Long time…

..no update.  Been very busy.  Had no maid for almost 3 months.  Then kids had end of year school holidays.  Didn’t do much. Put Justin in an intensive Mandarin reading class.  It’s helped him tremendously in opening him up and talking aloud in class.   Had short holiday in BKK-went to my niece’s wedding.  Great seeing some of my family.  Then new school year started.  Been very hectic ever since. Alyssa started secondary school at Tenby World School in Setia Eco Park.  She was quite emotional.  Hated the school at first.  Wanted to go to public school like most of her friends.  Missed being around familiar faces, I guess.  She’s turning 13 this June and acting very hormonal.  Now, she likes her new school. Tenby has lots to offer and she’s very happy with the extracurricular activites.  Amelia and Justin hate their main classroom teachers.  Justin has been beaten on the hands almost every week(corporal punishment is acceptable in Chinese schools).  I wrote a letter to the teacher not to punish him too much.  I cry for this boy.  He’s having a tough time.  Every little thing(forget to pack a book, didn’t finish homework, mommy didn’t sign assighment notebook), he gets a  ”pak” on this hands. I told the teacher this is unacceptable.  Amelia was missing  a lot of school.  She was sick with flu, then had UTI.  Had a call from the teacher.  I sent a letter from her doc saying Amelia should be allowed to go to the bathroom when she needs to bc of reoccuring UTI.  The teacher sounded like a bit!!.  Amelia finally caught up with her homework and everything’s been handed in.  Can’t wait for my kids to be finished with this Chinese school.  We are all stress out . Everything is so darn disorganized even though it’s a top performing school and a cluster school. My husband said that’s bc they kissed the government’s ass.   I know Mandarin is very important, but good gracious, I hate the way it’s run.  Always last minute changes. Teachers are not available or approachable. And they use corporal punishment as a discipline.  Can’t wait for the younger two to join Alyssa at Tenby. This is the last  week of spring break for my youngest 2.  Aly has no break until 2nd of April.  She’s on the international school timeline.  Hence, we couldn’t go on any holidays.  Had a very short weekend in Kuatan since it coincided with dh’s Masonic meeting.  Came back early bc not much  to do there.  The Hyatt Hotel was very below our standards.  Used to getting suite upgrades from Starwood hotels.  Oh well, the  kids enjoyed  the day on the beach.  Today was a perfect Sunday.  Made pancakes and sausages for breakfast.  Later we are going out to Desa Waterfront Park with Ruby so she can run around.  Kids have been wanting to go there for a while.  They love that we can bring Ruby along to the restaurants.  Enjoying this Sunday.  Then back to the grind-driving kids to school.