Photos: Malaysia, Gate Bars

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Lydia holding a stuffed animal. The overwhelming majority of homes in Malaysia have barred gates in front of their doors and windows, particularly on the first floor, to deter thieves. The sliding barred doors in the background lie just in front of a set of sliding glass doors.

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Lydia looking at something or someone in the carport. The sliding barred door is placed just in front of the front entrance, brown wooden door (which is seen on the right side of the picture).




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Lydia peering at something in the carport. Nelly and Vincent, her cousins, comment that Lydia's cheeks are chubby. Feiling, another cousin, uses the words "apple cheeks" to describe them since they are rosy and round like the surfaces of apples.


All pictures were taken on June 15, 2007 in the living room at Ma Wee's home in Batu Pahat, Malaysia.

Last Hours in Malaysia

June 26, 2007


Last Hours in Malaysia

The day began early for Ma Wee as she arose at 2:00 AM after only sleeping for three hours. Because she was concerned that we would miss our 4:00 AM wake up time and therefore miss our international flight despite the our electronic alarm clocks in our rooms, Ma Wee stayed awake the next two hours so that she could function as a human alarm clock.

We left Bernard’s and Choo’s home shortly after 5:00 AM for the forty minute journey to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Bernard drove Lydia, Ma Wee, SiowFong, and I in his Toyota Unser minivan with our belongings while Feiling drove MayNah and Feiching in her car that followed Bernard’s vehicle to the airport.

After arriving at the airport about ten minutes before 6:00 AM, we checked in at the China Airlines ticket counter. Since SiowFong has reached Gold Card status with China Airlines, we checked in at the counter designated for business class, so that sped up the process, which took about fifteen minutes.

We spent about a half hour with Bernard, Feiching, Feiling, MayNah, and Ma Wee before we said our goodbyes to them. Ma Wee’s last words to me were, “Watch Lydia closely.”


Lydia – World Traveler

Lydia turns 18 months in about two weeks, but she has already lived at least a few days in five countries, including Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the United States.

The long airplane rides over the Pacific Ocean seem not to bother her. During the seventeen hours of flight time on the trip back home, Lydia slept for most of the journey, staying awake just for the 2 hours between Hong Kong and Taipei, so she was a great traveling companion for SiowFong and me. Although she missed all her children’s meals that were served to her by the stewardesses, Lydia drank several bottles of formula during the trip.

Photos: Malaysia, Feeding Mama and Aunt

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Lydia's great aunt, her auntie from Kluang, stabilizing Lydia as Lydia is climbing out of her high chair during lunch.


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Lydia making one of her faces of resistance as her mommy tries to feed her some congee (rice porridge).


Note: All pictures were taken in the living room on June 19, 2007 at Ma Wee's home in Batu Pahat.

Last Day with the Wees

June 25, 2007 (Monday, 6:22 AM, Malaysian Time)

Last Day with the Wees

It is hard to believe that nearly three weeks have elapsed since we boarded an airplane from the states to go first to Hong Kong (where we stayed for a few days) and then to Malaysia (for two weeks). Tomorrow morning, our flight leaves Kuala Lumpur for Hong Kong at 8:00 AM; as a result, we will have an early wake up call at 4:00 AM.

Lydia and Ma Wee

In the last week, SiowFong has been telling Lydia that we will be returning to America without Ma Wee. We do not know if Lydia understands this fact; however, we have long recognized Lydia’s affection for Ma Wee. A little over a week ago, Lydia began kissing Ma Wee’s cheeks. Both shall miss each other, but the full extent of this reality will not be known until we return home.

Thanksgiving

SiowFong and I cannot express our gratitude sufficiently to all of the members of her extended family who lavished their love to Lydia by giving to her their affection, creativity, enthusiasm, kindness, patience, time, and undivided attention, particularly Choo, Feiling, Lin Li (“Ali”), Maylee, and Nelly. Ma Wee, SiowFong, and I observed how this generous outpouring of love for her in three homes during the last fortnight has nurtured Lydia. The frequency of Lydia’s funny faces, giggles, laughs, outstretched arms (to ask various individuals to hold and to carry her), and smiles communicated to everybody how comfortable and confident she felt in her new environments.

A Telling Comment

Yesterday afternoon, after we arrived at Bernard’s and Choo’s home in Petaling Jaya, a city just outside Kuala Lumpur, a number of the Wees took turns playing with Lydia. During one stretch of time, Feiling and Choo were taking turns playing with Lydia. As Lydia was examining a colorful plastic slinky, Choo, who was playing with Lydia, was also conversing with Feiling, who was observing Lydia’s exploration of her new toy. Choo asked Feiling, “If you were married, would you would want to have a daughter like Lydia?” With a twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her face, Feiling immediately responded, “Of course, she’s so cute!”

Future Plans

Although we have been returning to Malaysia yearly since we have been married, we will be back in 2009 if we are do not make a visit in 2008.

In June 2008, Maylee, SiowFong’s sister who lives in Melbourne, Australia, will be coming to visit us. On the way, she will spend some time in Malaysia and pick up Ma Wee for her second trip to the U.S. Maylee will be with us for two to three weeks, and Ma Wee will stay for two months.