Animals here and there

Our trip to Perth allowed us to do a whole lotta stuff that wouldn't normally be available in Malaysia. The weather was wonderfully perfect - around 25 centigrade - with crystal clear skies and nothing but easy-going Australian attitude to boot. Perth folk sure are laid back and this permeates everything they do, from the way they talk to visitors to the way the handle planning, driving, etc. The place is perfectly clean, organized and outdoors, outdoors, outdoors! It was part of the reason we chose Perth to begin with. The abundance of child-friendly opportunities was hard to beat and we found ourselves moving from one area to another simply because it was great for the girls (and for us too!). The visit included visiting a number of sites to see the animals. And there were lots of animals: wallabys, wombats, kangaroos, penguins, pelicans, sea lions, dolphins, parakeets, kookaburras, etc., etc., etc.

The girls delighted in seeing the animals up close and personal. Depending on the situation they even got the chance to pet a few (the kangaroos and koalas were a popular experience) and feed some farm animals (a llama, a couple pigs, a whole bunch of rabbits, some geese and ducks and two donkeys). The up close and personal experience was a great way for the girls to develop an appreciation for the new animals and get over the initial fear of dealing with the bigger ones. By the end of the vacation they happily chased after birds in the park or eagerly ran toward the seagulls and pigeons.

Nighttime Giggles

When we were in Perth we stayed at a simply wonderful little bed and breakfast named Como Bed and Breakfast. The place is a home to a retired couple who decided, in their empty nest, to keep themselves busy. Helen, our hostess, was friendly and warm and did a perfect job in allowing us to feel at home. The upstairs was designated as a visitor area with a lovely balcony, a living room, two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. The girls had the option of their own beds but, we were on vacation after all so why not all jump in that big bed and share the sleeping experience. Here is a short video of the girls.

Talking!

It's been a while now that Amalia has begun to talk. Just yesterday she had her first 'conversation' with Laurence. It was about going downstairs and playing in the playground. Apparently Tara (Irini and Amalia's friend from the building) was there and had an "owee" and she was crying. Laurence sat with Amalia trying to decipher the information, but the quality of the subjects was impressive for a 22 month old. Later on Tia, Avi and TTmouz showed up to share a pizza dinner and Tia, delighted with the words coming out of Amalia's mouth, decided that it was time to whip out that handy dandy iPhone of hers and record away...

Learning About Life

At the beginning of the academic year, when Irini first enrolled in Prep Reception (as it is called here), we were asked to provide input about our child. Her interests. Her strengths, etc., etc. Among the several things they requested was what our goals would be for her for the academic year. At the time Laurence had written that he wanted her to enjoy being in school, to learn to socialize in a positive way and to learn to read and write. The latter, as it turns out, stressed Ms. Wu a bit and she took the time to talk about that when we had our first parent-teacher conference all those month ago. She had asked us to be patient. She showed us examples of what reading and writing look like for the average 3 to 4 year old. She tried, as best as she could, to make us realize that perhaps it was premature to ask Irini to read and write. She described what would probably be the outcome as "pre-reading" and "pre-writing". Laurence and Natalia were both happy to acknowledge that all that pre stuff would suffice quite nicely and that, really, as long as education was a positive experience for Irini the rest would take care of itself.

Now, months later, Irini is growing physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively by leaps and bounds. Her vocabulary, as we have discussed before, has grown as has her syntax, grammar and confident in speaking. She has impressed us with everything she has learned. Her counting has improved ("pre-math") and her artwork has developed impressively (we don't think that the art is considered "pre"). She in on the cusp of writing her name on a regular basis ("actual writing") and is able to read numbers without problem ("actual reading"). In short, she has been very successful in her first year to date. She has shown mastery in many things and seems to be at ease in class. She looks forward to going and, in general, is very content with everyone around her - peers and adults.

An online newsletter of her class events arrives to our inbox every week and, with it, often slideshows and short videos of the work done in class. On occasion she will be seen surrounded by her classmates, sometimes wearing traditional Indian, Malay and/or Chinese outfits. This week it was International Fest. Irini posed in front of a Colombian, US and Greek flag to show her multiculturalism. She seems to be well adjusted, positive and eager to learn. We can't wait to see what else is in store for her, and through her, for us as well.

Learning every day.

Learning About Death

A few months ago, to make life a little more bearable in a new country, Tia took Avi and TTmouz to the SPCA just down the street from school to show them the cats and dogs. They looked around and finally decided on two beautiful little kittens, and promptly took them home. Life with Paco and Lala had begun. They were young and cute as could be and watching them grow was a fast-forward version of our own growth in the Myers-Giraldo family home. The cats grew and were a big success as people fought for time with them. Amalia and Irini were just as smitten as everyone else and asking for visits to Tia's house are more for the cats than they are for the cousins, we think. :-)

Across the lake from our place is a hotel: Hotel Flamingo. One of it's marketing catches is the location and outdoor feel. They have a reception hall, but, when weather permits they also offer opportunities for special events outside their building, overlooking the lake at night. It is quite a romantic and special place. But for the residents of the apartment buildings across the lake - namely us - it is sometimes difficult to recognize the benefit of such events. The volume on the karaoke is sometimes high enough that the entire building is kept up listening to bad voices on an otherwise quiet evening.

Yesterday was a special event. From looking down onto the hotel patio there must have been over 300 seats of nicely covered white chairs and round tables. The evening was wonderful and the people below must have been happy as can be to partake in such a festive occasion (was it a birthday, a wedding, or what?). It was such a special occasion that, at right around 9:00 pm, fireworks lit the sky and came floating downwards toward the water's surface. To those in attendance the sight must have been wonderful and the evening spectacular. The participants in the hotel event, we are sure, left happily and completely content. Perhaps the married couple moved on to the rest of their lives thinking of dreams come true.

But from our perspective, with sleeping children, the fireworks were a complete surprise. The lighting of the sky and the booming sounds of the explosives brought concern to Laurence as he held Irini hoping that she would sleep through it. Thankfully for him, both Amalia and Irini slept through the event without waking, and later he too would lumber his way to bed.

As he slept the phone rang. And rang. And rang. He vaguely heard the door to the other bedroom move open and Natalia try to reach the phone. Too late. A few seconds later Laurence's cell phone rang. This time Natalia answered. There was conversation. Concern. Then Natalia rushed into the room and got dressed. Laurence was given the quick version of the story. Paco had fallen out of the kitchen window and was in the parking lot injured. She rushed out the door.

Sleep.

A few hours later Natalia returned. She slid into bed quietly. Laurence asked how Paco was. "He died" was her solemn reply. Paco fell from the kitchen window onto the little balcony behind the apartment. He sometimes climbs up there and with his weight he can fall through the window. From the small balcony he fell further downstairs, finally landing on the road entry into the parking lot. It was around 9:00 pm when it happend. Fireworks right outside the apartment window would have been quite a terrorizing experience for a young cat. Though we cannot know if this was the reason - or part of the reason - for his falling, the timing seems strangely coincidental. Tia, Avi and TTmouz looked all over the house for him and, after the search was extended to include the apartment complex, Tia found him on the ground downstairs. He had fallen four floors, possibly having hit railings and satellite discs along the way. He stood no chance to humanity's onslaught of cement and metal. One of the guards said that he thought he may have also been hit by a car as well. Tia called Natalia. Natalia rushed to her aid and together they carried poor Paco to the vet. He died shortly before they arrived. Back at the hotel, happily, the music continued into the night and the visiting onlookers returned to their seats after watching a most wonderful show.

Today was the emotional goodbye to a cat who brought much light into the family. He brought antics and laughter. He brought purring and love. He brought brotherhood and cuddling. Now his sister looks around the house for him. TTmouz and Avi have to learn first-hand what death looks like. Tia too is learning to deal with being a mother of grieving children. Irini was told as well, but seemed more concerned about his pain and broken bones than of his death per se. Perhaps she's too young to recognize the finality of it, but pain is certainly something she understands about. She asks how many bones he broke. She asks how painful it was, but she speaks of his dying just as if it was the dying of an insect in her class. Dying, like living, has different meaning to different people.

When Natalia arrived back home last night and spoke to Laurence, she said "I don't know how you did this so many times". Laurence grew up with cats and has said goodbye to many in his life. His response, "it hurts until you see the next one". Every life has beauty. Every beauty has value. Everyone has a place in the world. Thank you, Paco, for your time, your energy of youth and your friendship. Though yours ended early, it was not a life short on love or caring. And that, our friend, we will carry with us.

The fireworks have ended. It is peaceful again. You can rest now.