A simple family dinner

One of the things that I enjoy, that rarely get to do, is to sit down at dinner together with J and the kids.  Our work schedule always caused separate meal times.  So I am very thankful for the pleasant dinner that we have today at Subway, one of our favourite sandwiches.

This Subway outlet that we went to had simple and tasteful decor which gave us a warm and cosy feeling.  4 of us had our favourite seafood sub of the day, and Baby Xin got to eat pieces of bread and tomatoes.  Wish there was more time for family dinners like this.

Royal Wedding First Day Cover

While there is a lot of excitement and buzz about the royal wedding (William & Catherine of England), my interest is not in watching the wedding event.  Instead it is something to do with my hobby - stamp collection!
When NZ post sent an email notifying me of the royal wedding stamp issue, I was too busy to do anything about it.  Then just a few days ago, I finally got around to ordering it.  It is about NZ$5 for the first day cover.
Just after ordering it and checking the website again the next day, all the issues are sold out!  Wow, it made me so glad that I managed to get a copy.

Baby Xin starts to walk

At 15 months, Baby Xin finally started to walk independently. Before this she has always held on to the hands of someone else or push a chair or even the stroller around in order to walk.
If you let go of her hand, then she will crouch down and crawl to continue moving ahead.

So today she officially took baby steps.  The same timing record applied to her elder brother and sister.
And when she finally can walk, she doesn't.  She runs!

Of Courage, Grace and Dignity

Photo taken from Mercy Malaysia banner

When an unfortunate disaster happens, all of us will be shocked, sad and immediately think of offering to help.   When the Japan tsunami struck, I pledged to help.  My husband gave a donation immediately through Tzu Chi Merit Society.  I was hanging about waiting for some local organization that will collect my donation, and then dilly-dallied on it.  Until one day, I receive an email notification from this group by Marco Robinson, and in there, they described that they are running a corporate charity event with proceeds going to the Japan earthquake fund. The email described exactly what I was experiencing, which was going about my daily life as usual, and forgetting about helping others.
Although I did not take part in that event, I immediately went to my most admired local disaster relief charity organization, Mercy Malaysia. And sure enough, they had set up a Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.  Without further delay, I made my small contribution.

Here is another story that I received via email that I would like to share.  It made me wonder, if a disaster were to happen in Malaysia, what type of response would our people choose - like most other nations (chaotic, violent, each man for himself) or like the Japanese (courageous, dignified, sacrifice oneself for the greater good)?

Japanese boy teaches lesson in sacrifice

Created: 2011-3-24

EDITOR'S note: 

THIS letter, written by Vietnamese immigrant Ha Minh Thanh working in Fukushima as a policeman to a friend in Vietnam, was posted on New America Media on March 19. It is a testimonial to the strength of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of life near the epicenter of Japan's crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It was translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam, author of "East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres." Shanghai Daily condensed it.

Brother,

How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies. 

Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks.

We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere.

I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.

People here remain calm - their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good - so things aren't as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can't guarantee that things won't get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order. 

They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide supplies by air, bringing in food and medicine, but it's like dropping a little salt into the ocean.

Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being.

Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn't be any food left. So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father's car away. 

I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn't make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That's when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. "When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here's my portion. I already ate. Why don't you eat it?"

The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn't. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed. 

I was shocked. I asked him why he didn't eat it and instead added it to the food pile. He answered: "Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally."

When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn't see me cry. 

A society that can produce a 9-year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people. 

Well, a few lines to send you and your family my warm wishes. The hours of my shift have begun again.

Ha Minh Thanh

Baby Xin at 14 months

Last Saturday J went back to his hometown with his mom and dad for the annual Cheng Beng festival.

So, left alone with 3 kids, what did I do?  I ran home to my Mom of course!

I took the 3 kids to spend the night and had a great time with Mom.  The baby was kept happy exploring new things and places.  The kids get to play on her computer.

Here's a picture of her in the morning, biting on to her sippy cup and crawling on all fours.  Mom was laughing at the tiny "puppy" crawling about.