Expats

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    China Expat

  • Four Means More Than Death

    Ernie
    6 Nov 2009 | 12:03 am
     Notice anything missing?       Most expats misinterpret the Chinese disinclination for the number four. Just because it's left out of elevators and hopefully phone numbers doesn't mean four commands taboo juju  power over the Chinese heart. Saying "four" sounds like saying "death", and so having fours out in plain view where they must be seen and said is somewhat distasteful, like having a president named Dick, or Bush.   Above coincidental homophones, the Chinese respect numbers for the relationships they symbolize. Beyond a death word,…

  • A Most Empowered Concubine

    Ernie
    3 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm
              The older a fellow gets, the easier it becomes to condone, if not openly endorse, concubinage.  Especially in China. Back west, almost all taboos have fallen, but not our need for them. Hence the ongoing prejudice there against May-December relationships, even May -September. Far better a young woman slave away as an underpaid secretary or waitress then suffer the exploitation of having a sugar daddy. Certainly, certainly. But in China, the concubine's status is a little more complex. Before 1912, an er nai  [second breast] had rights of support, and…

  • My First Chinese Wedding

    Ernie
    1 Nov 2009 | 6:29 pm
             ~ by Jeffrey Walsh         "Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking". -  Chinese Proverb      The blushing young bride is a surgeon who works the night shift at the local hospital. Her strikingly handsome groom is also a doctor and surgeon.at the same hospital. It is quite evident that they are deeply in love. The young professionals join hands as they enter the grand banquet hall together. Cue the music, start the cameras, light the fireworks and let the wedding festivities…

  • Chengdu's Old Towns: No Hurrying or Worrying

    Ernie
    29 Oct 2009 | 12:17 am
                It still takes the more adventurous type of expat to go settle down in Chengdu. Despite reports of more bars than Shanghai with less than half the population, Chengdu is no hub of the WTO like Beijing or Shanghai, and hence perceived as somehow less civilized. To combat the misperception, Chengdu now strives with Chongqing for the "Western China Financial Center" title, which is a shame. Let all those coastal people persist in the illusion that trade numbers determine a city's greatness. For nigh on two-and-a-half millennia, Chengdu folk…

  • Old Shanghai Antiques: Genuine Copies

    Ernie
    26 Oct 2009 | 7:21 am
                It's easy to forget that Shanghai had a great Opening Up long before the one currently transforming China. From the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 until WWII, Shanghai was the Chinese destination for making a fortune and finding all things western, including furniture.       Without catalogues, much less IKEAs, wealthy Shanghai ren would employ well-known gong guan, or "craftsman families", to fashion western-style furniture with local materials and Chinese ingenuity. Working off pictures, sometimes sketches, the gong guan…
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    Google News: Expat

  • The fine arts of expat living - Thanh Nien Daily

    7 Nov 2009 | 12:18 am
    Thanh Nien DailyThe fine arts of expat livingThanh Nien DailyThen there are those expats who discover their passion after they arrive here. Kris Wilkinson from England's Manchester City, says it is only after he got

  • OLDEST EXPAT DIES - Mirror.co.uk

    6 Nov 2009 | 10:43 pm
    OLDEST EXPAT DIESMirror.co.ukA retired dentist who became the oldest Briton to emigrate when he moved to New Zealand at the age of 102 has died. Eric King-Turner sailed to the other and more »

  • Guidebook to city, penned by an expat - JoongAng Daily

    6 Nov 2009 | 7:16 am
    JoongAng DailyGuidebook to city, penned by an expatJoongAng DailyKoehler is also well known among expats here through his blog “The Marmot's Hole,” at www.rjkoehler.com. “Many Korean asked me why I chose to come to Korea.

  • British expat teacher murder suspect has plastic surgery - Emigrate.co.uk

    6 Nov 2009 | 12:06 am
    British expat teacher murder suspect has plastic surgeryEmigrate.co.ukIchihashi is the wanted for the murder of expat Lindsay Ann Hawker, the teacher who was found in his Chiba apartment tied and naked in a bathtub filled with and more »

  • Social networking websites crucial to expat life - China Daily

    5 Nov 2009 | 7:41 pm
    Social networking websites crucial to expat lifeChina DailyThe difficulty in accessing popular networking and blogging sites such as Facebook and Twitter is affecting more than just and more »
 
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    Topix: Expatriate

  • RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan Received Deputy Head Of Russia's F

    3 Nov 2009 | 7:32 am
    Date : Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:20:28 +0400 RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED DEPUTY HEAD OF RUSSIA'S FEDERAL AGENCY FOR CIS AFFAIRS, EXPATRIATE COUNTRYMEN AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION IGOR MOROZOV http://www.gov.am/en/news/item/4931/ Friday, 30 October 2009 Greeting the guest, the head of the Armenian government said to be aware ...

  • Placebo announce free tour bundle

    29 Oct 2009 | 1:36 am
    Having already toured numerous countries across the globe including Mexico, Japan and Thailand, Placebo are ready to head out on their winter 2009 tour, where they will play to over 300,000 people across Europe.

  • Placebo free tour bundle download

    25 Oct 2009 | 4:29 am
    Having already toured numerous countries across the globe including Mexico, Japan and Thailand, Placebo are ready to head out on their winter 2009 tour, where they will play to over 300,000 people across Europe.

  • Dubai Escort Reviews

    8 Oct 2009 | 2:35 am
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  • Escort Russia Girls at Dubai

    8 Oct 2009 | 12:32 am
    ELITE VIP DUBAI ESCORT. CALL +7-953-341-69-96. REAL PLEASURE He ESCORT RUSSIA GIRLS AT DUBAI promoted addressed set in confirming fear not an old wearing in uniform to a and.
 
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    BBC News: Expatriate

  • Abu Dhabi keen to host MCC match

    5 Nov 2009 | 4:15 am
    The leading cricket official in the United Arab Emirates says the country would be honoured to host the traditional county curtain-raiser in 2010.

  • Obituary: Claude Levi-Strauss

    3 Nov 2009 | 3:34 pm
    A look at the life and times of French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, who has died at the age of 100.

  • Afghan businesses in the doldrums

    30 Oct 2009 | 7:27 am
    Continued uncertainty about the outcome of presidential elections in Afghanistan has done nothing to improve business confidence, writes the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul.

  • Timeline: Comoros

    28 Oct 2009 | 1:49 am
    A chronology of key events

  • Uruguay set for run-off election

    26 Oct 2009 | 9:54 am
    Uruguay heads for a second round of the presidential poll in November between former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica and ex-president Luis Alberto Lacalle.
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    Expat Focus

  • Social networking websites crucial to expat life in China

    6 Nov 2009 | 2:05 am
    The difficulty in accessing popular networking and blogging sites such as Facebook and Twitter is affecting more than just the social lives of foreigners - local businesses are also missing out on an effective marketing tool. People have found Facebook and Twitter blocked since the July riot in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. It was rumored restrictions would be relaxed after the National Day holidays but access is still restricted... More (China Daily)

  • 50% of new expats leave China early

    5 Nov 2009 | 2:26 am
    Almost half of new expatriates leave China early because they have difficulty adjusting to the lifestyle, a consultancy firm said. China Transition Institute (CTI) president David Israel-Rosen said most foreigners are unprepared for what life will be like when they arrive in China... More (asiaone)

  • Can you help near Bordeaux?

    4 Nov 2009 | 3:22 am
    A request for help from one of our members: "Are there two fit men near Bordeaux able to help us with a once-only problem? Our 21-year-old son was knocked down in a hit-and-run incident 6 weeks ago and has been in the Pellegrin Hospital since. His bones are mending and he is out of a coma, but weakened and unable to walk. We need to get him home and expect the doctors to sign him off as fit to fly on or soon after 6 November. We just need to get him to Bordeaux Airport, where ground attendants will take over. So it is just a question of lifting him, all 6 ft-plus of him, from a wheelchair at…

  • Increase of UK Sun-seekers Perusing Property Abroad

    2 Nov 2009 | 4:02 am
    A leading property website has revealed that there has been a 32 per cent increase in searches on its site for overseas property this summer, including the highest overall volume of searches since August last year . In reaction, the Post Office is warning second home seekers of extra charges that traditional high-street banks may legally impose on foreign money transfers to foreign banks, especially when paying mortgages or down payments on property overseas.

  • Secrets of a successful expat life revealed

    27 Oct 2009 | 1:39 am
    "My departure time has come and it's zaijian Beijing and gidday to my hometown of Sydney, Australia. But before I go, lend me your ears so I can tell you valuable advice learnt during my three years three months in the Middle Kingdom..." More (China Daily)
 
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    Expat Women

  • Global Mobility Jobs In The UK And Beyond

    4 Nov 2009 | 7:45 pm
    Hi Everyone, If you are looking for a job in the Global Mobility / HR Management / Relocations field, do not forget to check Re:locate Magazine's online job pages from time to time.Right now, they have more than 200 jobs listed - mostly based in the UK, but with a sprinkle of overseas positions as well.

  • Re:locate Awards Open For Nominations

    4 Nov 2009 | 7:42 pm
    Hi Everyone, Re:locate Magazine had their snazzy launch party this week to officially launch the opening of nominations for their 2009/2010 Re:locate Awards.The Seven Award CategoriesBest Relocation Strategy/Policy;Technological Innovation in Relocation;Inspirational HR Team of the Year;Relocation Service Provider or Team of the Year;Best Property Provider or Solution;Rising Star in Relocations; and/orRelocation Personality of the Year.If you think you could compete in one (or more) of these categories, go ahead and grab your entry form here. You can enter free of charge in up to two…

  • Thanks To Some Wonderful People And Groups In The Netherlands

    4 Nov 2009 | 6:17 pm
    Hi Everyone, I am back home again in Malaysia after a fabulous trip to the Netherlands and London and I want to give a thank you and shout-out to some of the wonderful people and groups that I met along the way....Firstly, to the groups who invited me to speak, Expatica, European Professional Women's Network - Amsterdam (special thanks to Katharina Pohl) and Connecting Women - I say thank you for your hospitality and warm reception. Plus to IWC Amsterdam, for allowing me to get up at their meeting and introduce Expat Women.Secondly, congratulations to Expatica for the success of their 'I Am…

  • Breaking News: IE Business School Scholarships Offered To Expat Women Network

    1 Nov 2009 | 1:01 pm
    Hi Everyone, We are very excited to announce that the prestigious IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, is offering four half-scholarships to qualified women in our Expat Women network, in their upcoming Advanced Management Programs."IE Business School is an international institution dedicated to educating business leaders through programs based on our core values of global focus, an entrepreneurial spirit and a humanistic approach. Our 500-strong, international faculty teaches a student body composed of more than 80 nationalities on their Undergraduate (IE University), Master, and Doctorate…

  • Expat Women November Home Page

    31 Oct 2009 | 1:46 pm
    Hi Everyone, We have just uploaded our Expat Women November home page and we invite you to take a look at our new features:Success StoryNathalie BrotchiNet ExpatIn 2000, Nathalie joined Net Expat as a partner. Today Nathalie manages a team of 300 HR consultants around the globe and ensures a smooth delivery of Net Expat services together with the Operations Team. She is also participating regularly at international conferences as an expert on Dual Career issues.Read more…Business IdeaRNG International Educational ConsultantsRebecca GrappoRebecca Grappo is a professional educator who has…
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    ExpatFinder Blog

  • Expat Daily: Expat Jobs, Expat Insurance

    admin
    5 Nov 2009 | 8:57 pm
    Expat Talent Trends Nearly two-thirds of multinational companies will be keeping or increasing their expat workforce, reports Sibson Consultants. This is good news for those looking for jobs overseas and those expat already working abroad. It was also reported that compensation is likely not to increase, but to stay about the same. Here are some of the their findings: “* 53% of respondents employing expatriates in China/Hong Kong/Taiwan plan to keep their expatriate workforce the same. * Almost all companies that are decreasing their expatriate workforce reported doing so because of high…

  • Expat Daily: Expat Insurance, Expat Pensions

    admin
    4 Nov 2009 | 8:28 pm
    Expat Insurance Overseas: What’s Right For You? As expats living overseas there are several different types of personal health care insurance to consider.There is private expat insurance usually quoted for six months or more. Then there is travel insurance and with many expat travel life styles it might be something to consider. Usually travel health insurance is quoted on a multi or single trip basis. “By now, whenever you plan a big trip, travel insurance is a routine concern. Depending on where you’re going, the kind of trip you’re taking and your personal…

  • Expat Daily: USA Absentee Ballots, British Expat Abroad

    admin
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:30 pm
    Making it Easier to Vote While Abroad As Tuesday’s voting comes to a close in the USA many Americans overseas may have missed the chance to vote. Not to mention that research shows 1 in 4 overseas ballots end up not being counted. A federal bill has been passed that requires all states to have an electronic voting option for military and civilians living overseas, which should make voting easier. “The bill, which will take effect before next year’s federal elections, bars states from rejecting military ballots that have not been notarized, a difficult procedure in the bases of Iraq and…

  • Expat Daily: Aging Parents, International School Boom

    admin
    2 Nov 2009 | 10:52 pm
    Aging Parents & Your Expat Career With the economic down turn more us our faced with the decision to move abroad. Or if you are already living overseas you may be faced with having to move further away from your home country. Increasingly this choice comes amidst caring for an elderly parent and by the time 2020 hit 1 in 3 Americans will be caring for elderly parents. This article follows three executives who were faced with the dilemma of how to care for an elderly parent while trying to move forward with the career. “…Because of extended life spans, Americans increasingly confront…

  • Expat Daily: The Iron Curtain, Halloween Screams

    admin
    2 Nov 2009 | 2:24 am
    20th Anniversary -The Fall of the Berlin Wall Edward Lucas, takes a look back at his expat life in Czechoslovakia under the Iron Curtain. Today marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was a change that shook not only world but specifically Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria. Expats now live freely in these countries that have not always been so welcoming to foreigners. “We were an exotic bunch: some Kenyan medical students, the Indian military attache’s son — a terrifyingly quick bowler on our improvised and…
 
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    A Maine Man Abroad

  • PRAY FOR AMERICA

    6 Nov 2009 | 9:23 am
    Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by accident. God doesn’t make mistakesThese words are the cornerstone of my belief system. They come from my ‘other’ bible, the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. These words are the inspiration for my personal recovery, both physically and spiritually. It’s difficult to apply these words to yesterday’s horror in Texas, however. I spent some time in the armed services and went through combat in Viet Nam. I can understand the need to take lives to protect one’s self and those whose lives are entrusted to you. I can understand…

  • VETERAN'S DAY 2009

    4 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pm
    "Let us give thanks to God for the land of our birth with all its chartered liberties. For all the wonder of our country's story:Reprise: WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O GOD. For leaders in nation and state, and for those who in days past and in these present times have labored for the commonwealth: Reprise: WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O GOD.For those who in all times and places have been true and brave, and in the world's common ways have lived upright lives and ministered to their fellows: Reprise: WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O GOD. For those who served their country in its hour of need, and especially for those who…

  • Shame on Maine

    4 Nov 2009 | 10:46 am
    Well, as expected, the fear mongers and promoters of ignorance succeeded in clouding the issues and convinced Mainers to violate the civil liberties of a whole segment of our population. That's right, like it or not, homosexuals are a growing segment of our population and they don't have equal protection under the law.In fact, marriage it is a civil matter requiring a government license, and recorded in a government courthouse. Marriages are civil actions with civil rights and regulations. There is nothing “church”, religious, scriptural, or sacred, about it. If this is confusing, try to…

  • 29 Oct 2009 | 2:50 pm

    29 Oct 2009 | 2:50 pm
    Add url"people should have to pay to go to church and theater should be free"

  • 29 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm

    29 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm
    MORE MUSINGS FROM MEXICOTwo things crossed my desk today, each from my home town of Brewer Maine. The first was an email from a former classmate apprising me of the death of another classmate from High School. The other was an announcement that the Boy Scouts Troop of which I was a member had turned 100 years old. Both of these news items, together, combined to cause a rush of memories of my childhood.Brenda's death touched me far deeper than any friendship we had during High School. I recall several opportunities when I could have been a better friend and wasn't. You see, Brenda was…
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    A Canada Immigrant's Blog

  • Home Delivery Blues

    Am A. Cinnik
    16 Oct 2009 | 9:45 pm
    There’s a thing called the Internet where we can sometimes… surprise, surprise… shop for stuff and then hope to receive it at our homes with as much ease as it is described and promoted on the websites selling the stuff. That much I’ve understood. Or, let me cut through the chase and get straight to the [...]

  • The Price of Bread

    Am A. Cinnik
    11 Oct 2009 | 8:04 am
    Tough economic times mean tightening belts. Governments are scaling back financial commitments and consumers are holding back unnecessary purchases. Even kids are having their allowances cut. Of course, these are all boilerplate cliches. In real life, human nature compels us not to miss out on a great deal — something the marketing industry will continue to [...]

  • An Interview

    Am A. Cinnik
    23 Jul 2009 | 2:00 pm
    Yours truly was approached by Ryerson University’s Brooke Wilkinson for an interview last December. Below I reproduce a script for my readers and public benefit, as it has not been publicly shared. All credit where its due while mistakes & omissions, if any, are mine. By Brooke Wilkinson Why did you want to leave your home country? For [...]

  • Recession Proof Jobs for Immigrants

    Am A. Cinnik
    8 May 2009 | 5:08 pm
    ADVISORY: With apologies to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), Workopolis, Monster and the Human Resources Industry. No apologies to readers. The recession and financial crisis have put tremendous pressure on the Canadian job market even for ‘real’ born-and-bred Canadians. Of course, for immigrants, that means ever more pressure to find employment and choosing a career [...]

  • The Summer of 09

    Am A. Cinnik
    19 Apr 2009 | 7:38 am
    If there’s one thing here in Toronto, Ontario which makes toiling through its winters bearable, it’s the arrival of the summer, the season of summer and the return of summer.  Let me say it again if you’re missing the subtle point here: Summers here are what makes the winters bearable. Period. It is indeed hard to [...]
 
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    Life with our Lads

  • The Dicky Hand Saga

    6 Nov 2009 | 4:16 pm
    I was in the shower this morning contemplating my hospital appointment for my dicky hand and I thought "I have no idea how to dress!" Years ago when I went for a facial at a local spa shop they made me strip my whole top off and they massaged my neck and upper chest as well. I was mortified and haven't been back since. So I was worried they might make me strip naked at the hospital & decided to cover all bases. I am semi-justified in being paranoid because the phone message from the hospital told me the time and place and then cheerfully added "don't wear jewelry, earrings, and no…

  • Toddlers & Cats

    5 Nov 2009 | 6:00 pm
    Tonight I was trying to unwrap and eat a Starburst sweet and Jack would snatch it away from me, just as I was about to pop it in my mouth. He was laughing hysterically and sat straddling me on the couch when all of a sudden he did a little choke sound and I thought "he can't be choking, I can see the Starburst stuck to the back of his teeth". No sooner had I thought this than he threw up, all over me, several times. I sat stunned for a moment and he looked at me, equally shocked and waiting for my response, right on the verge of tears. I kept telling him it was okay and Craig scooped him up…

  • Didn't Need my Teeth Anyway

    4 Nov 2009 | 6:36 pm
    I went shopping to Target tonight. For those in the UK - Target is a superstore that has really nice stuff at a nice price. Not general tat like you get at Wally-Mart. They do however have a $1 section at the front that I could rummage in for hours. I saw a couple of things in there this year that made me smile and might just end up in a few friend's Christmas stockings - you have been warned!I wonder if it causes severe rot & all you teeth fall out, just like the pop?Smurfs! They're back! Just as crap but just as cute. I wrote to "Jim'll Fix It" when I was a kid to see where they were…

  • Terms of Endearment

    3 Nov 2009 | 5:46 pm
    Tonight I ordered a beer with dinner and the waitress asked for my ID. I grinned at her and told her I hadn't been ID'd in a couple of years and she'd made my day.  A few minutes later the waiter came over with our food and addressed me as "ma'am".  That pissed on my chips didn't it.I hate the term ma'am I really do. I find it insulting for some reason. Probably because the person saying it is telling you you're old. Otherwise they'd call you "miss" or nothing at all wouldn't they.It's not that I object to being given a pet name by friends and even strangers, In fact in England I rarely had…

  • Danny Boy Standing

    2 Nov 2009 | 4:59 pm
    Danny's had a busy two weeks. First he crawled and then tonight for the first time he stood up in his crib and jumped up & down. I remember the first time Jack did the same, we were so excited. This time around we were obviously excited but also entertaining a 3-year old and trying to get housework done. Sometimes I feel like poor Danny doesn't quite get the manic attention that his big brother got.I get a bit nervous about posting videos or pictures of the kids, this being a public blog, but I also want my family and friends in England to see their progress. So here's just a little…
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    Livin' la Vida Floja

  • Thunder, you say? Boca speaks

    5 Nov 2009 | 5:14 am
    Mom cam back after 9 hours away with this bed, which is nice for rainy days. We had thunder yesterday, in the morning and again at night. In the middle of the night, Mom woke up and opened the windows and got a flash light, like she would do something with it! I'm just a puppy and it's the first I've heard of thunder. Boom. Scares me! Now I hear Mom on the phone wondering about Hurricane Ida. Mom says it might be here for the weekend. That means lots of rain! I've got just the bed!

  • Super Tuesday

    4 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am
    I feel a little like Superwoman, having survived nine hours of errands in Cancun yesterday. Oh, the jury was still out regarding my survival in the pre-dawn hours. But there's nothing like a line of thunderstorms to define you! I am well and my larder is stocked. I am making spaghetti sauce this morning with the Italian sausage, hamburger and tomato products I got. I have plans to steam asparagus and brussel sprouts and put them in the freezer. Lots of good buys out there! I got a pool test kit finally. No more tongue pH! 200 count tall kitchen trash bags, good for three more years! Boca got…

  • Isla Power Breakfast

    30 Oct 2009 | 8:08 am
    This centerpiece is an indication of the mood of the Navy Officers' Auxiliary. Yes, we will join the rest of North America in begging for candy! The centerpieces were saved for a kids' costume party. The sailor/waiter in the back of the next picture was hitting up all the tables for candies from the centerpieces he helped make!Our "power table" included Inge Kasulke, me and Dra. Angela from the Navy base. She works two 24-hour shifts and gets one off. Nope, no flu shots for non-Navy personnel. But the Centro de Salud, which I had all but given up on, has flu shots again, she said knowingly.

  • So much construction

    29 Oct 2009 | 6:15 am
    Leaving the health center yesterday after my flu shot, this was a more encompassing view of the road reconstruction around the square. This road leads up the hill to the old La Pena night club. There is no taxi access to the SuperExpress now!Back in La Gloria, this construction is the new cold warehouse for the super that you can't get to now. It will be the place meats and veggies go to first for storage. The facility will also warehouse the big box store offers in the Cancun circular.So that's two corners from me. Continuing past the park around toward Tacos Campos at the end of the Salina,…

  • Not a pretty picture

    28 Oct 2009 | 1:43 pm
    You may recall my blogging this house last year, for the No Sparkin' sign. It's in front of the health center. Well, the street is now closed all the way around the square, behind the church, next to the SuperExpress....on to Madero, the street that Miguel's Moonlite is on. Yeah, for a quick month! So I got a flu shot, romaine lettuce in the municpal market, Halloween treats at the Navy base and will be buying my provisions in the neigbhorhood with a trip to Cancun soon! But wow, what a mess downtown!
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    Costa Rica Blog - 365 Reasons I Love Costa Rica

  • Reason #231: Ants and Sluggards

    admin
    6 Nov 2009 | 7:36 am
    We have a curious little insect here in Costa Rica that we call the “leaf cutter ant.” One day I was doing a canopy tour with a couple of buddies from South Carolina. Out in the jungle we came across a line of leaf cutter ants. The ants are curious because each one will be carrying a freshly cut piece of green jungle leaf of some variety. As the tourists gazed at the marching ants, Jimmy, my redneck friend, chimed, “you know why them ants carry those leafs like that?” An amazed tourist quizzically responded, “no why?” “Umbrellas,” Jimmy shot…

  • Reason #230: A Two-Sided Story

    admin
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am
    Life, it seems at times, is about conflict. I have been reading through the book of Genesis lately and wondering just where, when and how the conflict that now engulfs and threatens the world, received its initial spark. My life certainly has not been immune from conflict. Some people seem to relish in it. Not me. I have never been one to seek it out. But you don’t have to with conflict, it will find you, whereever you may roam. Just asked Mel Gibson. He retreated to Costa Rica as well, but conflict found him hiding. You just can’t hide from it. But the truth about conflict is…

  • Reason #229: My Son Becomes My Man

    admin
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:21 am
    November 4, 1991, a date that I will never forget. You came into the world that day, a little bruised and battered from the trip. I remember spending hours watching you under the bright lights. You were number two to arrive and I remember fearing whether our luck had run short too quickly. But everything turned out more than well. And here we are eighteen years later. I have always admired your kind and caring spirit. I know it wasn’t easy growing up the sole male amongst three gregarious girls. But when conflicts arose, you were usually the one who opted for quick consolation. You were…

  • Reason #228: Higher Consciousness

    admin
    3 Nov 2009 | 7:09 am
    Lately I am reading the book by Robin Sharma entitled, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. It has me thinking about what I am doing and why. I have always been a driven person, but for a long time what was driving me was the idea of having things….like a Ferrari. The most I was ever able to achieve was a Jeep Grand Cherokee on lease, but you get the idea. No but really, the book has me thinking about what it means for every thing that you do to be imbued with a sense of “higher consciousness.” That is, figuring out what your “special purpose” is (and not in the sense…

  • Reason #227: Thriving on Political Incorrectness

    admin
    2 Nov 2009 | 7:08 am
    Someone in my company read one of my posts the other day and commented, “hey boss, that one was a bit politically incorrect, wasn’t it?” After firing him, I responded, “well, I hope so.” There is speech that is downright degrading, demeaning and despicable. That kind of speech is not aimed at intellectual stimulation, but rather to foment someone’s hateful ideas, or just to hurt another person or group. But what many label “politically incorrect” speech is often simply speech that is not consistent with their ideas about how the world operates,…
 
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    Rincon, Puerto Rico

  • Swimming Pool

    16 Oct 2009 | 4:22 pm
    Villa Orleans now has a swimming pool!  Now we can swim/soak at night under the Caribbean stars.It's not a very deep or very large pool, but it's a pool never the less.  When I lived at the villa I'd go swimming at night.  The water is always warmer than the air so night time swims were always pleasant--until I started fishing.  When you swim at night, there's always an occasional Jaws fantasy that slips through your thoughts, but you brush them aside.  Jaws is a fictional movie, with a fictional shark.But I started fishing at night, and I've pulled in all sorts of…

  • Hermit Crabs

    15 Oct 2009 | 6:55 am
    From Beach LifeWe found this little guy while redoing the gardens.  It's the smallest hermit crab I've ever seen.  Something this small often goes unnoticed. I try watching where I step, to keep from crushing these guys. Most of the hermit crabs I see are much larger.How would I feel, if I were him? in the hands of a giant?We took him to the farthest area of the property, where few feet tred and let him go.From Beach Life

  • Mayagüez 2010 Games

    4 Oct 2009 | 3:45 am
    In summer of 2010 from July 17 to August 1, 2010 the Central American and Caribbean Games (or CACs) will be celebrated in Mayaguez.  An estimated 250,000 visitors from about 40 countries are expected.   17 municipalities of Porta del Sol including other areas of the south of Puerto Rico are hosting events.Rincon will be hosting  games as well: Triathlon – Saturday July 24, 2010Triathlon Relay – Sunday July 25, 2010BMX – Wednesday, July 28, 2010Mountain Bike – Thursday, July 29, 2010If you're planning on visiting Rincon next summer, then it's best to reserve your lodging…

  • Puerto Rico Villa

    25 Sep 2009 | 7:22 pm
    This is a promo from a friend who offers video production services in Texas.  Video Uno Studio creates a variety of video presentations.So what do you think?

  • Beach Dog finds Home

    20 Aug 2009 | 3:26 pm
    "I wanted to thank the wonderful volunteers who rescued and fostered Rusty from Steps Beach. He is now living happily with me and my family in Connecticut. We adopted him in February.He was sleeping in his cage with the sun on him, and my four year old boy woke him up. He was on a mission to give dogs some love and attention that day, the dogs from PR that made the trip to Stamford, the dogs without a home or family. When I asked him if he wanted to take Rusty home, his eyes and face lit up. He has been living with us since then.He has acres to run, gets a nice long walk every day, plays ball…
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    stephanieclayton/artist

  • FLUIDITY #6// the mysterious qualities of gouache

    5 Nov 2009 | 11:42 am
    Fluidity #6, 14 x 11 inches, gouache on paper While applying the first wash, I intentionally left a few spots unpainted. As more thin layers were added, I didn't think the spots would remain so... Visit my website at http://www.stephanieclayton.com/ to view my complete portfolio and more.

  • FLUIDITY// new twitter account

    2 Nov 2009 | 6:19 pm
    Fluidity #5, 14 x 11 inches, gouache on paper Another new piece from last week... I'm not trying to be witty, but the ideas are really "flowing" for this gouache series. Today I started a new... Visit my website at http://www.stephanieclayton.com/ to view my complete portfolio and more.

  • STUDIO// efficiency

    30 Oct 2009 | 1:25 pm
    The week, the studio received a slight makeover. I hadn't used the space since completing The Paradise Project early this summer. Then when my painting sabbatical ended this month, I realized the... Visit my website at http://www.stephanieclayton.com/ to view my complete portfolio and more.

  • NEW WORK// Cognition #3 and #5

    28 Oct 2009 | 7:44 am
    Cognition #3, 14 x 11 inches, pen drawing I've been incorporating some circles into the drawing series, in addition to simple straight lines. The process is quite meditative. Cognition #5, 14 x 11... Visit my website at http://www.stephanieclayton.com/ to view my complete portfolio and more.

  • COGNITIONS series

    26 Oct 2009 | 8:05 am
    Cognition #2, 14 x 11 inches, pen on paper In addition to the Fluidity series, I've also started Cognitions, a group of meditative line drawings, based loosely on stream-of-consciousness thinking,... Visit my website at http://www.stephanieclayton.com/ to view my complete portfolio and more.
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    Gutsy Writer

  • To Share or not to Share?

    5 Nov 2009 | 7:37 pm
    Because I like to think that I'm "Gutsy" and I really want to believe that "All is Good," and "It is what it is," I've decided to tell you that this weekend, I shall be attending the La Jolla Writers Conference, and I've signed up for a read and critique with two literary agents and an editor. It's about time I get some professional opinions, whether or not I have the guts to hear what they say. I'm excited and treating this as an experiment. Let's not forget the conference is at the Paradise Pointe Resort, a luxury in itself.I like to call important things in life, "experiments." For…

  • "Women and girls aren’t the problem; they’re the solution."

    2 Nov 2009 | 9:24 am
    A few days ago,I had the honor of listening to Nicholas Kristof's presentation at the Newport Beach Library Foundation where I volunteer. I had recently seen him and his wife Sherly WuDunn on Oprah, talking about the need for gender equality among the world. Their recent book, Half the Sky is based on the Chinese proverb that women hold up half the sky. Kristof and WuDunn state that, "Women and girls aren’t the problem; they’re the solution." If we make loans available to women, they are more likely to spend it on educating their kids and starting a business. Men often waste it on…

  • Yenni, my best little friend from a Mayan Village in Belize.

    27 Oct 2009 | 5:31 pm
    I never expected to feel close to one child in particular, and this is exactly what happened to me in the Mayan village of Red Bank, Belize.Yenni, an eleven-year-old girl, found me. I noticed her in the classroom, when I called upon all the children to follow me for their health screening. She seemed different, perhaps her assertiveness, her "tom-boy" look and the fact that she was one of the few girls who wore pants instead of a skirt, made Yenni stand out.Yenni didn't just follow me, she studied the nurses and their treatments. She watched as they wrapped the blood pressure cuff around the…

  • Open Your Heart First if You Want to Help.

    23 Oct 2009 | 8:00 pm
    Where do you start when you experience a life changing event?For several days now, I've mulled over the notes in my journal; the one I kept during my week volunteering at a medical mission in the Mayan village of Red Bank, in Belize, and I keep coming back to the same phrase spoken by nurse Judy Krieg, our contact in Belize.This is Judy, always giving to others.We call her "The Mother Theresa/Indiana Jones of Belize." One of the first pieces of advice she gave to all eleven nurses from Orange County and myself was, "Open your heart first if you want to help." During orientation, she described…

  • OFF TO VOLUNTEER IN A MAYAN VILLAGE IN BELIZE.

    8 Oct 2009 | 8:30 pm
    When I entered the front door of Carol's house last Monday, I thought I'd stepped into a United Nations camp. Boxes of neosporine, band-aids, toothbrushes, toothpaste, flip-flops, socks, combs and toys were scattered in mounds all over her dining and living room floor, waiting for all twelve of us volunteers to squeeze fifty pounds into each suitcase. We need all of it for the Mayan kids we are screening in Belize.Eleven nurses and I (not a nurse) are off to Belize on Saturday morning at 4 a.m., to help with a school medical screening in a Mayan Village. Nurse Judy Krieg has set up seven…
 
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    a day in my dominican life...

  • for reals.

    1 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am
    so, the computer finally died. and samil has temporarily incapacitated the camera. beyond that life is super busy. and not with anything really significant. just busy. and eventhough i hate this, just some tidbitsamalio - currently working on a master's degree in applied linguistics. working full time at school and writing papers. melanie - teaching. same as always. about 20 hours a week. i've got a new little pet project i'm helping with and of course raising the babies. cooking, cleaning. and being without running water for a week.samil - is completely potty trained (really he has been for…

  • first food.

    21 Oct 2009 | 9:49 am

  • all in a day´s work.

    19 Oct 2009 | 5:13 am
    amalio woke up for work this morning a little late.and when he got downstairs, the front, drivers side tire was flat in the car.and it was much easier to leave it for me and take the bus to work.and if you know anything about latin american culture, you can just imagine the dirty looks from women and disbelieving stares from men as i went downstairs in my house dress (because, yes, i wear housedresses) to change the tire.one guy even tried to take the job out of my hands...because you know women can´t change a tire.(and if i trusted that a dominican man could change a tire i would have let…

  • tooooooooooooo early

    17 Oct 2009 | 4:42 am
    samil has decided it´s fun to wake up before 7. every.day.and of course, the naptimes -do not coincide.which would be fine if amely didn´t go to bed at 930 but wake up at 3am to tell me how incredibly disgusting this unseasonal heatwave makes her feel.hopefully soon it will no longer reach temperatures of 600 degrees farenheit and 90% humidity.

  • one month ago

    12 Oct 2009 | 12:42 pm
    sorry,friends, i´ve got to play catch up on photos to keep these grandparents happy ;)amely at 3 months ... september 4, 2009
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    Clare Says...

  • Shaping love

    Clare
    6 Nov 2009 | 2:54 am
    I thought today I would share my favorite quote; my favorite soliloquy. It is from The Fantastics, the longest running musical of all time (it played 17,162 performances before shutting down its run 1960-2002). I have listened to, read, and watched this piece my entire life. I think it deeply colored the way I think the world should be; the way I think that love should be. “You wonder how these things begin. Well, this begins with a glen. It begins with a season which, for want of a better word, we may as well call- September. It begins in a forest where the woodchucks woo, and the…

  • Photo Wednesday: Grrr

    Clare
    5 Nov 2009 | 2:58 am
    Growl!, originally uploaded by coming2cambodia. Taken in Valparaiso, 2007. Subject: Harley the pup PS This is coming out on Thursday because I am so busy, I don’t know what day of the week it is!

  • The newest part of the family

    Clare
    4 Nov 2009 | 3:23 am
    Harley was a traumatize puppy.  Without the intense psychotherapy a human in her position would get, she has done well, in her little doggy mind, to work her way through this.  One of the largest behavioral changes I have witnessed is her grudging acceptance of my niece and nephew.  Children, you see, are near the top of her “I hate you” and “I fear you” lists.  Other things on that list include, bicycles, tractors, shorter adults, people who smoke, people who are drunk, people who smell like red wine, and coins rattling in a tin can. She really just is fearful. She tries to play…

  • Present that keeps on singing

    Clare
    3 Nov 2009 | 3:07 am
    Way back when, when S and I got engaged, we mostly wanted needed money.  People were extremely generous with us (and we got some physical gifts as well).  One of the first, physical gifts we got was a singing cow.  It perfectly, although not so subtly, alluded to the obvious.  A Wisconsin girl had fallen in love with a Spanish-only speaking Chilean.  The cow sings, in Spanish, and moos—it brings me endless laughter and freaks out the dog. I am mostly posting this so that Dan and Helen, who gave us said singing/mooing cow can see it now.  It has a prominent space in our home and an…

  • Anyone else in?

    Clare
    2 Nov 2009 | 3:17 pm
    So? Is any one else taking part??? …I know… not the best of starts, but today I started Russian as well. Tomorrow there will be a real post and of course Wednesday is Photo Wednesday.
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    Brendas Blog from Paraguay

  • This Could Have Been Me. . . .

    Brenda
    6 Nov 2009 | 9:57 pm

  • Fridays Fave Five

    Brenda
    5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm
    1. New Quilt. A friend gifted me this beautiful quilt to cuddle with this winter. It matches my living room perfectly. 2. Good report. I saw my oncologist last Friday and she thinks I am recovering well from chemo. She is hopeful that most of the damage done will heal itself. The only doubtful thing is the neuropathy in my feet. But it too seems to be getting better.3. Caring Friends. All the ladies from my Bible study (100+) formed a human chain to pray for me as I enter this last stage of treatment, radiation therapy.4. New Treatment Plan. I started radiation on Thursday and the way I…

  • Choices in Breast Cancer Treatment

    Brenda
    4 Nov 2009 | 9:52 pm
    There is an article from the Wall Street Journal hanging on the wall of my oncologists waiting room that talks about one of the things I like so much about the UCSF Medical Centers Cancer Treatment program: They give the patients lots of choices.The very first appointment I had with my surgeon, he patiently explained the options I had of either 1) a mastectomy and chemo or 2) chemo-lumpectomy-radiation. I chose option #2 and have been happy with that decision.All along the way I have been given options. In the infusion center, the nurses would ask me where I wanted my IV. Even the…

  • Clean Glasses for Wordful Wednesday

    Brenda
    3 Nov 2009 | 7:31 pm
    I found these while I was unloading the dishwasher.They belong to my husband.How did they get there?Fell out of his pocket while he was loading the dishes.I'm thankful he does that.

  • Refried Bean Dip/TMTT

    Brenda
    2 Nov 2009 | 7:00 pm
    I make my own refried beans, usually two pounds at a time and then freeze the extras in zip lock bags that equal a 16 oz can of beans. Whole grains, including beans, are things that all of us should include more in our diet. Here is my favorite bean dip recipe:8 oz cream cheese (less is fine)1 c. sour cream4 cups refried beans (2 16 0z cans)1/2 package taco seasoninghot sauce to taste1/4 cup finely chopped green onion1 cup shredded cheeseMix all the ingredients together and either bake in the oven @ 350 for 30 minutes, or in the microwave for 10 minutes, stirring every 2 -3 minutes. Serve…
 
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    An American in Lima

  • Thank You, Lord of the Miraculous Chocolates

    Barb
    30 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm
    I was raving the other day about the chocolates and other treats made by nuns and sold at the church of the Nazarenes, in downtown Lima, where El Señor de los Milagros lives. I made myself so hungry writing that post, I had to go to the Nazarenes the next day and buy a stash from a nun in a brown Carmelitas habit.  I’m not Catholic but I felt guilty going to church just to buy candy, so I picked up a purple religious candle while I was at it. Back home I lit the candle and said, Thank you, El Señor de los Milagros, for inspiring the barefoot sisters of Mt. Carmel to devote…

  • Scenes from Noche de Arte 2009, Opening Night

    Barb
    24 Oct 2009 | 11:36 am
    El Híjo and I accompanied El Fotógrafo to last night’s opening of Noche de Arte, in San Isidro. Main hall at Noche de Arte, 2009, Friday, Oct. 23  The art show was held in an enormous gallery owned by a Peruvian bank, and one of the amusing things about it was how the bank stayed open to accept deposits from art buyers. Oh, and did I mention that more than 400 works were for sale? Some onlookers check out El Fotografo’s “Atlantic City” image The paintings were displayed in several indoor galleries. The photos were hung in an outside atrium that is not appropriate…

  • El Fotografo’s Works in Noche de Arte Benefit Sale

    Barb
    23 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pm
    Atlantic City, by Jorge Vera El Fotografo’s photographs will be among the artworks for sale at Noche de Arte 2009, which opens tonight in San Isidro (BBVA – Banco Continental, Ave. Republica de Panama 3055), from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Proceeds from the three-day event benefit the Anne Sullivan Center, the Carrion Hospital Burn Unit and other institutions and charities. Works on sale by El Fotografo (Jorge Vera) include “Atlantic City” (above), which is a very striking 100 cms by 100 cms, and “Sphere” (below), 70 cm x 70 cm. I think they are two of EF’s…

  • Peruvian Lord of the Miracles Batting .758, Survey Says

    Barb
    18 Oct 2009 | 5:46 pm
    Pres. Alan García bears the burden of the silver litter, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009; photo courtesy Andina A recent poll by the University of Lima indicated that more than three-quarters of devotees of El Señor de los Milagros say the Peruvian Christ figure has answered their prayers. Nearly 76 percent — 75.8 percent — of those surveyed say that their prayer to or request of the Lord of the Miracles was granted, reports El Comercio. Some of the miracles attributed to El Señor include people being cured of brain cancer, handicapped people regaining use of their legs and sailors…

  • Three Jacks Play Miami Tonight

    Barb
    17 Oct 2009 | 11:50 am
    My bandmates The Three Jacks will be rocking downtown Miami’s Gusman Center tonight to raise funds for Jackson Memorial Hospital. Remaining tickets are on sale for $15 each, $10 for students. Sharing the stage will be champion step dancers from the Breffni Academy of Irish Dance. Those of you who saw The Three Jacks in Lima this past May will remember Carolyn, Caroline and Kiera’s remarkable footwork. (By the way, 17-year-old Kiera just won 5th place in the U.S. National Championships. Riverdance, watch out.) I highly urge all Peruvians in Miami to show their support for this…
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    Expat Chronicles

  • Contributed Story: Instability in Tijuana

    Colin
    6 Nov 2009 | 3:59 pm
    This story was contributed by Luis Blasini, an American expat living in Tijuana, Mexico. Check out his blog, Borrowed Flesh. For context on Tijuana and the situation in Mexico, see this WSJ article on Mexico’s instability. An old man draped in filthy rags blinked in the unrelenting Mexican sun. His creased face was the color of a brown paper bag and he sported a dingy yellow cowboy hat. Out of tired rheumy eyes, he watched three white Ford trucks – Tijuana paddy wagons – hurtling down a broad street kicking up dust. Several police clung to the sides as they raced by –…

  • Contributed Story: Good Try in Germany

    Colin
    30 Oct 2009 | 7:23 am
    This story was contributed by Brian Radvansky. Check out his blog, Striving for Greatness. Despite the utter squareness of the other students in our study abroad program, KT and I had some adventures in Deutschland. While they were practicing verb conjugations in our slumlord-governed apartments, we were buying drugs from the Turks in the park and smuggling mushrooms from the Netherlands. After 5 weeks of studying German and drinking brown liquor, it was time to go. An opportunity to hit the road and see what excitement the rest of Europe had to offer. After hitting up our favorite…

  • Scopolamine in Colombia

    Colin
    24 Oct 2009 | 6:40 am
    Scopolamine, also known as Burundanga, is a powerful sedative extracted from the Brugmansia flower, which is native to Colombia. Scopolamine is commonly used as a central nervous system depressant in patch form to treat nausea, seasickness, motion sickness, and less commonly in treatments of Parkinson’s symptoms and in anesthesia. Scopolamine is starting to attract attention for its potential in treating addiction, specifically nicotine. Scopolamine comes with a slew of side effects ranging from dry mouth and impaired speech, amnesia, excitement and restlessness, to hallucinations and…

  • Chapinero Alto in Pictures

    Colin
    18 Oct 2009 | 6:35 pm
    Chapinero Alto is the urban-affluent section of Bogota. Alto means tall or high. I live in Chapinero near Plaza Lourdes, which sits at the same level 50 blocks north of downtown. Moving east past La Septima, the land starts climbing into the mountains. On these steep hills are built some of the most extravagant houses and apartment buildings in the country. I almost moved into one of these buildings but it was all the way up on Circunvalar, as high in the mountains as the buildings go. The view overlooking the city was better than any of these pics and the unit was the same price as I’m…

  • Life in Latin America: A Gringo Perspective

    Colin
    10 Oct 2009 | 6:46 pm
    I’ve written a PDF report on life down here. It’s intended for people who aren’t regular readers of this blog who may have questions about Latin America. What are the people like? What is dating like? How’s the sex? How do you make friends? How do you make money? Is partying different? How are the drugs? Is it safe? Are there kidnappings? Are the police corrupt? Have you been robbed or beaten up? Regular readers should enjoy it too. It’s about 60% recycled content and 40% previously-unpublished freshness (I did a word count). I’ve been in South America for a year…
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    Still Life in South America

  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

    Still Life in South America
    22 Oct 2009 | 11:44 am
    Photo Credit: ifijay Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site about 15 minutes outside of the city of Cape Town. The gardens are a beautiful refuge where tourists can see the Cape Floral Region kingdom, the smallest but richest floral kingdom in the world. The area boasts a variety of fynbos (Africaans for ‘fine bush’) which can [...]

  • Bootsnall Notable Expat Blog

    Still Life in South America
    13 Oct 2009 | 12:06 pm
    Protea Flower, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town. As you probably noticed, the blog has been barren for a few weeks now. Part of the reason is that we were in the process of returning to Buenos Aires from Cape Town. It feels much like our second home now. We are slowly unpacking our bags and are really hyped for [...]

  • Waterblommetjie

    Still Life in South America
    16 Sep 2009 | 8:01 pm
    E. found these water flowers in the produce section in Cape Town and suggested that we try them for dinner. I was hesitant since the flowers looked like they had recently been sitting on lily pads, but I stepped up to the challenge. “Waterblommetjie” in the Africaans language means small water flower. The flowers are traditionally [...]

  • More Rock Hyrax

    Still Life in South America
    14 Sep 2009 | 8:01 pm
    In a previous post, I introduced a slightly perturbed rodent named a rock hyrax, more commonly known as a dassie. I’m not sure that the photo truly conveyed the dassie’s character, so here are a few more photos. The dassie below cast an evil eye upon us. Posted in Animals, Cape Town, South Africa [...]

  • Table Mountain

    Still Life in South America
    12 Sep 2009 | 1:38 pm
    A must-see attraction for Cape Town visitors is the view from the top of Table Mountain. On a clear day, you can see 360 degrees, the coasts and the city. There are a number of trail options to climb up the mountain; however, we decided to take the cable car to save time. Here is a [...]
 
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    Rantings from Afar

  • Styles in Paintings

    annmucc
    3 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pm
    I know I haven’t finished uploading the notes yet, but I thought I’d write a bit about my impression of the course. So, a bit of background: In the middle of summer I was looking for courses on history of art, as, especially after my visit to Pisa when I got to visit Florence and the rest, I realised that I really needed to brush up on this subject, which I have not touched a lot though it always interested me. So in my search I found a set of courses at the National Gallery on styles in painting. I was interested in attending, but couldn’t find it in me to justify buying…

  • Dracula and Whisky…in a Church :)

    annmucc
    2 Nov 2009 | 8:10 am
    Yeps…that was an event Michael and I went to last week . A friend of mine was in town and we should have met up with him for this, but unluckily he couldn’t make it in the end so Michael and I went on alone. Jameson Whisky has been organising a number of Cult Film Club evenings, where they show a cult film at a venue for free for people with tickets, and with free whisky . Michael saw it on the (ever so useful) Ian Visits blog and we managed to get tickets. This was my first time at the Union Chapel…but WOW what a venue! Especially with the atmosphere set up, and the organ…

  • WBSD: Holidays and Celebrations

    annmucc
    30 Oct 2009 | 5:01 pm
    Another World Blog Surf Day has come (remember my posts from the previous events? See them here and here). This time it is about holidays and celebrations. The guidelines were to write about our favourite new holiday and how it is celebrated. I think one of the only ones we don’t celebrate in Malta is Guy Fawkes Night. Unfortunately last year I didn’t celebrate it in any way, and it is due next week…which would be too late for this. So I decided to cheat a bit…and compare Christmas in Malta (I am Maltese) and in Denmark (my boyfriend is Danish), where I spent Christmas…

  • Styles in Painting: Mannerism

    annmucc
    30 Oct 2009 | 2:42 pm
    Look again slightly to the right…a bit further…to the menu. Can you see that further pages have been added? Yeps! FINALLY! I found time to finish typing up my notes from the Styles in Painting lecture I attended last Saturday on Mannerism. I divided the notes into 2 parts as I found it was getting a bit toooo long…yes I know! I write too much

  • Research Blog

    annmucc
    30 Oct 2009 | 9:22 am
    Read my post on an event I attended last week: Price? No Object!
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    behind the lens

  • Happy Halloween!

    31 Oct 2009 | 12:00 am
    We have been watching scary movies all month in celebration (ok, not like we don't do that every month). What is your favorite Horror movie? Or, ghost or ghoulie or witch themed movie if you aren't into the scary stuff?Here are some of my favorites, though this is in NO WAY a comprehensive list:Session 9Trick r TreatPoltergeistBeetlejuicePitch BlackPractical MagicThe ShiningThe Ring

  • Abandoned

    28 Oct 2009 | 2:45 am
    Last week I got to go explore an abandoned Amusement Park. It was a place I had been dying to get into ever since I moved to Berlin, and wish I could go back to many times (unfortunately you have to pay the security guards to get in). It was awesome to explore, but also a bit sad. Like a quickly abandoned childhood, overgrown with the dust and weeds of adult troubles. The whole place just

  • Autumn love

    22 Oct 2009 | 3:16 pm
    I love this time of year. Once I get over the loss of summer I love Autumn wholeheartedly. There are so many good things to eat, such beautiful colors on the trees, cool crisp autumn air....oh wait, except in Berlin we skipped that part and went straight to freezing bitter cold winter air. Its the coldest October ever on record here. Lets hope that is not a trend that stays with us during

  • Paris

    18 Oct 2009 | 2:01 am
    A few weeks ago my camera and I got to get away for a few days and go explore Paris. I was there for almost 3 days and couldn't seem to pry myself away from the Eiffel Tower. I loved photographing it from almost every angle at every time of day.I was loving all the adorable carousels as well...they seem to be everywhere and are so colorful and play this adorable french children's music. While

  • Prints of Darkness

    5 Oct 2009 | 8:30 am
    Maybe its all the True Blood I have been watching....but I love dark monotone art. These are some of my favorites I have - and now I have them up for sale in my Etsy shop. Check em out. The top one is currently hanging in my bedroom (above my crimson velvet chaise lounge). ;)
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    NicoleB Photography

  • Sunset at the golf course, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

    NicoleB
    6 Nov 2009 | 9:26 pm
    Hubby’s been playing golf again yesterday. I went with him and got me some cool Buzzard and falcon shots. And the above. I love it . Today I’ll head out on a glass bottom boat for a little touristy tour. So, I’ll be on the road again and play catch up with you all tomorrow Have a great weekend you all. 40% off for Holiday Cards and Photo Cards - Valid until Noc 12th Code: HOLIDAYCARD4

  • Spur winged Plover Party

    NicoleB
    5 Nov 2009 | 9:52 pm
    Have you ever watched a flock of Spur winged Plovers? They are a Party bunch and noisy too when they Party. We saw these guys the last few weeks. You hear them, before you see them. Then they try to fly in formation, but usually one or two just think about something else and the whole formation crumbles. They get mad and the Party starts. I love them —————- More Skywatch Friday 40% off for Holiday Cards and Photo Cards - Valid until Noc 12th Code: HOLIDAYCARD4

  • Trash in Sharm el Sheikh

    NicoleB
    4 Nov 2009 | 9:59 pm
    After seeing my pictures of a beautiful and clean Sharm el Sheikh, Lou left a comment the other day, that this place seems to be so much cleaner than Kuwait. Nope. Not the case. I just haven’t shown the trash yet. Like Kuwait, trash is almost everywhere. In front of houses, piling up in streets, flying around. And it’s polluting the desert. One trash dump is at Naama bay, just outside, where the mountains start. Some if it seems to get burned. A lot of it is just blown back to the streets by the the strong winds. Sharm going green? I don’t see it yet. The government made a…

  • Glorious sunrise

    NicoleB
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:33 pm
    Hubby woke me to see this Beauty - I wasn’t all awake yet, so excuse the blur…. 40% off for Holiday Cards and Photo Cards - Valid until Noc 12th Code: HOLIDAYCARD4 40% off for Holiday Cards and Photo Cards - Valid until Noc 12th Code: HOLIDAYCARD4

  • Ice rink at Soho square, Naama bay in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

    NicoleB
    3 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am
    There are a few things in the world that border close to insanity in my humble opinion. One was the sky dome in Dubai. One are ice rinks in Egypt. Yes, it sounds cool. It is cool, but obviously people don’t use it. Why would they? This country has some of the most beautiful beaches. Why would people go ice skating? Put a chair for me in the middle of the rink in the heat of summer and I’ll use it, yeah. Maybe. And here are two ice rinks right beside each other. Small, but eating energy nonetheless. And no solar power being used. Insanity rules here View My world in a larger map…
 
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    ON THE MOVE AGAIN

  • The Price is Not so Right

    29 Oct 2009 | 11:49 am
    As I have mentioned before, the cost of living in Geneva is simply outrageous. Since we re-located from another expensive city in London, I did not think the difference would be too extreme. Wow, I was wrong. Below is a list of some common item/services and their price (US dollars) in Geneva. There is a reason why people who live in Geneva drive to France for groceries and haircuts! Let’s just say that when I am in the States for Thanksgiving, I will be bringing an empty suitcase to fill up from one major shopping spree.Men’s haircut- minimum $40.00Manicure- $55.00McDonald’s Value meal-…

  • A Week Down...

    24 Oct 2009 | 12:08 pm
    After living in Geneva for a little over a week, I have to admit that I have some feelings of concern. The city itself is not the prettiest, most interesting, or biggest. I am very frustrated that I cannot speak the language and find myself trying to avoid talking to people. I feel completely helpless everywhere. At the grocery store I cannot read the labels or communicate with the cashier. I have been trying to get a frequent users card from our local grocery store for a week now to no avail! Calling a public swimming pool for hours and prices was a complete disaster. I have no idea how I am…

  • More Pics From Our Last Days in London

    18 Oct 2009 | 1:33 pm
    Entering the Hampstead tube station for the last time Goodbye 17a Willow Road Leaving our flat for the last time Some more leaving do drinks

  • Some Pictures from Our Last Days in London

    18 Oct 2009 | 12:56 pm
    Having fun at our leaving do! A little more fun... Jignesh and Schlopy on moving day Our London lives all packed up! Origin: LondonDesitnation: Geneva The best movers!

  • Hello Geneva!

    17 Oct 2009 | 7:21 am
    Well, we made it! We have officially been residents of Geneva for a little over 48 hours. The London side of the move was surprisingly smooth. We dropped Schlopy off at British Airways cargo 4.5 hours before the flight and then proceeded to the terminal where we enjoyed one last breakfast in the UK. Once we arrived in Switzerland, things got a little more interesting. After landing we made our way through customs, collected our luggage, and boarded a bus to collect Schlopy at cargo. Well, after about 5 minutes on the bus we discovered that we were on the wrong bus AND going the wrong…
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    Northern Natterings

  • A Math Problem For You

    3 Nov 2009 | 4:12 am
    x + y + z = ?Let x be "over-imaginative, scaredy-cat girl."Let y be "over-imaginative, scaredy-cat dog."Let z be "big, super-old house with lots of creepy night noises."

  • My Day Today

    2 Nov 2009 | 12:11 pm
    6:30 a.m.: Fall out of bed with the alarm ringing. Throw on barn clothes, let the dog out, let the dog in, sneak the dog into bed with the husband, make tea, brush teeth, grab tea, go down to stable.7:00 a.m.: Meet the stable owner. Feeding starts. Must weight everything because my kilo-pound calculator is not quite tuned. Takes forever, horses are getting mad.8:00 a.m.: Let the beasties out in their paddocks in full kit. Go back and clean up stable. (If you are a neat freak, you do not want to know the amount of crap, dirt, bits of hay, and flung randomness eight horses can generate in an…

  • A Reason to Marry a Foreigner

    30 Oct 2009 | 2:10 pm
    Conversations are always entertaining:(We're watching a famous Scandinavian talk show.)Sverre: Oh! Winswan is on tonight.Me: Huh?Sverre: Winswan. You know.Me: What is Winswan?Sverre: Wins Wan! The American actor! You know!Me: Uh...Vince Vaughn?Sverre: Yeah. Wins Waughn.Me: Vince Vaughn.Sverre: That's what I said! Just like you, with an angry tone! Wince Waughn....At that point, I gave up.

  • Already Missing It

    26 Oct 2009 | 2:56 pm
    My Norwegian test is next week, and then I'll leave my school in Oslo for the new town. And I already miss my classes!Tonight was my last society class in Oslo. I am going to miss the group we had. Most people think that the society class is an exquisite form of torture. However, my group was so friendly, smart, and willing to discuss different cultures that I learned something new every week.I will miss one of our Ethiopian members who is larger than life. He is an idealist, who waxes lyrical (and loudly) about love and his hopes to create a family, become a doctor, and how Norway is…

  • When Are YOU Visiting Us?

    24 Oct 2009 | 11:36 am
    Because the invitation is out, August 2010.RennyBA's Terella is putting on Blog Gathering in Oslo, and y'all better be there. C'mon down and say hi! This whole fest will get you:Lots of expensive beer!(This is me hoping....)Sightseeing of Lovely Oslo!Special prices on accommodations??A guided tour of Oslo on your first day!Activities and fun!An opportunity for bloggers from all over the world to meet and verify that yes, blogging can translate to real life!Look here for more information!RennyBA’s TerellaOfficial Program Site
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    Happy Adventures

  • Psst..

    4 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pm
    My little brother has a blog now. He and his wife are expecting a baby... little Audrey...A N Y S E C O N D!!!I was trying hard not to write about it until I had pictures and details... :)

  • Cold Hands

    4 Nov 2009 | 12:24 pm
    Today it was snowing sideways. I left Scotty at bornehaven until 2:00 so Andrea could get a full nap. I thought for sure that he would be warm and snug, playing inside. There's no way they would let kids play outside in this kind of weather.... HA. I picked him up and he was a frozen little Scotty-cicle. He had on his snow coat, his regular coat, and his hat and gloves... In defense of the school the teachers had given the kids the choice to play outside or stay inside. When I picked up Scotty he was one of ten boys who had chosen "outside". They were all covered in mud and sand and were all…

  • What I eat.

    3 Nov 2009 | 11:47 am
    With my recent injury I've discovered I'm prone to wallowing in self-pity. I would do terrible with actually having to endure a severe injury that had permanent side affects. I am SO annoyed at this entire thing. My lip and nose are HUGE.... but there are no other signs that my face hit concrete. This may sound good, but it just means that when people look at me they just think I have an extremely fat nose and a funny looking lip, which I've also decided is bruised so it looks like I have a mustache.... Yippie!Back to the topic: What I eat.Let's see, what did I eat today?Breakfast: Oatmeal…

  • Halloween

    1 Nov 2009 | 3:08 am
    Our Halloween party was great! YAY! The games went well... The trick-or-treating was a success. Everyone was happy. Andrea was a little dirt bike rider. Scotty was a hockey player. Sierra was a witch and Michaela was a Harry Potter person. :) I was a cat and Paul was Superman. I think I should have worn his superman cape though... for when I went flying through the air off the pogo-stick and landed on the concrete floor... face first.Then I saw this...I was not happy. I am still rather unhappy at the whole situation...When I fell I landed on my chin and mouth and my two top teeth got pushed…

  • Mama & Cheese

    29 Oct 2009 | 1:09 pm
    Andrea has spoken. I've decided these are official words, not just random sounds. :) - Mama was first. ...because she loves me. :)- Cheese was second. ...because that's what you say when you take people's pictures.MAMAShe says "mama" when she sees me and wants me to get her. She has now learned that a tiny little voice saying "mama" will get me to do whatever she wants! She started saying "dada" too but I haven't decided "dada" means "dada". "mama" had been around a while before I decided it really meant me. :)CHEESEShe says cheese ("eeeezzz") when she holds the camera up to her face to take…
 
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    Abu Dhabi Daily Photograph

  • LadIES Mosque

    6 Nov 2009 | 9:25 am
    The quaint entrance to the ladies mosque at the Heritage Village on the breakwater.

  • Café Royale

    5 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am
    The Sri Lankan man in the fez I featured yesterday works here, at this outside café squished between two high risers. There are many of these ‘mini oasis’ dotted about the city, all with their trellised fences and manicured lawns. This one even has its own tree. Although quiet during the day these cafés come alive at night, mostly with groups of men smoking shisha. The waft of which can be smelt a mile off. My favourite waft is apricot & strawberry.

  • What a Melting Pot!

    4 Nov 2009 | 8:03 am
    Hmmmmm - Where else in the world would you find a Sri Lankan in a fez, working outdoors.

  • Photo of the Month - November's Favourite

    3 Nov 2009 | 8:53 am
     Here's a re-post of photo that launched this blog 12 months ago. It's of the old watch tower at Al Hosn Palace in the heart of Abu Dhabi and one of my all-time favourite shots. Hope you like it too.

  • Happy 1st Birthday (to me!)

    2 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am
     Yup, Abu Dhabi Daily Photograph is now officially one year old. In web time, that's a lifetime, but don't worry I've got plenty of photos left in me. It's been quite a ride. The blog's had over 19,000 visits, has 84 devout followers, received hundreds of great comments from around the world, won a top 100 blog award, had two of my photos grace the cover of TESOL Arabia Perspectives Journal, received enquiries from both an ad agency and a publisher for one of my photos. There's also a book in the pipeline and I even make a cool $5 a month through advertising. Here's to the next 12…
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    PALORDINIA

  • The great inheritance

    5 Nov 2009 | 4:35 am
    "The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not its mineral right". J. Paul GettyNone of the said above applies to this region. We inheritted nothingmore than two dozens of fat cats which keep getting stuffed and refuseto die or let live!Somehow not a single set of rules, neither scientific nor social, candescribe what's going on here. And somehow the down spiral process isaccelerating.Sporting my Nostradamus hat, I believe in 10 years time we'll startcommercially exporting Porn to the rest of the world.I just wish I can ride the tide and get my share.In the end, if you can't…

  • INSTALLING HUSBAND!!!

    29 Oct 2009 | 12:34 pm
    A woman writes to the IT Technical support Guy Dear Tech Support,

  • MALE VS. FEMALE AT THE ATM MACHINE

    7 Oct 2009 | 7:55 am
    A joke I received on e-mail, it's just a joke ladies, we know know you are smarter than this!MALE PROCEDURE:1. Drive up to the cash machine.2. Put down your car window.3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.6. Put window up.7. Drive off.FEMALE PROCEDURE:What is really funny is that most of this part is the Truth.!!!!1. Drive up to cash machine.2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.3. Set hand brake, put the window down.4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to…

  • Abbas should apply for an Israeli Passport

    3 Oct 2009 | 12:04 pm
    This generation has lived log enough to see various manifestations of defeatism in the spirit and actions of our "so-called leaders". We've also read about conspiracies and policies solely aimed at protecting regimes and thrones. Still, politicians had a sense of shame. Or maybe political acumen which will prevent them from committing political suicide! Not that it would matter, nor that it will affect their seats and thrones, but to win some extra naïve heads amongst this hibernating nation! And there are quite a few of them.Abbas and his PA will go down in history as the…

  • More than 40000 people are over 100 years old

    11 Sep 2009 | 3:53 pm
    Japan has decided to teach the world another lesson in survival, after the rise from WWII Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s inhuman attacks, they stood up, dusted themselves, worked really hard to come back as the world’s second biggest economy, but they didn’t stop there, they worked on their health also to stun the world with probably the healthiest people on earth (I don’t have any studies about that but it’s not so hard to figure it out), they have more than 40000 people over the age 100 years.“TOKYO – The number of Japanese centenarians has doubled in the past six years to a record…
 
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    Black Chick in Saudi

  • Too Funny...The Vacuum Cleaner

    26 Oct 2009 | 6:55 pm
    Before I moved to SA (10 months ago); I made a few purchases.  One of them being a new vacuum cleaner.  I picked up one by Dyson, which is suppose to be one of the best.  Well...about a week ago, my mom asked me how I liked it?  I started laughing.  She was wandering what was up...and then she said..."Terri, have you even used the vacuum cleaner" (she knows I HATE to vacuum, i think it's the noise).  And, then I told her, that the vacuum cleaner had been used, and I guess I like it, but how I personally have never used it.  Then I went on the relate how when…

  • Officially I'm considering Myself a Travel Writer

    26 Oct 2009 | 2:41 am
    So...officially I'm considering myself a travel writer.  LOL.  Have I sold any articles?  No.  But, you don't have to sell anything to be a travel writer.  You just write about your journeys and what you discover.  I am taking some travel writing courses.  It has already help me with my writing, how I view my vacations, and how I plan them. Now...I've always been a planner, and I LOVE all the prep work involved in planning a vacation.  So...these are just added tips.  I've created my Black Chick on Tour blog to showcase my writing, but I also will…

  • Had a Blast @ The Ball

    24 Oct 2009 | 12:43 am
    What can I say but that we had a blast at the Ball.I love to dance...got to do that.I love to hang out and eat good food and have drinks with friends...did that.I love to party as hard as possible for the given situation...did that.Closed the party down at 5AM...did that.

  • Going to The Ball

    21 Oct 2009 | 10:39 am
    One of the things you learn while living in SA is that you have to "make your fun".  In the US we are used to have many forms of entertainment from which to choose.  Not so in SA.  Socializing comes in the form of gathering at people's homes, and organized events (typically a party, that may have some theme) put on my various organizations.  Some of those organized events can turn into the highlight for your week.  I happened to have one that I'm attending tomorrow.  And, guess what..it's the highlight of my week.We're attending the Commodore Ball. …

  • Stepford Wives?

    12 Oct 2009 | 3:21 am
    Recently (actually about a month ago) I was speaking to another "Aramco" wife...and she stated something like the following, "these single girls think that we're all Stepford Wives".  This is a loose quote, as these are probably not the exact words, but close enough.  The label "Stepford Wife" (based on the novel, circa 1972, by Ira Levin) is usually applied to a woman who seems to conform blindly to an old-fashioned subservient role in relationship to her husband, compared to other, presumably more independent and vivacious women.  Since I heard this, I had to let it marinate.
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    Simply LeAnne

  • Letters from Egypt: To be a Virgin or Not?

    4 Nov 2009 | 3:13 am
    As the debate rages on about the new Chinese device, Gigimo, a cheaper version of the surgery that allots for a woman to appear a virgin on her wedding night by secreting a blood-like substance, many in Egypt are in an uproar over the product (that is supposedly sold in Syria for a meager $15).A few thoughts before I mention Mona Eltahawy’s blog and the actual NPR article I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago. First of all, we all know it’s hypocritical on all accounts. I have never met a group of people that have more sex than Egyptians, let me rephrase that, Egyptian men. And if you…

  • !!WARNING!! New White Taxis in Cairo

    24 Oct 2009 | 5:01 am
    This isn’t going to be a usual post, just a brief warning for those of you traveling or living in Cairo. The city has recently introduced new white cabs, a far better upgrade than the black and whites that leave you with a feeling, “Am I going to make it to my destination? Will I live?” And when they first came out, the drivers were amazing. Of course, it was only bound to happen that the bad apples would get their hands on the new automobiles before long.So here’s a warning to all of you: the white cab meters have two settings. One is the standard 2.50LE per kilometer, another that…

  • Letters from Egypt: Taking a Stand

    18 Oct 2009 | 3:33 pm
    Taken on my way home from work I officially have 31 days left until I visit the US, my first time back home since I arrived over 15 months ago! And I am ever so ready. However, I must say I have some anxieties about visiting. I hear that your first time back, you realize just how much you and everyone around you has changed. Sure you expect some change, but I guess there’s always that hope that it will be like you never left at all. That aside, now back to life in Egypt. Just when you think you’ve had enough of something, someone shows you that there is still hope. I will not sugarcoat…

  • Letters from Egypt: Missing in Action

    29 Sep 2009 | 11:19 am
    First of all, I’m going to address this issue – you may not agree with what I write, but note that these are my experiences. As I’ve stated in previous blogs, I’m not here to appease everyone, if I only showed the positive without the negative, how realistic is that? I do not mind counter views, but please remain respectful. Furthermore, for those men who send me emails and/or post comments pretending to be women – just stop. You’re only validating views that have been expressed regarding harassment. Finally, I almost always respond to questions and/or comments. However, I make a…

  • Letters from Egypt: Next Stop Fayoum

    22 Sep 2009 | 5:37 pm
    Sometimes I just get the urge that I want to have an adventure of sorts, like that day I just woke up and said, “I think I’ll go to Shobra.” The end of Ramadan when most Cairoenes venture to the Red Sea, some of us still maintain a regular work schedule as though we were back in our own countries. So while I couldn’t venture to the party scene on the Red Sea (Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab), I decided that I could still venture out which led me to visit Fayoum. Fayoum, the nearest oasis to Cairo, is full of character – but I didn’t really see much of it as one day is simply not…
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    Sidewalk

  • Brief overview of Lagos

    7 Nov 2009 | 12:21 am
    When I blogged about being escorted in a convoy from the airport when in Nigeria, I was wrong. It is not a myth. Just that I didn't notice the security car which is following closely behind our bus (guess that's why I didn't notice it). This morning when I went to the airport, I took the trouble to give my neck a twist and saw, Lo and Behold, the security car tailing closely to ours. My

  • A glimpse of daily living in Nigeria

    4 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm
    EXPENSIVE.I thought Kenya was expensive until I made my way to Lagos. My friend has decided ahead to take me out for a sushi dinner on the Friday when I am here and told me that the dinner with cost between the range of 8000 to 10,000 Naira (Nigerian Currency). I almost fainted when I did the conversion to USD. The dinner could cost up to 75 USD.For a normal meal, it usually cost about 2000 to

  • That's Nigeria for you

    4 Nov 2009 | 2:24 am
    After a 5 hours flight from Nairobi to Lagos, the last thing I want is being held up at the passport control at the airport upon arrival. I was relieved when I saw the line at the passport control was reasonably short but to my dismay, they ran out of the entry form. Thinking that they will eventually bring us some, I was wrong.I was so surprised when one of the passanger asked for it and was

  • Exam...one will do anything to pass the grade..

    23 Oct 2009 | 5:03 am
    Exam cheats arrested as fake papers on sale Students turn to "Smart Drugs' for better grades Five Candidates held as knee steps war on exam cheats Six seized over killing of exam official

  • Beautiful Jacaranda

    5 Oct 2009 | 5:30 am
    I recall the first time I stepped onto the Kenyan soil in July last year, the first tree that caught my attention was the beautiful Jacaranda trees. When in full bloom the entire tree is purple. Not a single green was found on the tree. It was like a purple torch that lights up the streets of Nairobi.This year, perhaps it's due to the weather change, the bloom came only in late September early
 
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    Ruth's Place

  • He came bearing gifts

    ruthsplace
    30 Oct 2009 | 6:01 am
    Gorgeous Man is back in the country. He arrived very late Monday night. This week has been about getting life back in order and playing with my new spinning wheel. It came in a big box, that was opened for inspection at the airport by SARS. That would be the South African Revenue Service. There was an import duty charged, but it was minimal (much less than we were expecting having heard the horror stories…). Here she is. Each Ladybug comes with her own ladybug stuck on somewhere. Mine is at the front where I can see her. Gorgeous Girl is most taken with this feature, and looks at the…

  • Phew

    ruthsplace
    24 Oct 2009 | 2:23 am
    So, Gorgeous Man is currently in Portland, Maine. He left on Monday and will be back late Monday night. I’ve been telling Gorgeous Girl that Daddy will be home Tuesday since she will be asleep when he gets home. Thankfully a friend is picking him up from the airport so I don’t need to get Gorgeous Girl out of bed to sit in a carpark waiting. I’ve been surprised at how much Gorgeous Girl has understood where Daddy has gone. I think our trip to Australia has helped somewhat since she has been on a plane and knows what one is. She was most worried that they would give Daddy…

  • Some finishes

    ruthsplace
    14 Oct 2009 | 3:56 am
    Life has been hectic, and a certain little miss seems to need more and more entertaining lately. Still I’ve managed to get a bit finished here and there. First up, some spinning. This is my attempt at sock yarn. It is 3.35 ounces and 341 yards (95 grams and 312 metres) and is n-plied. I need to spin up the second half for the second sock. Recently I spun my first batt. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve joined a local (South African) monthly fibre club to receive batts and fibre in the mail for three months. Ravelry is a wonderful thing. Gorgeous Man is heading to Portland, Maine in…

  • I’m not Martha

    ruthsplace
    5 Oct 2009 | 7:23 am
    But I did make a cake for Gorgeous Girl’s second birthday yesterday. I think she liked it. OK time to be truthful. It tasted really good, and even better today, but Gorgeous Girl isn’t much of a cake eater and was happy to just have the Smarties off the top (she doesn’t get lollies very often). She was thrilled with her birthday presents though. I have to show you this picture, because it says volumes about her. We had to put the paper waste basket there for her to put the rubbish into straight away. She didn’t seem to mind the paper that came off in one big piece, but…

  • Show and tell time

    ruthsplace
    28 Sep 2009 | 5:27 am
    I’ve been having great fun with my new ball winder. My handspun looks totally professional all balled up, well at least I think it does. I was sorting out my scrap (shoe)box this week (thanks to a certain Gorgeous Girl who decided to help Mummy by emptying it on the floor) and discovered a UFO that I had become discouraged about a little while ago. I decided to finish it anyway and give it to Gorgeous Girl as a doll quilt. She is currently very into looking after her ‘babies’. This was disappearing nine-patch made from scraps left over from my first quilt. Just got the…
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    Trailing Grouse

  • Snapping away

    trailing grouse
    2 Nov 2009 | 10:24 pm
    We arrive at a wedding party. The couple have not yet arrived. Some of the other guests are also on time (the couple are not supposed to be on time). People are taking photos. I can’t quite hear the guys next to Mr S and I, but it seems that they want their photo taken with us. I am not really in the mood for this, grumpy me, so I play dumb. They ask Mr S for a photo with him. Phew, grumpy me doesn’t have to smile. Something’s a bit strange though, the photographer is not at quite the right angle for the group to be in the centre of the shot..it’s just a bit off centre…

  • Smells a bit off (no, I don’t mean me)

    trailing grouse
    1 Nov 2009 | 3:37 am
    Right then. I’m heading out of the lift, sticky, hot and particularly sweaty after just working out. I would like to say I look good, but well, I don’t.  I might even smell, but I don’t especially want to go there. I have a sense that someone is following me. This sense is well-honed from living in Egypt for eight years, but not so well practiced after living in The Hood for the last three. I’m sure I’m mistaken. Paranoid even. I test it out. The real test: I walk on the pavement. Nobody in their right mind walks on the pavement in Cairo. Pavements are a mere…

  • Older and moderately wiser

    trailing grouse
    14 Oct 2009 | 3:56 am
    “Grouse doesn’t suffer fools gladly.” This was one of the most thought-provoking sentences from my life at school. Perhaps because it was about me and my ego enjoyed that. It was a sentence in my school report when I was about 14. I was perplexed for a good while afterwards. Big Mama read it out to me like I should be ashamed of myself, “But what’s the problem with that,” I thought (and maybe, being 14, said), “WHO would want to suffer anything, especially stupid people and why would they do so gladly?” The sentence seemed flawed to me. After a…

  • An apple a day..

    trailing grouse
    4 Oct 2009 | 1:05 am
    Dr One:  “What you have is a bit of inflammation, don’t worry. You should go and see Dr A when he comes back.” Me: “When is that?” Dr One: “He’s overseas on holiday, he’ll be back on 7 October (two weeks).” Two days later, symtoms are even worse. Another Dr is chosen. Dr Two: “What you have is an infection. Here’s a prescription for antibiotics. You’ll start to feel better in two days. If you don’t, call me.” Me: “Ok, thanks. I’m allergic to penicillin.” Dr Two: “No problem.”…

  • Mrs Grouse

    trailing grouse
    18 Sep 2009 | 9:11 am
    I’ve just discovered a the answer to a question that has perplexed me for years: why do Egyptian women put on weight after marriage? As a general statement it is the rule. There are some exceptions..but not many. The answer came to me as Mr S headed out the door saying, “I’m just going for a short run” and I pulled my lazy behind up off the sofa to make the trek to the fridge where I then had to extend my arm, grab hold of the door handle, pull the door open, then reach inside, take out some chocolates, close the door and begin the hike back to the sofa. It’s…
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    Taiwaneers

  • Photo of the Day

    Emily
    1 Nov 2009 | 12:52 am
    I subscribe to the Wall Street Journal’s daily photos, which are a good way for me to keep on top of world events. And, more interesting (sorry, it’s true) than reading a bunch of newspaper articles. This photo of Taipei drivers was posted yesterday, and I thought it was great. Motorists crowd at a junction during rush hour in Taipei October 29, 2009. There are around 8.8 million motorcycles and 4.8 million cars on Taiwan’s roads and nearly all motor vehicles and inhabitants are squeezed into a third of the island’s area. This results in high concentrations of…

  • Taipei: The Convenient City

    Michael
    29 Oct 2009 | 2:38 am
    One trait that Taiwanese people seem to desire a lot is convenience. When I tell people I live near Guting MRT station but my university is near Jiantan MRT station they’ll tell me how horrible that is because “it’s not very convenient.” I explain that it’s because Emily goes to a university near Guting. In reality though the distance is still only about 20 minutes by scooter when it’s not rush-hour which, to me, is still pretty good. The desire for convenience by her residents gives Taipei some wonderful features. Lets take me and Emily for…

  • Not Much To Tell

    Michael
    20 Oct 2009 | 7:31 am
    It’s been a few weeks since my last post so I figured I had better get on the ball. The problem is there is not much to tell. I mean sure, I can tell you that Emily is super busy and harried with schoolwork and that I’m not but is that really post-worthy news? If you are a praying person you can pray for Emily. She is incredibly challenged by this semester’s workload and doing her utmost to measure up. I, on the other hand, have one of the lightest loads of my academic career right now. With that in mind I’ve been trying to work on becoming more in tune with the…

  • A Little Over Two Weeks

    Michael
    3 Oct 2009 | 10:03 am
    It’s amazing but we’ve already been back for a little over two weeks. Many things have happened in that amount of time but it seems like we’re less busy than back in Michigan. It’s like we’ve come back to our normal life and it’s a vacation. Last Saturday we took advantage of the hot weather and went with some friends to Fulong Beach. We rented a surfboard and had a great day! You know that question people ask you about weather you’re a beach person or a mountain person? I think I’m a beach person. Last Sunday was a big day as well. Our first…

  • Yes I’m Baack in Blaaack

    Michael
    20 Sep 2009 | 1:27 am
    We have completed what has been one of our most fun trips between the USA and Taiwan and are now chilling at our home in the good ol’ Jhongjheng District of Taipei City. Our visit in California proved to be fantastically cultural and extremely enjoyable…you can tell I’ve been in the US for ten weeks ’cause I’ve got such a big vocab to draw on. We made last Sunday a beach day and our friends took us out to Newport Beach. The sun was great and the waves were awesome. We all did our fair share of body-surfing, sun-bathing, and frisbee. Later we went to the evening…
 
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    THE SUPER SLEUTHS ARE ON THE MOVE!

  • This week's events

    5 Nov 2009 | 6:33 pm
    It's been a busy and tiring week, but we're all adjusting back to Singapore time and routine well. Juliana is still rather cranky, but I think it has more to do with her age and testing her limits than anything else. She gets very upset now when she doesn't get her way and it can be very exhausting to deal with, but when she's happy, she is ecstatic!At Gymboree's Play and Learn on Wednesday...That night, Jacob had a dinner for work, so it was just us girls! She ate a good dinner (rare these days), so she got to eat one of her candies from Halloween. Boy, did that bring a smile to her…

  • Talk about inspiration

    3 Nov 2009 | 5:22 pm
    Yesterday morning, I had MOPS for the first time in several weeks since I missed the last two meetings while I was in the states. It was so good to see my friends out here and get some hugs that I really needed! The speaker was very inspirational (more below) and I had been praying about whether or not to do something in my life and during MOPS, two VERY clear signs pointed to "Yes Mel, do it!" Well, I did and I'm praying that it does happen and goes well...don't worry, I will update you too!One of the quotes that the speaker used was, If only we have the will to walk, then God is pleased…

  • Yesterday's devotion

    1 Nov 2009 | 8:28 pm
    I really wanted to share my devotion from yesterday, because I found it inspiring and fitting for some of the things going on in my life. Hope you enjoy it too.The only people for me are the mad ones...the ones who never yawn and say a commonplace thing, but burn burn burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars. - Jack KerouacThe enormous success of the first Rocky movie surprised the experts. They saw it as just another low-budget boxing story. Little did they guess it would win so many awards and capture the imagination of millions all over the world.The…

  • "Special Day"

    1 Nov 2009 | 5:32 pm
    It was an exhausting weekend, but we needed to get out of the house yesterday afternoon. After Juliana woke up from her nap, we headed over to IMM for some family fun. We started at the playground, but since it was a weekend and a Sunday, it was very crowded so it didn't last too long. We headed inside to walk around and saw this art place set up to make your own window decorations or sand art. Juliana chose a Hello Kitty one to paint for the window and it came out so good (one of the ladies added the NOV 2009, not me!)...Such a great idea for kids and it was very inexpensive at $5.90 for the…

  • Happy Halloween!

    31 Oct 2009 | 6:59 am
    This afternoon, we went through some of Juliana's dress up outfits to decide what to wear for this evenings festivities.Was it going to be Dora...Or Alice in Wonderland...Or a fairy... Finally decision, the fairy! It fit her the best too, so it worked out well. Here we are at Milan's place after dinner before heading over to Tiong Bahru Plaza...At the Halloween party, Juliana decorated her own trick-or-treat bag with mommy, daddy and Milan's two older children...Next up was trick-or-treating in some of the mall's stores. We didn't last too long though, because Juliana was exhausted and…
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    Living in Saigon, Vietnam

  • Citi to open retail branch in Vietnam

    6 Nov 2009 | 8:13 pm
    Citi to open retail branch in VietnamBy Sundeep Tucker in Hong Kong and Tim Johnston in BangkokCitigroup will on Tuesday become the first US financial institution to open a retail operation in Vietnam in the latest sign of how western companies are targeting consumers in the fast-growing Asian economy.The US bank will open a branch in Ho Chi Minh City to provide deposit services to individual customers and remittance services for the broader Vietnamese diaspora.The move will augment the commercial banking services it offers. After a torrid 12 months that ended in being rescued by the US…

  • Tropical Storm Mirinae update

    5 Nov 2009 | 3:18 am
    Storm Mirinae has passed through already; we didn't get much of it here in Saigon.Mirinae death toll hits 98Storm Mirinae, later downgraded into a low pressure, has killed at least 98 people in the Central Highlands. Twenty people are still missing and 66 injured.Worse still, heavy rains continue battering the region, causing more flooding on a large area.According to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, the storm has destroyed 15,000 houses and inundated about 3,000ha of rice and more than 5,000ha of subsidiary crops.Hundreds of fish and shrimp-raising ponds has…

  • NY Philharmonic holds debut performance in Hanoi

    2 Nov 2009 | 6:54 pm
    NY Philharmonic holds debut performance in HanoiBy Ian Timberlake (AFP) – Oct 16, 2009HANOI — Evening gowns and motorcycle helmets were the contrasting attire as the New York Philharmonic played its first concert in communist Vietnam after a historic visit to Stalinist North Korea last year.Inside the cosy French colonial-era Hanoi Opera House, a mixed crowd of Vietnamese and Westerners, some in evening dress, filled almost every seat beneath a large chandelier.Except for the occasional click of a camera shutter, they watched in mesmerised silence as the black-clad orchestra performed…

  • English Language Schools - Dong Au

    1 Nov 2009 | 5:24 pm
    Dong Au, also called ELS or Eastern Europe Language School, is a big school with branches all over the city. They are a backpacker school. One time I went in there for an interview and got hired, but I ended up taking a job elsewhere. They pay a low wage and I think it’s really a second-rate outfit.At that time, a couple of years ago, the way they scheduled the foreign teachers was in 45-minute blocks. The classes are 90 minutes and the students have a foreigner’s face in front of them for half the class. It’s a clever way to minimize the school’s expense of hiring a foreign teacher,…

  • Vietnam Orders Evacuations as Tropical Storm Heads for Coast

    1 Nov 2009 | 9:02 am
    Vietnam Orders Evacuations as Tropical Storm Heads for CoastBy Dave McCombs and Van Nguyen, Bloomberg.comNov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Vietnamese authorities ordered evacuations in central and southern coastal provinces as Tropical Storm Mirinae approached the coast.The storm is forecast to make landfall at about 4 p.m. local time as it weakens to a tropical depression.Mirinae was 181 kilometers (112 miles) from Ho Chi Minh city at 7 a.m. local time, with sustained winds of as much as 83 kilometers per hour, down from 93 kilometers per hour four hours earlier, according to the U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon…
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    Clark Nielsen for the Win

  • 20 Questions to Ask Your School in China

    Clark
    6 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am
    When you start talking to recruiters about teaching in China, you may find they’re very cryptic about a lot of details. In fact, they may try to sell you a training school without actually telling you it’s a training school. That may be the route you want to go, but these questions are based on teaching at a public school and are things you’ll want to know before you sign a year-long contract. While the job market is making it harder to be choosy about what school you accept, this list will also help the school realize what it is you need as a foreigner moving to China for…

  • Teachers are but Temporary Friends

    Clark
    4 Nov 2009 | 3:13 am
    Last year was a little hard for me, because I lived in a fairly remote location and couldn’t easily meet up with my friends. This year’s different. I’m closer to the downtown area, but… I have no friends. Well, okay, that’s not true, but when I scroll through my contacts list, I realize many of these people don’t even live here anymore. The problem with staying in the same Chinese city for an additional contract is that most of your friends (other foreign teachers) aren’t dumb enough to do the same. They either go back to their home country or move to…

  • More Visa Trouble for the Foreigners

    Clark
    3 Nov 2009 | 5:03 am
    The process for a Chinese citizen to get a US visa is full of hardships, disappointments, and tears. Apparently, anyone wanting a US visa has to buy a phone card to call and schedule an interview, attend said interview in Shanghai or Beijing, pay a non-refundable 900 RMB application fee, and probably get denied, anyway. So I guess I should keep my mouth shut if I ever want to complain about Chinese visas. I’m itching to tell my tale of two laowais, though, and the troubles they’ve run into concerning the visa process. The first laowai has come and gone a few times now. The last…

  • Eye Exercises are for Losers

    Clark
    2 Nov 2009 | 2:33 am
    Sometimes I wonder if I’m going cross-eyed and don’t realize it. In class, I have the hardest time making eye contact with the student I’m trying to call on. I’ll point at someone, and they’ll mouth, “Me?” then look behind them, even if they’re sitting on the back row. I nod my head, expecting them to stand up, but then the student next to them stands and starts to answer my question. The only way I can ever get the student I want is to go right up to their desk and wave my hand in front of their face. The eye exercises the students do several…

  • Rafting through Zhanggong Cave in Yixing

    Clark
    1 Nov 2009 | 7:28 am
    I was a little low on things to do for Halloween. Visiting a cave, however, seemed like an appropriate activity. While Yixing is mostly famous for its teapots, there are also three caves in the area. Zhanggong is the least popular of the three, but we chose it, because… uh… why did we choose it, again? Zhanggong Cave is small, and most of the scenery inside is actually man-made. I could tell, because it was falling apart. The cheesy, colored lights don’t help the atmosphere much, either. The cave is part of a larger park, and though it is the main attraction there (and the…
 
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    French Sydneysider

  • Je suis venue vous dire que je m'en vais

    26 Oct 2009 | 1:15 am
    Z'etes toujours la???? You-houuuu... y'a quelqu'un??? Au moins y'a l'echo de ma voix :) Dites-moi que j'evolue dans la 4eme dimension et que ce n'est pas deja la fin du mois??? Un jour peut etre je vous raconterai comment c'etait fun Adelaide, oui c'etait la-bas que je vadrouillais au debut du mois. Et comment vous dire.. bah j'y retourne en vadrouille, mais la ce sont les vacances, les vraies, et non, je ne vais pas rendre visite aux voisins.. je vais gouter aux joies de l'Asie!! A priori je vais rester sur Tokyo, mais bon.. qui sait, les plans sont faits pour etre changes! Sur ce je me…

  • Deja le mois d'octobre!!!

    30 Sep 2009 | 10:31 pm
    Et c'est le temps qui court.. comme disait Alliage.Y'a pas que le temps qui court, moi aussi, mais lui il court plus vite que moi le vilain. Encore un jeudi ou je prepare mon balluchon pour cause de depart le lendemain apres le boulot (et en plus lundi c'est ferie donc forcement...), alors je fais ma mise a jour tres vite, ne m'en voulez pas parce que je tenais a vous faire profiter de Monsieur Octobre Adam Crosthwaite. Ouais... bof.. chui pas tres convaincue.. et en plus il est originaire du Victoria! Et ca chez moi c'est rhedibitoire!! Bonne fin de semaine les amis et a la semaine…

  • Fuyons!

    25 Sep 2009 | 3:45 am
    Apres la tempete, le ciel bleu! Tout est rentre dans l'ordre a Sydney mais les medias parlent d'une autre tempete de sable a Broken Hill (ville perdue dans le grand ouest neo-gallois du sud) et qui se dirigerait vers nous!! Sachant que j'ai deja pris plein de photos je ne vais rien louper si effectivement le phenomene se reproduit, et je ne sais pas si c'est un des effets secondaires de la poussiere respiree pendant mon trajet de l'autre matin mais ce matin je me suis reveillee ce matin avec un mal de gorge.. pas glop.. donc.. ce WE je quitte la ville! Bon.. d'un autre cote c'est deja prevu…

  • Serait-ce la fin du monde??

    23 Sep 2009 | 2:34 am
    Ce matin, comme tous les matins je branche la TV j'ecoute les infos et que vois-je?? Le ciel est rouge a Sydney!! C'est Armageddon ou bien?? Pas encore.. ouf! C'est "juste" une tempete de poussiere qui s'est abattue sur la ville. Je suis partie vite vite (valait mieux prendre ma douche au boulot parce qu'avec cette poussiere j'allais arriver toute cracra) appareil photo en main. De haut en bas: Taylor Square dans mon quartier, ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park, Martin Place, Opera House, Harbour Bridge. C'etait totalement surrealiste!! Le vent a pousser tout ca et en milieu d'apres-midi tout est…

  • Un long weekend a l'horizon II

    17 Sep 2009 | 4:13 am
    J'aurai pu intituler cette bafouille "On remet ca?" parce que tout pareil que la semaine derniere.. je m'envole demain apres le boulot en Niouzilande, pour voir entre autres du rugby (pour info samedi dernier les Springboks ont battu les All Blacks 32-29, a mon grand desespoir mais cette annee les sudafs ils sont vraiment trop costauds) mais ou ca donc??? A Wellington!! Que je ne connais pas d'ailleurs.. j'ai hate!!!Au fait.. Hamilton c'etait le fun!! Faudrait que je vous raconte.. un de ces jours :)
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    calledmadeleine: live the questions, now.

  • Mego is...Prego

    28 Oct 2009 | 2:14 am
    That's right. You heard me.Meet the Tiddlett 2010 (aka The Bean, El Frijolita, The Satchel, The Budgie I am Smuggling, etc), at 12 weeks in the womb.In the very bad picture of the ultrasound you see above (our scanner's on the fritz), he or she is curled at the bottom of the photo, in profile. You can see his or her little head, a little body and teeny legs, and then a wee hand (with little fingers) waving at the camera about right where the nose is. In the real picture you can ACTUALLY see the fingers.The bean has grown a lot in the past 12 weeks - busy sprouting limbs and a spinal cord and…

  • One Sunday

    24 Sep 2009 | 12:05 am

  • Various Whatnots, 1.0

    23 Sep 2009 | 11:47 pm
    Highly terrifying, if you ask me.

  • Crazy red ass bird on our balcony

    9 Sep 2009 | 10:26 pm
    This was more of a "do you think he'll bite me if I get up close?" picture than a "quick before he moves!" shot. Am pretty sure dude would have set up camp on that chair, if he wasn't shortly scared off by a Magpie the size of Jon's head (including hair). Yeah, I know. Serious bird drama going on.

  • Elsie and Tom, Luna Park

    1 Sep 2009 | 3:46 pm
    Look at those pigtails! Lucy said it took her about an hour to get them in Elsie's hair. So worth it.
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    From America to Australia

  • Spring Racing Carnival

    dsduffy
    30 Oct 2009 | 7:59 pm
    I was never big on horse racing, in fact that only time I was anywhere close to a racetrack was at my Senior Prom, which was held at the Garden State Racetrack (which is gone now and turned into a massive shopping center.) Last year at this time, we had just arrived in Australia and everything was new to us. When I was asked if we were going to the races, I wasn’t sure what races they were talking about and a  facsinator was a foreign concept to me. This year we are attending the Melbourne Cup and are getting all dressed up, and I’ll even be wearing a Fascinator. It sounds…

  • Preparing for Prep

    dsduffy
    26 Oct 2009 | 1:16 am
    Today was the first of 3 events for Cameron as he transitions to “prep” (kindergarten.) The 2010 “preps” met at the school’s playground for a half hour and then we joined in on the weekly assembly. It was so adorable to see him mix and mingle with the other kids and I even got a bit teary thinking about how my first baby will be starting “real” school in a few months. Thankfully he knew 2 boys from kinder and 1 from swimming so he was off and playing with them. I can’t wait to see how cute he will look in his navy uniform! This is my first…

  • This one’s for you, mom

    dsduffy
    19 Oct 2009 | 8:47 pm
    I just looked at the calendar and it reads “October 20.” This means that it is LESS THAN TWO MONTHS UNTIL WE TRAVEL HOME. I REPEAT: IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS WE WILL BE GOING HOME FOR OUR FIRST VISIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Can you tell I’m a bit excited?) I’m thinking I won’t even notice the jetlag because I’ll be so pumped up seeing everyone and everyTHING! The restaurants, the stores, the people! (normal hairstyles, normal clothes – it will be nice to see NORMAL) — Happy __ Birthday to my sister, my “second mother”, my best friend in the…

  • Thank-Yous

    dsduffy
    7 Oct 2009 | 12:47 am
    To whoever decided it was a good idea to domesticate animals: having our 2 cats here with us just makes our family complete. Even though we have been dealing with PJ’s health lately, they brighten our day and put a smile on our faces. I especially love it when I find one of the boys petting them or “talking”  to them, Cameron seems to understand exactly what PJ is saying when he meows. To the National Geographic channel on television: I never was much of a science girl, but lately I have loved watching shows with the boys about volcanos, dinosaurs, space, ships and…

  • What’s going on:

    dsduffy
    5 Oct 2009 | 12:59 am
    *School holidays are over, Term 4 has started & I can’t believe how fast this school year has flown by. After the next break in December/January, Cameron will start prep at a new school; I can’t wait to see how adorable he looks in his navy blue uniform! *Grammy is coming next week for another visit, we are all so excited to see her, especially the boys! *We will be leaving for our first visit back to the States in a little more than 2 months, I can’t even tell you how excited I am!! *I’m running a 5k as part of the Melbourne Marathon Oct 11th & the weekend…
 
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    An Aussie in Auckland

  • The hills are alive ...

    4 Nov 2009 | 4:36 pm
    The hills around Auckland are alive with the sound of ... fireworks!Yes, today is Guy Fawkes Day! Technically, that's celebrated tonight, with fireworks and friendly gatherings. In Auckland, however, Guy Fawkes seem to involve fireworks being let off at random times and places for days - and nights -beforehand.Also, there are dudes selling fireworks from their sheds, garages and even the back of their cars.Even weirder, you can buy them at the supermarket, along with other essential home items, like eggs, bread and milk. What The?And today, to my great delight, quite a few bangers went off…

  • I want candy!

    2 Nov 2009 | 7:29 pm
    It's been even busier than usual for the Aussies in Auckland.First, Husband's Mum arrived for a visit from sunny Queensland. The kids got an early mark off school so they could pick her up from the airport, much to their pleasure.We spent a very pleasant weekend, eating and drinking far too much! The kids have also enjoyed showing off their swimming, reading, and gymnastics skills.Of course, Saturday night was Halloween, and after experiencing their first in Auckland last year, our own little monsters were raring to go!Later, we ended up at our local pub, The Drake, for dinner. It's a relaxed…

  • Waiwera Thermal Resort

    29 Oct 2009 | 7:31 am
    Husband was away, so the kids and I decided to play during a recent long weekend, when I took them to Waiwera Infinity Thermal Spa Resort.Kind of like a Wet and Wild, the difference is that the water is thermally heated, with several natural mineral hot pools, of varying temperatures and depths, to relax in.There are also loads of water slides for the kids (and the young at heart).One of the most popular spots was the movie pool – where movies are screened twice-daily, and video clips run in-between.What I love about Waiwera – and I have to say most attractions in New Zealand are the same…

  • He's baaack ...

    28 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am
    This week, Husband returns to guest blog due to popular demand ...So it is time that I do another guest blog for Bron.The last few weeks and the next eight weeks are going to keep me extremely busy with travel (surprise surprise), with having just been through five time zones (some flying over of course).I arrived home Monday morning about 2am from the airport to find that Bron is still sick, that both the kids had taken possession of my bed, and that I was missed but only a little. Bron: Hey, not true!)It was good to arrive back in Auckland after a week of travel, and it was great to see a…

  • Diwali henna tattoos

    23 Oct 2009 | 12:22 pm
    A few of you were interested in seeing the henna tattoos which were done at the kids' school in honour of the Diwali Festival of the Lights.So, courtesy of their school, enjoy! Above is one of the tattoos being done.The festival itself is a five-day celebration by the Indian community, which involves fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, special meals, dancing, new clothes, togetherness, and worship.It celebrates the inner lightness in all of us, the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness.Generally women and girl get henna tattoos as part of the celebration, and some…
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    BRAMPA

  • signage of the EC

    A
    6 Nov 2009 | 11:49 pm
    If you have a full bladder here you should look for a toilet, because you won't find any restrooms of bathrooms in NZ. This is the sign above this literal outdoor resting room in Whakatane. I guess back in the day they had restrooms, but that was when the world was full of ladies. Modern women get to use toilets just like the menfolk. Go women's lib! Did you know NZ was the first country to allow women to vote? And while we don't have Smokey the Bear, we do have this fellow and his son to remind us that smoking in the forest is never a good idea!

  • Kia whakatāne ake au i ahau!

    A
    5 Nov 2009 | 11:31 pm
    I got so excited to show you the pig I kind of got ahead of myself. This is Whakatane. It's not actually on the east cape, but it is really close. The clouds were amazing this day. The island in the background is Whakaari (White Island). It's actively volcanic, and a lovely dive spot, I'm told. This is Moutohora (Whale Island). It's a wildlife management reserve (bird sanctuary). This is a statue commemorating Wairaka, who dared break tapu and paddle the canoe to shore. Nice work, sister.

  • The only free things to do in Rotorua...

    A
    4 Nov 2009 | 11:20 pm
    are to use this phone (but the wait's a bummer) and check out the carvings at mcdonalds everything else will cost you at least $50/person.

  • Cooker

    A
    3 Nov 2009 | 11:10 pm
    Once upon a time I wrote stories of my adventures here in NZ. I haven't been doing much of that lately but everyday for the next couple weeks I will post pictures and a few stories from my trip round the east cape. We met this lovely pig in Opotiki. His neighbor took us on a tour of the town. Big plans brewing for Opotiki. If ever in town be sure to visit the tangata whenua gallery, owls chopping boards, and robyn forbes studio.  Stay at the blue view estuary. Yes, that is number 8 wire in his nose. I don't want to hear about it. This pig is well loved. And not at all rabid- he just…

  • Happy Birthday P!

    A
    2 Nov 2009 | 5:44 pm
    P turned 12, and now enjoys playing her new guitar in her closet. She made a cozy little nook to groove in.
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    Woman On A JouRney

  • The Creature Outside of My Window

    MsRay
    5 Nov 2009 | 11:36 am
    When the sun is up in the middle of the day, I sometimes close the blinds on the window of my library to avoid the glare of the sun. The other day, I had the blinds down when I heard several loud thuds on the glass window. When I opened the blinds I saw a large brown iguana ...Mr. Iguana must've been scared when I pressed the lens of my camera on the glass window because he scampered away.There he is resting on the roof of the lanai.

  • Space Saver

    MsRay
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:42 am
    I like my home spacious and free from clutter. It is not a problem when the area is wide, and there are plenty of room in the house to accommodate all the furniture. However, it also takes careful planning to make your home well-arranged and roomy, especially when you have big furniture and appliances, and your area is not that huge.We like to have wide flat screen tv but it takes up a lot of space in our homes, too. A good way to save space is by mounting it on the wall. There are a lot of advantages of using wall mounts for your flat panel t.v. They look better and are also great space…

  • Ten Ways to Waste Time on the Internet

    MsRay
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:37 pm
    1. Cafe World2. Home Inn3. Mafia Wars4. Facebook 5. Pathwords and Scramble6. EC dropping7. Showbiz/entertainment news on YouTube8. Blog hopping9. Instant view movies at Netflix10. Music on YouTube

  • Halloween Treats

    MsRay
    1 Nov 2009 | 5:55 pm
    My first Halloween party in the U.S.I come from the Philippines where Halloween is normally observed as All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). Traditionally, it is a time to remember the dead loved ones by visiting their graves and bringing flowers, lighting a candle or holding a mass in their honor.In the U.S., Halloween is an annual festival celebrated every October 31st. Activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, pranks, telling scary stories and…

  • I Know My Redeemer Lives

    MsRay
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:38 am
    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.-Philippians 4:13
 
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    CheeseWeb

  • Our Maritime Canada Whirlwind Tour

    Alison
    6 Nov 2009 | 4:15 am
    Ewan William Matheson Since CheeseWeb’s format change, back in the spring, there has been a lot more ‘Belgium’ on the blog and a lot less of me. I know there are a few of you who still come here to get the dirt on what Andrew and I have been up to, so this post is for you. Those of you who come here for the Belgium info, don’t worry, I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled Belgian info posting next week. Did anyone else wake up to discover it is suddenly winter, or is it just me? First of all, let me apologise for being MIA from CheeseWeb for so long. Andrew and I spent the past…

  • Abbey Notre-Dame d’Orval – Belgium

    Alison
    7 Oct 2009 | 4:24 am
    Abbey Notre-Dame d'Orval - The modern abbey Most people know that Belgium is famous for its many beers. What many people don’t know is the beer-making tradition was started by monks in the many abbeys scattered about the country. This summer, Andrew and I decided to take the opportunity to visit several of these abbeys. The Abbey d’Orval, famous in Belgium for both its Trappist beers and its cheeses, was one of the places we visited. The Abbey Notre-Dame d’Orval is located in the Wallonian town of Villers-devant-Orval in the province of Luxembourg. It is a Cistercian monastery…

  • English Books in Brussels – My Favourite Book Stores

    Alison
    1 Oct 2009 | 4:04 am
    It’s not hard to find English reading material in Brussels. In fact, most of the French and Dutch bookstores carry a range of English best-sellers. But where do you go if you are looking for something besides the latest Dan Brown thriller? It’s no secret that Andrew and I read – A LOT. I tend to go through 2-4 books a week. Our bookshelf is one of the first things people notice, when they walk into our flat. While we certainly stock up on new and second-hand books every time we visit Canada, I do have some favourite bookshops right here in Brussels. Waterstone’s The obvious choice…

  • Expat News Flash and Contest

    Alison
    28 Sep 2009 | 3:23 am
    Louise Fly Caione I have two quick bits of expat related news today. Contest for Expat Women First, if you are an expat woman in Belgium and would like to win over 400€ in free coaching and workshops, head over to Louise Fly Caione’s website and enter her contest. You may remember Louise’s interview here on CheeseWeb. If you haven’t already done so, sign up for her newletter which is a great resource for expat women. New European Travel Website The second bit of news is that CheeseWeb has been picked up by a great European travel website – Top Travel Content Europe.

  • Paris, France Video and Photos

    Alison
    21 Sep 2009 | 8:37 am
    Well, it’s only taken a year (ahem, sorry), but I’ve finally finished editing our Euro Trip 2008 photos. This batch from Paris, Giverny and Versailles is the last one. Please take some time to check out the video (ratings and comments are always welcome on youtube). If you’d like to see more photos (as well as the out-takes) please visit the Paris Gallery. It’s worth a look just to see my Dad in a beret. Enjoy! Related posts:Malta Travel PhotosTour Daze France Part 7 – ParisTour Daze France Part 6 – Giverny & Versailles
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    Wandering the World

  • Saturday Escapes

    6 Nov 2009 | 8:46 pm
    I don’t like to admit this too often but the truth of the matter is that I have zero fashion sense. Let me put this into perspective for you: my husband (whose hotness is pictured here) dresses more fashionably than I do. It isn’t entirely my fault though: during those formative fashion years of high school, I was stuck in blue plaid day in and day out. Yet despite what many people believe to be a tragic case of bad taste mixed with a slight tendency toward colour questionability (I’m not colour blind but I seem to see different shades than everyone else), I adore fashion.Lately that…

  • Allez Cuisine

    5 Nov 2009 | 7:21 pm
    The highlight of my trip back to India was the week I spent with my friend Sunnymorn. And I’m not just saying that because she reads this blog and would kill me for saying otherwise. Other than amusing Facebook comments back and forth, I hadn’t spent time with her in ages and we were more than ready to make up for lost time.Sunnymorn and I are good at many things, but two of the things we’re best at are shopping and dining. And much to our husbands’ chagrin, we don’t believe in budgets. After visits to numerous FabIndia outlets and the hunt for a new cell phone for yours truly, we…

  • Still a Local

    4 Nov 2009 | 7:37 pm
    Back when we lived in Delhi, I didn’t have to take taxis very often for which I was incredibly grateful. The rule for taxis here is that you either insist they use their meter or negotiate a fare before you leave. The latter was only a good idea if you knew where you going and around how much it should cost so you didn’t get gouged. The former could be tricky because taxi drivers often took the long way thinking you didn’t know better.It may have been several years since I was technically a local in Delhi but thanks to my taxi training here in Cairo, I have mad taxi negotiating skills.

  • Namaste

    3 Nov 2009 | 7:51 pm
    The first thing I noticed as we walked off our Emirates flight and into Indira Gandhi International Airport was the smell – it still smelled exactly like Delhi. This may sound like an obvious statement or an insult to India, but it’s neither. Delhi smells like humidity, slightly stale polluted air, and something unique that I’ve never been able to pin down. If it were ever bottled, it wouldn’t sell very well as a perfume but anyone who had ever walked into the blinding heat of this city would be able to identify it immediately.That scent was one of the few things we recognized during…

  • Incredible India

    2 Nov 2009 | 7:10 pm
    I know you didn’t think my travel posts were over just because I finished telling you about Europe. Hubby had a lot of business travel planned for the summer of 2009 and he knew better than to think I was going to let him leave me behind in Cairo while he jetted around the world.The end of July found us back in a place I still think of as a home away from home: New Delhi, India. Some of my newer readers may not know this but we lived in Delhi for a year, (Check out the blog archives from September 2005 through July 2006.) That was an amazing year during which we met awesome friends, had…
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    Blogitse

  • you give me WOrds and I give you an IMAge(s) = WO*IMA nro 42

    7 Nov 2009 | 2:03 am
     your WOrds & my IMAge nro 42: as usual you have time till Sunday 6 pm Cairo time  Don’t know what WO*IMA is about?  Every Saturday I give you a picture.  You give me your words, thoughts, however the picture inspires you  by leaving a comment.  On Sunday (sometimes on Monday) I’ll publish your words  with your link.  You can check previous WO*IMA posts to get the idea.  * * Et tiedä mistä WO*

  • work related stress, anxiety and depression... työperäinen stressi sivuoireineen ongelma myös Briteissä...

    5 Nov 2009 | 2:56 am
    "Employers need to pay more attention to the levels of stress and anxiety in the workplace. Bad managers were the single biggest cause of problems, the group claimed. But it said simple steps such as giving positive feedback, allowing flexible working and giving extra days off as a reward could cut the impact by a third. More than 13 million working days a year are lost because of work related

  • read my lips?! what? mitä nämä huulet viestivät ja kenelle?

    4 Nov 2009 | 12:10 am
    Could you explain me why these models are posing like that? Voitko kertoa miksi nämä mallit poseeraavat näin? This is women's magazine.  Why is she posing like that to me as a reader, to another woman?  Have I missed something? Tämä on naisten lehti. Miksi hän poseeraa minulle naislukijana, huulet törröllään?  Missaanko jotain oleellista? Is there anybody who KNOWS why models pose like

  • twitter is great! a few links for you... twitter on yliveto! tässä muutama linkki teille...

    3 Nov 2009 | 1:49 am
    I've been twitter user for some time now and I think it's a great way find news, interesting web sites, blogs etc. Olen käyttänyt twitteriä jonkin aikaa ja se on erinomainen väline löytää uutisia eri lähteistä, mielenkiintoisia nettisivuja, blogeja jne. Art of elevators / täältä löytyy taiteellisia hissejä    Cool?   aika vänkiä vai mitä? Great,colourful ads / täältä löytyy värikkäitä

  • NaBloPoMo = a post/day 1.-30.11.2009... olen mukana NaBloPoMo'ssa = postaus/päivä 1.-30.11.2009...

    2 Nov 2009 | 3:21 am
    This is my first time and it's going to be interesting if I can make it! I have a theme - today's posting reveals it :)  (and yes, I know the pronounce dilemma, pls don't think it that way, thanks!) Here are my first entries -  all of them you will find from my  PHOTOblog here! Osallistun ensimmäistä kertaa tähän joka marraskuu järjestettävään ilman teemaa olevaa 'blogiposti päivässä'
 
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    Vie Au Maroc

  • Nostalgia and Pleasant Surprises

    Jacqueline Powers
    16 Oct 2009 | 10:16 am
    After spending three weeks in the U.S., I arrived back in Morocco last week feeling a bit glum. I had been home, in America, for three whole weeks. How could I not miss it?I had watched my little brother compete in a triathalon (where he snagged 3rd place, go Will!). Mom and I went down to the city for a walk in Central Park and afternoon tea at Lady Mendl's. We sailed one Sunday from Larchmont

  • Friday Cooking

    Jacqueline Powers
    11 Sep 2009 | 6:49 am
    To get Andrew and I through a busy weekend, including surfing at Mehdia beach on Sunday, I've gone into cooking and shopping mode today.First thing this morning after my run, I tossed together a smashed chickpea salad courtesy of Deb at Smitten Kitchen. This melange is perfect by the spoonful for a snack or thrown together with a piece of chicken on a baguette for lunch. One can of chickpeas, a

  • Ramadan at Bouchra's

    Jacqueline Powers
    7 Sep 2009 | 7:08 am
    This past Thursday afternoon, I hopped on the train to Fes for a trip to see Bouchra and her husband, Abdesalaam, and their two adorable kids, Houda and Oussama. Ever the generous hosts, they fed me everything you can imagine. And more. Beef tajine, harira, shebakiya, dates, couscous with goat's head, homemade bread, freshly squeezed juice, Moroccan mint tea, chicken tajine, malawi, beghrir,

  • A Little R&R in Moulay Bousselham

    Jacqueline Powers
    31 Aug 2009 | 4:07 am
    When Andrew mentioned to me on Friday morning that he (gasp!) didn't have to work this weekend, I went into immediate planning mode. Where could we go for an overnight? Some place not too far away, accessible by public transportation, relaxing, not too expensive, that would let us have a glass of wine with dinner...I remembered hearing about Villanora, a quiet little bed and breakfast in Moulay

  • A Visit to Insaf with Gabi and Sara

    Jacqueline Powers
    28 Aug 2009 | 8:00 am
    Yesterday morning, fellow Rabatis Gabi and Sara hopped on the train with me to Casablanca. We spent all morning at Insaf and instead of my normal volunteering schedule (mornings in the nursery, afternoons in the sewing atelier), the three of us did one giant tour of the facilities.After our meet-and-greet in the reception, we headed upstairs to learn about the four-women team in charge of
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    Gweipo

  • Expectations

    6 Nov 2009 | 8:11 pm
    N's report card came home yesterday. R's seems to have gotten lost, or maybe they held it back it was so shocking or something. Better that way I think. Have a few days between so that not too much comparison goes on.I didn't want to give it too much prominence anyway. So I glanced through it with her, naturally all 3's and 4's (meeting or exceeding expectations). She asked me about the column "learning attitude" and I said to her it was how enthusiastic she was about learning and how hard she tried. With R in ready earshot, I also emphasized how I thought that was the most important mark.

  • Light classics

    6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    Here's a bit of light fun with tonight's soloist at the Sinfonietta - Matthew Trusler. Who professes he's fallen in love with HK and is planning and imminent move here wonder if he tells that to all his audiences! Good concert, but we had to leave at intermission as the kids were totally exhausted. I really enjoyed the premier of George Lam's "The Queen's Gramaphone". Pity he's not on youtube, which one would expect of a gent of his vintage. You can hear bits and pieces on his website. Hopefully they'll allow him to use bits of the Queen's Gramaphone for his site as well. And good on the…

  • not invited to renew ...

    6 Nov 2009 | 2:27 am
    So I had a little bumper accident earlier this year with my car. First accident in 26 years.My front bumper had to be replaced and the taxi needed some bump taken out his door. Nothing major.I get the expiry notice from my insurance company for the insurance due in December and there is this little note : "Not Invited to renew"What?Not, you loose your no claims bonus. Not we're going to charge you and exorbitant amount for insurance. Just Not invited to renew? 3rd party insurance is compulsory here, so are they actually allowed to not insure you?I phoned the company and got someone on the…

  • Quote from Dr. Suzuki

    4 Nov 2009 | 3:39 pm
    I read this a while back in one of the Suzuki books. What does it mean? Do I agree with it? Is it profound or mundane or an excuse to drive your kids? As an impatient person by nature, I like its message."Patience is merely the absence of expectation" Dr. Suzuki

  • cash for credits ....

    4 Nov 2009 | 4:21 am
    N was brimming over when I got home from taking R to his violin class. She'd gotten all her Chinese something or another correct, every single page of 5 pages. And best of all, she was the only one in her class that had done that. She'd even stayed in at recess to finish it all off. I said that was great, but reminded her that the point of recess was for her to go and clear her head, get the blood flowing to it, run around a bit chat with friends, socialize and relax. Not to stay in the classroom getting stale. Even if it means getting extra points. She thinks I'm weird.After I'd finished…
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    Bleeding Espresso

  • Remembering Corporal Pat Tillman

    michelle
    5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pm
    Today would’ve been Corporal Pat Tillman’s 33rd birthday. Tillman was an American professional football player who gave up his own freedom (and millions of dollars) to serve with the United States Army Rangers after 9/11 during the so-called “War on Terror.” Tillman’s journals show that he quickly became disillusioned with the presence of the U.S. military in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but even when offered a discharge before his time was up–after a tour of duty in Iraq–Tillman refused, and was sent to Afghanistan. He was killed by friendly fire in…

  • La Bella Lingua/Celebrate Italian Heritage Contest

    michelle
    1 Nov 2009 | 10:54 pm
    Remember when we talked about Dianne Hales’ book, La Bella Lingua? Well here is your chance to win another copy–plus four other Italian-themed books from Random House through the: Celebrate Italian Heritage Contest From the contest page: October is Italian Heritage Month so Living Language and Broadway Books are pleased to provide five lucky winners with an all-about-Italian prize package, valued at $115.79. Each prize package will include the following: • (1) signed hardcover copy of La Bella Lingua by Dianne Hales • (1) Living Language Complete Italian: The Basics package…

  • This Halloween, May All Your Cauldrons Be Boiling

    michelle
    31 Oct 2009 | 4:24 am
    Read more about what happens (or, actually, what doesn’t happen) for Halloween in Calabria over at Cherrye’s My Bella Vita. Buon weekend! Related posts:The Logic of Italian Boys’ NamesHead Over to Cherrye’s “My Bella Vita”Calabria: Home of the Paparazzi Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

  • Mediterranean Cooking on a Budget

    michelle
    27 Oct 2009 | 11:24 pm
    This isn’t a traditional What’s Cooking Wednesday post. In fact, it’s not even written by me (welcome dear Heather of Yummi Sushi Pajamas!), but it’s full of great information–and TWO recipes–for those trying to eat healthier and save money. Pretty much all of us, I imagine? But before we get to Heather, in other food news: I wanted to let you know that Sara of Ms Adventures in Italy and I, as co-hosts of World Nutella Day, (yes, it’s coming faster than you realize!) are holding a contest and giving away some Nutella! All you have to do is tell us…

  • Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Jewelry and Coffee

    michelle
    25 Oct 2009 | 11:07 pm
    October is coming to a close, which means it’s time to remind you that Breast Cancer Awareness (along with Ovarian Cancer Awareness!) should be at the front of our minds all year long. Be sure to check out the following information from BreastCancer.org: Symptoms & Diagnosis Treatment & Side Effects Day to Day Matters & Tips Lower Your Risk Discussion Boards, Chat Rooms, Fundraisers, and More And here are some ideas to keep the pink going: Angela Moore’s Pink Ribbon Collection, sales from which 15% of proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. As you may remember from…
 
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    QBParis

  • In the still of the night...

    3 Nov 2009 | 11:55 am
    Had a lovely surprise today...On a rainy November afternoon I received a bouquet of sunshine... the thought behind it is very much appreciated. Thank you for the smile you brought to my face.Simple gestures...

  • All the leaves on the trees are falling....

    27 Oct 2009 | 1:11 pm
    Paris in the autumn is like no other season. Perfect weather, perfect light, perfect, perfect, perfect everything.... all the locals are back, everything is open; this is when you really want to be here. I had an early (10am!!) meeting this morning and brought my camera with me. Unfortunately, once I turned it on, I realized I only had 4 minutes left on the battery!! Gasp! I managed to snag this shot just in time... There is something about the light in Paris, once you know it, and its patterns, it's heavenly. I know that in mid-November, in the late afternoon, at a certain cafe... the light…

  • Dear Mr. Fantasy...

    25 Oct 2009 | 10:45 am
    I took an afternoon walk... the clock has changed, fall behind, et al... needed some fresh air. I've also had the gauntlet thrown. Photographically speaking. Challenge? Nude. Parameters? Self as nude. Hmm... Let's see... fifty, fat, frightened... any more "f" words that immediately come to mind? Nevertheless, I had the spark of an idea. We are allowed to have a bit of Photoshop freedom [amen] and so... this morning I did a test run for one layer of the idea. Those of you who know me know I have really long hair... I've been told it is always best to "accentuate the positive, eliminate the…

  • Spellbound...

    5 Oct 2009 | 11:07 am
    Seems like I've been in a bit of a daze... summer has rolled into autumn and I'm still trying to catch up with spring things. What has kept me going these last few months is the support of good friends. You know who you are! ;-) At the age of 51, I am once again standing at the crossroads. People who I thought were true, weren't. Things I thought would work, didn't. You can take experiences like that and let them kill you, or you can glean what you can from them and use them as opportunities to learn, grow and move on. And learn I did. To be honest, it has taken a few months to digest some of…

  • Summer’s Almost Gone...

    17 Aug 2009 | 3:34 am
    A very low key summer this year... there are so many things going on and I felt the need to get away from it all. So, I packed a bag and hopped the TGV to CH, my favorite place to unwind!Much of the time was spent doing exactly that, unwinding... cooking and sipping wine on the patio overlooking Lake Geneva, but we also celebrated the Fête Nationale Suisse. The day started with the racing yacht Alinghi making its way from Lausanne to Geneva... we caught sight of it mid-way in Morges. Followed that up with the canton Vaud's celebration of music, food, wine, bonfire, fireworks on the lake and…
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    The Expat Expert Blog

  • Expat life and social media sites

    Robin Pascoe
    4 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am
    I am feeling incredibly 20th century lately as I continue to navigate (with the help of a lot of advil) the Internet for all the information and support now offered--in the 21st century--via social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (the ones I do know). Of course there are also expat social media sites, many of them to be found in my links section.The reason I mention this, besides the obvious that social media is not going away, is that for expats, it's almost impossible to find everything that is out there and these sites are all guideposts. People post links to such…

  • The new "Expat Harem" website

    Robin Pascoe
    4 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am
    The dynamic women behind the book and the website Expat Harem have re-launched the site as a 'neocultural hub for global citizens and identity adventurers'. That's a mouthful to be sure but the new version of the site allows for guest posters and links to other cultural sites. Definitely worth having a look!

  • Important lecture series on domestic violence abroad

    Robin Pascoe
    2 Oct 2009 | 12:08 pm
    Paula Lucas of the American Domestic Violence Crisis Line (tel: 866-USWOMEN) will spend this month and next launching the first phase of her organization's Global Campaign to Empower Americans Abused Abroad. Lucas will be presenting in London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Paris & Geneva on dates (and more information and the educational lecture series) to be listed here.I contacted Paula to find out who is helping her on this very important and much-needed initiative. "The Ending Violence Against Women & Children Task Force of FAWCO has been our partner in organizing these events," said…

  • Book Review of Courting the Bull: An Anthology of Expatriate Literature in Spain

    Robin Pascoe
    30 Sep 2009 | 11:50 am
    It’s been a while since I reviewed or noted an expatriate book in this space, but this collection from Spain for some reason caught my eye, much in the same way that the stories of women living in Turkey collected in Expat Harem also attracted me when it came out several years ago. Editor Sarah Rogers has a great quote in her introduction to this marvellous and vivid collection of poetry, essays and fiction (one short story in particular, "Gate 38", really got my attention) which she gathered for “Courting the Bull: An Anthology of Expatriate Literature in Spain”. In my opinion, her…

  • Winners of Expat Youth Scholarship contest announced

    Robin Pascoe
    16 Sep 2009 | 10:58 am
    The essays submitted to the Clements Insurance sponsored Expat Youth Scholarship Contest about life as a TCK were amazing. I ought to know, as I was a judge. Have a look at what 'the kids' think about their lives on the move!
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    La Mom - an American mom in Paris

  • Joyeux Halloween

    La Mom
    31 Oct 2009 | 9:05 am
    Halloween used to be my favorite holiday back in the States. It’s still my fave in Paris – but not for the crisp fall weather or imported candy corn. It’s a chance to get an up-close-and-personal look at the best real estate in town.Trick or treating involves begging strangers for sweets. Let’s just say that’s something the French don’t really appreciate. So there’s only one solution. Host a party in a private Parisian mansion where there’s all the doors you need – and more. You know you’re celebrating Halloween in Paris when:- Kids use Chloé shopping bags as…

  • Rendez-Vous with the Electric Tampon

    La Mom
    28 Oct 2009 | 8:51 am
    I was waiting to cross the street on Rue du Passy when I noticed a woman scrutinizing me. I felt almost naked. Wait a minute, she had seen me naked. “Do we know each other?” she asked.What I wanted to say:Mais oui, Madame, we know each other. In fact, you might even know me better than Big Cheese! Does the Electric Tampon ring a bell? Non? Well, let me refresh your memory. I’m L’Americaine who came in for pelvic floor physical therapy after the French Fries did a number on the minou. You got right down to business, snapping on latex gloves. “But you have no tonus!” you exclaimed.

  • Diary of a Working Mom

    La Mom
    20 Oct 2009 | 12:40 pm
    What a fun first few days back at work. Here's how hard La Mom worked: Day 1: Morning: Star spottingWent to an outdoor café for a break with visiting clients from Canada. Then I saw Prince. And his bodyguards. And his big Mercedes. They were going to the Chanel fashion show at the Grand Palais. Everyone in the café was taking pictures with their cell phones. Of course I wanted to as well so I could broadcast it on Twitter, but I had to play it cool with the clients. Afternoon: To Tweet Or Not To Tweet? That Is The Question.Spent the afternoon in a meeting in the same building as the luxury…

  • She works hard for the money

    La Mom
    13 Oct 2009 | 7:20 am
    That’s right – La Mom is now La Working Mom! I’m back in the saddle after an extended maternity leave. The good news? Dish from the French corporate world! And I still have my regular mommy groups, so you won’t miss life in the expat lane. The bad news? I’ll be posting just once a week. Stay tuned for tales from the trenches as La Mom juggles a career, the French Fries, and a new nanny!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Want to find out what really goes on in a Parisian office? Subscribe to La Mom in the top right-hand corner so you won't…

  • Can’t Help Falling in Love

    La Mom
    6 Oct 2009 | 8:09 am
    The birds and the bees start buzzing early here in France. Maybe that explains how the French can go from surly to seductive faster than a car on the La Mans racetrack? It’s ingrained in them since birth. In that case Big Fry's embracing his French roots, since he’s already engaged. Here’s a rundown of our first conversation about l’amour:Big Fry: Maman, when I grow up I want to marry you. La Mom: Aw, sweetie, that’s nice. But what about Daddy? I’m already married to him. Big Fry: Well, I guess I could marry Clémence. She’s my amoureux.La Mom: Your amoureux?Big Fry: You know,…
 
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    Olympic Adventures

  • A Midwest Adventure

    Hanneke Nelson
    3 Nov 2009 | 9:37 pm
    I was in Wisconsin the past few days, visiting with my in-laws, and interviewing for the position of marketing manager with a casino in the North Woods. My interview went well, after a bit of a rough start. Rather than opening with the standard "So Johanna, tell us a little bit about yourself..." the first question posed to me was: "Please tell us about one of our promotions and what you would do to improve it?" It felt like I was taking a test I hadn't studied for. "Eh..."The next question was also a good one: "Tell us about your past experience in gaming." I have none. Things improved after…

  • The Cutest Mouse You Ever Saw

    Hanneke Nelson
    2 Nov 2009 | 4:19 pm

  • Say Cheese!

    Hanneke Nelson
    26 Oct 2009 | 5:08 pm

  • Things To Do On A Saturday

    Hanneke Nelson
    24 Oct 2009 | 8:50 am
    It is a beautiful sunny morning today and I am thinking of things to do. Last week we went to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma for Zoo Boo, a Halloween Party for animals. It was great fun, even if the weather was deplorable. (I know I said I like the sound of the rain and I do. Inside. It's not quite the same when you're walking outside.) There were lots of animals, of course, and face painting, too!On the way home we stopped at the pumpkin patch for the third consecutive week. This time it was just to pick up some delicious sweetcorn and fresh apple cider. The week before Ryan, Lola, and I had…

  • I Love Fall

    Hanneke Nelson
    24 Oct 2009 | 12:26 am
    The rainy season has begun. This morning I woke up to raindrops bouncing off the metal roof. For the next eight months, this sound will be our alarm. That, and Lola. I don't mind it, to be honest. Not yet, anyway. The vibrant colors outside are beautiful, with or without sunshine. There are pumpkins everywhere I look. It's warm and cozy in the barn. We have three wonderful holidays to look forward to. It's lovely to be inside again and curl up in front of the fireplace. To read a book. To bake pies and make soups. And I truly love listening to the patter of raindrops on the roof!
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    Expatacular

  • new arrive

    judy
    hey i am coming to Nanjing for short-term business arrangement and i wonder if there is anywhere cool and funky to hang out in the evenings. i would appreciate any suggestion

  • My art is now online!

    Cheryl Malloy
    Hi there. Since arriving in Nanjing I have been painting up a storm with my impressions of the United Arab Emirates. I lived there for 2 years. My paintings are now on my website and I thought some of you might like to have a look at them. It is a great time for Christmas shopping and you can purchase gifts such as mugs, cards, calendars, etc. directly from the website, in my original designs. Even if you don't buy anything you can browse my art and give me some feedback on a hobby I am now developing because I have so much time on my hands! Here is the link:…

  • New Toastmasters Club in Nanjing

    Cheryl Malloy
    There is a new Toastmasters Club in Nanjing. They are having a demonstration event on November 14th at the Phoenix Book Club on Hunan Lu at 2pm. The founding committee has asked me to let you all know that it is on. Toastmasters Clubs are International and this is the first Toastmasters Club for Nanjing. It is an important community resource for people wanting to learn public speaking and gain self confidence in speaking English in meetings and at events. It is also a non-profit organisation that funds all its own activities. I would appreciate it if you could support this great initiative…

  • GPS

    D Thomas
    How do GPS systems for use in China compare to the ones in America or other western nations? I mean we have very detailed maps here showing streets and addresses I know basic types can give your exact lat. and long. But how do they fair and compare for use there? The ones for cars and the hand held I would like to get one for the car there also to take with me traveling in Asia and Europe but would prefer more then just here is your lat. and long. Thanks for any and all positive feedback by the way don't try to sell me one with the comments !!! haha

  • VW Passat 2.8V6

    Steve Rose
    Is anybody interested in buying a VW Passat 2.8V6. It is 5 years old with just 65,000KM on the clock. It is in very good condition with a full service history. Last year we added GPS, DVD player & radar detector. It is very fast and has been de-chipped. I will accept offers around RMB100,000. If you are interested please call 15818307014 and speak either English or Mandarin. I would like to sell during the month of November.
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    American Girl in Australia

  • Oh hey mom – I know it’s 3am but … email hacking

    Daisy
    7 Nov 2009 | 4:12 am
    Dear Email Hacker, Actually – let’s scratch that Dear Email Hacker, and instead start it this way, To the pathetic loser who decided it’d be cool to hack into my mom’s email, You suck.  I hope the next thing you hack up is a lung.  And then I hope you choke on that lung, die, and go to hell,  I don’t appreciate getting fake/spam emails from my MOM late on a Saturday night when I KNOW SHE’S ASLEEP.  I also don’t appreciate having to call her at 3am just to tell her, “Oh hey guess what mom?  You’ve been hacked!  And lucky you –…

  • Spring!!

    Daisy
    3 Nov 2009 | 4:09 am
    Here’s a little taste of what I’m enjoying down here.  :)  Oh and go leave a comment on my photoblog to be entered into a drawing to win an 8×10 of one of the pics!!  :)

  • I think I’m haunted and most DEFINITELY sleep deprived. (Sculpture by the Sea Pics)

    Daisy
    30 Oct 2009 | 4:05 am
    This evening I needed to kill some time before bed.   I went on a little walk to try and clear some of the noise in my head.  I ran into this: “OOH!” I exclaimed to my flatmate Sam.  ”Look he killed himself.” Sam looked at me quizzically.  ”Daisy he’s just floating – trapped in a box.” “Oh.” When we ran into a bunch of nooses (Sculpture by the Sea 2009 is finally here!) Sam only saw rope. Hmmm …. They sure were KNOTTED like nooses!!! And THEN we ran into this guy.  And I was really digging him. He’s cute –…

  • Online Dating – Relationship Status Update and pics of bridge

    Daisy
    28 Oct 2009 | 5:35 am
    Online Dating - It’s like I’m on the Bachelor AND the Bachelorette at the SAME TIME!!!! And that about sums it up.  Do I need to say more?  Probably not.  But I will anyway.  :) I’ve been looking into online dating as part of my studies on network society and digital culture (it’s what I’m getting my Master’s in) OMGOSH!!!  It’s like WORSE than real dating and I hate real dating.   So there you have it.  Sure you get anonymity (KIND OF) and you can share feelings without the physical stuff getting in the way (KIND OF) but seriously – at…

  • Doing Double – losing my mind twice as quickly

    Daisy
    27 Oct 2009 | 6:02 am
    OH MY WOW!  I just uploaded the same set of photos to Flickr TWICE.  I replied to a couple of emails TWICE.  I went to Tea Indulgence and got a pineapple tea and it came with one for free so I drank that TWICE.  And lucky me – apparently the last few songs I fell in love with I ALREADY HAD – meaning I fell in love with them all over again (which is a nice way of saying I did it TWICE.) I’ve always known I like doubles – I mean I did adopt TWO cats.  Then later when I was ready for more responsibility I adopted TWO dogs.  I usually get dumped by two people at once…
 
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    An American in Delhi

  • Indian Government Links

    Jeanne Heydecker
    6 Nov 2009 | 1:28 am
    If you've ever wondered how anything gets done in India (as I often have), this list is for you. My favorite Yahoo! group, Yuni-Net, has once again provided valuable information I would gladly pay for. This list provides links to several pages on the india.gov.in web site for all those lovely pieces of paper we all need to verify our existence here. I'm not saying any of this will work - I went

  • Still Waiting On My Rent Deposit - Are All Landlords Here Thieves?

    Jeanne Heydecker
    26 Sep 2009 | 11:22 pm
    A good INDIAN friend said to me one day, "White skin shows the way for black money."When we first moved to Gurgaon, I was already reeling from issues with my previous landlord in Kolkata who refused to part with the 90,000 rupee deposit I had put on the place citing all sorts of "damage" to the property. I wanted to ensure that this didn't happen again. I should have seen the signs. Landlord

  • Just a Foul Mouthed American...

    Jeanne Heydecker
    24 Sep 2009 | 9:07 am
    Just watched the final episode of Larry David's show on HBO "Curb Your Enthusiasm" which features a cook with Tourette's Syndrome and it made me think. The reaction to the chef's foul regurgitation is surprise and then release. As a New Yorker, I swear all the time. My father, another native New Yorker does not swear much at all unless vexed, but my mum, another native New Yorker, swears like a

  • Real Definition of a Startup

    Jeanne Heydecker
    7 Aug 2009 | 11:36 pm
    I was reading an article at TechCrunch about the real definition of a startup, and it got me thinking.Having spent the past 20 years (OMG!) taking startups to the next level, marketing-wise, here's my take on what an actual startup is:smoke & mirrorsR&D's undelivered promisesdeadlines not metconstantly shifting product specssalaries paid on ad hoc scheduleThe company can be any size, but

  • Delhi Restaurant Recommendations

    Jeanne Heydecker
    23 Jul 2009 | 8:28 am
    I have to help plan a foreign correspondents' tour for the company I work for that is schedule for next month. As part of that, Bridget, our PR person in the UK, asked for a list of great restaurants in the Delhi area. I contacted the Yuni-Net group and they came forward with lots of suggestions. I trust their palates - most of them are expats and local fellow foodies. Here is a compilation of
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    Letters from Grenada

  • dogfish head punkin ale

    maria
    30 Oct 2009 | 2:37 pm
    “A full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg.” Oh my, Massachusetts. Your are courting me HARD, aren’t you? (via)Similar Posts: king of the sandlot (chapter one) the job of a good citizen is to keep her mouth open in which i dip my toes in the water on the equinox night vision

  • lemme tell you about love, people

    maria
    22 Oct 2009 | 8:53 am
    Love is letting your snotty-faced toddler “borrow” your precious cocoa butter stick. His nose is sore, he says. Bean, do you know what rhinovirus is? WHAT? Never mind, honey. And you can keep that cocoa butter stick. It’s yours now. Mommy doesn’t want it back. And now I’m sick. It was inevitable. Snotty-faced toddlers are like sleeper cells, man. Does the CIA know about the adorable kid vector? Because correctly deployed these germs could totally turn Vietnam AROUND.  Today at work I’m wearing jeans, sneakers and a Cornell hooded sweatshirt. At least I’m cozy. (Have I…

  • speech patterns

    maria
    13 Oct 2009 | 8:54 pm
    (The following is a random thought I had this morning. It’s all true but it’s so “Maria being Maria” I couldn’t keep a straight face while writing it.) I’m not from the South, I’m a New Yorker. But I do indeed say “y’all” which is something I picked up whilst living in Paris and if you think that doesn’t make sense just remember that I speak a few romance languages, all of which are graced with the second person plural, AS IT SHOULD BE. Also in Caribbean English there is the colorful “allyuh”, which I also enjoy and use liberally when I’m…

  • king of the sandlot (chapter one)

    maria
    12 Oct 2009 | 6:33 pm
    Billy Joe Danforth had his heart set on baseball ever since the 2001 All-Star game, when he witnessed Alex Rodriguez offer his place to Cal Ripken. As the crowd went wild, stood up in ovation, Daddy turned to him and said, “Now you see that, son? That is respect.” Then he upended his can of beer, sucked it down in one noisy slurp and got up and went to the kitchen to get another. Also to hide his moist eyes. He never cried in front of Billy Joe, not even that time he lost the tip of his middle finger to the threshing machine. The glove Daddy gave Billy Joe was old and worn. It had…

  • pretty like a t-rex princess

    maria
    12 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm
    Today, in episode II of “Let’s Pretend it’s 1990″, I slept until 4PM. (I was up late. Very late. Writing. Not that that’s any excuse and please believe me when I tell you that I know how lucky I am to have my mom here to help on days like today.) I got up and drank about a liter of espresso. Following caffeine fortification I attempted to draw a lifelike “Thumper” for Bean. According to him, I failed miserably. Mommy, he said, that does not look like a bunny AT ALL. And that got me thinking. The universe gives us children for many reasons, but two of them…
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    Brits in Bosnia

  • Lost in Translation

    6 Nov 2009 | 1:50 am
    A little while back The Potty Diaries ran a great post detailing the differences between what you say and what you mean. You know those times when you say 'no problem' when actually it is been a massive pain in the backside or 'no, really, it's fine' when it so isn't.These Lost In Translation moments are just magnified when you have children ('come along now darling!' actually meaning we've been here looking at that squished bug for 20 minutes and we have to get home pretty soon as I've something in the oven and my brain is contorting with having the same conversation with a toddler 50 times…

  • The Red Red Tape Series

    5 Nov 2009 | 12:23 am
    There aren't many things that I can say that I am an expert on. My chocolate brownies are really awesome (email me for the recipe). I have a specialised knowledge of which toys can be thrown furthest and do the most damage to the walls. I am extremely good at getting the maximum discounts in any sales that TOAST do (80% off people, expect nothing less). And now I have a new speciality: Bosnian Bureaucracy. Or more specifically Bosnian bureaucracy pertaining to expats. In Tuzla. It's a skill I shall be adding to my CV.Dave keeps mentioning that I ought to write a post detailing the steps that…

  • To blog or not to blog.

    2 Nov 2009 | 12:32 am
    Life as an expat can be a lonely one. Particularly if you are at home with 2 small children to look after for much of the day and don't totally understand the culture in which you find yourself. Even more so if, although you speak Bosnian up to a point, it is nowhere near the standard needed for anyone to enjoy a relaxing conversation with you without having to concentrate very hard and wincing occasionally. There aren't many other expats in Tuzla, let alone expat families, let alone expat families with 2 children in the same age range as my two.It is safe to say that I spend a lot of time on…

  • Dear So and So: Bosnian Version Part VI

    30 Oct 2009 | 1:30 am
    It's been a while since my last Dear So and So, but it is a miserable dank damp day outside and writing some always cheer me up. So, my pen is out, I have postcards with pretty pictures of Tuzla assembled and away we go.**********************************Dear Outside Dog,I have no idea where you go all day, but I'm always pleased to feel you curling around my legs at dinner time as I tend to worry that you have become today's road kill. Everyone else teases me for making you a hot water bottle every night to keep you warm, but I think you like it. You'll never be an inside dog, your stray…

  • Happy Machines

    28 Oct 2009 | 2:04 am
    The other weekend we spent a very pleasant afternoon in the company of a Happy Machine (a Bosnian still for making plum brandy for the uninitiated amongst you). It was rather late in the year as everyone felt a little guilty about making very strong alcohol during Ramadan, but no one seemed to be having too much guilt about drinking large quantities of the stuff immediately afterwards.The men sat around stirring the plums, sterilizing the machine, bringing it all to the boil, watching it condense down, measuring the alcohol content with a whizzy little gadget that floats in the liquor and…
 
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    My Thai Friend

  • Thai Neighbours

    6 Nov 2009 | 4:16 pm
    Love them or hate them I reckon Thai neighbours are pretty unique. True they are just ordinary folk like you might find back in the UK or US but they seem to possess this ability to operate at the extremes of human tolerance. Often they demonstrate great acts of kindness or on the other hand acts of selfishness and a total disrespect for anyone else.Take this morning for instance, Saturday, no school and a planned lay in before a trip to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park for a bit of wildlife watching. So I was less than impressed when at 5.30 am I was blasted awake by loud music from just down…

  • Thai Women and Marriage

    5 Nov 2009 | 4:40 pm
    Two seemingly unconnected stories, one from the Thai media and one from a UK local newspaper, involving Thai women and marriage caught my eye today.In the first case reported in the Harborough Mail(Northants,UK) under the headline, "Thai woman and lover jailed over murder," the paper reports the life sentences handed out by a Thai court to the murderers of Ian Beeston a British Expat who was married to a Thai woman and living in Thailand at the time of his death. The convicted couple were Beeston's former Thai wife and her lover.The second report is from the Bangkok Post forum under the…

  • Jazzmen or Jasmine Rice

    4 Nov 2009 | 6:49 pm
    Thai jasmine rice or hom mali is in my opinion one of the best types of rice for both quality and flavour. It is renown throughout the world and the product bearing the name Thai jasmine rice can only be grown in Thailand, or to be more specific certain areas of Thailand.Since Thai jasmine rice is such a unique product it is perhaps not surprising that the Thai authorities are getting a little hot under the collar with the arrival on the rice growing scene of Jazzmen Rice from the USA. Although I can find no claim, on their web site, from the producers of this product, that it is in fact hom…

  • In the Google Bin?

    3 Nov 2009 | 6:15 pm
    I apologise this morning for doing a blogging post here, but I need this to go to a wide an audience as possible in the hope that someone can help.Until around August this year the traffic had being growing nicely on MTF and I was getting around 6000 hits a month. Since that point traffic has declined considerably and last month (October) hits had almost halved. Google Analytics in August was indicating 57% of traffic from search engines (mostly Google)which is down to 30% in October. Clearly something is not right so I started some lengthy research to try and track down whats happening.Now a…

  • Loi Krathong Khlong Wan Thailand 2009

    2 Nov 2009 | 6:08 pm
    Loi Krathong the Festival of Light took place in Thailand last night. As part of the celebrations we headed into the nearby Tabon of Khlong Wan where the local authority had laid on some entertainment to accompany the ceremony of launching our krathongs into the sea.Depending where you are in Thailand, you will find the Loi Krathong celebrations taking place on any convenient water, be it river, pond or as in our case the sea.Sadly last night the weather was not brilliant, although it was clear and fairly cool there was a very strong wind caused by a tropical cyclone passing Thailand to the…
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    Baroque Babies

  • Poisson Rouge

    5 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm
    That's French for 'really great for kids.' Having been introduced to this site from my multi-cultural Anglo-Saxon friend, I was thrilled from the first click. Colorful imagery embodies this dual language site which helps (with ease) kids to become familiar with the mouse, learn how to surf around vibrant pages and discover (through the encyclopedia area) new words and how things work. With so many wonderful programs out there trying to help our kids maneuver through a high tech world, Poisson Rouge allows children to simplify the overwhelming/over stimulating by keeping the pages…

  • U2 at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate

    4 Nov 2009 | 10:51 pm
    Monday, November 9th, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berllin Wall and as part of the celebrations, U2 is playing a free concert tonight (November 5th) at the Brandenburg Gate. The free tickets were snatched up quickly and are now gone, but we will post a link here for youtube watching! I am thankful for many reasons that the wall is gone, first and foremost is that I would have never met my dear husband!These photos are of a bicycling tour we took of Berlin two years ago. Here's to 20 years of the fall of the wall!

  • I never knew stringing lights could be so...

    2 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm
    Okay fellow expats who live in the city and people who have windows in general please take note: drying your hair naked in your child's room with the shutters open is not a good idea. Case in point, yesterday. I'm a mother, in a rush, rarely shower anyway, so of course on this special day of showering AND washing my hair I quickly decided in order to save time I would skip dressing and immediately befriend the hairdryer. Imagine my surprise when poor little expat me was standing face to face with City Worker #1 and a few minutes later City Worker #2 stark naked in the middle of pink paradise…

  • Tights for boys

    2 Nov 2009 | 3:35 am
    I know that my four-year-old son has been living in Germany all of his short life so far because this past week he started begging me to buy him some tights after he saw that little brother started wearing them to fend off the cold. Yes, kids wear strumphose here under their pants to keep them warm, and boys wear them also. I did not really realize or embrace this concept the entire first winter with P, and believe me, I got many comments about how my poor baby was freezing his little legs off. We do a lot of walking here in Germany as the schools, bakery, butcher, parks and Palace are all…

  • Theo in der Seilbahn und Fräulein Klein

    28 Oct 2009 | 12:36 pm
    I’ve written this past spring about the wonderful Kellner Steckfiguren we received from the Easter bunny. The latest edition to befriend our bunny "Häslein Hopps" is “Theo in der Seilbahn und Fräulein Klein” – (Theo in the cable car with Miss Small).We have so much fun running the cable car line from one end of P’s spielbett to his dresser drawer knob down below. Then Hopps, Theo, and Fräulein Klein (or some combination thereof) jump into the car and wheeeee, across the room they slide! We also love how Kellner’s handmade wooden and rubber toys encourage creative design and…
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    Seashells and Sunflowers | Necochea, Argentina

  • Bizarre Foods – Argentina Style

    Katie
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:13 am
    Calling all foodies!  Here's your chance to help get Argentina featured on the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.  I was contacted by one of the show's researchers for help in compiling a list of some of the strangest, most unique foods that Argentina has to offer.  Here are some examples of the people, places and grub that the production team is looking for: Markets that have unusual foods Restaurants that serve unusual foods Chefs that specialize in something bizarre Interesting street food Traditional foods that have survived generations Foods that are…

  • Province of Buenos Aires Says "Chau" to Plastic Bags

    Katie
    1 Nov 2009 | 8:10 pm
    In an attempt to cut down on the environmental blight of plastic bags, the provincial legislature of Buenos Aires passed a measure banning the use of environmentally-unfriendly bags in supermarkets.  As of October 15, 2009, supermarkets and hypermarkets in the Province of Buenos Aires must use degradable or biodegradable bags.  Smaller markets were given an additional year to come into compliance with the law. A few months back, in preparation for the new law, displays of reusable cloth "Eco-bolsas" sprang up at our local supermarkets with a bit of signage explaining the…

  • A Letter to My Mother

    Katie
    26 Oct 2009 | 5:28 am
    "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." – Thomas Campbell from Hallowed Ground Dear Mommy, The weekend following my 28th birthday was the last evening I spent with you before you slipped away.  You had invited me over for a home-cooked dinner and the requisite birthday cake, although we didn't bother with candles that year.  Admittedly, I don't recall what we ate, but I do remember sitting around the table together, enjoying the meal.  After we finished eating, Sarah, Marianna and I giggled as we took silly photos of ourselves making poses like the girls…

  • Intermission

    Katie
    22 Oct 2009 | 4:33 pm
    We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to bring you…well, another blog.  You see, I am now writing a guest post every week for Transpanish, a translation blog focusing on the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Since this week has been insanely busy with translation projects and preparations for a visit from my dad and his wife (yippee!), I haven't quite had a chance to put the finishing touches on the posts I have waiting in the wings. So, dear readers, I submit for your approval these two fine articles crafted exclusively for the lovely people at Transpanish: The Use of…

  • No Switch to Daylight Saving Time for Argentina

    Katie
    16 Oct 2009 | 5:08 pm
    After reviewing reports indicating that the switch to Daylight Saving Time did little to save energy, Argentina's government scrapped plans to spring forward one hour on Sunday, October 18th. Argentina reintroduced Daylight Saving Time back in December 2007 after a long absence, but the measure proved unpopular in many of the provinces.  Several provinces opted not to observe Daylight Saving Time in 2008-2009. Argentina Standard Time is UTC/GMT –3, which places Buenos Aires 1 hour ahead of New York City while the U.S. is on Daylight Saving Time.  When Americans set their clocks…
 
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    a malaysian abroad

  • Remember remember….

    *lynne*
    5 Nov 2009 | 5:45 am
    image source Remember, remember the Fifth of November, The Gunpowder Treason and Plot, I know of no reason Why the Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot. . During the recent holiday-themed World Blog Surf Day, Zuzanna who writes at Success Abroad and Emm who writes at Emm in London, chose to feature an important event in Great Britain’s history that occurred today back in 1605. I don’t know how I learned about Guy Fawkes, the bonfires, the burning of the effigy, etc — most probably from the many British children’s stories I used to read. If the Five Find-Outers and…

  • WBSD #3: a ~new~ holiday

    *lynne*
    31 Oct 2009 | 10:45 am
    Another World Blog Surf Day is here! The first was about life as an expat in general, and the second about food.  This time around it’s about holidays & celebrations: What is your favorite ~new~ holiday and how is it celebrated? image source When I first heard of Halloween being referred to as a holiday, I thought “That’s not right! Holidays are official days off, and you don’t get a day off for Halloween…”  Of course, that was back in the early 90s, I was still a teenager then, had been just slightly over a year in the US, and was still unused to having…

  • Happy Mole Day!

    *lynne*
    23 Oct 2009 | 7:05 am
    I just found out that today is Mole Day!  *giggle!*  It is marked between 6:02 am and 6:02 pm on October 23rd by a specific group of mainly North Americans.  Who are they, and what do you think this day celebrates? (don’t Google it, just play along, k? I’ve given some hints already!) … Mole as in the blind burrowing animal? … or as in the Golden or Marsupial not-really-moles? Or perhaps it’s celebrating the SI unit used in chemistry for the amount of a substance? Perhaps it’s a celebration for all who have raised areas of skin usually with a darker…

  • Happy World Post Day!

    *lynne*
    9 Oct 2009 | 5:35 am
    What do you usually receive in your mailbox?  No, not your virtual email one; the physical one, where snail-mail arrives. Swiss mailbox by Toni_V Nowadays, this is what greets Kosh and me: Netflix DVD about once a week some statements/bills (many but not all have been switched to electronic statements viewed online) one or two birthday cards per person lots of spam (weekly adverts, local business announcements) Back in Malaysia while growing up, I recall receiving: regular letters from grandparents in Switzerland semi-regular letters from pen-pals occasional wedding invitations bills /…

  • Springfield, IL: “To Write So Fine A Piece”

    *lynne*
    8 Oct 2009 | 8:55 am
    Having slacked off on the monthly review of Holidays, Festivals and other Events in Malaysia, Switzerland and the USA for quite a while now (I only managed Jan Feb Mar April & May 2009!), I’m going to be exploring and sharing some of the Festivals and Events happening in Springfield, IL on a one-on-one basis. This is the first of hopefully many many more to come! To Write So Fine A Piece Date: Saturday, October 10th 2009 Time: 2pm - 3pm Location: Lincoln’s Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery Cost:  free, open to the public Lincoln’s Tomb Oak Ridge Cemetery Springfield, IL (source)…
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    Expatify.com

  • The Cities of Brazil

    Tanya
    7 Nov 2009 | 1:26 am
    Belém This city is located in northern Brazil, and is a busy port that is the entrance to the Amazon region with a population of 1.4 million. It is nicknamed the Cidade das Mangueiras, which means “the city of mango trees,” due to the high volume of those. There is an older, colonial part of the [...]

  • Three Lakes of India: Dal Lake, Vembanad Lake and Chilka Lake

    Tanya
    6 Nov 2009 | 1:40 am
    If you are relocating to India, do not miss out on these lakes. Dal Lake This lake is located in northern India, in the district of Kangra, which is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is about ten square miles in size. It is divided into three major parts: Gagri bal, Lokut Dal and Bod [...]

  • Is an Online Degree a Good Choice for Expats?

    Bryan
    5 Nov 2009 | 4:58 pm
    Expats need to constantly refine their skills and hone their education while overseas in order to keep pace with the changing foreign world around them. For many, it may be a good idea to consider getting a degree online. Thanks to the information superhighway, you can now get a degree from anywhere so long as you [...]

  • Guy Fawkes Day: Celebrating in England

    Tanya
    5 Nov 2009 | 1:53 am
    Today is Guy Fawkes Day; November 5 of every year is set to commemorate this man. It marks the anniversary that Guy Fawkes and several other conspirators plotted to blow up the English Parliament and King James back in 1605. This plan was named the “Gunpowder Plot.” The reason they wanted to blow up the government [...]

  • Finding a Job Overseas

    Michelle
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    You are ready to become an expat! Everyone approaches this move differently; some will save money and move to their chosen destination and search for a job on arrival, others would rather secure a job before their move. Depending on the country and work visa regulations, one strategy might work better than another. If you [...]
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    Bulgarian Slivatree - An Expatriate's Eye in Bulgaria

  • Sirni Zagovezni In Bulgaria

    30 Oct 2009 | 2:59 pm
    Welcome to World Blog Surf Day. I hope you enjoyed The Skaian Gates by Yarzac. The theme as you may know is about Holidays and Celebrations and for sure there is bound to be a great varity form around the world. A big thanks to Sher at Czech Off The Beaten Path who again has taking this third World Blog Suf Day event up a league with her dedicated work and excellent communication to participants.I have already written about my favourite celebration in Bulgaria and it has been published in my book Simple Treasures in Bulgaria. If you like what you read I am offering my book (in the ebook…

  • Finally Got A Job In Bulgaria Again

    26 Oct 2009 | 9:45 pm
    Thank you all for all your comments regarding my last post. There is a burning inside me that wants to spill all that happens here but it is being held back by time. It is something that I thought I would have lots of here - this is not the case right now. Far from being a rat race, things just take far longer to do here than in my previous life and trying to acclimatise with this is still something I am trying to fight, although never as much as I used to.After being made redundant here back in 2007, it is with relief that I have now found local work here at the minimum Bulgarian wage…

  • Blogging Takes A Lay Back

    18 Oct 2009 | 6:24 am
    I’m sorry there have not been recent posts here as so much has happened over the last few weeks my own normally high and motivated zest for telling people about what goes on here has taken a bit of a bashing.Why this has happened is quite hard to explain. There was a sudden flash in my mind saying, why am I telling people about life in Bulgaria? This was a question that I found very hard to answer. It is quite common for expatriate to have a quest to tell everyone what it is like in the new country they have taken on board and then after a while it wears off. Has this now become a trait in…

  • Working Abroad Away From Bulgaria? No, Just Talk Really

    11 Oct 2009 | 4:56 am
    Would I rather be living in France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus (I’m half Cypriot) or more exotic lands such as Thailand, India, Japan, Sri Lanka, which I absolutely adore? The answer a few years ago was yes. Any one of these countries could have easily been my choice of becoming an expatriate, but the bottom line was they were all too expensive. Now of course I have found my niche, a new family life and work in Bulgaria. Who is to say that Galia and I won’t still move on to new countries to work? We are both free and still relatively young enough to work for another ten or so years. The…

  • A Passion For Rakia Making Amongst Food Galore In Bulgaria

    5 Oct 2009 | 11:15 am
    Grapes are in full swing in Bulgaria right now. The pickings are taking place all around the country for wine, rakia and of course eating. Not a day passed right now when we don’t get grapes presented to us from friends, family and neighbours. Every bunch of grape received is of course the best grapes in Yambol!Rakia houses are running at full steam right now and you can see a trail of smoke on the horizon as the kazans (distilling systems) had been expelling smoke all night from the wood that supplies the heat. All this of course well worth the effort as this year’s grape rakia will be…
 
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    Sovereign Man

  • Answering your questions after the wreck…

    Simon Black
    6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am
    I’m actually reporting tonight from bed-side in my hotel room; I managed to crash my $3/day motorcycle rental this afternoon, and between the cracked rib and other pleasantries, I’ve decided to call it an early evening. Fortunately for me, Thailand has some of the best healthcare in the world, at least if you’re an expat and go to the several renowned and accredited private hospitals… but more on that in future letters.  Tonight I thought I would sit down and specifically address some of your questions, which is something I have not done in some time: Keith from…

  • Fight night in Pattaya

    Simon Black
    5 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am
    The air smelled of sweat and blood, and I could barely hear my friends talking to me over the screaming crowd.  With each blow, bookmakers were shifting odds and taking bets with such a frenzy that the arena may as well have been the New York Stock Exchange on Black Monday. This was the scene tonight at a local Muay Thai match here in Pattaya… and aside from being a much needed break for me to soak in some raw carnage, it was also a compelling episode of quintessential Thailand. To give you a bit of background, Muay Thai is the country’s national sport and famous martial…

  • Why the only direction for Thailand is up

    Simon Black
    4 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am
    I arrived into Thailand at 3am this morning from Shenzhen, and instantly I felt a bit happier. China is undoubtedly a booming colossus full of opportunity, but culturally it can be a bit grating after a while.  After a month on the mainland,  I needed a break, and Thailand was the perfect choice. Aside from being one of my favorite countries in the world, I wanted to spend some time scouting Thai investment opportunities.  I think the country is ripe for growth, but there are signs of a short-term correction.  I want to be ready when that happens because there will be a lot of buying…

  • Two unique privacy solutions

    Simon Black
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am
    Here’s the scene… you’ve just landed and are making your way through immigration. Bleary-eyed and a bit disoriented, the portly fellow behind the desk singles you out for ’secondary screening,’ and you are whisked away to the catacombs of the Customs service. At this point, it really doesn’t matter what country you’re arrived to… until you clear customs and immigration, you’re in no man’s land.  For customs officials, anything is fair game, including laptops and personal effects. I have written before about this practice by the US…

  • Five reasons you should consider China as a place to live and do business

    Simon Black
    2 Nov 2009 | 5:19 am
    I spend a great deal of my time on the road, traveling around the world in search of opportunity. I put boots on the ground while I’m on the hunt and end up screening a tremendous amount of both business and investment ideas. Some of these ideas make the cut, and we take the concept further. Others don’t. Regardless, the time that I spend on the ground getting to know the cityscape and the local players becomes quite valuable to me personally… and over time, I have assembled a list of what I consider to be the finest places in the world to reside based on what I have seen…
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    And She Took Her Journey

  • Obama to lift HIV/AIDS travel ban - CNN.com

    Donna C. Martinez
    3 Nov 2009 | 5:53 pm
    Big question now is will this affect policies regarding people with disabilities traveling internationally?Obama to lift HIV/AIDS travel ban - CNN.com

  • Institutions Remain Dumping Grounds for Forgotten People :: BalkanInsight.com & Virginia, USA

    Donna C. Martinez
    26 Oct 2009 | 4:41 am
    While people may tsk-tsk this situation as being an issue in "those other countries" it's time we take a closer look to our own home. I commend the work of the Virginia Alliance for Community formed in 2008 by The Arc of Virginia, the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, the Partnership for People with Disabilities, the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy. From the Balkans: Reform is coming too slowly to institutions for adults with intellectual and mental health disabilities in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia, where chronic neglect, filthy conditions, and the use of physical…

  • Inclusion Europe

    Donna C. Martinez
    20 Oct 2009 | 5:16 am
    Inclusion Europe is a non-profit organisation that campaigns for the rights and interests of people with intellectual disabilities and their families across Europe. Their online information service, e-Include at Inclusion Europe - Home is the essential point of reference for European news, policies, actions and events related to the community of persons with intellectual disabilities, their families and their organizations. Members and subscribers receive by e-mail regularly updated information on the latest articles and news. For those on FaceBook you may want to consider become a fan.

  • The Santiago Times - English Language Newspaper in Santiago, Chile - News in Chile and Latin America - CHILE: THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS REMAIN INACCESSIBLE FOR THE DISABLED

    Donna C. Martinez
    20 Oct 2009 | 4:54 am
    Well...it’s a start. I wonder about the access to everywhere else! Having laws directing accessibility equality and equity is step one. Following and enforcing is step two. Embracing accessibility for all global citizens and including people with disability as part of the cultural fabric is job done. The Santiago Times - English Language Newspaper in Santiago, Chile - News in Chile and Latin America - CHILE: THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS REMAIN INACCESSIBLE FOR THE DISABLED

  • Changing Attitudes/Behavior & Having Fun While Doing So: The Fun Theory

    Donna C. Martinez
    16 Oct 2009 | 7:07 am
    Now here we go! A contest to invent fun: We believe that the easiest way to change people's behaviour for the better is by making it fun to do. We call it The fun theory. Find your own evidence for the theory that fun is best way to change behaviour for the better. For yourself, for the environment or something entirely different. Your entries should be presented with a written explanation plus a visualisation of the idea itself. It could be a simple sketch, photos or a film of a prototype. You decide what will do your entry justice. Rules | The Fun Theory See how Fun Theory is put to work by…
 
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    Earth to Danie

  • Sunday Morning Idea--French Doughnuts

    1 Nov 2009 | 6:05 am
    I woke up this morning with no clear plans.  I was up early (as usual) but with the time change last night, I had an extra hour to myself this morning.  I came into the office and sat at my computer in the dark, and began catching up on the many blogs I rarely seem to have time to read anymore. I'm going to blame Sophistimom for starting the chain reaction this morning.  It was Doughnut Week on her spectacular blog.  Doughnut Week!  A whole week of doughnuts!?!  That's a lot of temptation for someone who is counting calories.  There are no calories in…

  • I Never Really Thought About It Like That - Blog Action Day '09

    15 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am
    Two years ago, I lived in India.  My favorite thing to do while living there was to leave India and go anywhere else--especially Dubai. To do that, I had to fly on an airplane which left a big carbon footprint on the earth--but I had never really thought about it like that at the time. One of our favorite things to do in Dubai was to ski. I thought it was so neat to be able to ski in the Middle East--I wanted everyone I knew to experience it, too. My son came home from school one day and told me that he was discussing Ski Dubai with his friends at school. One of his friends said he…

  • Incredible News for Expat Book Lovers!

    13 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am
    If there is one thing that I love, it's an item that makes life as an expat even just a little bit easier.  That's why I'm so excited about the new Amazon Kindle with US AND International Wireless! This means expats in over 100 countries can now have 3G access to American newspapers and magazines, as well as books, with no annual contracts, no monthly fees and no hunting for wi-fi hotpots. When you travel, you don't have to carry 20lbs of books!  I'm so excited about this new product and what it means to expats!  So much so, I've decided to make my book, The Expat Arc: an…

  • I. AM. CANADIAN.

    12 Oct 2009 | 4:50 am
    Happy Thanksgiving to Canadian friends and family, and to Canadian expats everywhere.  I've seen a lot of expat Twittering in the last 24 hours about people attending expat Thanksgiving dinners around the globe.  I'm happy to see people keeping the tradition of Thanksgiving and sharing it with their host countries. For most Canadians, seeing "I AM CANADIAN" written somewhere immediately invokes the thought of pride.  And beer.  Molson beer, to be exact.  While I wouldn't say it's the best beer that Canada has to offer, it probably has the best marketing campaign. So…

  • Expats and Tax Equalization

    9 Oct 2009 | 10:06 am
    I have a very important tidbit of information for expats regarding tax equalization.  There is one crucial element to tax equalization in order for it to truly benefit the expat.  Read on... Tax equalization very much relates to the arena of international assignments. It all starts when a company takes the decision of sending employees abroad from his headquarters home location and / or from any location / subsidiary to any other location / subsidiary. If the organization is not having a policy to cover international assignments and the tax related issues ,the employee will note…
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    Expats Blog

  • I'm the Mother of Third Culture Kids who Repatriated

    6 Nov 2009 | 11:53 am
    I can't find anything other than academics in regard to the parents, to the unit: The Repat/TCKS family. A Repat/TCKS family isn't all about the TCKS.

  • Moving From Israel

    2 Nov 2009 | 3:20 pm
    Hi Sharon We have lived in Israel for the last four years. Now for family health reasons we need to move back to America and I don't know where to

  • expat retirement

    2 Nov 2009 | 6:42 am
    expat retirement pension plans and offshore savings - How to protect your expatriate family and to save enough money for retirement?

  • Canada Student Visa with Wife

    26 Oct 2009 | 1:42 pm
    Dear Sharon, I am planning to apply for Canada student visa and I am married. Is it possible to bring my wife with me to Canada if I am going to

  • Working as an LPN/Enrolled Nurse in Australia

    24 Oct 2009 | 11:49 am
    I am an LPN in the US, Will be coming to Australia in Dec 09 to assist in home missions for our church. I want to work at least part-time, but am
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    MyBrownBaby

  • Help MyBrownBaby Support the Greening Youth Foundation

    5 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm
    It’s no secret that I’m a total stan for my sister-in-law, Angelou, and not just because she’s smart, accomplished, passionate and fly. I can’t say it enough: She’s an inspiration (and she lets me rock all her shoes, purses, and cute tops!). An attorney by trade, Angelou founded a little over a year ago her own non-profit environmental education program for kids, GREENING YOUTH, to help encourage

  • The MyBrownBaby Beautiful Mind Writing Contest

    4 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm
    The written word is sexy as hell to me. I mean, I adore writers and their turns of phrase like a car lover does the fine, sleek lines of a Porsche—like an art lover does the passion and intricacies of a Romare Bearden collage. When I worked in an office, I used to clip magazine articles, quotes, and turns of phrase by some of my favorite writers and hang them up on my wall for inspiration. They

  • Wordless Wednesday: The Cousins In a New York State of Mind

    4 Nov 2009 | 5:31 am
    This is, for sure, one of my favorite pictures of Lila, Miles, Mari, and Cole—taken in the middle of Times Square on the first day of one of our family vacations to New York City. We're native New Yorkers, and when we were living there, it was way too hokey to get caught doing the touristy thing. That's for, like, tourists. But then we all moved South, and when we visited home for the first time,

  • Check Out MyBrownBaby On The Rachael Ray Show!

    3 Nov 2009 | 8:28 am
    Exciting news! Today, I'm one of four mommies kicking it with the celebrated chef/author/magazine editorRachael Ray on her fabulous afternoon gabfest, The Rachael Ray Show. I joined Rachael, actress Rikki Lake, and three other moms via Skype to talk about all things motherhood—and, true to form, I gave my own unique perspective on what it means to be a mommy in 2009.To get a sneak peak, click

  • A LETTER FOR MY FATHER: A Daughter Reaches Out to the Dad Who Never Was

    1 Nov 2009 | 9:02 pm
    By KAREN MARIE MASONDear Daddy,Mama told me your were dead. Except that was way before you actually died. But when I started acting up around age 16 or so—you know, the age when girls start “feeling their oats,” as Mama used to say—you suddenly came alive again, and next thing I knew, I was talking to you on the phone and not much later, I was on a plane to see you. I’m not mad at Mama any more
 
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