Before I let you in on the great school news I wanted to share that the kids and I made it back to Singapore Monday. It was my first time to make the long journey solo without Deric. Once again it took a driver and my sweet dad to get myself, 4 kids and 10 checked items to the airport. It was a tear-filled good-bye from yet another amazing summer.
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| THANK YOU HAILEY MOORE FOR HELPING US RIDE IN STYLE WITH THESE AWESOME BLINGED OUT HEADPHONES! |
Kids were champs on the first 13 hour flight to Japan. However, what was supposed to be
a 3 hour layover turned into a 7 hour layover due to a plane delay. Yes, please feel sorry
for me now. Me, 4 sleepy kids in the Japan airport that no longer runs their AC because of the earthquake, with 7 hours to kill. It was all I could do not to burst into tears upon learning my fate. However, Mama must display no emotions to children other than joy and happiness!! Yeah kids, we get to hang out in the hot airport that only has a McDonalds and a sushi bar! Another adventure! Luckily, a lovely stranger suggested I check into a "dayroom". This is like a hotel room in the airport. It had 2 twin beds, a bathroom and an AC! I think she was an angel sent from God to help me. The room was cold, clean and we hung out there for 3 hours. Photos below show what a 7 hour layover in Japan with 4 kids might look like.... in case you were wondering. Yes, I am looking for sympathy.
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| YES, A BUCKET OF BASEBALLS WAS PART OF OUR CARRY ON ITEMS YES, DELIRIUM IS SETTING IN WITH OLIVIA...HERE THE CHILDREN ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING ON THEIR JAPANESE HAPPY MEALS |
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| AT THE GATE WITH 2 MORE HOURS TO GO...A WEARY MOTHER'S VIEW |
We finally made it home at around 4am. It wasn't long after that this happened:
Now on to my GREAT SCHOOL NEWS!
It is official! All Bryant chickens (well, not ALL of them) have been accepted into Singapore American School. All three will soon be at the same school riding the same bus to and from school with the SAME PICK UP TIME! YEAH!!! It only took roughly 10 months for this to happen but hey, who's counting.
IT ALL WORKED OUT.
Thanks to all my friends out there (you know who you are) who listened to me whine, stress and complain about my kids going to 2 different schools. It really wasn't all that bad. The kids never skipped a beat...Kids are so resilient when you stay positive about a situation (7 hour layover)! It was a great, amazing 6 months of school in Singapore for our kiddos. As the new school year starts this week, I had to take the time to remember some great Singapore school moments.....
Blake went on a field trip...TO MALAYSIA! She spent 2 nights there with her class. YES! It was a little nerve-wracking for Deric and I to put our first-born on a bus headed for a Malaysian sleepover. However, it is a common thing in this part of the world for overnight school trips! She had a great time and came back to us safe and sound....
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| THE LOVELY MS. MURRAY, BLAKE'S 4TH GRADE TEACHER |
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| HER CLASS VISITED A MALAYSIAN SCHOOL WHERE THE LOCAL STUDENTS PERFORMED FOR THEM. I had the pleasure of visiting an Asian Living Museum at Olivia's school! Statues came to life and chatted with me about different asian countries! It was like a scene from Night at the Museum! Would you believe that there was a statue that looked exactly like Olivia! When you pushed her button she spewed out interesting facts about the Philippines!  |
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| THIS STATUE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES! |
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| SO PROUD OF ALL SHE LEARNED ABOUT HER ASIAN COUNTRY |
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| THESE KIDS ARE EXPERTS ON ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN ASIA! I LEARNED SO MUCH! We experienced our first "County Fair" at Singapore American School. Sometimes being at Singapore American School makes you forget your are in Asia! It was a great carnival!  BEAR PONG ANYONE?  ANYONE GOT A BITE?  PADDLE BOATS!!! SO FUN!  WHAT'S A COUNTY FAIR WITHOUT A COUNTY JAIL! (I could occasionally use one of these at my house)   
GETTING HER OUT OF THIS THING WAS SUPER FUN!
 when the entire second grade wing is transformed into ASIA! I took a group of students on a tour through many Asian countries. This day was so amazing!     DOES IT SURPRISE YOU LIV CHOSE THE MIDDLE EAST!? 
WE LEARNED TO PLAY TRADITIONAL SINGAPOREAN GAMES
      
WE ATE DELICIOUS PARATHA IN INDIA....
PARATHA IS A MOUTH WATERING INDIAN BREAD
AND DRAGON BEARD CANDY IN CHINA!
IT WAS A FABULOUS DAY IN ASIA!
Blake and Luke had a great year at Stamford American School. I was SO proud that both of
them were chosen from their classes for a merit award...an award not everybody gets!
It is all about being good thinkers and having good character! PROUD, PROUD, PROUD!
   
BLAKE'S CLASS SPENT LOTS OF TIME STUDYING WORLD EXPLORATION...
HERE IS HER CLASS DRESSED AS THE GREAT WORLD EXPLORERS
TO THE ASIAN CIVILIZATION MUSEUM..THE AREA AROUND THE MUSEUM IS A VERY HISTORIC PART OF SINGAPORE....  THE HOTEL BEHIND LIV, THE FULLERTON HOTEL WAS ONCE THE FIRST POST OFFICE IN SINGAPORE!  USED TO BE LIKE..CHILDREN WOULD STRIP DOWN AND JUST JUMP IN THE RIVER ON A HOT DAY.. CAN YOU IMAGINE A BUNCH OF 2ND GRADERS AND THEIR REACTION TO THESE NAKED STATUES?   "MRS. BRYANT'S GROUP STEP AWAY FROM THE SNAKE CHARMER"   
THIS PHOTO SHOWS WHAT THE RIVER IN SINGAPORE USED
TO LOOK LIKE...IT WAS SO POLLUTED WITH TRASH
AND WASTE YOU COULD WALK ACROSS IT!
  (I HAVE BEEN THERE A LOT LATELY) LUKE HAS BEEN IN CLASS WITH THE SWEETEST BOYS THIS YEAR!         WATER PARK IN THE BACK OF THE ZOO...SO FUN!    Olivia's class did an adorable play about the zoo.  
OLIVIA AND HER PAL COURTNEY GOT TO BE LIONS!
 they work on everyday. The kids work on Ipads everyday!    ELECTRICITY! BLAKE BUILT THIS GENERATOR FOR HER CLASS!    MOVING AROUND THE SCHOOL!  SHOW WHERE ALL THE KIDS ARE FROM.  
AT STAMFORD BLAKE LEARNED TO PLAY THE UKULELE!
   chatted with the kids about Nalco and how it helps the world use less energy and water - they asked lots of questions once they found out they got a Nalco squeeze ball globe for talking!     her planned a little good-bye party for Luke as well as a birthday celebration for all the kids with summer birthdays. The kids all gave Luke big hugs when we left.    BALLS TO ALL HIS FRIENDS BEFORE HE LEFT 
Lastly, Lilly would like you to know that even though she was not in school
her first months in SIngapore she too had fun! (she starts Sept. 10....wooo-hooo!)
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| I will end this post with a poster I saw on a bulletin board on one of the last days at SAS. Kids had to write what happiness was to them....I thought this was cute. Being an expat is an amazing experience. But home is always in the back of our minds. Here's to another great school year abroad! Cheers from Singapore! |
