A Tree For His School

Ryan's school had a Christmas party just before Christmas and the school closed for the Christmas season recently. Parents were invited and were requested to bring some food or drinks to the party. We were scratching our heads as to what to bring for the party. I am definitely not one into baking and hence baking Christmas cookies was definitely out of the question. We were thinking of buying some fruits but we were uncertain as to what fruits we should be buying and who is going to cut it for the kids. Moreover, we were quite certain that there would already be fruits at the party.

Then, the idea of presenting the class with a Christmas Tree and some ornaments came upon us. We made a quick call to the school as to whether that would be OK. They more than welcome the idea.

We believe that the tree would be a more 'lasting' gift because they could use it for several years (hopefully) and it fits in nicely with the theme and festive period of the season.

Ryan, Mommy and Chenya enjoying their snacks ...

Hence, we rushed back to the vendor where we got our own tree. She was too happy to see us when we told her that we wanted an exact tree and four boxes of shinny ornaments. My wife, of course was the negotiator and by the time, she finished with her bargaining, the vendor (she) and her were practically best of friends. The vendor was an equally shrewd businesswoman herself. I guessed that they finally found someone to match their wits and crossed swords and were happy and satisfied at the end of the day.

The children taking part in the unpacking the tree ....

The children at the class were all excited when they learnt that they were getting a Christmas Tree. Ryan, of course, was running up and down telling everyone that his mommy and daddy were the ones would bought the tree and he has one similar one at home. Everyone took part in the unpacking of the tree and took turns to put up the ornaments with some help from the teachers and some parents.

"Now, how am I going to organize this and get them to work together without fighting ??????"

All in all, it was interesting to see how the children came together to get it done without crashing the tree, and helping each other out with the taller children decorating those parts of the tree where the younger ones could not reach.

With them putting up their ornaments, the tree somewhat became `their' tree and that sense of belonging.

The children all taking part in putting up the ornaments to decorate the tree ...

We actually suggested to the teachers if they could just get each student in the class to write their name and year on an ornament and put them on the tree, hence, leaving behind a mark that they have been there before. Over the years then, one could see all the children who have had a hand in decorating the tree every Christmas as way of remembrance.

Ryan with Jeff, the Santa Claus and Grace, two of his favorite teachers in the world right now ....

I certainly hope that our little gift has somewhat made this Christmas more memorable and exciting for Ryan and his little friends in his class.

Back to School

The long summer holiday is finally over today.

Ryan is finally going back to school and he is more than glad because he just cannot wait to get back to see his favourite teacher, Jeff and his pretty assistants, Mari and Grace and to play with his classmates. The two long months of summer holiday have been challenging especially with Chenya at home as well, because Chenya tends to fight with her brother quite a fair bit. Most of the time, it was Chenya who bullied Ryan rather than the other way round. She bullied her brother so much so that Ryan spend most of his time in the master bedroom, watching TV and playing with his toys while Chenya stayed in the living room with her toys.

The moment they are together, Chenya would already have either scratched or beat her brother, or comes crying that her brother had beaten her, although most of the time, it is the other way around, all within 10 minutes.

This morning while Ryan was getting ready for school, Chenya was getting ready too. She said that she wanted to go school too, complete with her school bag and waiting. I just hope that she is as eager to go to school when she actually has to go and not have to be drag up the school van every morning, kicking up a fuss, screaming and crying.

We have already registered Chenya into the same school and although the term actually starts today, we have asked to delay Chenya starting date till November. That is because the first week of October is going to be China National Holiday and after that we would be going to Juizhaigou for a holiday. Hence, we thought it is best to start her in November so that we don’t have to waste paying for her school fees in October when she is going to be away from school so much.  We also did not want to start her off in September and then having to re-orientate her all over again in November after our holidays. That will save us quite a fair sum of money.

For now, daily routine is back to norm and slightly better, now that we have already engaged a full time Chinese helper (Ahyi) for 8 hours everyday to do the cleaning and cooking.

Just looking forward for Chenya to start school too.

OMG! Summer Holiday has STARTED!

Yupe. The long summer holiday has finally arrived! Ryan's school held a year-end BBQ lunch for both children and parents alike on Friday to mark the closing of another year. I can still remembered us being invited to last year event when we were scouting for a suitable school for Ryan in Beijing, and now, here we were, attending our very first year-end event. Time flies. 

Soon, we will be attending our second BBQ lunch and it would be time for us to leave Beijing, based on our current contract.

I dread to think having both Ryan and Chenya at home 24 hours for 7 days a week. With Ryan at school in the morning till 4pm, I could at least get some peace and quiet when Chenya has her daily naps. But when both of them are at home, with nowhere to spent their boundless energy, they WILL let their energy out at each other. 

At least with the school on, Ryan could burnt off some of his boundless energy doing what he does best like running, shouting, fighting, jumping, climbing and swinging (like the picture above) in school with his classmates before he comes back in the evening. 

Without school, he will be finding ways and means to run, jump, shout, fight, climb and swing at home with his sister closely imitating every move and every step.

It is a good thing that we are at least going back to Malaysia for a couple of weeks to break the monotony, if not which, I am sure that I will probably go berserk and lots more white hair.

For now, I just got to manage them for one more week, in the absence of their mother who would be going to Guangchow for a meeting before we pack our bags to head back for a short break (which I really need to keep my sanity intact).

Wish me luck!

Ryan's Graduation 2013

It seemed like only yesterday that we were in Beijing for the very first time, sourcing and looking out for a school for Ryan to attend. And I still remembered clearly the last day that Ryan spent in his school back home in Malaysia where we had a small farewell gathering for him and his classmates at Little Footprints. I remembered that day well, where when he was asked to speak in front of his class, he bravely (as always, without any hesitation) came forward, looked at all his 20 something classmates and said "I love you all."

I remembered Ryan's first day walking to his new school at Ivy Academy in Beijing from Oakwoods Service Suites where we were staying while waiting for our rented apartment to be ready. The air was getting cooler and colder as the chilly wind picked up for the cold Beijing winter was fast approaching. He was cheerful and excited, while we were apprehensive and uncertain. Apprehensive and uncertain as to how he would take on to his school, environment, classmates and teachers. I remembered too well, the days when he kicked up a big fuss in the morning and refused to go to school back home.

Well, needless to say, our fears were quickly put to rest, when he happily and without a care, followed his assistant class teacher to his classroom upstairs while we busy ourselves with some final registration paperwork.

I must said that IVY Academy, the enviroment, the teaching methodology and concepts and above all his class lead teachers and assistants suited him well. I have not seen the happiness that he radiates every morning, getting ready to get onto the school van to go to school and how disappointed he will be on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays when he could not go to school!

At a blinking of an eye (seemingly to us), Ryan graduated from his first year last week at IVY Academy. It was not a big fanfare graduation, unlike the one he had back home in Malaysia but it was a meaningful one. It has been an interesting several months for all of us, being relocated to a foreign land, foreign culture, language and environment for the very first time and it has indeed been an adventure all the way.

For Ryan, although his first year at IVY has come to an end, he will be returning for a second term next year, with the same teachers (which is good as they are his favourite teachers for now) while Chenya, who will turn two in July will very likely follow his brother's footsteps to start her first schooling experience. Now, all our fingers and toes are crossed at this point in time as we are again apprehensive and uncertain of how she would take on to this entirely new adventure but then again, that is precisely what life in Beijing is all about, an ADVENTURE and a whole learning experience.