Thursday, September 28, 2006

ArGhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

This must be the worse day of my life...

I Just lost my first diamond ring....

Not one ring but 2 very special rings...

How stupid can i be?

Oh gosh how can i ever forgive myself?

N it was a special gift from a special somebody....

I'm Super Mad n Disappointed in myself...

I knew this was gonna happen n i tot i was super careful abt it...

I never take off the rings unless wen i ambil air wudhu or washing those greasy pots n pans!

Erghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Well all this happened last nite at Masjid Champion.. It was suppose to be a happy occasion ok, to buka with people other than aunty G n to hear the adzan for the first time.. It was my first time visiting tat masjid too.. The journey took us abt an hour n we kinda lost our way.. I was like thinking, "o dear, we are gonna buka in the car". But we manage to find our way by asking around.. Oh, sungguh kecoh wen i see my kind of ppl.. I mean those makcik makciks! I tink i've not been around those kecoh environment since my birthday.. Haha! Felt a sense of belonging.. Woman in tudung, speaking my language.. at least these ppl know where is Singapore! They even know clementi, woodlands, CCK.. hahaha...

Makan? Dun say la, u shld see how i look wen i see the buffet.. I'm practically smiling frm ear to ear.. Nasi minyak, ayam masak merah, daging curry, roti naan, bermacam macam kuih n many others.. Gosh! If i can drive, i tink i'll buka at the masjid everyday la... hehe..

To hear the adzan... Haiiiiii! I do feel like crying... I can't explain the feeling la! U knoe everyday wen i buka at home, i will look at 3 different clocks. Let say maghrib is 7.16.. I'll wait for at least 2 clocks to show tat time b4 i start eating. even den, i like tinking "nak makan ke tak nak?".. Susah u know! N sometimes, i can get so emo wen i eat my sahur or buka.. Tinking abt the ppl back home, sembahyang terawih (i actually miss it!! hehe..), the bazaar at CWP n Bukit Batok, the food tat nenek will cook, sitting ard the table anticipating the adzan with my family, buka with frens outside, the exchange of food with orang belakang, seeing him in his baju kurung... Haiz!! I MISS ALL OF IT!! U get wad i mean rite? I'm having a rough time here at this time of the month.. I'm not even tinking abt Raya! I tink i'll cry n throw a fit on the ground.. =) We'll save the Raya story another day ok.. Takde mood la! Now already feel like crying...

Hey wait a min... I'm suppose to tell u abt my ring...

Ok, i only realised tat both rings was missing halfway home! I was panicking in the car n aunty G told me to try tink back wen i could have possibly took off those rings! Hmmm.. I clearly remember seeing those rings on my finger after the prayers.. Ermmm, maybe the babies tat i was carrying took it off.. Nah! Maybe while i was salaming the womans.. Nah! Or maybe wen i was eating? But yana makan pakai tangan kanan ape... OR MAYBE I TOOK IT OFF WHILE PUTTING ON MY HAND SANITIZER! SHIT... I can't remember la! The bottom line is i lost my ring... I'm pathetic.. Maybe it's fated! But i'm slightly glad tat i lose it in the masjid den anywhere else.. Mungkin bukan rezeki yana!!Whoever found those rings is pretty lucky.. It's 300 bucks ok.. Worst still!! It's a gift n it symbolizes something...

But on the brighter side of things, tat person is not mad at me.. He forgive me! See, understanding kan? hehe.. Whew! I'm super lucky.. Maybe he's a little upset but i know he will still love me la.. hehe! If dun love also nevermind, i just have to shout "NEXT!!". hahahah.. Kidding ok!! But now i have to face somebody else.. N tat person will be SUPER MAD at me.. Confirm de!! Who else but My IBU n nenek la.. Ermmm Ibu if u read this, pls know tat i love u ok!! hehe.. I dun dare to tell u on the phone la.. I know u'll screech at me.. =) Sudah takdir ibu.. hehe..

I wasn't in a good mood today! My hand felt bare.. For 5 years, i have a ring on tat tiny finger n now it's feeling naked.. Of all ppl, Amy noticed the missing ring first.. She was like "Miss Lian, where's ur ring? Do u want to borrow my ring?" (It's a pink plastic diamond ring n the other a superman ring!!) Haiz... Takde mood nak ajar diorang!

So tats the story la... Panjang kan? Sorry... Sometimes my mouth just can't stop talking!

Adios..

(saying goodbye with a Super Sulky face!!)

Missing Home @6:43 PM

Monday, September 25, 2006

Friday, 09/22/06

2nd field trip to Gem, Jewellery, Mineral and Fossil Show at Humble Civic Centre with the kindergarteners.. A very big place.. Macam expo gitu! More to see, more to do and definitely many many people.. The children enjoyed themselves.. They get to see the dino fossils, shark tooth n many other stuffs.. There's even the jewellery section n they exhibited the rarest kind of gems.. I couldn't help staring at them! haha.. Very pretty!

The children got a chance to be an archeologist.. knocking each stone to see if there's any "special" fossil in the middle of it.. I would say that these children really know their dinosaurs well.. They can recognize the pictures n say those long names.. Ermmm not me of course! I only know the Trex, Stagasaurus n Triceratop or something like tat.. haha!

I bought for myself a crystal pendant... Very beautiful.. It looks like a rectangular ice piece.. N the man was telling us this long story on how the miners got these crystals.. Actually i feel like i was being con but whu cares.. As long it's pretty n unique! =)

The children brought ten bucks each n they manage to buy many things. Such as dinosaurs replica, shark tooth, pendants for their mums, jade like egg shaped n many other cool stuffs.. Here are the pics...

However every single minute there made me think of my recent trip to science centre with the boys. I miss it.. Even though there's much more to see here, but it's different wen u get to see it with ur love ones... we'll go science centre wen i get back okie.. =) haha.. Love u guys..

Missing Home @8:28 PM

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Attention All Cuzzysss!!!

(And to those who are related somehow!! hehe..)

A long long time ago, Elfie n myself have promised each other that we would be visiting the US again in 2008. By then, he would be over with NS n i would be a full time teacher.. Hehe!! So tat mean we would have money of our own... =)

Den i realise that it would be much much fun if all our cuzzys can tag along as well..

Imagine guys, all of us in an airplane flying somewhere far away from home (tat means away frm our parents la.. haha!) We'll visit Disneyland, Universal Studio, Sea World, Magic Mountains (it has all the scariest rides), beverly hills, Pismo Beach California n so on...

I told Aunty G abt the idea n she loves it... She's getting way excited too.. She even suggest us to take the greyhound bus that stops at every state like California, Las Vegas n yada yada yada.. After 4 days, it will reach Texas n that's wen we'll stay here at her house!! Cool right?

I know it seems a little unreal but listen to my idea okie...

U know how our parents transfer money to an account for

atuk n nenek every month?

We can do that too.. I'll get Ibu to open an acct for us! We'll name it

"The wild cucus of Saat n Samawiyah Getaway"

or maybe any better suggestion from u guys.. hehe! My mind not working right now.. It's way past midnite btw!!

So we'll start in January... We'll start with 50 bucks a month!! I know tat some of u are not working, maybe u guys can save $25 of the whole month pocket money n earn the other $25 by doing some minimal household chores or begging ur parents for an extra dollar a day.. Hey we shld work our butts off if we wanna enjoy later...

How? can right? Every 12th of the month, everyone needs to transfer 50 bucks into tat acct. My Ibu can keep track for us. If u dun give the money den u can't go.. simple? Haha.. So for the younger ones, u guys can start saving from ur raya money okie. (btw do u tink i'm still elligible to get green pkts this year? I'm still a student u knoe!! haha)

At the moment we would set it on summer 2008!!

Parents are welcome la... Jangan kecik hati Ibu n ummi! I know u are reading this.. Haha.. But still we kids wanna have some fun okie... (gosh, i'm still calling myself a kid!!)

Hmmmm abang zul, do u tink u can pull some strings n see if we could get a good price for the air tickets.. I just checked n it's pretty expensive to get it online. SIA: 2 way 1700 bucks from sin to Los angeles.. Ibu u check with ur travel agent okie! Thanks...

So guys, try to make this a reality for me n Elf okie.. Kakak Naz, Abg Zul, Kak Nir n Abg Fazli, i bet u guys can make it! Kak Nir n abg, make this ur honeymoon la.. Haha! We promise to give u guys some privacy... =)

Update me soon.. Give me some feedbacks! Tell the uncles n aunties abt it... Make the whole family kecoh abt it.. It'll be Uber Fun!

Ciao...

Oh ya, Love u guys veli de much.. Muacks*

Liana
&

Elfie

Missing Home @9:59 PM

September, Week 3

Tuesday, 09/18

First field trip for the new school year to Bear Branch Park...

It is actually a nature walk thru the Greenbelt trails for abt 20 mins to the park..

Almost half of the children parents tag along with us!! See, parents are sooo involve!! Very good.. It is nearly fall, and so there are many coloured leaves on the ground n the main objective of the trip was for the children to collect as many different types of shape and colour leaves.. Den they will do sorting, leaf rubbing n something arty wen they get back to class.. Each child carried their own brown bag n everyone had fun picking leaves from the ground! Haha.. It was a little chilly but overall a very nice day for picnic too.. This walk actually reminds me alot of my babies in Iyad.. =( Miss Liani n myself love to take the children for a walk around our neighbourhood. N trust me, the children learned alot more than just sitting in class.. =)

Anyway, the day turned out pretty well n the parents enjoyed themselves. It was a good bonding between the parent and child.

Off we go...

A pretty long walk thru the trails..

Wednesday, 09/20

6pm - 7pm: Ice Cream Social

Organized by the parent committee of Pines Montessori to recruit new parents to volunteer around the school. To me, it was a very good idea because most of this parents really like to get involved with the school activities and they like to chitty chatty with all the other parents. haha.. Many families turned up for the event and i enjoyed myself so much cause there's ICE CREAM... Yipeeee! I got a good dosage of chocolate that evening.. U can choose as many toppings as you want.. For myself i had choc ice cream with Hershey's choc syrup, choc rice, cherries dipped in choc n top it off with whipped cream... Yummylicious!! I just sat under the tree alone n couldn't care less abt the ppl around me. Let me deal with my chocs first... =) (just to let u know, this is helping me to gain weight!! Happy kan Ibu?)

One more good news!! I got a pay raise after a week of working... I was just told just now n i'm super happy now! The williamsons love what i do for the children n the loves me... So from 7 bucks an hour, i'm getting 10 now.. That's like 15 Sg bucks an hour!! Now why would i want to go back home n work??? haha.. Kidding la!!

Thursday, 09/21

Event: International World Peace Day

It starts off with a parade around the school compound.. Each child is required to hold a pin wheel with their peace msgs written on it.. For the younger ones, it's more like scribble scrabble on their pin wheels.. haha! I guess tat's peace to dem.. =)

Den we gathered at our backyard n we listen to a few messages from the board people den a poem was read out by 2 elementary students. Very de touching... Around the schools, there are many signs with different languages of "peace". I was searching for one in malay n i couldn't find it.. Sad la! Den Aunty G suggested to the teacher in-charge to create one for us... Guess what!! Ermmm, they asked me to translate it n sooo u guess wat la... some of u will know this! I translated it wrongly.. =( paiseh la.. I said "damai". Well i know my malay sucks but at that point of time, it sounded right to me.. Hehe! Nasib ku baik... Only Aunty G n myself are malays cause much later in the day wen everything is over, i figured out the right word.. "Aman" kan? hahahaha... Shhhhhh! Just gotta act clever at times... =)

The elementary students with their peace sign...

Peace Poem...

Friday, 09/22 (which would be tommorrow!!)

Off to another field trip with the elementary n kindergarterners to "Rock & Gem Exhibition" at Humble Civic Centre... I'm pretty excited cause this is a big event in houston n there will be thousands of children from all over Texas... Cool Kan!! I wonder if i would get to see diamonds there.. Hmmmm! Will let u guys know soon ya...

Adios!!

Missing Home @8:08 PM

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Updates, Updates, Updates (part2)

Anything different about me?

Hehe.. Me got 2 new glasses! Fine, i know it's nothing interesting but i just wanna share with you a story abt me getting this new glasses... Hehe!!

Well, how do we get a new pair of specs back in Singapore?

Firstly, we go to the optical shop den get our degree checked den we choose our frame den we get the new glasses in less than a week. It will cost bout less than 150. Right?

(Or sometimes we go to NP Optical shop n flirt with the uncle so that he'll give us a discount. N we just pay $50 for a new glass.. hehe!! Kan Annisha? But the downside to it, we had to put on that ugly measuring glasses just like someone i know did!! Hahahaha)

Well here is sooooo Different...

Firstly we Make an eye doc appointment. (An eye clinic not the normal optical shop) There is a law that optical shops cannot make glasses for a customer without a prescription from a certified eye doc. Stupid kan? Well the eye doc did alot of test on my eyes. They use soo many machines n they keep making me read the chart like a dozen of times. N its so frustrating cause i can't even read the 2nd line.. Den they even did a check on the back of ur eyeball.. Really!! they have this special light pointed in ur eyes n the doc will be holding a piece of glass in front of it. So mabuk ok...

Den the terrible news came. The doc left me alone in the room n called Aunty G in. I knew den that something must be wrong.. Well the doc said that my optic nerve at the back of my eyes is bigger than normal. She asked me if any of my family menbers have any eye disease n of course there's none. Both mum n dad have perfect eyesight!! Den she asked if i experience any blur vision n of course that's a yes even with my glasses on, i can't see clearly. But that's just because my degree could have got higher. That was wen she announced that i could be a Glacoma suspect.

It is an eye disease that causes loss of sight. Often called "the sneak thief of sight" because ppl usually do not notice any signs of the disease untill they have lost their sight. Scary Kan? It actually starts from ur loss of side vision, tat's like wen u are looking thru a kitchen roll. Den u'll lose ur centre vision den poof you become BLIND!! The doc recommend us to visit a specialist. I dun dare to go.. an eye check have already cost us US$65 n my glasses US$160. That's like 300 bucks.. N furthermore healthcare services here is pretty expensive.

I LOVE my singapore government.. hehe! So i told aunty G i rather wait a year n get it check back home. At the meantime i'll eat alot alot of carrots ok.. Haha! Wa lao, pay so much just to be inform tat u are turning blind.. Thanks alot!! =) But dun worry, I'll be fine kan Ibu?

Oh ya, there are more nicer frames in Singapore too.. Boo Hoo!!

On a

brighter note, i've been a great help in the Kitchen. I've been observing how aunty G prepares the american dishes n i've been helping to chop n cut the veges n i cried for the first time while cutting the onions. Now i knoe how it feels like. Ibu u shld be proud of me.. I made Shrimp pasta for the family all by myself. I got great reviews frm uncle john n the rest. I even make my own banana bread n muffin seen here on the right.. =) Hah! I'm gonna be good wife leh... Lucky Husband of mine!! Anyway dun worry bout me guys, i've been eating alot. I indulge in choc almost everyday. Hershey choc, Starbucks hot choc, choc ice-cream, hersheys choc milk n most recently 6 choc mousse cupcake from Randall.. Hmmm Yummy!! But sadly, only i enjoy chocs in this family.. =(

How's the preparation for bulan puasa? Well for us here, we've received the dates on days we can buka puasa at the mosque. It'll be a new experience for me. I tot we'll fast shorter here but actually we will fast longer. From 7 to 7.45 like tat.. But it's a good thing that Ramadan starts on the first day of fall. It would be a little cold by den.. =)

I'm SUPER excited too because Ibu will be mailing a 10Kg box full of stuffs for me... Yipee!! I'm super happy lor! After 1 month of not being pampered by anyone with gifts n food, now i get a box ful of it.. N i would like to thank BIG BIG to Kakak Naz for helping my family n me.. Muacks* I love u Kakak... U the bez!! =) I'll be getting mee maggi, my quran for sunday skool, milo 3in1, chilli sauce, kurma n some other food stuffs and a gift frm somebody.. I really wish i wld get many many tings frm him.. Hahahaha! I'M NOT PAMPERED ENUFF HERE...

hope to hear from you guys soon! Drop me an email ok...

Love you alll soo much!!

Signing off with pics of some of my love ones!!

Miss u Baby Ardy n Rudy!! Alot, alot...

Missing Home @9:47 PM

Updates, Updates, Updates!! (part1)

Soory guys for my absense... Been pretty busy adjusting to my new job n day to day schedule! Well i'm starting to give tuitions to the Williamsons children.. Amy, Tommy N Ryan! 3 active children who keeps me on my toes for 2 hours every weekday from 3.30-5.30pm.. They are not naughty, just a little cheeky but very very hardworking n they lurve challenging work. For example, Ryan is in his 2nd Grade but i'm giving him 4th/5th grade work.. Scary!! =)

I volunteer in Aunty G's school almost everyday. Mon & Fri: 12-3pm, Tues - Wed: 8-3pm. I usually help out in her class but at times i'll go to other classes to observe n help them as well. There's 19 kids in Aunty G's Class 11. They aged from 3 to 6. There's an assitstant teacher, Miss Nichole. And Class 11 is pretty huge.

I'm beginning to love the montessori way of teaching, their philosphies and the materials. You have the practical corner, sensorial corner, math, language, library, geography n science. One important thing that is practiced in a real montessori classroom is that children must always start from concrete to abstract.

Another thing that i like abt the montessori way is that it teaches children to be independent. We are not there to interfere or correct the children. We guide them only wen they nid us. We allow them to explore n provide them with materials that extends their learning. Not only that, in montessori learning, we introduce the children to practical life. Some activities includes sweeping, washing cloths, folding cloth or napkin, care of house plants, flower arranging, learning how to use kitchen tools, preparing vegetables, scraping carrots, washing pots n pans n even washing china. You would be surprised to see children at the age of 3 who prepares their own snack/lunch, set their table, place a napkin on the table n wash their own trays. Independent kan? Y didn't ibu send me to a montessori classroom last time? haha.. Actually this also improves their fine n gross motor skills. "A young child wants passionately to learn to do all the work he sees the adult doing", Maria Montessori.

I'm beginning to enjoy the company of class 11. So many makcik2 mentel! Some are like the small version of mean girls. Some dressed like divas wen they come to skool. At this age, quite cute la.. =) Soon to be mothers or young mothers would definitely love the children section here. soooo many cute clothes for children. I saw one baby shirt today that reads, "I'm spoiled, blame my parents!!". Haha.. N many many pink clothes. There's even a baby cheerleading costume. Hahaha... Too bad, no baby is booming out yet! We'll just wait for Kak Nir's baby okie... Haha!!

Iman Khan & Amy Williamson

I babysit Iman n her little sister Alina whenever they nid me.

N this is Amy. The bouncy n chitty chatty 3 year old!

This is Hunter Howard. Very cute...

Last Thursday was Picture Day!! All the children dressed their best for this day. Y didn't they have it back home? Soooo cute to see them pose for the camera.. Their moms actually make some of them practiced their smiles the night before. I tot them to sengetkan kepala sikit! Haha.. Trademark ma..

That's aunty G in her Class 11.

Haiz! Mentel kan?

But everytime i see these children, it makes me miss my children back home. Even till now, i still call them mine. I miss their hugs n kisses. I miss them chanting my name.. "miss liana, miss liana, miss liana". I miss their voices n listening to them babbling abt something. I miss singing the good morning songs, our national anthem n saying the pledge (very terabuh one!! haha..). I miss saying "Children, please give me your doa clap...." before eating. Now i have to say "Bon appetit, you may eat your treat". N everyday the children recite the american pledge n i also terfollow. But dun worry, Singapore is where i belong.. haha!! =)

Bottom line is, I MISS IYAD... I MISS ME GLORY & GRACE CHILDREN... I MISS SS teachers... Miss them sooo much! I'm gonna call them on Monday.. SURPRISE!! haha..

Memories...

Missing Home @8:02 PM

Happy Burfday to you..

Happy Burfday to all my September Babies..

Happy Burfday to you..

Love always, Liana!!

09/01 ~ Mdm Salina Saat

A Wonderful Mum...

(details in prev. entry.)

09/04 ~ Miss Noraini

Soon to be Mdm Noraini!! Haha...

Wishing u all the best on ur wedding preparation ya!

Take care, I miss you!!

09/10 ~ Mr William Tay

Introducing My Daddy... Okok, i know we dun look alike! But believe me, our attitude is similar.. Other den tat, sexyback did point out to me something! Both of us do not look in a person's eye wen we talk. Really!! I dun do that.. I usually stare in between ur eyes! Haha.. We are probably shy! =) ya right.. Both of us have the heck care attitude! We can't be tied down with something.. We nid a little freedom.. We work hard.. A little perfectionist.. N we both cherish our frens alot..

I love my daddy.. Nenek always remind me that no matter what had happened, he is my daddy. Without him is without me!! Right??

So this old man here celebrated his birthday once again at work.. He's good at his job, a little workaholic but i'm proud of him. Sometimes i feel like he forget that i even exist but i know he loves me. It's the little things tat he do tat show me tat. I won't disclose it here.. Soory! =)

Dearest daddy, remember this 3 words!!

I LoVE YoU..

Take good care of urself okie!!

Talk to you soon.. Muacks*

(sexyback, msg daddy my bloggy add.. Thanks!)

09/15 ~ Cikgu Amilin

My one and only frend who turned into a cikgu at a primary skool.

Dia garang tau!! Haha.. To the children but luckily not on us! =)

A very sweet girl n a nice frend to have..

She's one of the meanies n she knows that we love her..

So darling even though me far far away i still love u okie!!

Thanks for all the emails n do keep me updated ya..

Good luck in your future endeavours!!

Muacks*

09/26 ~ Ah Hui

(I rather wish u earlier den never... Haha!)

Wang Xin Hui, my sec skool fren who was there for me thru my highs n lows back in Fuchun Secondary School. A camp buddy, my track mate and most importantly a fren who is willing to lend her ears when i need them. U get wad i mean right!! She's super blur n she's my favourite aunty.. I wish her all the best on her new job n her life...

Jia you Xin Hui!!

Frens forever... Muacks*

Missing Home @6:37 PM

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Latest updates from The "Minah Cowboy"...

(Anni labeled me that.. Thanks alot babe! Haha...)

Last 4 days was spend at Austin.. The Capital of Texas! Ermmm i think so la... More hip and happening den wat we have here in Kingwood Houston. More tall buildings and defineitely more shopping... Austin is also well known because University of Texas is situated there. N Lucky me get to visit the college for 2 days.. Now i understand why asians are labelled as geeks cause those students there partied hard n they are so laid back compared to the Uni students back in Sg. Campus is Huge and last sat was the first football game for the season. All the people in Austin wore orange and white to support the UT football players. Cars, shops and even babies are decorated in orange. The spirit was there.. But do you think the whole of Singapore would put on red n white oufits to support our national team? Nah... Haha!

Anyway the main reason for our trip to Austin is to support Dann N Steve. They are both part of the Texas Heat U15 n U12. There was a Labour Day Championship. Boys n Girls all over Texas compete to win the Grand Prize for each division.. N the long journey there was worth it wen Steve's team won the grand prize...

I've posted up some pictures n i hope u'll enjoy seeing them! It's the least i can do to stop u guys from missing me.. Haha! Kidding la.. Take care love ones n i miss u all soooo very de much! Muacks*

Some images of Austin... =)