Back home

I have to admit that coming home was really hard this time. I felt like I left my "life" in OK. Guess if you look at it, it's all good-having a job, possible house and real future, just wish it was now!!

I also found out that I had Monday off for the holiday, which meant I could have had 4 more days with Bryan had we planned better. All these things were running in my head and I was pretty sad, and I definitely didn't want to start the new year like this. Luckily, I have really good friends here and they took me in and I've had the best couple days!!

Yesterday morning I went ice skating with the Tan's. What a blast! The kids are 7, 5, 3, and 8 months. The baby stayed home, but everyone else came. I met them at their house and each kid walked out the door in matching vests with backpacks on and their own personal ice skates around their necks! I was told with this many kids, it is actually cheaper to buy the skates-even if only for one time because renting here is so expensive.

Ruth, Benny and Rebecca

We went to Bryant Park, a place I had yet to venture to. This park is fantastic. For the holiday season, they have a huge Christmas tree with tons of small local booths selling any and everything you could ever want. The best part, is skating is free. We skated around for about 30 minutes as a family, then we had a family lesson with Mr. Manny (yes, he looked like that sounds!!), then free skated for another two hours. These kids have so much energy. The older two are really talented and can skate independently, but loved holding my hand as we made laps. Rebecca is a little young, and she just hangs on to where ever you take her. So much fun.

 Zamboni

The Tan's are some of the neatest people I have ever met and I love that they include me in their kids lives. They are here for this year just because David wanted to expand his knowledge base. He is originally from Singapore, where he has been working as a boss for over 5 years. Anyone that could take a pay cut like that and more take the loss of respect and status downgrade just to learn, is pretty impressive to me! His wife works as an oral surgeon back home, but has taken the year off to enjoy her kids. In addition, her parents are here helping raise the kids. All 8 of them live in an apartment the size of mine. Talk about close quarters!! I love this family so much!! One of the best NYC blessings.