We spent the weekend purchasing bicycles for the kids and riding around our complex. The bikes have been a promised item since arriving here. We are kicking ourselves for not shipping theirs. But, we didn't think that they would have a place to ride them.
There are plenty of paths right outside our door, including one that circles around the kids' pool. It is a perfect place for the kids to ride (assuming it isn't raining). Actually, I feel a lot more safe with them riding here than I did on our quiet street in Colorado. This weekend, there was plenty of room to move about, because we were the only ones out there.
Having the pool and surrounding areas to ourselves is far from being a rare event. In fact, it almost seems as if the pool is our own private pool. A neighbor friend and I often meet with our kids down at 'our' pool.
We usually swim in the afternoon, when it is hot, to cool off. (How much money have we spent attempting to get to sunny destinations like this one? We love the sun!) But, schedules/norms are quite different here. People in Malaysia tend to avoid the sun and come out near dusk - which is the time we are preparing our kids for bed. Children to go to bed later (the 4 year old across the hall is often up until 10 or 11) and parents stay up extremely late as well. We tried to change the kids' schedules to adjust with the 'culture' here, but it didn't work for us on our first attempt. The kids still woke up at the same time, Case still left for work by 7:30, and it only seemed as if everyone was getting less sleep.
Unfortunately, as a result of our schedules being out of sync, we have been found it quite difficult to meet new people in our condo. We probably know more of the condo's employees than residents! (I will write about the employees in a later post .. lots of interesting stories.) The kids would love some more friends and we would love to get to know our community.
People are fascinated by our schedule, as are we when someone tells us that their child doesn't go to bed until midnight. Unless we feel a strong conviction to change, we (along with our neighbor friend) will be forever known as the 'people who put their kids to bed extremely early'.
I'm off to bed. Hopefully I can get some sleep. It is just past 10PM and the neighbor boy is riding his bike in the hallway and honking the bike's horn.
3 comments:
Bring some of those Malaysians to Wisconsin in the cold winter - they would soon love the warmth of the sun also. We have plenty of room...would leave the heat off in the basement and really give them a thrill.
Ella looks like she's ready to do the Indy 500! I know they are enjoying have bikes to ride. Too bad everyone else are owls!
Yep, they all thought we were a bit strange too when our kids were in bed by 8pm at the latest!!!!
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