ISKL: The Return

Spring break 2018 brought with it the "return" to what has been, for a couple years now, the place the girls want to be. In many ways it was the warm and wonderful place we remember and, for the girls, the place that moulded them. We all miss ISKL and Malaysia very much, but with the passage of time the circumstances change too. Our visit to Melawati gave us a reconnection with the place before ISKL moves to a much larger, new location next academic year. In that way it was a bit of a closure for us. The next time we come back things will be much different, with the new location severing the ties we have to the place that has been part of so many memories. 

Mommy and Daddy spent hours reconnecting with friends and collegues, with daddy spending close to an hour just in the Ampang guardhouse talking to the guards and supervisors there. Once inside it was an additional three hours at each of the two campuses, Ampang and Melawati. 

For the girls the visit was a bit shorter, as the time they were able to spend with friends needed to revolve around the daily schedule. In time the girls found what they were looking for: For Irini it was a chance to share one more experience with her friends (the last time she was with them was in second grade) during lunch and recess. For Amalia it was visiting (and giving the requisite hugs) her old teachers as well as spending a good amount of time in the library. 

As we left Malaysia we could help but feel that "tug" that it had always offered us. A sense of home. But, at the same time, we left knowing that our place was elsewhere now, and we are happy living in the now. The visit offered us the time for "closure" at least for now and a chance to celebrate both our past and our present. 

KL Return.

When we left KL what seems ages ago it was much harder for some (Amalia) than for others. It was deemed appropriate at the time that we allow time for ourselves to get used to Dubai and allow for our friends and family in KL to move forward with their lives before reconnecting so as to avoid too much emotional anguish for the little ones, especially with regard to the family, the school and Ida (our previous nanny). 

And so, with one and a half year under our belt in our new location we thought it was appropriate to return to where so many of our lives stories have been based, where 14 years (for the adults) and a lifetime has molded and has been molded by the constant interactions of growing, learning, living in a space we used to call home. The girls were thrilled to be headed back and couldn't wait to get on the plane to take them "home" again.  For the adults too it was exciting, but brought with it the trepidation of having to come to grips with a previous chapter of our professional and social life. What would it be like?  

Daddy was struck, almost immediately, by how small everything felt. Obviously life in Dubai had already taking its toll on his mindset. The airpot seemed small. The highways seemed small. The taxis seemed small. There was a closeness to KL that isn't present in Dubai's spacious development. But once we got to the cousins and tia's place it was like life had been restored. The children were so happy to be back and so comfortable in the apartment we had spent so much time in while we lived there. It was as if equilibrium had been restored for them. They took a good amount of time reconnecting with old friends, playing and having sleep overs. It was beautiful to watch how naturally that flowed. 

For mommy and daddy too it was "the right thing" to return to KL as a form of closure for all the time that we spent there. They spent hours just roaming through the two ISKL campuses talking to the secretaries, the guards, the cleaning staff. They spent even more time reconnecting with their friends and colleagues socially. A visit to the girls campus at Melawati, was a particularly warm one, with the girls being able to find their old teachers, if only to share a hug and see how life continues. Amalia made her way to the library where she finally settled to read as many books as she could. Irini found her friends - now all in 4th grade, of course - and shared lunch and recess with them. 

And, of course, there were the many hours with cousins and tia, around whom much of our early formative years have revolved. Time with them, as always, was cherished and celebrated. 

As we got back on the plane for the return home mommy and daddy had a good sense of calm, or closure in some ways. One cannot know what paths life will take, but certainly this place has a special place in our heart. Do we miss it?  Absolutely. But we are also happy and comfortable with our lives presently, and know that all four of us have adjusted well to our new circumstances and grown in wonderful ways. So long Malaysia. We love you!

Our Girl.

This one was just one of those photos that you look at as a parent and wonder where the years went and how that little child that arrived in the world a while back could possibly have blossomed so much. Shared with us by the photographer or the school musical, Musicville, we found ourselves looking at it, into it and carried away by the joy in her eyes, the width of the smile and the profound sense of positive that it gives. The wildness of the hair (pappou would love it) adds that little extra bit of flair as well. But more than it all, it bring with it a sense of warmth to her parents who, somewhere between complete love and pride, are so so happy to be sharing the wonderful journey called life with this confident, positive, courageous, spontaneous, supportive young lady. We love you Irinoula!

The Dramatic Curtain Opens

Irini has always loved being on somewhat of a stage. From that very first day being part of the Buzzy Bee show (do you remember those hips swaying?) to the Earth Week presentation in second grade, she has loved dance, shows and all that wonderful stuff "in lights". This year, as a fourth grader, she was finally allowed to participate in the school musical. Her time was tight as she was also doing sports and activities but she found a way to "make things work" between it all, allowing her a role with the Doo Waps (is that how you spell it?) in Musicville. 

Daddy was a bit surprised by the hours and hours of rehearsals but, in truth, watching the final result was simply spectacular. It was hard to believe that 72 fourth and fifth graders, with the wonderful guidance and support of a number of teachers and community members (including mommy on make up!) were able to pull off such a flawless show!  Mommy, daddy and Amalia watched three night straight.... from the final dress rehearsal to the two formal shows. In each all the kids were wonderful and Irini, just like the others, was proud as can be of the word done and the feeling when it was all over!  Simply amazing!  How beautiful a feeling to have watching one's child do so much so well!  We love you Irinoula!!

In Your Heart.

It was a long day. We had dropped off the girls in the morning and away they ran - after the requisite hugs and kisses - to their classes. We didn't see them until 10 hours later as we had meetings keeping us late. 

When we did finally meet up with our little one, daddy hugged her with a big squeeze of a hug and said "where have you been all day?"  Amalia just smiled, now in the air having been picked up by daddy, looked straight into his eyes, and said "in your heart". 

Instant melt. Love everywhere. So much of it. We'll make sure we remember that instant, for it speaks volumes about who we are, what's important to us and what this family is all about. "In your heart" indeed, across time and space. Each and every day.