Back in the Saddle ... Almost!

By June 2013, we would be marking our second-year living  here in Singapore.   How time flies!   It seems only yesterday when I was writing my 1st entry on this blog regarding my hesitancy and eventually my decision to  move here.

2013 is also a milestone for me, when all my children will be in schools.  Primary 3, 1 and Nursery.  Needless to say, I am excited in the prospect of having more time for myself ;)  I am actually contemplating on getting a regular job maybe within the year, when all has settled down into a routine.

But then, opportunity comes in most unexpected times, and I am not one to close my door,  especially to something / someone whom I respect a lot.  

I have mentioned in my previous entries that, aside from being a full-time housewife and mom;  I do work-from-home jobs.  I'm so lucky to be blessed with mentors who trusts me and my skills.  They understand my situation of needing to be full-time with the kids ... yet they know me so well,  how I love to work and earn for myself.

During the holidays, I got an unexpected email from my boss,  that if  I'm interested, they're needing someone with my skills,  to do  half-day, 5 days a week.   Wow, talk about answered prayers!   Perfect working hours for someone who wants to work fullt-time but still has reservations to leave her growing children at home.  So, I said yes.

Now, it's been a week that I have been shuffling to and fro.  So, far no major challenges at home have come up to make me regret my decision.   Hopefully, everything will work out for the best... in both of my worlds :)

I just want to share some learning I had while being a stay-at-home mom,  work-from-home employee, and now, part-time regular worker.  

1.)    Don't burn Bridges -  resigning from a previous job, should not mean the end of the relationship with former bosses, colleagues and friends.   (Even if you have resigned in not so favorable situation).  As the cliche goes, it's a small world, afterall.  More often than not, your good work will speak for yourself and colleagues will seek you out, regardless of companies you now belong.

2.)   Yes, you can Reinvent Yourself  - my former job was an account manager involve "face-time" with clients.  I have never imagined that I can actually be at home, doing the things I love to do and get paid for it. Long ago, there wasn't even a profession called Blogger, Content Writer or Social Media Editor.  Now, when I started calling myself that, I found that I can actually get hired for it.   Don't box yourself with the course you finished in college or the 1st job you started.... Be willing to try new things, and discover what else you can offer. 

3.)  Always leave a little something for yourself -  indeed being a full-time is the most noble of all profession/ career.  I don't need convincing with that.  But I also experienced that it can be the most draining of one's energy and self-esteem!  The greatest pressure, I think, does not lie from other people, but from oneself.  The self-doubt that "Oh, I'm just a housewife."   I realized that the cure for that mentality is really to have something for oneself.  Something that you can call truly your "own."  Whatever your interest is,  scrapbooking, photography, knitting, cooking ... pursue it!  It gives a feeling a pride, of accomplishment, that is totally in a different category of  The Best Mom/ Best Wife.... but the Best Me... that I can become.   

4.)  You don't have anything to Prove - I can be quite competitive when it comes to career, or whatever it is that I engage into.  I have to be the best, the first!  My opinions,  have to be heard!   Maybe it's the age, or the fact that I also have accomplished things that I am proud of, .. that I have mellowed down.   Now, I am less arrogant, more tolerant, more giving, less judgemental.  I like working for the value of work in itself,  (Of course, the pay allows me to take pride in my work, as well).  I'm working because I love working, not because  I don't want to be a plain housewife. 

Or maybe it's what Anthony Robbins called "Re-creating one's Story."   He said, we go through life creating our Story.   But most of the times, we get frustrated because we don't achieve the Successful Life Story that we want.   At that point, we probably need to RE-THINK the life story we want for ourself.   Our concept of success should be personal and not society's yardstick.  If you are frustrated of not being successful, maybe it's time to define what's success is for us.  :) 

My thoughts are trailing-off .......  I hope you get the gist :)

My new colleagues here in Singapore

 xoxo,
ripemango

 

Soaked at the Port of Lost Wonder

Singapore weather is summer year round.  I've never really experienced typhoons or cold weather  here.  Rains usually last for 20 minutes, and then followed by sun-shiney day.  Probably, because of its location. Singapore is 1 degrees above the equatorial line.  Sunlight shines directly on this tiny country.

But lacking in natural beaches, they make it up with plenty of swimming pools in the condos, community centers, and private clubs;  most parks also have fun and colorful water parks, as well.

The latest water park to open in this little red dot of a country is the Port of Lost Wonder in Palawan Beach, Sentosa.  It's basically a simple water park, they just added tons of other activities for the kids to have something else to do.

Entrance fee is 8 SGD for weekdays and 15 SGD for weekends.  Almost double the price :(   They're taking advantage that people are always looking for somewhere to bring the kids over the weekend, and they're new, opened only last year, so people are still curious.  There's an annual membership fee of 90 SGD, which gives free passes to other attractions in Sentosa.  Quite pricey for me, especially since we rarely go to Sentosa, anyway.

The entrance comes with coins or curios which you can use to purchase food and other items in the park.  The park operates on curios as currency.  You have to buy them before getting in.  It's either part of the fun or they're trying to prevent the staff from holding real cash :))) 

(Let me digress, "staff not holding cash", from my observation is one way corruption is prevented here in Singapore.  Especially for government transactions, everything is done electronically, not only for efficiency, but to prevent temptation to pilfer, or "lagay"  everything has paper trail.)

My kids love the water, they're now quite dark from too much swimming, chlorine and sun exposure.  Sometimes they're mistaken for Indians, Malays or Bangladeshi.   And I would say, No, they're Filipinos who just had too much sun.  :)

The park has only one restaurant that serves light food like pizza, tacos, fish and chips, and the waiters bring the food over to your place in the grounds.  Convenient, rather than crowd around in the restaurant.

There are scheduled activities like storytelling, scavengers hunts, family games, and even a bird show.  But my kids are more into the waterplay.  So, we just enjoyed getting soaked ...

It's a fun place, but nothing monumental.  :)  But then, most of the things that bring the biggest and brightest smiles to our children, are really the simple ones,  like splashing water, falling rain...... and a Mom that joins in the fun!!

If you want to know more about The Port of Lost Wonder.  (Although, I think they are closed for January 2013 to improve their facilities.  Will re-open on February 2013).    Click Here.

'til next adventure!

xoxo,
Ripemango