End of 2010: December
It's been 2 months since we returned from UK. Hello Malaysia!! And already you can sense the pressure that is expected of us.
Dealing with Traffic:
It was horrifying on my first drive on Malaysian roads - yet AGAIN! Well....compared to the courteous, law-abidding drivers in UK - it is the complete opposite here. It was stressful from the moment you put your gear into D!
Somewhat like the cartoons you watch on Cartoon Network...cars swerving left right and center...everyone's in a rush....and NOT signalling! Overtaking left and right....NOT signalling!! Beating the lights....motorcyclists included!! And pedestrians J-walking everywhere!!! Of course we have an abundance of motorcyclists around compared to UK....and they are the most hazardous of the lot! I probably have to double check (triple check) everytime I want to switch lanes...JUST IN CASE...some unknown motorcyclist decides to overtake me, or squeeze in between cars. Next comes owners in 'little cars' like our Peroduas (the Kancil, the MyVi, the Kelisa....u name it!!) Any God forsaken 'little car' on the road is a sign of DANGER!!! Just like the motorcyclists, they loving squeezing between us big cars....and drive onto any road they can go through. Leave a space and u find a 'little car'!!!
Not forgetting our pedestrians who think that they can cross any road as they please....You wonder if they intentionally want to get HIT! Don't they love their lives? Are they on a mission to TEST us drivers?
It used to be that moving cars are PEST!! But now the scene has moved on into the parking lots. Again the culprits are 'little cars' and motorcyclists!!! Drive into a secured parking lot and you think people park decently in the yellow boxes???? INSTEAD...it's like a wholesale market of car parking indiscriminately anywhere they can fit their can into a space. THANK GOD...for some common sense they try not to obstruct oncoming traffic!!
Between beams of parking lots....(often not a designated parking space) at the curbside, ON the curbside......under ramps, along the ramps....u name it ...u find it!!! No matter how many CLAMPING ZONE signboards around, these drivers do not fear their vehicles being clamped for parking indiscriminately!!! Even signboards saying CLAMPING operational for 24 hours do not scare them....perhaps RM100 is not a high enough FINE?!!! Or they know the authorities do not REALLY operate for 24 hours...and they don't REALLY have enough clamps to go around!!!
Arrrggghhhh.....What's the use of all these LAWS when everyone breaks them and no one enforces them?
Responsibilities:
The moment we got back....we got a whole load more responsibilities to carry on our shoulders. Now it's no longer JUST THE 4 of US!!! It is the WHOLE FAMILY (plus extended generations)!!!
The marketing for household back to me. The cleaning and washing and cooking...back to me. I'm not talking about our 3 bedroom house.....small enough for 1 person to look after....the rooms have tripled and the people to feed have tripled as well!! The mess has probably quadrapled (if not more)!!!
That's only 1/4 of the story & responsibilities!!! Let's not start about those outside the house proper. Relatives, parents, in-laws, siblings, grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles.......Is that why the Europeans move out at 18-21? Once married they only worry about their own family? I once despised that attitude but sometimes there is some logic in that. However, as Asians, we have been raised into an integrated family ...and everything we do is AS A FAMILY!!! (inclusive of all extended family members) It's more FUN!!!
Don't get me wrong! I LOVE MY FAMILY & all its EXTENSIONS! But please, lift some of our burden and spread "the love"!
Nonetheless, the responsibilities are in abundance and shared amongst us!!!
Could just be too much to handle at the moment?
End of February 2011:
We've celebrated New Years' and have just welcomed the Year of the Rabbit!
Work has started for everyone - including the children. Hubby has secured a job (of which - into his 2nd month, he's still unsure if he wants to stay but boasts about his boss and clients). I have started my pupillage - which has its ups & downs - depending on the workload that I get.
Kids started school and enjoying the company of their friends. Son has developed and caught up with all his friends very fast. His schedule is ultra-busy every week and yet he leaves no time for rest over the weekend. I fear that he may not enjoy his childhood as he should. Daughter is picking up the Malay language fast. I'm sure she can soon form a sentence without an English word in it. She already understands Malay pretty well so we can't speak of her in Malay anymore.
Back to the question - Are we happy?
The start was a bit rough for everyone but we've overcomed it and gotten used to our routine...and I dare say we're happy (the Asian Family-kinda-way)
By that I mean, non-stop parenting and dedication. We struggle when it comes to dealing with the unexpected but at the end of the day, we continue doing what we do best - Being a Family! Weekends are now strictly for us to spend time with the Kids! If it means taking them out for a meal, I'll do it....if it means just taking them out (even if it is to the Car Wash) i'll do it because I know they need time with me!
So no matter what, I reserve my weekends with my Kids!
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