Nine Months

 

It has been nine months since we arrived in Malaysia. When we first arrived I felt like I was counting-1/12th of the way through our contract, 1/8th of the way through our contract...and then I stopped thinking of it in that way and stopped counting. All of a sudden I looked up and realized that we are in month nine and rapidly approaching month ten. This morning is the first morning of our Hari Raya holiday, a week off for people to celebrate the end of Ramadan though the actual Hari Raya holiday was only just decided because it is based off when the crescent moon is cited (for more info see this article). Taking some time for reflection this morning before we get the boys up and zoom off to the airport for our holiday time.

What does nine months look like and feel like?:

• Having favorite restaurants that we know we all like to eat at
• Getting bored of our favorite restaurants and Grab orders and searching out new ones
• A regular Wednesday afternoon HIIT/Strength training practice
• Having an established dentist for all of us (and knowing which clinic is the 24 hour clinic that is good and close)
• Anticipating things like school assemblies before they are announced but still being surprised by the fact that people dress up for ALL the holidays here
• Having a grocery store routine and being ready to go find new or cheaper or special stores for that particular item
• Understanding the different criterion I am using for assessments so that I can actually explain it well to my students and put together a meaningful rubric for them
• Going to enough book club meetings that if I miss one I don't feel like I just missed a big thing because the next one is only a few weeks away
• Watching our middle school girls and boys play soccer internationally and feeling like they are "ours"-so much enthusiasm when they won and heartbreak when they lost
• Talus and Rowan participating on stage in school assemblies
• Multiple sleepovers and other parents anticipating the needs of our kids
• Listening to the boys as they talk to their friends here and the shorthand and stories that only develop over time
• New hikes and a continued desire to explore more
• North becoming more involved (just a little so far, but maybe more) in the Hash runs here
• Successfully completing Malaysian taxes (and helping others to do so)
• Taking on a new role next year as 6th grade residential camp leader and doing some recons this last week
• Favorite foods and a greater willingness to try new food and street food
• No longer counting days

Some pictures to go along with the words:

 

North is reminding me that it is time to go-last minute packing and a plane to catch for Langkawi to have some beach time...My mom and Dan were supposed to be here with us but she broke her foot. So my heart is feeling a bit sad about this vacation adventure...and also looking forward to them joining us at another time and planning a whole different adventure then. ❤️