ rose from the dead, Darkness lost.  When Christ rose, justice was restored, the world was made right. 

What we're living right now, these days of triumph and tragedy, of trials and temptations and turbulence, these are the pages of the book.  And they can be scary pages indeed.  But I keep reading, they are worth reading, because I have had a glimpse at the last page, because I have seen that these moments are worth living because Righteousness Reigns and evil is defeated once and for all.  The beauty of Easter is that the defeat is tense-less: it is past and present and future.  Christ rose over 2000 years ago, he is risen today, and he will come again to rule in all his splendor and majesty.  The beauty of Easter is that it is the moment in time that makes all the other moments worth living.

The end of House Hunters Int'l Bangkok

Good news! I have found a new apartment, and a great deal at that.  On Monday morning I got an email about several apartments available to rent, one of which was in the complex that is my first choice.  The price was quite low, so I wondered what was wrong with it, but went to see it Monday evening.  To my great surprise, the apartment was quite nice.  It's the same 2 bedroom corner unit that I've looked at several times in this complex but at last I found one that was in good shape but not too expensive.

The apartment has a couple of bonus features, namely a washing machine and a water purifier, as well as 3 air con units and a new TV (Tigers on the big screen!).  It has two balconies and a decent view of a field and the city beyond, instead of a view of the apartment complex or my school, both of which are very common here.  At about 600 square feet it's a tight fit for 2 bedrooms and one bath, but it works.  The only problem was the kitchen.

It reminded me of one of my favorite old movies, an early 90's British comedy called Jack and Sarah which I quote from all the time but no one ever gets.  There's a scene where Sarah is looking at rooms to rent and they are looking at this one dumpy flat, the only thing she can afford, and Jack looks around the room and says, "I thought you said it had a kitchen."  The guy whips back a sheet hung on a wire across the back of the room revealing a small stove.  "Well," Sarah says, "I wasn't planning on having any large dinner parties."  Thankfully, I don't either. 


Thais have a bit of a different definition of kitchen.  If you've got a bit of counter and a small fridge, that's a kitchen.  This kitchen has a counter with cupboards below, a full size fridge (I'd actually prefer a smaller one, space-wise, but that's okay) and two burners, like a big hot plate.  What it lacks is a sink. When I inquired about the sink, they showed that it does indeed have one- on the balcony.  Luckily, the landlady was willing to install one in the kitchen.  I mean, I may not be much of a chef, but I can't really see myself filling the tea kettle on the balcony in the morning in my pajamas.  She actually also going to put in some cupboards above the sink and a bar from which I can hang utensils and things.  I'll probably move the last weekend of April and the kitchen stuff will be installed May 4th. 

The whole thing is odd to explain and I'm just going to have to take pictures once I move in at the end of the April.  If we keep the bit of counter she already has and add a sink unit, there is no room for the fridge. So essentially it will be in the living room, though they are really just one room.  It's going to be a bit odd, having the new bits be different from the existing counter piece she has, but ah well.

The important thing is that I have a good apartment at a good price with a guest room.  I'm already dreaming and picturing what it will all be like once I get moved in and have things the way I want them.  Open for visitors shortly!

Jamal's Uncle

This moment brought to you by the profession of teaching: 

My 6th graders were working on a math test yesterday, when one of them raised their hand and I went over to answer his question.  This is the approximate question he was working on:

Jamal's Uncle drives a minivan.  What would be the best estimate of the length of his minivan?

The question was multiple choice and the answers were all 5 with different units- mm, m, km, in, etc.

Student's question: "Miss Clare, I can't answer this question. I don't even know Jamal's Uncle!"

Four Days in Singapore: All Around Town

My time in Singapore was also jam-packed with activity.  When I arrived on Thursday evening, Uncle Pong, Aunt Choon and I went to the Night Safari, this awesome night zoo unique to Singapore. It's ingenious, really.  In the evening hours, not only is it more pleasant to walk around tropical Singapore, it's also when the animals are up and about.  There were no instances of going to see an animal only to find in MIA.  There's a tram ride you can take around the park and we did that first. It takes you surprisingly close to the animals- some just inches from the trams!  In most places there were no visible fences either.  With animals like the lions, we could see a moat-type separation and hidden electric fencing, but I'm certain there were other spots where we were literally driving through deer pen type areas! We saw so many cool things up and about and walking around or eating.  We also saw a Creatures of the Night Show that was both entertaining and informative and featured wrapping a giant snake around a member of the audience. Good thing it was not me! 

We also took a walk through the footpaths of the Night Safari and saw more things up close that way.  Unfortunately, there was no flash photography, and it was night, so the pictures are crap and I really just quit taking them and just enjoyed soaking it all in.  I had been told that Night Safari was a must see and it definitely lived up to the expectations! 

No way you'd catch me doing this in real life!

Posing with the giraffe men on our way out of the park :)

On Friday Aunt Choon had to work, so Uncle Pong and I did a bunch of tourist stuff on our own.  We walked all around Little India, including the market, which I loved, and a stop at a Hindu temple- my first.  Walking around there felt a little like Burma in spots, only much cleaner.  It had a similar architectural style and guys-standing-around-chilling-in-shop-doorways kind of feel. 

Live crabs at the market

Building in Little India

After lunch we went to see a visiting Exhibit on the Titanic, which was fantastic!  It was incredibly informative but also a cool experience. We did the guided audio tour which helped a lot too.  One thing they did really well is as you were learning about First Class life on board, you walked down a short hallway recreated to look exactly like a First Class hall on ship.  Then they did a real size recreation of a First Class cabin.  They did the same thing further on when you learned about Third Class. They also wove a lot of personal stories throughout the exhibit.  In one spot they recreated a walk on the Promenade deck at night!  My other favorite part is when they got to the time in the story when they hit the iceberg. As you walked into that room, you could see what looked like a big plastic white "iceberg" across the room. I saw people touching it, and as I got closer I realized it was real ice!  They also lowered the temperature so you could really feel how cold the air was that night.  Very well done exhibit. 

Me outside the Titanic exhibit, with a famous Singaporean building behind me, Marina Bay Sands?

After Titanic we went to the Singapore Flyer. It's like the London Eye, only taller. I regretted not going on the Eye when I was in London, so I wanted to go on the Flyer.  I love stuff high in the air, and I love views!  It was cool to see the enormity of the city, and to have Uncle Pong be able to point out so many places and unique features to the city.  I could sit in that capsule and ride around in circles all day long :)

The view one direction just as we were at the top.

Our Saturday plans got rearranged a little bit when we woke up to rain, but the day worked out perfectly. We had time to wander around the famous Raffles Hotel while we waited for Dim Sum to open.  Raffles was something small I wanted to see, but wasn't planning on having the chance since I didn't know if it was worth a special trip. But since we were in the area with time to kill, we got to stop in! 

One of the many beautiful courtyards at Raffles.  Wedding anyone?

After Dim Sum we wandered around Chinatown- the market, the shopping, the cheesy Chinese souvenirs, the tourists, the food, and the plentiful red lanterns.  It was a fun place and reminded me that I still haven't been to Bangkok's Chinatown! 

Really loved seeing these guys out playing (and watching) Chinese checkers.

Saturday afternoon also called for one of my favorite activities: The Saturday Afternoon Nap.  I was worn out from all the fun!  My snooze gave me just the energy I needed to attack the crab dinner that night. 

Sunday morning I had the privilege of going to church with everyone (well, at least with those who could get themselves out of bed in time :) and really loved being able to worship along side Uncle Pong and Aunt Choon.  My time and conversations with them in the days prior had been such an encouragement to my faith and so it was really meaningful to be able to be in church together.  After church we had lunch and then it was time to head to the airport!  The days flew by and we fit a lot in, but also left lots to explore for the next visits. 

Overall, as you can tell, I had a most excellent weekend.  This week, it's back to work, but not for long- we have Friday and Monday off this coming Easter weekend :) 

Four Days in Singapore: Great Eats

It seems only right to devote an entire blog entry to the food in Singapore. I have not eaten so much in short amount of time since... well, ever!  I got to eat old favorites as well as try many new things, most of which I cannot remember the names of... I was attempting to get some good food pictures too, but usually I was too busy eating said food!  But, here goes...

Thursday dinner:  Hawker Center.  A friend at ICS who lived in Singapore told me about these places, and this is where we started off upon my arrival.  A Hawker Center is like a giant food court- Singapore's alternative to street food, created out of a desire to combine the taste and price of street food with, well, hygiene :)  We had a great dinner, though I can't remember what the food was called. Also got to drink a common juice there- cane juice? Or sugar cane juice?  Maybe someone will be able to correct me on that. 

Hawker Center noodle dish, potato dish, and juice.

On Friday morning Uncle Pong and I were starting our day in Little India, so we got breakfast at a food court there.  I had roti prata- a bread with curry, and something else that was oh-so-good like a crepe with potatoes and onions inside, but I can't remember what it was called :(  Also got to start my day with Indian tea which a friend here in Bangkok had introduced me to.  I love it. Just add it to the list of teas I love: English, Chinese, Burmese, and Indian!  We topped off our breakfast with fried bananas- delicious! 

Starting the day off right!

Fried bananas on the top left next to the spring rolls.

For lunch on Friday we ordered a feast: noodle with chicken soup, egg fried rice, dumplings and oh- what were those other spicy wantons?  The egg fried rice was to die for, and if you're like me you're wondering how something as simple as egg fried rice can be so good.  It can.  The dumplings were also super yummy and very fun to eat.  Uncle Pong taught me how to pick it up with my chopsticks without breaking it, then how to pierce it, drink the juice, then add the ginger and gobble it up. I didn't get any pictures of this feast, but here is a shot of them folding dumplings at the restaurant.

Friday night for dinner the whole family went to a Korean/Japanese barbeque place.  We ordered tons of food- edamame to start and then a whole slew of meats and veggies for the grill. The great thing about doing the barbeque is that everyone is eating and talking and interacting the entire time.  Meat flies on and off the grill under the critical eye of everyone around the table, much to the chagrin of the grill master! 

So, I know the lighting is crazy bad, but I like the way this picture captures the fun and action of the dinner!

Dinner was near the river, so after we ate we walked it off with a pleasant evening stroll.  Of course, we happened upon an ice cream store and a coffee shop, so we had to stop!

The evening stroll- with ice cream and french fries!

Saturday was supposed to start out with a stroll through Chinatown, but we woke up to pouring rain, so opted for a lazy morning and a bite of cereal followed by Dim Sum once the restaurant opened.  The Dim Sum was fantastic! We ordered all my favorites as well as several new things.  I made my first go at one of the bony rib bits and managed that quite well.  I think I tried everything that wasn't white and creamy :) The steamed pork buns were as good as ever and I tried some new shrimp wontons that were awesome.  We also made sure to order the custard tarts, of course :)  I was so stuffed afterward, as usual with Dim Sum, so I was happy to walk around Chinatown a bit after that.  Of course part way through that walk we found a shop with traditional Chinese desserts and had to sit down and try one. At least Aunt Choon and I split the mango and pomelo dessert with shaved ice. I could eat one of those everyday...

Starting in on the Dim Sum

Saturday evening we headed out for dinner again- this time for seafood! We started off with bamboo clams- my first clams! I wasn't sure I was going to like them, which was okay because I had plenty of people around who were willing to take them off my hands if I didn't like the first bite :)  There were some great big prawns too, though sadly they were my chopsticks downfall.  I had to ask for a knife and fork to get the head, tail, and shell off.  We also ordered two big crabs- one with salted egg and the second one of the famous Singapore Chilli Crab.  I wasn't so sure about these crabs I'd seen crawling around at the markets, but after a quick lesson on how to get the meat out, I gave it a try and it was surprisingly good! 

Chilli crab before the attack. The bread on the right is really good for dipping in the sauce!

Sunday after church we had one final family meal at a Northern Indian restaurant, where we ordered such an array of naan, dahl, curry, tandoori, veggies, and rice that I can't even begin to remember it all (except the butter chicken, a family favorite, which disappeared in the blink of an eye).  I ate and ate and ate and ate.  Hours later, back in Bangkok, all I could manage for dinner was a carrot.  The food was so delicious, and I'm sure made even better by the great company. 

Calories don't count on vacation, right? 

Group shot after lunch on Sunday

Four days in Singapore: My Heart is Overwhelmed

It was nearly 30 years ago that a Singaporean man went to the US to study at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  There, a friendship began with an American family with four kids: two boys and two girls.  His girlfriend came to visit, also staying with and spending time with the family.  After his studies he returned to Singapore where he married his girlfriend and they started a family: two boys and two girls.  To the family's children, he and his wife were always Aunt and Uncle, even though they saw very little of each over the years, and they all hoped for the day that they'd be able to visit the "magical tropical world of Singapore, an island city-state where it never gets cold".

When I made plans a few months ago to spend this past weekend in Singapore, I was a little nervous.  I had seen Uncle Pong once in the mid-90's, but that was at least 15 years ago and I have changed a lot since then.  My dad had visited them for a day or so a few years ago, but what would they think of me coming for a long weekend all these years later?  They were happy to have me stay with them, but still I was nervous- what would they be like now?  Would it be awkward?  I knew Singapore was a safe city with good public transport, so I was perfectly fine staying and visiting with them for a bit, but also going on my own if they needed to live their lives that weekend.  I didn't want to be a burden.  Would they think it strange that this little girl from their past would come and visit?  The worries melted away the moment I saw them at the airport and they welcomed me with open arms (literally).  

It just amazes me so much how God has woven our families together.  There was something so incredibly reaffirming this weekend about spending time with these people, all the way over here in Asia, who knew the little kid me and who love me for who I am.  It was such a blessing to talk to them about their kids and encourage them while also talking to them about life and faith and allowing them to encourage me. I truly felt like I was among family.  When we ate meals altogether the kids would bicker and banter and chat away completely comfortably, and I got to have little tidbits of conversation here and there with the girls especially- all of which made me fell quite at home. 

And it's that at home feeling that sticks with me as I re-enter life in Bangkok this week.  Knowing that I have a second home just a few hours away takes some of the edge off the transition to being here.  Their friendship and hospitality goes beyond what I can describe in words.  I mean, I'll write another post about all the fun activities we fit into my few days there, but the essence of the trip, that is beyond language.  What I also love was the sense that this weekend, this reconnecting, was the beginning of even greater things.  I look forward to being able to be a place they can visit in Thailand, and also to return trips to Singapore.  There is much left to be explored, especially if I am armed with a map and MRT card and a camera and a good book.  Being "at home" and feeling like family means that I'll be able to slip in without them having to rearrange their schedules and we can share times together as more a part of regular life. 

I have spent much of the past few days marveling at God's goodness, at the love and blessings he has poured out on me through Uncle Pong and Aunt Choon and their kids. There is a Hillsong song called My Heart is Overwhelmed, and that's about how I feel right now.  I just kept hearing those words over and over in my mind as I felt God's great gift of this weekend. For we know that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  James 1:17

Then: Uncle Pong and Aunt Choon with the four of us, circa 1989.

Now: Me with Uncle Pong and Aunt Choon and their four kids

Singapore Quick Bites

So I have a whole lot to say about Singapore and I can't write it all tonight, but I do at least want to give you these quick bites about the weekend:

• I almost made it the entire weekend with chopsticks.  At my last dinner Saturday night there were shrimps with head and tail and legs and shell and all and I really wanted to eat that guy but there was no way I was going to be able to do that on chopsticks.  So I caved and we got the American a knife and fork :(  
• Theme of the weekend: food. Amazing food.  Lots of it.  The Lim family knows how to eat!
• I loved all the tourist stuff I got to do- the Night Safari, Little India, the Titanic exhibition, the Singapore Flyer, and Chinatown, but the highlight was definitely the time I got to spend with Uncle Pong and Aunt Choon and their four kids. They were so hospitable and I was so comfortable that it was like being with family. 
• Dim Sum.  Ah-may-zing.
• It's so much easier to zip around Singapore in a car than Bangkok! Lots of the time here it's easier to take the skytrain than a car because of the traffic, and as much as I do love public transport, it was nice to be a tourist in a car.  On my next visit I am looking forward to exploring the MRT and more areas of the city- still lots I can do there! 
• This weekend was a perfectly timed God-orchestrated weekend.  I came home today refreshed, encouraged, and very, very well fed. 

Singapore 2012.  Worth the wait.   Now let me go cross "go to Singapore" off of my life's to-do list!