Chloe came home sick from summer camp – she said she was feeling cold the entire day – I was surprised that the camp councilors didn’t call to inform us – nor told us about it when we had called to check on her in the afternoon. Poor kid! Maybe, we shouldn’t have let Chloe go to camp everyday – but spread it out instead to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. But I guess we just thought that she might enjoy being with other kids more – but I guess this is the price we have to pay – that she might catch something from another kid who is sick in camp. *sigh*. This is just the beginning of a long week for us – for when the kid is sick – she usually takes a week before she is alright.
A-Frame Houses
The photo doesn’t do it justice because the A-Frame houses that is near the lake – looked really cute from far away. I don’t really know who lives in these A-Frame houses – or if they are for sale but i found on the internet that they are for rent at $500/month – doubt they have heats and lights included though. But it’s such a unique place – great for bachelors or single ladies – who works near the hospital – it has a great view that’s for sure. If I were single – i would definitely rent something like that – back home rental for a room alone is about $500 – if not more for just a HDB house. Rent is a lot cheaper here in Canada – but of course – the standard of living is also lower as compared to back home. So will you survived in Canada ? for sure – but make sure you have some money saved up and run your little business. Working for someone unless you are a professional yourself – can be harder.
Health Issues
As you all know – I have some health issues – lucky for me – in some ways- being here in the West – my medical bills are taken care of by MSI and for many friends that I know – they are also covered by a disability insurance provided by the government here. In fact, the coverage is pretty wide here in the West – did you know that if you had a mental illness – it is considered a disability too? well, before coming here and living in the West – I didn’t know about it at all. But for those who have a back injury and cannot work – they are able to go on disability too – amazing right? Yes, I’ve seen and heard from a lot of customers that they are on disability – when they don’t look sick to me at all. Back home – when we talked about disability – you either have to break a backbone and cannot walk anymore before you can claimed any kind of disability insurance. Of course, I don’t want to be on a disability but one never know right – when you have as much health issues as I do – but it’s good to know that I am insured if something does happen – and I won’t be a burden to PB and Chloe.
Sometimes I Wonder
Sometimes I wonder why do I even try? the harder I try – the harder the smack seems to be. Seriously, I should just give up on some people and stop trying to do the right thing. So from now on – I’m just gonna take good care of myself and my own – as for the rest – the hell with it!
Pets & Chloe
I’m not very much of a pet person – so when Chloe also learned not to like pets so much – I can’t really blame her. I don’t mind dog so much – but cats – I absolutely dislike – no idea why – but just don’t like them. But PB loves cats more than dogs that’s for sure – he likes the purring sound of the cats so it seems. Chloe doesn’t mind the small kitty as long as they don’t claw her and this one is called “clever” according to Chloe. This is one of Aunt Helena’s kitty and chloe wants the pet but to be kept at Aunt Helena’s haahhaha!! convenient eh? Look at my girl with the lion head – she is growing so fast now – and darn cheeky I tell yer.
Summer 2011
Every summer since coming to Canada – it doesn’t seems that we’ve done that much at all down at the waterfront. The last few years – I had gone down to the waterfront with Chloe on my own – or with her babysitter – but it’s different without PB. This year – we’ve managed to do a lot together during summer – I guess it’s because we’ve got Gary – a friend to help us in the store – volunteer work. Plus Gary we trust our store in his hands – we don’t worry at all – that money is going to go missing or some hanky panky going in the store. So when Gary is helping out – I just totally relax – no worries whatsoever. I’m just happy that PB is willing to do a lot more with Chloe – because she is growing so fast – and I really don’t want him to miss out on all the fun – watching her grow.
Beatles Octopus’s Garden
I grew up with parents who are not very arty farty – nor are they very hipped. When it comes to the Beatles and lyrics of songs – my mom was just not into it – and my dad “the shit face” well – he was never around right – so you can’t expect to learn anything from him. Now with Chloe – it’s a different story altogether – because she has got a dad – who loves music – although he wouldn’t sing to her – and she picks up all the good stuff from him. Like this song – Octopus’s Garden – Chloe who is 7.5 yrs old – would sing this song to me – and the yellow submarine. I who is 46 yrs old is learning so much from this little girl who brings me so much joy. So I’m inclined to believe – that what your children are – us as parents have direct impact on them. So yes! you want your kids to be this and that – make sure you check yourself – are you also this and that? I don’t believe in pushing my kid – but strongly believe in nurturing them with love and encouragement.
The Kid Who Is Afraid Of Dogs
This is the girl who is afraid of real dogs – but insist on having a dog for a pet – a toy dog of course – isn’t that strange ? Yes! her pet dog’s name is “clever” too – hahahhaha!!! So I told her that she would love her Kai Mah’s doggy – because they are as small as her toy dog – she asked really? hahah!
The Western Men & The Chinese Men With Electronics
I wanted to think of a title that won’t offend my Chinese friends – but there isn’t really a good way to put it – without upsetting some. But this only applies to those who are not technically inclined because the Chinese men that I’ve met – are not very technically inclined – well – except for the engineers I used to work with. But truth be told the Western engineers are by far more handy and knowledgeable when it comes to anything electronic. And I can prove it because PB is such a person – ask him about wires, cable or even digital video cables, he is able to tell you exactly what they are for and how to use it. But if I were to ask a chinese friend – I seriously doubt they are so good with it. Some of the chinese male friends I had known all my life – don’t even know how to tune a VCR to record what is on tv *slap forehead* so can you blame me for wanting to marry a chinese? well – of course, there is more to knowing about cables to choose from a Chinese to a Westerner – but that’s for another post and another day.
Raising A Kid Well
When Chloe was born – the minute I held her in my arms – I was very happy but at the same time overwhelmed with fear and responsibility as to how I am going to be able to raise her up well. Not only in terms of feeding her and clothing her but also with her education and making sure she grows up to be a responsible adult, well-behaved – you know the works – like any good citizen of society. My fear derived from seeing so many teenage pregnancy in this town – and also so many problematic teenagers. I fear I may not bring her up well – I fear she may grow out of hand – I also fear for my own health – what if I am not around to help raise her with PB. You see – after arriving in Canada – I realized that my health is not what it used to be and since PB was the only bread winner in this household, therefore I was very worried – what ifs???? So I did what any responsible woman and mother would do and took out my life insurance calculator and got some good advice from my insurance agent and did the right thing with my term life insurance. You never know what life may bring you eh – and in the event when something does happened I want to be prepared because I want my kid to be raised up well. I want an option for PB to leave work and to look after Chloe properly – i hope that day may never come – I hope to watch my princess grow up – and go into college and get married and have kids – but you never know right? What about you? how do you raise your kid up well?