Ending of September

September is coming to an end once again..... Time seems to be passing by extremely quickly. Maybe it really is or maybe just cos we never realize that it is passing by so fast..... Can´t believe it that the year is almost ending and September is ending - with it comes October *bright and shining*


23rd September marks the day (Calender wise) Autumn begins officially, although temperature and weather wise, Autumn has already arrived a long long time ago. However, even until now we still get to see the trees changing the colors of their leaves, some even already balding.... Amelia finds the colors of the falling leaves very interesting. Always asking me why are there so many different colors of leaves on the ground......

As I sit here and pen down our thoughts, daily ongoings and such, a pang of regret hits me..... regret that time is passing so fast always. Regret that we couldn´t celebrate the Mooncake Festival the way it used to be back home here. But from those regret, appeared new hope, new ways and new life.... I guess that´s always a part and parcel of life.......

In a glimpse of an eye, both of us have already been here 7 months and 14 days already. We have experienced the ending of Winter, the beginning and ending of Spring and Summer and now finally Autumn. We have gone through alot of hardships together, also together with our new Papa / hubby. I won´t say life has been a bed of roses here for us. We have our share of ups and downs together with Sven and also with each other.... Especially for me and Sven.


We knew it won´t be an easy path, especially when bringing two different cultures / beliefs / traditions together. When East meets West, When Western meets Asian.... everything goes haywire. But we try our best to make it work.


I guess the most painful one is the one involving my daughter. We, Sven and myself, have very different opinions about her behaviour and such. For me, being from a very "cincai" family, I basically have few basic requirements in Amelia. As long as she behaves, has manners and isn´t rude - the rest of her naughtiness can sometimes be "overlooked" by me... however, here in Germany, there are many "dos and don´ts" involving children. Believe me...... even if I take the whole day blogging, I won´t be able to finish penning down the things they allow and don´t allow down here, especially in children. 

Somehow, I feel that they are just too strict in the upbringing of children. Here I thought back home is being a total idiot and moron for doing certain stuff, here.... there are certain things that just baffles me..... Children are always noisy..... so what? But here... *sighs*......... voices must be down by 730pm latest 8pm, you can´t go stomping and squealing about and etc..... Feels quite uptight sometimes bringing up children here you know, in my personal opinion..... hence there are argumentations between me and Sven occasionally or constantly when it comes to Amelia.


Sorry...... One thing everyone and anyone should know.....


I do not take orders nor do I allow anyone to just scold and scream at my daughter. Hell... not even my ex husband I allowed back then. I understand... things might be slightly difficult for Sven at the moment as he never had a kid before, never married before and never lived with a kid 24/7 before. There are different set of expectations from him - especially from a different upbringing than mine. I mean.... hell.... even my ex-husband used to have problems blending in as our daughter´s father back then. We are only human..... But I don´t want my daughter to undergo a complete 360° transformation for anyone - even if we are living in a different country. 


Amelia and myself have been learning every day tremendously the moment we stepped into Germany. We have been learning from street wise, culture wise, food wise and even language wise. I have to praise my daughter. She is coping far more better off than me. Probably she has the protection of me and also Sven from things - although Sven is more of "let her experience more on her own" while me, being typical me - and all that she has been thru the past 4 years of her life, tend to be slightly more "overprotective" than him. But thank God, she is integrating herself much more easier than I am, learning faster than I am and most importantly.......blending in better than I am. The only problem she ever has..... like any growing child....... attitude and manners problem.


I know I know.... the "honeymoon" years are almost over. My baby is a big girl now. She is smarter (definitely) and also more naughtier. She pushes her luck to the maximum most of the time, purposely doing things she knows will make you angry... and then starts crying when not getting her way or showing her temper when not getting her way. It really hurts to scold or even smack her as punishment.. but somehow, she doesn´t seem to react with talking nicely and reasoning. *sighs* Do all parents go through this stage? :(

Anyway........ September met with us meeting up a numerous times with Audrey and Ley Poh together with our kids, and also Winnie & family visit to Berlin for 4 days. We had made many numerous memories and photos together with many people that came to visit us in this month, together with our daily photos and activities together. With the changing of seasons...... I guess in a couple of months time would be time once again to catch my daughter in her beautiful snowsuits and winterboots out in the snow making snowballs.

We shared many joyous moments and created many valuable memories with the friends and love ones. Hanging around Potsdam and all around Pankow, Berlin with our local friends as often as we can, and more importantly spending time with each other and with Sven as a family. The happy moments all captured in photos - I love candid shots.. sometimes they are the most beautiful shots a person can make......


But.... for me, personally.........

The most joyous moment and the most treasured and valuable moment for me was to finally be able to bridge the gap with my ex husband once and for good. We spent a good deal of time messaging each other the other day and........ finally alles klar. Although that is one chapter of my life that will remain locked forever with love and precious memories, thank you dear..... for bridging that gap. Because for me, to me, you have always been not only my partner and husband back then, but also my most trusted friend whom I can turn to and count in whenever I am in need of help, advice and so forth. And I am glad to have you back into my life again, especially for Amelia. For her, it means a great deal for her.


She has came to accept the fact that she is one very special little girl who has 2 daddies there to love and care for her. One whom she calls daddy and the other she calls papa. But, she loves both the men in her life equally much. Thank you God for such a wonderful little girl.


Happy Ending of September and Hello Autumny October


Oh oh......... and from what I heard from hubby....


Happy Halloween!!!! *Soon*