Monday, May 21, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Parents
Hmmm... it has only been a couple of days since I came back to Singapore. I'm glad to be home, yet things are very different here. I heard the sad news of Deborah committing suicide, the death of my great-grandmother, as well as the deterioration of my parents' relationship.
Both my mother and father seem locked in jobs that they dislike. My father is working in a place where he is the only manager remaining from the previous generation, and the current administration wants him out. Yet, he doesn't feel that he can leave his job because in order to maintain our standard of living, he needs to stay. He's paying a lot for my and Stanley's education, and he doesn't feel that we understand his sacrifice.
My mother is also working a job she dislikes. Since returning to Singapore she has become the cleaner of this large apartment and family chauffeur. This is a large apartment she doesn't find very practical, perhaps even not to her taste since my father was the one to pick out every single furnishing, with the exception of the beds.
Both my mother and father seem locked in jobs that they dislike. My father is working in a place where he is the only manager remaining from the previous generation, and the current administration wants him out. Yet, he doesn't feel that he can leave his job because in order to maintain our standard of living, he needs to stay. He's paying a lot for my and Stanley's education, and he doesn't feel that we understand his sacrifice.
My mother is also working a job she dislikes. Since returning to Singapore she has become the cleaner of this large apartment and family chauffeur. This is a large apartment she doesn't find very practical, perhaps even not to her taste since my father was the one to pick out every single furnishing, with the exception of the beds.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Thoughts on gift-giving
Usually, I like to give gifts that fall into either one of two categories:
1. Useful (with the recipient in mind)
2. Thoughtful
Handmade gifts fall into the second category while things like the Lightwedge fall into the first. I guess I'm thinking about gifts because summer is coming up and I would like to bring some gifts back to the family. For my family, (it's a little late now) but it would have been nice to get my parents matching personalized bath robes. So now I'm thinking of a set of face masks with the mixy mask brush. I've already picked up some random stuff like wine flavored jelly for them.
Now, for Mahmood's family. I have never met them and have no idea what to get. I thought his dad may like an iPod, or a Nintendo DS (but I won't be getting that... that's a little out of my budget). And maybe small perfume bottles for the women, or those bath sets? Chocolates for the rest of the family? I have no idea.
So this weekend, I'm thinking of going downtown to see what we can find... and what Mahmood is agreeable to. He's thinking of getting some shoes for them...
1. Useful (with the recipient in mind)
2. Thoughtful
Handmade gifts fall into the second category while things like the Lightwedge fall into the first. I guess I'm thinking about gifts because summer is coming up and I would like to bring some gifts back to the family. For my family, (it's a little late now) but it would have been nice to get my parents matching personalized bath robes. So now I'm thinking of a set of face masks with the mixy mask brush. I've already picked up some random stuff like wine flavored jelly for them.
Now, for Mahmood's family. I have never met them and have no idea what to get. I thought his dad may like an iPod, or a Nintendo DS (but I won't be getting that... that's a little out of my budget). And maybe small perfume bottles for the women, or those bath sets? Chocolates for the rest of the family? I have no idea.
So this weekend, I'm thinking of going downtown to see what we can find... and what Mahmood is agreeable to. He's thinking of getting some shoes for them...
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