Weekend Adventures

Our weekends are often filled with a trip to grandparents house -- where swimming of playing with Grandma's toys is always a fun part of the day. This is often on Saturday afternoon -- which is extra great because grandma (or her part time amah/cook) will prepare a nice meal for us.



Often on Sundays after church we will have some sort of outing. This weekend, it was to KLCC -- which Rania now likes to say a lot. "Me go k l cc wight now."

Rania opted for swimming in the free wading pool (complete with waterfalls), and the older two attacked the climbing structure and the big slide. The HUGE park in KLCC is one of many reasons that KL is a great place for kids.

A Visit to Shanghai

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008

Doug did get the chance to visit Shanghai for the first time. It was for a Learning 2.0 conference that was hosted by some local schools. With more than 500 delegates and some exceptional speakers, it was really quite a wonderful experience, though with so much time at the conference, there wasn't much time to see Shanghai.


There were some excellent presentations on using all sorts of technologies to help kids take ownership over their learning while challenging them to become better critical thinkers and have the skills necessary for success in the future.

In addition to some inspiring stories and examples (including a presenter who lives in northern Manitoba and has used the web to connect his kids to all sorts of incredible learning experiences), there were also some concrete ideas on having students use Digital Storytelling strategies to increase their literacy skills while meeting a larger audience.

One of the serendipitous events was running into people from all over the globe. From my time in Peru, I briefly reconnected with Susan Young and Tim Boyer, who are now principals in Delhi, and some of the most incredible people you will ever meet. Linda Wegener, also from Lima, is now in Shanghai, and Dianne Salminen from our time in Jordan is now in Jakarta -- and all were at the conference.

In the small world of international schools, it was neat to also meet Dave Navis -- who is now in Hong Kong, but took my position after I left Lima more than a decade ago. We had communicated quite a bit, but this was the first time we had met.


Much time was also spent with my former boss, Chad Bates (pictured, right), who is now in Bangkok, and some of his colleagues (Dennis Harter, pictured on the left, also made the move from KL to Bangkok a few years ago.) as well as the six of us from KL that made the trip.



Bringing home gifts for the kids is also quite fun -- with their matching T-shirts. (Silly faces sold separately.)

Oh yea -- Doug had a birthday

Not like we're behind on blogging or anything. . .but Doug did have a birthday at the beginning of September. Tracy invited a few friends over, we had some chicken, a cake, and a nice time.

(and note -- the map from the previous post is from our lives in KL -- not Doug's brief visit to Shanghai.)

Fiddling with Google Maps

Here Doug is in Shanghai, China for a technology conference. It has been fascinating to hear some great presenters and some really interesting sessions.

Doug is fiddling with Google Earth -- trying to show you where we are.

Zoom in, Zoom out, and see what where we go during the week.

Click on the placemarks to see what the places are.


View Larger Map

Hilarious things from kids: Rocket & Star Wars

Two hilarious things from our kids this week.

First, Rania doesn't really have a security blanket -- but she does carry around a DVD (in a case) of Little Einsteins everywhere she goes. She insists on taking "rocket" in the car, putting "rocket" in bed, and having "rocket" with her as she walks around the house.

Second, Reeve and Gabi have become incredibly fascinated with Star Wars this week. On Sunday they got little Star Wars characters from their Happy Meal visit to McDonalds. Since then, we've had long re-tellings of why Planet Alderon was destroyed, and how Darth Vader became a bad guy.

We've also had endless questions like,

"Why didn't Darth Vader throw the emperor off the building quick so he wouldn't get hurt by electricity?"

"How did Darth Vader get burnt by lava? Why didn't he jump higher?"

Thanks to a friend at school, we borrowed the DVDs so Friday night will hopefully be our kids indoctrination into Star Wars, Chapter IV: A New Hope.

Marcus & Velle's wedding

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2008


We were very privileged and blessed to get to celebrate Marcus & Velle's wedding in Kuala Lumpur as part of the national holiday for Merdeka.

In addition to our first real experience with a Chinese wedding, we also were treated to an absolutely amazing 10 course Chinese dinner.

We were incredibly appreciative of Marcus and Velle's kindness in letting us be part of a special time. It was also fun to catch up with Mike LeMaster -- a good friend from high school -- and reminisce about our travels through Kenya many summers ago.

Base Jumping off the KL Tower

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008

My, oh my. Some experiences only happen once in a lifetime.



(or once a year if you live in Malaysia. . .)

In preparation for a friend from high school's wedding -- Marcus LeMaster, Doug went downtown to visit Marcus and his younger brother, Mike, as well as three other friends of Marcus' who came to KL for the wedding.

We decided to walk over the KL tower -- where it was rumored that people were base jumping off the KL Tower. Imagine a structure about as high as the CN Tower in Toronto, and among the highest buildings in the world.



We were quite surprised as one base jumper landed about 10 feet from us.

But it was nothing compared to paying a few ringgit and getting to go to the TOP of the tower where the base jumpers were jumping off. We were secured in through a harness -- but what an eerie sight looking over an edge -- 330 meters (3 1/2 football fields) down.

Woa!

Can't imagine too many buildings in the States allowing people up on the roof. Benefits to having base jumping being legal in Malaysia for this once a year experience.



(Notice Doug is hanging on MUCH tighter than Mike LeMaster or Marcus LeMaster.)

So once a year Malaysia has a base jumping tour -- where jumpers can come, get the elevator, and jump on a bunch of buildings around the country. Since it is legal, you can get a 100 jumps in. We met one guy who had 27 jumps off the KL tower in just the weekend.



And after signing your life away and getting fit for a harness, it is quite a view to be a few feet from people jumping off a building!

Celebrating Merdeka

Fun in the neighborhood!

The Birthday Circuit

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2008

With the beginning of another school year, we are beginning the birthday circuit. Last weekend, Reeve and Gabi went to a wonderful party with one of Reeve's friends. The part was great-- Complete with hair braiding, batik painting, and a huge blow up jungle gym with a slide that went into the pool. (Unfortunately a thunderstorm required the power for the huge blow up contraption to be turned off.)

This weekend, Reeve had a wonderful party with one of his best friends from school.

A fun swimming pool to explore, games, water balloons, and some great food with fun friends. It was a wonderful Saturday morning.

Guest Bloggers

Today we are honored to allow Doug's brother as a guest blogger.
Note his entry below:


"we went to the pool today."