Summer break.....

Twas the night before summer, when all thru sticky air

Not an expat was resting, she's still taming her hair

School is nearly out

Long plane rides coming, have no doubt

Sorting through overworn pants and shoes

What to keep...and what to lose

A year's worth of shopping is drawing near

Nordstrom, Saks and Target...oh dear!

Cannot wait for family and friends

With hopes it will not soon end

BBQ's, bonfires and a sweatshirt please

We happily relish the chance to freeze

Squeezing in last lunches and tennis dates

It's for home that we anxiously await

Though we'll miss all the dumplings we can get

Our dreams of salad bars and tacos will soon be met

There are loads of good-byes to those moving home

It's a crazy life for those who roam

Who stays & who goes

Sometimes you just never know

It's an adventurous way of life

To live as an expat wife

I equate our experience here to going off to college.  You enter a new place surrounded by people you have never known.  You aren't quite sure where to get things you need, where to eat, how to get from one place to another and then life starts swirling all around you as classes, homework & parties all start flying at you.  You look to others to help orient you and point you in the right direction.  All of your friends are going through the same thing and it is quite a bonding experience.

By the end of the school year, you feel like a pro on campus, you have a solid group of friends and then you all hug good-bye and go back home to mom & dad and summer jobs.  You say good-bye to some of the seniors who have been your sorority big-sister or other form of mentor....but you know you'll see almost everyone back in 3 months.

When you come back to school as a sophomore, you are sad to leave the comfort of home, but you look forward to starting up again all the same.  You know the drill and feel like the expert on campus.  Freshmen look to you as the one who knows all and can point them in the right direction...tell them where to get the cheapest pizza at 2:00AM.  You're as comfortable on campus as you are back home.  At the conclusion of this year, some of your friends are going to transfer to other schools, some have graduated...but again, you know you'll all catch up again in 3 months.

Junior & Senior years progress along the same path.  Graduation arrives.  It's bittersweet.  You can't wait to "go back" or "move on" to something new - but you also know you will never share daily life with these friends again.  Again some friends move on...and some will remain lifelong friends....

Such is life!  Full of adventure, creating new experiences and meeting new people!  


I don't like to dwell on "endings" - for those of you who know me well, you know I avoid saying "good-byes" like the plague.  For me, it's "see you later!"  

So for now..."see you later Ella, Shannon & Kameron!"

No matter where you live, the wind down to summer is always such a whirlwind.  The end of school is so exciting and there are tons and tons of activities to be a part of!  Singapore is no different...with the exception of having to pack for 2 months and make household arrangements in your absence!

We had end of year recitals, last ball games, end of year parties...and in our case, double birthday celebrations...FUN! FUN! FUN!

One of the walls in the intermediate school

Katie's 10th birthday....Cold Stone Creamery JUST opened....yum!!!

 For her birthday, Katie had a bowling party/sleepover....but first we went out for ribs....the girl loves her ribs!

BBQ ribs are not a specialty in Singapore...thankfully Chilis exists!

Good form!  Not great results however....

But always happy nonetheless:)

Let the sugar rush begin!

Elle's birthday was a pool party at The American Club.  Even though storm clouds persisted, the rain held off for her party.

For family celebration...why ruin a good thing?  Ice cream cake is just as good the second time!

At school....

Sports wound down as well.  Katie's last softball game was a close one, but was ultimately decided by the thunderstorm.  

She is yelling to hit her a ball...

And someone did...she got it!

Not her favorite get-up

We celebrated the last game by decorating the hats

Elle was the biggest chearleader!

My tennis team also came to a close.  We finished in dead last place for our division...but had a great time doing it!

At school, the PE department sponsored a "playday" for each grade where outdoor activities were set up for them all to play.  It was a really fun day for all!

Water was a welcome relief on such a hot day!

The custodians had a key role....they were in charge of dousing the PE teachers with buckets of water!

The 4 grade class

Nothing like a cold popsicle on a scorching hot day

End of year also brought about music concerts and dance recitals.

And end of year parties...

Can you add some more sugar to the plate Elle?

Elle and Mrs. Kelley

1st grade friends

And squeezing in those last - incredibly YUMMY - dumplings!

"Have a great summer!  See you in fall!"

And now the packing really MUST begin!  Heading to California, Portland & Seattle on the way to Wisconsin!  We cannot wait to get home!  You may just hear my tears of joy when I first cross the Target threshold...


See you soon!