Its 4:15PM and we've only just woken up. That was some party!!
In the old days, that kind of wake up time would have been caused by dinner out with friends, followed by a week's worth of exercise at a dance party, and ending with an extremely late supper (or early breakfast) at 2AM.
These days, its because we went to a 1st Birthday Party at 11AM. It was our little friend, Kaeden's, party. And it was just a 5 minute walk away.
It was fun for us to meet and talk to some new people. I was a little worried that Aaron might decide to act out but he was fine. Apart from some sharing issues, he was good. Come to think of it, all the children were well behaved. There were no fights or tantrums. Not even much running around. Maybe Spongebob being played on the TV had something to do with it. OK, I get that its not necessarily a good thing but it was suitable for today's party. The children were all of various ages so it would have been difficult to arrange games.
So what has all that got to do with us waking up at 4:15PM? After the 5 min walk home, putting Aaron down for his very overdue nap and cleaning up the house, the heat and humidity was just too much to handle. And once you fall asleep in that kind of heat, it makes your groggy and its impossible to wake up from.
Now that our schedule is all wrong, we're going to explore Palembang by night. Not something we usually get to do because Aaron is always in bed by 7:30pm. And that is definitely not happening tonight.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Photostory Friday - About Me
I've finally changed my profile picture.
For those of you who don't remember what it was - GOOD.
For those of you who do, start forgetting NOW.
When I started this blog a couple of years ago, it was right after a trip to Bali. I just grabbed one of the only photos of Aaron and I together and slapped it up there.
Anyway, I think its time for a change to something a little more subtle. This photo is from the same trip to Bali. Now you can look at my back instead.
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
For those of you who don't remember what it was - GOOD.
For those of you who do, start forgetting NOW.
When I started this blog a couple of years ago, it was right after a trip to Bali. I just grabbed one of the only photos of Aaron and I together and slapped it up there.
Anyway, I think its time for a change to something a little more subtle. This photo is from the same trip to Bali. Now you can look at my back instead.
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Thursday, March 5, 2009
My Thoughts On Helping The Community
As some of my regular readers know, we have tried to look for some volunteer work to do but failed. The people here seemed more interested in our money and we always end up helping out by giving rice (instead of cash).
So the whole volunteering thing sort of fizzled out and we focused on helping those immediately around us instead. So far, it has been very fulfilling. Yet, each day, I still come across situations that make me want to do more.
I need to put some of my thoughts into action. I just don't know how to do it. And I think I need some sort of local collaboration to make it effective. I don't want to be condescending about it. After all, I have absolutely no experience in this sort of thing and there is so much more I need to learn about the attitudes and culture here.
These are some ideas I've had for contributing to the community here:
1) Educating young girls (from poorer families) on the importance of an education and pairing them up with mentors that will be able to meet with them periodically.
2) Organizing a "Toys and Books Drive". I'm getting the impression here that the poorer kids literally have zero toys.
3) Setting up some sort of weekly mother/child session for kindergarten aged children. I think a free kindergarten would just be interpreted as free babysitting. So, the idea is for moms to come along as well. This will also give them ideas and activities that they can use at home. Some parents can't afford to send their children to kindergarten and those kids are at risk of not being able to enter primary school because there is an entrance exam.
4) Information sharing on :
- Basic hygiene and cleanliness.
- Easy and affordable nutrition.
- Breastfeeding (It surprised me to find out that many people here, who really can't afford it, are spending their money unnecessarily on formula because they have come to believe that this is NEEDED for their babies. It starts the whole vicious cycle of their milk supply dropping, them needing to supplement the formula with some sort of rice flour paste etc etc etc)
5) Some sort of organized employment for street kids. Yes, kids are supposed to be in school but I think some of these children have no choice. So, instead of begging on the streets, it is better to teach them about working. Maybe some sort of door-to-door service since thats so common here. Things like door-to-door car washing, gardening and drain clearing. Someone needs to organize them into a group and be the liaison to the people in the houses (set up appointments or whatever).
Anyway, I know my ideas are all up there in the air. And, I hate to be the sort of person that is all talk and no action. So, I'll keep trying. Perhaps I should start by finding myself a partner.
So the whole volunteering thing sort of fizzled out and we focused on helping those immediately around us instead. So far, it has been very fulfilling. Yet, each day, I still come across situations that make me want to do more.
I need to put some of my thoughts into action. I just don't know how to do it. And I think I need some sort of local collaboration to make it effective. I don't want to be condescending about it. After all, I have absolutely no experience in this sort of thing and there is so much more I need to learn about the attitudes and culture here.
These are some ideas I've had for contributing to the community here:
1) Educating young girls (from poorer families) on the importance of an education and pairing them up with mentors that will be able to meet with them periodically.
2) Organizing a "Toys and Books Drive". I'm getting the impression here that the poorer kids literally have zero toys.
3) Setting up some sort of weekly mother/child session for kindergarten aged children. I think a free kindergarten would just be interpreted as free babysitting. So, the idea is for moms to come along as well. This will also give them ideas and activities that they can use at home. Some parents can't afford to send their children to kindergarten and those kids are at risk of not being able to enter primary school because there is an entrance exam.
4) Information sharing on :
- Basic hygiene and cleanliness.
- Easy and affordable nutrition.
- Breastfeeding (It surprised me to find out that many people here, who really can't afford it, are spending their money unnecessarily on formula because they have come to believe that this is NEEDED for their babies. It starts the whole vicious cycle of their milk supply dropping, them needing to supplement the formula with some sort of rice flour paste etc etc etc)
5) Some sort of organized employment for street kids. Yes, kids are supposed to be in school but I think some of these children have no choice. So, instead of begging on the streets, it is better to teach them about working. Maybe some sort of door-to-door service since thats so common here. Things like door-to-door car washing, gardening and drain clearing. Someone needs to organize them into a group and be the liaison to the people in the houses (set up appointments or whatever).
Anyway, I know my ideas are all up there in the air. And, I hate to be the sort of person that is all talk and no action. So, I'll keep trying. Perhaps I should start by finding myself a partner.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Palembang Needs Snow!
When I was twelve, I had a really cute little nun as a violin teacher. Today, some of her words have been ringing in my head.
"Ladies don't sweat, we perspire"
I probably haven't thought of that phrase since those days of lugging my school bag and violin up the hill to her music studio in the summer heat.
After weeks of pleasant weather, the past couple of days in Palembang have become incredibly hot and humid. Our kitchen is in the most stupid position and gets absolutely no breeze. Its also small and cramped, making the heat even worse.
Today, as I was preparing dinner, our driver's wife came early to pick him up. She's a very demure and gentle girl. Also, she has chosen to wear the Muslim headscarf. In addition to covering her head, she also always has her arms and legs covered.
So, today, she came into my hot kitchen to chat and helped me out here and there with the cooking. She had on her two layered headscarf (tucked into the buttoned up collar of her shirt), a long sleeved shirt, a long sleeved cardigan (light one) and jeans. I was in my tank top and shorts.
It wasn't long before I had beads of perspiration rolling down the side of my face. I have used the word "perspiration" but I definitely did not look like a lady in the kitchen!
It was unbearable in there. I kept telling her to go to the living room and I would be out in a minute but she insisted that she wasn't hot at all. She wasn't kidding. Her make-up was still perfect. Her nose and cheeks weren't shiny. She looked very comfortable. Of course I didn't ask her but I'm pretty sure she wasn't perspiring under all her layers of clothing either. I guess she's more evolved then me :)
I know snow in Palembang would probably indicate that the world was coming to an end so, maybe just rain will do. Please...tomorrow....
"Ladies don't sweat, we perspire"
I probably haven't thought of that phrase since those days of lugging my school bag and violin up the hill to her music studio in the summer heat.
After weeks of pleasant weather, the past couple of days in Palembang have become incredibly hot and humid. Our kitchen is in the most stupid position and gets absolutely no breeze. Its also small and cramped, making the heat even worse.
Today, as I was preparing dinner, our driver's wife came early to pick him up. She's a very demure and gentle girl. Also, she has chosen to wear the Muslim headscarf. In addition to covering her head, she also always has her arms and legs covered.
So, today, she came into my hot kitchen to chat and helped me out here and there with the cooking. She had on her two layered headscarf (tucked into the buttoned up collar of her shirt), a long sleeved shirt, a long sleeved cardigan (light one) and jeans. I was in my tank top and shorts.
It wasn't long before I had beads of perspiration rolling down the side of my face. I have used the word "perspiration" but I definitely did not look like a lady in the kitchen!
It was unbearable in there. I kept telling her to go to the living room and I would be out in a minute but she insisted that she wasn't hot at all. She wasn't kidding. Her make-up was still perfect. Her nose and cheeks weren't shiny. She looked very comfortable. Of course I didn't ask her but I'm pretty sure she wasn't perspiring under all her layers of clothing either. I guess she's more evolved then me :)
I know snow in Palembang would probably indicate that the world was coming to an end so, maybe just rain will do. Please...tomorrow....
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
More On Street Vendors
I mentioned before that I never eat any food from the street vendors here. Sometimes, people tell me that I should toughen up my stomach by eating more of these questionable food and introducing some bacteria in there. Their rationale is that if I did that, I won't have any problems in the future.
I'm not going to do that. It won't kill me if I don't try these foods. I can have the same things in a cleaner (hopefully) restaurant where it is probably of better quality anyway. So I miss out on the novelty of eating by the roadside but at least I'm not boosting my chances of contracting something like Hepatitis A.
Here is an example of why I just can't bring myself to buy food from the street vendors. Bilbo might have had enough of cold white stuff but the kids here can't get enough of it. Obviously, it doesn't snow here in Palembang but they do have shaved ice. And this man is very popular once the school children are let out.
Here he is manually shaving the ice:
Pressing it into a round ball with his bare hands:
Pouring the food colouring on it:
After all that, he'll accept money with those same hands, fiddle around for change, maybe wipe the sweat from his brow or adjust his cap. You get the picture.
I really love watching the people here enjoy something like shaved ice from a man who rides around on a bicycle selling it but I just can't eat it. I think the people around me sometimes think I'm being hoity-toity about it but.....
I'm not going to do that. It won't kill me if I don't try these foods. I can have the same things in a cleaner (hopefully) restaurant where it is probably of better quality anyway. So I miss out on the novelty of eating by the roadside but at least I'm not boosting my chances of contracting something like Hepatitis A.
Here is an example of why I just can't bring myself to buy food from the street vendors. Bilbo might have had enough of cold white stuff but the kids here can't get enough of it. Obviously, it doesn't snow here in Palembang but they do have shaved ice. And this man is very popular once the school children are let out.
Here he is manually shaving the ice:
Pressing it into a round ball with his bare hands:
Pouring the food colouring on it:
After all that, he'll accept money with those same hands, fiddle around for change, maybe wipe the sweat from his brow or adjust his cap. You get the picture.
I really love watching the people here enjoy something like shaved ice from a man who rides around on a bicycle selling it but I just can't eat it. I think the people around me sometimes think I'm being hoity-toity about it but.....
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Things He Says!
Aaron is a chatterbox. He goes on about all sort of things, all day long. Recently, his perspective of life and his sense of humour has been coming through the things he says.
When asked why he won't let Richard put him to bed, he told me:
"Papa is a giant! He'll squash me."
Out of the blue, Aaron started a conversation about work.
"Next time, I'm going to go to work at Agrim. I will buy myself a blue room and a blue bicycle." Agrim is where Richard works. When asked what sort of work he will do, Aaron confidently informed me that he will be TYPING. And guess what he is typing? His BLOG!
He must have merged all he knows about work. Richard goes to work. I tell him I'm working on my blog. He sees me typing when I blog - light bulb goes on in his little head! If only life were that simple.
And here's his developing sense of humor.
"Mama, come fart at me!"
I have NO IDEA where he got that from. I had no response for him on that one.
When asked why he won't let Richard put him to bed, he told me:
"Papa is a giant! He'll squash me."
Out of the blue, Aaron started a conversation about work.
"Next time, I'm going to go to work at Agrim. I will buy myself a blue room and a blue bicycle." Agrim is where Richard works. When asked what sort of work he will do, Aaron confidently informed me that he will be TYPING. And guess what he is typing? His BLOG!
He must have merged all he knows about work. Richard goes to work. I tell him I'm working on my blog. He sees me typing when I blog - light bulb goes on in his little head! If only life were that simple.
And here's his developing sense of humor.
"Mama, come fart at me!"
I have NO IDEA where he got that from. I had no response for him on that one.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Taking A "Disciplining" Break
Some time ago, John left me a comment that described "discipline" as "teaching". I like that definition much better than "punishment".
Still, the "disciplining" that I refer to in the title is "punishment". But, I'm going to take a break from it.
Sometimes after reading a new parenting book, I find myself trying out all the strategies I just read. And very often, I feel trapped by them. Y'know, once you carry it out once, you'll have to carry it out again otherwise the child might think you're not serious about it blah blah blah blah. And worse, sometimes, out of frustration, I know I misuse things like the time-out.
I've noticed that Aaron seems to act out even more on days that I have used one of those strategies. They are all starting to backfire on me ALREADY.
On a couple of days this week, I tried keeping things positive and "reasoned" with him with a smile each time. NOT EASY. He of course cried less and was a lot happier. More importantly, he behaved (marginally) better!
I know it won't last and I'll have to change this strategy again soon. Afterall, he's changing all the time and catching on to my ways of teaching him boundaries. Why didn't God (or whoever made us) just send a little manual along with the child? (Maybe fathers can be the ones who deliver the manual.) Y'know, with specific instructions for that particular human being.
Still, the "disciplining" that I refer to in the title is "punishment". But, I'm going to take a break from it.
Sometimes after reading a new parenting book, I find myself trying out all the strategies I just read. And very often, I feel trapped by them. Y'know, once you carry it out once, you'll have to carry it out again otherwise the child might think you're not serious about it blah blah blah blah. And worse, sometimes, out of frustration, I know I misuse things like the time-out.
I've noticed that Aaron seems to act out even more on days that I have used one of those strategies. They are all starting to backfire on me ALREADY.
On a couple of days this week, I tried keeping things positive and "reasoned" with him with a smile each time. NOT EASY. He of course cried less and was a lot happier. More importantly, he behaved (marginally) better!
I know it won't last and I'll have to change this strategy again soon. Afterall, he's changing all the time and catching on to my ways of teaching him boundaries. Why didn't God (or whoever made us) just send a little manual along with the child? (Maybe fathers can be the ones who deliver the manual.) Y'know, with specific instructions for that particular human being.
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