This and That

There was a quick trip to Singapore in October.  My son and daughter-in-law were in SE Asia for various family events on her side of the family, but it was also an opportunity for her side of the family to celebrate their marriage.  S2 and I were able to take a long weekend and be part of the Singapore celebration.  It was an amazing 8-course meal, with the happy couple and both sets of parents stopping at each table for a toast.  There was enough extended family that I’m glad there was no quiz for me at the end of the day.  It was incredibly emotional for me to see how completely my son is welcome in and a part of her family, as well as meeting all the significant people in her life.  A goal of parenthood for me was to help my children be as comfortable as possible in as many situations as possible.  I think he learned that lesson well.

And believe all the stories that you hear about the Singapore airport.  It is spectacular.

This is a moving sculpture.

It was equally emotional when less than 2 weeks later, the two of them surprised me by arriving in Saigon on my 61^st birthday.  They were able to stay for 2 days and get a glimpse of chaotic HCMC and my ridiculous life here.  They claimed it was an experience they really enjoyed.  My daughter-in-law grew up in Malaysia until she was 14, so Vietnam had a lot of the SE Asia scenes that were part of her childhood.

In December I was part of a visiting accreditation team to the United Nations International School -  Hanoi.  It was a school I first learned about 17 years ago and had long wanted to see.  A bit like a dream come true.  It was inspirational to see such a learning community committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Accreditation visits come with some pretty grand hotels.  Once I stayed in the Ritz Carlton in Qatar.  This trip found me staying in the Intercontinental Westlake, perched on top of the iconic Hồ Tây Lake.  

It also included a trip to the Raffles Medical Clinic due to an incredible swelling in my eye.  The doctor determined it was a sty and needed to be drained due to its location under my eyelid.  Suddenly, the old childhood phrase of "stick a needle in my eye" took on new meaning.  I had to restrain myself from laughing as a needle went into my eye.  While initially I looked like I’d been in a bar room brawl, within 3 days I was fine.

Through the course of several trips to the eye doctor over the next several months, I was diagnosed with cataracts.  An incredibly kind, gentle, hilarious Dr. Kelvin Wong (with a gorgeous Scottish accent) has performed the surgery on my right eye.  I’m walking around in eye dissonance this week – one eye doesn’t need glasses and the other does.  I switch glasses periodically, trying to find the right pair that works for the task.  This will be rectified on Thursday when I have the second surgery.