I am writing this from my in-laws office in Michigan (and I actually started it a full four days before I'm finishing!). That means that we actually, finally left Singapore. Though I have been ready to leave for a few years, it was indeed sad to finally walk away.
Leaving our apartment where we brought home our two children, where we had endless important discussions, where we hosted holiday and shabbat dinners with dear friends, played many games of Settlers of Catan, cooked so many meals, lived with our helper for 2+ years, was on bed rest, worked from home two days a week, while I worked at Standard Chartered...lots of significant memories to walk away from.
The weekend was full of organizing - what do we need for the airplane? For two days in a hotel? For three months in Michigan? What do we not need until we move to our new home - ie. what will go on the ship? What do we not need at all? And which of that can we give to someone who would use it? Which should we donate? Which should we throw? ...All of that makes for a lot of piles and a lot of organizing.
Monday morning we woke up almost as if everything would be normal. Sam got to facetime with grandparents. We had our normal breakfasts. We got her dressed for school and took her there...and then the craziness began. At exactly 9:30, the buzzer rang and Venon showed up, went through our apartment with us to make sure he knew what to pack and what not to and then his guys came up and so it began. Everything we were shipping got wrapped and put into boxes. In addition, a mover came in the morning to take the couch and bed, leaving ZERO furniture in the apartment, other than what we were bringing with us (both baby beds and a bookshelf). It was HECTIC. There were loads of people. It was sad.
We brought Sam back for lunch on the floor and then tried to give the kids naps in Mariana's apartment upstairs. Elie napped, but Samara never fell asleep. At least I got a chance to SIT and relax and talk to Mariana, which I always enjoy. By Monday afternoon nearly everything was out of the apartment.
Monday night in the hotel was awful. Sam was a wreck and was a challenge, and the kids didn't fall asleep until late. I couldn't fall asleep until 2am (bad pillows, hot room, plus just a few things running through my mind). At 3-5 Elie was up and freaking out. At 7 Sam and I got dressed and went to get some breakfast at the mall before taking her to her last day of school.
Tuesday our amazing cleaner came and cleaned the WHOLE apartment - top to bottom. While this happened, Sam was at school and Elie and Matt were napping in the hotel, I got one last coffee with Susie, who has been my closest friend in Singapore for the last few years - a friend who has helped me navigate through parenthood (for the first and second time), being a working mom, big decisions, bed rest, etc. Sitting at my favorite coffee shop and processing life with her was critical to my state of mind. After she left, I ran a few errands, we handed over the apartment, said goodbye to all the ladies and kids in the condo - kids I have watched grow for the last 3.5 years - and walked away. No more City Square. No more Farrer Park MRT. That whole part of our identity is now in the past...
(Handover of an apartment without keys is less dramatic, I have to say. After we handed over, we could still get in and finish things, as the door has a code...and we knew we could go back until we actually left Singapore...so maybe that makes it all less painful!?).
Saying goodbye to Samara's school on Tuesday afternoon was super sad for me. Sam attended this school since she was 18 months, with our helper Rose. Then she went three days per week until I was on bed rest, when we upped it to five days per week. She has LOVED it there, and it has been such a source of support and love for her. The teachers, head of school, administrators...everyone...are amazing. Samara has learned soooooo much, and I have so appreciated the community feel and support they have given (and their flexibility) during the last 1.5 years, which have been very hard for me. I cried saying goodbye to her school.
The flight home was surprisingly easy. Sam slept three hours of the first eight hour plane ride and quietly watched movies for the rest. Elie slept a few hours of that plane ride and at least half of the second. Neither freaked out at all. They were amazing. I tried to hold it together as best as I could. I was like 80% - maybe more. Not bad.
Since we have been home, we have been surviving and that's all. Living on about two hours of sleep each night for the first four days was super rough. Now Samara is adjusted and Elie is up from about 1 or 2 am, but at least we can split that part, so we're doing a bit better (ok - just last night was a bit better). We have only up to go with this sleeping thing!
Now Singapore is behind us. It's all about making decisions about our future. First up: holiday with Matt's parents to western Michigan and Jeremy to northern Michigan and probably buying a car.
Leaving our apartment where we brought home our two children, where we had endless important discussions, where we hosted holiday and shabbat dinners with dear friends, played many games of Settlers of Catan, cooked so many meals, lived with our helper for 2+ years, was on bed rest, worked from home two days a week, while I worked at Standard Chartered...lots of significant memories to walk away from.
The weekend was full of organizing - what do we need for the airplane? For two days in a hotel? For three months in Michigan? What do we not need until we move to our new home - ie. what will go on the ship? What do we not need at all? And which of that can we give to someone who would use it? Which should we donate? Which should we throw? ...All of that makes for a lot of piles and a lot of organizing.
Monday morning we woke up almost as if everything would be normal. Sam got to facetime with grandparents. We had our normal breakfasts. We got her dressed for school and took her there...and then the craziness began. At exactly 9:30, the buzzer rang and Venon showed up, went through our apartment with us to make sure he knew what to pack and what not to and then his guys came up and so it began. Everything we were shipping got wrapped and put into boxes. In addition, a mover came in the morning to take the couch and bed, leaving ZERO furniture in the apartment, other than what we were bringing with us (both baby beds and a bookshelf). It was HECTIC. There were loads of people. It was sad.
We brought Sam back for lunch on the floor and then tried to give the kids naps in Mariana's apartment upstairs. Elie napped, but Samara never fell asleep. At least I got a chance to SIT and relax and talk to Mariana, which I always enjoy. By Monday afternoon nearly everything was out of the apartment.
Monday night in the hotel was awful. Sam was a wreck and was a challenge, and the kids didn't fall asleep until late. I couldn't fall asleep until 2am (bad pillows, hot room, plus just a few things running through my mind). At 3-5 Elie was up and freaking out. At 7 Sam and I got dressed and went to get some breakfast at the mall before taking her to her last day of school.
Tuesday our amazing cleaner came and cleaned the WHOLE apartment - top to bottom. While this happened, Sam was at school and Elie and Matt were napping in the hotel, I got one last coffee with Susie, who has been my closest friend in Singapore for the last few years - a friend who has helped me navigate through parenthood (for the first and second time), being a working mom, big decisions, bed rest, etc. Sitting at my favorite coffee shop and processing life with her was critical to my state of mind. After she left, I ran a few errands, we handed over the apartment, said goodbye to all the ladies and kids in the condo - kids I have watched grow for the last 3.5 years - and walked away. No more City Square. No more Farrer Park MRT. That whole part of our identity is now in the past...
Elie in mine and Matt's empty bedroom
(Handover of an apartment without keys is less dramatic, I have to say. After we handed over, we could still get in and finish things, as the door has a code...and we knew we could go back until we actually left Singapore...so maybe that makes it all less painful!?).
Saying goodbye to Samara's school on Tuesday afternoon was super sad for me. Sam attended this school since she was 18 months, with our helper Rose. Then she went three days per week until I was on bed rest, when we upped it to five days per week. She has LOVED it there, and it has been such a source of support and love for her. The teachers, head of school, administrators...everyone...are amazing. Samara has learned soooooo much, and I have so appreciated the community feel and support they have given (and their flexibility) during the last 1.5 years, which have been very hard for me. I cried saying goodbye to her school.
The flight home was surprisingly easy. Sam slept three hours of the first eight hour plane ride and quietly watched movies for the rest. Elie slept a few hours of that plane ride and at least half of the second. Neither freaked out at all. They were amazing. I tried to hold it together as best as I could. I was like 80% - maybe more. Not bad.
Sam doing nail stickers (thank you, Shana!)
Elie sleeping on the plane. And Matt and I are even happy!
Now Singapore is behind us. It's all about making decisions about our future. First up: holiday with Matt's parents to western Michigan and Jeremy to northern Michigan and probably buying a car.
That's our orange container that is currently on a ship called the Berlin, heading for New York, then it will hop on a truck and end up in Michigan in the beginning of October
Sam, Lucas, Thomas and Oscar played in creative ways with the boxes in Sam's old room
Hanging in the living room
Peeking Samara in her room
And this is how it began...check out the rocking horse box
Fencing
Saying goodbye to Teacher Winnie at LeapSchoolhouse
Saying goodbye to Teacher Zeela and LeapSchoolhouse
Right before we got on the plane...at 5:15am or something obscene like that. LAST PHOTO IN SINGAPORE!!! This is what our family looked like when we left...
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