Buckling Down

No more update on my uncle from my cousin. Fingers crossed no news is good news. I'll try to call her later.

Do you ever want to cry, but you have no idea why really? That's how I felt today. It was the weirdest thing. 

I spent the morning at the welcome back fair sponsored by the American Women's Association at The American Club. The AWA - started by the American Club - is about 1000 members strong. 

This was my first visit to The American Club, a sprawling country club in the middle of the city. The club has several restaurants, tennis courts, a pool, travel office and more. While there's no golf course, membership does get you reduced fees at courses in the area. Additionally, there are events out the wazoo for the members. It is kind of THE place to be if you're American and want to hang with Americans. It's also pricey as all get out to join so this may be my only visit to the actual club.

The AWA has dozens of committees and special interest groups. Today was all about introducing folks to the various opportunities. If you can think of it, the AWA has a group that does it: local tours, international trips, restaurant tours, mahjong, Bunco, cooking classes, writing support, volunteer opportunities, museum docent classes, photography, decorating classes - the list goes on and on and on. Every group had a table and  sign up sheet. If I do half of the stuff that interested me, I'll be busier than a one-armed-paper-hanger. Seriously. There were so many things I thought I'd like to try! 

I knew about a dozen women there already all thanks to the various playgroups in town. I met one woman today from Ft. Worth who has been here 12 weeks and met nobody. That's because her daughter is 19. Having kids is such a door opener. Yea!

Yup, if we move here, I'll have the busiest social life on the planet.

So why was I on the verge of tears all morning? Maybe it was because I felt relieved - a bit like "Yea, I can have a life outside of motherhood." Maybe it's because I was sad I don't have that much going on in Westchester. Maybe it was because I got panicked that we'll actually move here and my life will be silly social things and my career will be over forever - as if it's not in the US. 

Beats me. I had a lot of fun this morning chatting with everybody. I'm weird.

I signed up for two things on the spot. One is a class about how to decorate integrating Asian art into your current belongings. The other is a class called, "Finding the new you in Singapore." 

Afterwards, I wandered into Tang's, Singapore's version of Macy's. There I found my favorite mix of clothes yet - not too pricey, but cool and Asian. I didn't buy anything, but I'll keep it in mind!

While the morning was all about me, the afternoon was all about the kids. Cheryl took the to Royce's and McDonald's while I looked at two more preschools. I'm looking for now - and for January in case we come back all while I try to work out Maisie's after school activities back home. So complicated!

Preschools here are a constant topic of conversation. They are friggin' expensive and the key to getting into a private school as they get older. I feel like I live in Manhattan where kids have to be registered for private schools in the womb! It's wild and a bit terrifying. I've emailed several preschools. Many are already full or won't take a kid with Maisie's issues. The bigger, private schools? Forget it! I hear that the biggest private school actually wouldn't let the vice principal's special needs child into school! I'm praying Maisie will test out of therapy by next year and can then integrate into a regular school without anybody knowing she was in therapy.

The first school I saw today is called White Lodge which has several locations. The closest and most appropriate to us is a 15 minute cab ride. Cabs are cheap here, but still... it's not the easiest place to reach.  I spoke to the woman on the phone who neglected to tell me the 4s program is full! I was ticked. She had me schlep all the way there only to tell me there's no room for Maisie? It's part of a common racket as I see it. To get on waiting lists here, you have to plop down a hefty deposit. If you don't enroll when there's a space available, you forfeit you money. I think she wanted to hook me on the school and have me put money down for January  - just in case we return.

It was a very nice campus, I'll give it that. The classrooms are spread out over several buildings. There is a massive outdoor space which Hudson would LOVE. It also has a special needs program - or sort of does. There was one started, but not enough kids signed up, but now more kids are interested. Either way, the teachers have knowledge about sensory issues and that's key to me. 

The other place is called BibiNogs and is located about 7 minutes away on foot. I know two kids who used to go there. It's very clean and has room for both kids. That's about where the pluses end in my book. Like many preschools here, it's inside a mall with tiny, tiny rooms, no windows, no playgrounds. It'd be fine for a few weeks, but I'd never put them there for a long period of time. The education might be great, but the facility is just too small. 

The good news is that the school we saw Saturday - the one that I definitely like the best - emailed tonight to say the kids could enroll for the time we're here. Wahoo! It's a 15 minute cab ride from here, but I think it's a great place for them - and get this - they'll study Mandarin (as is the practice in most schools here). Now I can focus on looking at the private schools for January - if that's the route we go.

I'm watching History Channel's show about the 2012 prophecy. So if the end of the world is near, it doesn't really matter what school I find, does it? Hmmm.