Singapore...Day Twelve

Well, we've been living out of this cavernous empty house for 10 days now. The biggest adjustment was not having any of our comforts from home here with us. No car to take us grocery shopping, exploring or escaping from the sheer boredom of being penned up in this ginormous house. No one can sneeze, cough or fart without waking up the rest of the sleeping members. Mike and I can't have a conversation on our phones without having to tell the kids to be quiet. And of course, they tend to get even noisier when we're on the phone.

We're still living out of our suitcases. The kids are bored but seem to preoccupy themselves with movies, some toys and each other. I don't know how I could do this if they didn't have each other. Thank God for T! Speaking of T, he requested another visit with his foster mother so we met her at a nearby park when we were still in Seoul and they had a blast! This time, he ran to her and fell into her arms as soon as he saw her. It was an amazing sight to behold. I was weeping with happiness inside. Pictures from the park to come when I get a chance to download them onto my laptop.

The dynamics of our marriage is slowly shifting as well. I don't know whether it's because this is Asia and is still a male-oriented society but he is in his element here. All the office girls seem to cater to his needs immediately and graciously. He loves to impress them with his spitfire machismo and they seem to eat it right up. I'm sure there's a lot of harmless flirtation going on as well. It's too hard not to succumb to it.

I've been online registering with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) as they call it here, passed an online orientation course for foreign domestic worker employment. No, I'm not looking for a job as a maid. I'm trying to hire one for us. At first, I was taken aback by the biodata and photos, the video interviews, the agencies, the fees, the logistics and thought, "Man, this is as inhuman and degrading as it can get." But after spending a week trying to fend for myself and the kids, try lugging grocery bags to the taxi line with 2 whiny toddlers behind you getting into trouble, I gave in to wanting help. I need someone to be able to stay home with the kids while I shop, run errands, and get some shit done.

Mike's leaving for Sydney tomorrow for 4 days. I am alone again with the kids. God help me.