I had been travelling to California since 1990 for business trip. Trip duration varies from min 2 weeks to 5 years from 1990 – 2005.
What have I learn in this recent trip in California from 2006 – 2011? For the past trip, I am on business trip without family. Or, I can say at that time, I am still single or just a short trip when I have my rascals.
Honestly, when I return in to San Jose, California in 2006. I can see the great changes in this area. The working pace is getting faster and I wonder if I am still in Singapore. Almost everybody works around the clock, hmm; I guess this is what we call globalization.
This trip I brought my rascals with me to San Jose, California. Yes, indeed, yes! This is a great challenge for me to teach the toddlers at that time about culture, differences between America and Singapore. Not forgetting about American English and British English; especially the spelling for some words.
The children had blend into the culture easily, pick up the accent and ways of pronunciation for American English. Then, how about our second language – Mandarin; which is always another obstacles whereby I had introduced to them since they are born. However, upon they enter the childcare center in Singapore when they are only 18 months; the key language they communicate with one another is “English”. The pathetic hour they communicate in Mandarin is 1 hour during the Chinese class. I can consider myself pretty lucky that I am not working for the 9 months when I am here. I can work with my children on the study, teaching the kids Chinese … did I say Chinese? Oh yes! I did! I had to give the credit to the auntie/uncle from China/Taiwan where I brought my boys to the playground. They have the opportunity to speak to them and understand the Chinese Culture.
After I manage to get a Chinese after school Education Center (Little Flock Education Center aka 小羊圈); I return to the workforce. I am grateful that the Principal Ms Megan of the Little Flock is excellent. She is a devoted Christian, passion in nurturing the children for the next generation. She is not only concern about the academic of the children but their character and charisma. Beside this, she gives them the knowledge of Christianity, guiding them on writing devotion and loves one another. The school provides the activities shown below.
1. Chinese Lesson
2. Homework support and guidance
3. Advance Learning on Math, English & Science
4. Christianity
5. Optional:
a. Table-Tennis
b. Chinese Chess (围棋)
c. Drawing & Art
d. Swimming (During Summer)
We are small family whereby our relatives are back in Asia. We have to depend on each other and do literally everything together. I had introduced my children to do their laundry, make their bed, washing their own dishes after meal when they are in 1st grade. I need to emphasize that we do not have washing machine and dryer in the house. We need to carry our soil clothes to the laundry room, which is block away from our apartment. When they are at 2nd grade, I get them cracking into cooking simple meal and vacuum the house. In the matter of fact, they enjoyed all this house chores and they felt achievement and gratifying with themselves. Cheers to them!
Beside all these, we also became thriftier. We recycle our detergent container by chipping of the top… it became a trash basket. For the boxes that we brought containing 2 gallons of milk had turn into books holder. We tried to recycle anything that can be done. The boys even cut the bottom part of long pant/jean when they are too short to be worn as a short. When their school bag is little worn-off, they took a needle and mend them. All these are the remembrance of their grandmother that had been doing for them when they are young in Singapore. I am glad they still practice their frugality here and hopefully they continue.
Pertain to my job; this is my 1st time working in an Asia Company in American! I am blessed that my former colleague from AIM recommended me into this Gigantic Taiwan Company and application of working Visa. I work as a so-called "deploy employee" sited at the customer office. My main responsibilities is to receive assignment in the form of objectives and establish goals to meet them; plan and develop methods and procedures for obtaining business statistical data for implementing program, and coordinate program activities under time and budge limitations. The challenge portion is to transfer the project to another country. However, I had made lots of friends and learn about their culture and most important is the time-zone that makes me works around the clock.
My next great satisfaction is my cooking! I had improved by no choice, as my parents whom both are Chef are not around. I had to cook three meals I mean three meals a day. I had to wake up as early as 5 a.m. to prepare for breakfast and lunch boxes for the families including myself. After work, return home and need to prepare dinner on the table maximum 30 mins. Of course, but of course, I definitely improved.
What can I say? "When Every Second Counts" will give you everything you need to learn how to solve the problem. Treasure every second we have!
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