Settling In

Luggage, kitchen table, computer desk, toy box, laundry basket. There are a lot of uses for a big blue bin, especially when you're settling into a new place. Now most of them are stacked away in the storage closet, but those first weeks they sure were handy.

We're getting around, trying to get to know our new neighborhood. The other day we took a bus down to the library. Just one stop away. Noah loves beeping his card as we board and "alight."

There are 2 grocery stores right next door in the mall: Giant and Cold Storage. So I usually walk over with the stroller and hang our bags on the handles for the walk back. One night I loaded up a whole bunch in a shopping cart and walked the cart home and up the elevator. It was so convienent to unload but then I had to do the walk of shame to return the empty cart. I need to find one of those small wire carts the smart old ladies use.

The mall has hardware stores, lots of restuarants, toy stores, electronics, dentists, chiropractors, office supply stores, department stores and of course lots clothes and shoes. Anything you need. In the basement is a great food court with a different stall for noodles, rice, meat, vegetable dishes. Pig organ soup, you know - the usual.

Next door to the mall there's also a open outdoor market called "wet market" with fresh fruit and vegetables. Lots of small shops all along there with everything you need and cheaper than mall prices. There's also a "hawker center" which is like an outdoor food court with Indian food, Chinese food, Indonesian food. My favorite is the fresh spring rolls "popiah" with a glass of cold lime juice.

We walk to things that are close by. David takes a bus 20 minutes downtown to his office. I bus with the kids when its simple. Taxis when its further away - to playgroup or the zoo.

One of our main tasks the last weeks was to find Noah a preschool. There are 6 or 7 within walking distance. Each a little different. He is just dying to go. He had an hour trial session last week and it was so hard to leave. He'll start Monday. His uniform is already washed and he had his backpack packed a week ago (water bottle and a crayon just in case, he says). This school is 70% in English, 30% in Chinese so he says he'll teach me new words when he gets home, "if I can remember, Mom."

If we walk just past the mall, under the underpass, and follow the foot path we find ourselves at East Coast Park. We went last Saturday to have a picnic and play in the sand. I'm still not sure what kind of tree we picniked under. The local boys swimming in the water told me with big smiles it was a coconut tree but I have serious doubts.

We're trying to figure it all out. Most days are fascinating, others are hard. Small victories have become very meaningful. And its only the beginning.