The house where I grew up

Above is the picture of the house where I grew up. The house is still standing on it's original location, but it's been renovated, so it looks different. We lived here for a good eight years, before we move to a better and safer neighbourhood after the 1998 riots.

This house is much smaller than the house we live in now, and we don't have as much as we do now, but this house is the BEST. This is the place where our family is at it's best, quality wise. Not saying that we are not great now, but it was so much better before (maybe I felt this way because I was just a little kid before, so I don't know much about life) It's amazing how living small makes you feel more contented.

So many happy memories happened in this house. We play in the front yard a lot, and on the street as well. We rode our bikes, and catches fishes on the sewer, running around chasing dragon flies, or play with the neighbour on the street. Climbed over the wall to get into our neighbour's house, or play cards and exchanged sailor moon cards while we were sitting on the wall.

2010 Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas, by eating hotpot, open Christmas presents and went to Church.

I got a blanket, pink stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, gait belt, red sweater, all from mom and an 8GB IPOD touch 4th generation from Bill !!!

I was really happy :)

Bill love the LL Bean sweater I got for him, Grant loves his presents, and so does mom, Sarah and Dennis.

We all had a great time.

Bill and I managed to went to 9pm mass at HFK Church. The choir was really beautiful and the handbell choir was just great.

It was a wonderful Christmas, and we can't wait till we get to celebrate Christmas with our kids.

When I brush my teeth...

Before I go to bed,
and I remember when my dad gave me the card and cd just before I took off to go to Seattle last August.
He never did such thing before, when I leave for Beijing or Shanghai.

This time he knew that it will be forever.
That it is for sure that I will live far from him, forever.

And it make me sad, and make me miss them so much.

I have to make money, enough to buy tickets for me or them, whenever we want to see each other.
And to support them if they decided to move out and live with us.

I just have to.

I miss them....
so much.

October 11, 2010 is a special day

October 11, 2010
6.30am

Alarm goes off.
Reaching for my phone, to snooze it.
As usual, some notifications are there.
Unlock phone
Go to BBM
Dad's : asking you to receive a picture

BABY  !!

Awake, eyes opened.

"This must be my nephew !!"

And it is !!

I have a NEPHEW !
Cedric Maximilian Lukman
October 11, 2010
3.1 kg, 49cm
healthy
and loud

Now Bill & I have 2 immediate nephews, Grant and Cedric.

My days starts in a really good way.

My parents are grandma and grandpa.

How wonderful !

August 1, 2010 Celebration of my Departure

I am about to leave soon.
I do feel sad to leave my comfort zone, but at the same time, also excited (and nervous) to start my new life in my new what-so-called HOME

So, we gather in grandma's house, and I asked 2 of my best boy friends, Erik & Edison to come...
It was super fun, when my aunties try to be matchmaker between Erik and Helen.
It was so funny, to see Erik's face turned red, while Helen stay cool (both in their own personality!)
We laughed so hard till we hurt our stomach !

Below are the pictures, taken by Panji, my talented cousin :

super boy friends, Erik & Edison

Oom Teguh - Denny - Papa

My brother and my sister in law

Me and Tante Iin 

Helen

Me-Papa

My good-luck cake :)

Panji & Me

From 5 become 7 within this year ! 

Tante Yeye, the pirate aunty

Denny

Happy Tantes-Ooms & Sepupus

The sepupus & the boy friends

Erik and Helen, hope they will fall in LOVE ! :D

Short Trip to Malaysia & Singapore

Me and Ma took a short trip to Malay and Singapore on July 10-15, 2010
The main reason to go to Malay is to see my best friend, Fiona, who is my classmate back in Beijing, 2007.
We talked so much about making a trip to see each other, and not until this time it happens !
And I proposed her to be my bridesmaid next year, and she said YES !
I also get to know her fiancé, Alvin and his family.
They're awesome !
Below are some pictures from the trip
Meet my best friend Fiona and my new good friend Alvin (they're my fave couple!)

We stayed 2 nights in Fiona's house, and on Monday July 12, Fiona took us to the bus station to continue our journey to Singapore....

Photos from Singapore :

After Jurassic Park the Ride, WET !

With Ryan, A dearest Singapore Airlines Stewardess Friend :)

In Malaysia, we got a really great friends with even more great hospitality,

In Singapore we are alone, but we took lots  of public transportation and it's super convenient.

Nice trip !

Mom in Shanghai

On May 29th, Mom arrived in Shanghai Pudong Airport.
I woke up early to pick her up in the airport, and it was joy to see her again.
We took Maglev until LongYang Rd Station, then we took taxi to go home
Here she is in the Maglev, which runs at 300km/h speed

And her with the Shanghai Expo's mascot

When she was here, she got to meet my colleagues,got some lunch with them, and also she made laksa, and I brought the girls home to eat together, and they love it !

Once I'm done with work, she and I took a little city exploration trip, which means, I took her to a place where they sell all the ribbon, laces, etc. My mom loves that stuffs.
And of course we should take pictures at the Bund

We went to West Nanjing Rd Area, to do some shopping and eating experience, I picked 南翔小笼包 (NanXiang XiaoLongBao)

 you have to sip the juice !!

We took a train trip to Hangzhou,

walk down to 西湖 (XiHu Lake) took a long time, so we took some breaks as you can see,

 Sit together with this big family on the side of the street

Some pedestrian Street in Hangzhou

 resting on our way to 西湖

And finally 西湖 !!!

Second Day we took train from Hangzhou to Suzhou,
I was starving, so when we get in to Suzhou, 1st thing is to get lunch on a small restaurant recommended by Bill (based on Dianping review)

Lunch for two, Broccoli, fishes, and chicken !

We went to an old house for sightseeing, and on the way, there is this foreigner, obviously a tourist, sat down with a bunch of chinese guy and play cards. I asked his permission to take a picture, and below is him, in blue shirt, playing cards

 On the way in, the gate was decorated with this

A family used to live in this house

We leave the old house, and headed to the wedding market, I bought a wedding dress to be wear in US and a party dress.
Then we head to Suzhou Train Station, very tired

We rest for one day, then we are preparing to go to 黄山 (Yellow Mountain) on Friday.
It will be on the next post.