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Papa and Nevi ready for our day!

Nevi's first day at Hilltop Private School

Nevi was up before we had to wake her. She was so excited for her first day at school. She dressed herself in her uniform, had breakfast, and we were off at 7:30 am in order to get to school by 8:30. She and I have the wonderfully friendly drivers here at Pulai Springs driving us into JB town to and from school. This is what a great deal of people do because there is no school bus transportation outside of town really...and not to mention the crazy driving that goes on here:)
Anyway- usually it will take us about 45 minutes they say- but today one hour and twenty minutes...oh my. Nevi was cheerful even with a bit of car sick tummy happening. We got to school, and I walked her in and off she went...just like when she started school at the young age of 2 1/2 in Montessori. Walked right in ready to join in. I had the same feelings I did when she started school for the first time...pride that she is confident and independent and also a bit weepy as she is such a lovely and courageous child. See how sweet her uniform is! She wears the dress everyday except on Friday she wears a white and blue tee shirt with some navy blue sports pants that say Hilltop down the leg. That is her PE outfit used on her short day which is Friday. She looked like a little local girl as we headed off.

After Effects

After "the INCIDENT" it was way past lunch time. So we went across the street to eat something. I was feeling a bit queezy, but knew food was a good idea. This is Nevi eating the grossest thing yet: lightly battered and deep fried hot dogs. Yuck. She loved them with her black currant yogurt smoothie. Devin made up for Nevi's un healthy lunch with his organic spirulina orange juice- deliciously bright green and his local delight: chicken curry with sambala and rice. I just had curry samosa's and iced kopi(coffee).Probabaly had enough adrenaline pumping and could have skipped the coffee- but it is my comfort food. All was settling for the most part, and we headed off to the wet market for fresh mangoes, bananas, mangosteens, watermelon, potatoes, onions, basil, tomatoes and Devin was driving.

Fortunate

Driving in Malaysia is something to gear up for...to ease into. First sitting in the passengers seat for awhile is important. You begin to feel more normal with the steering wheel on the right side of the car. You begin to anticipate the staying to the left on streets and with turns. Then you get behind the wheel in a protected and safe place- like a drive way or the parking lot of your apartment. Then you move out onto the street- the back roads...where there are cars, but not too many. Where you can drive slowly. Where perhpas you might not be passed on both sides of the car at the same time by a family of five on a scooter. Where you might not encounter the driving along and having a big truck in the lane to your left and then scooters weaving in between cars on both sides of you. I kid you not this is what driving is like here and many other places for that matter. Anyway, I did all the preliminary steps. I had even gotten out on the simple roads. Today I even drove to the laundry place to drop off our weekly laundry. I was feeling- not overly confident, but saying ok I can drive if I stay close to home. So from the laundry place we were going to go into Taman U- our local area to go to the wet market for this week's vegetables and fruits. Thank the lord Devin was with me and Nevi for this leisurely family outing. I made a few turns, things were ok. Then we were trying to figure out where to go to eat lunch- and I was going to take a left turn- so I put my blinker on, looked in all my mirrors- saw a scooter way back from me- far enough back for me to move and I went into the left lane.All was well~ I put my left blinker on again and made a pretty quick left onto another street. As I completed the left we heard a huge thud on the back trunk of our car. I looked back quickly and pulled over all in one. Holy shit someone on a scooter had slammed into us! Devin says holy shit we just got hit by a scooter. The person was on the ground getting up! Devin got out of the car- I pulled into a safe place. Oh my....turns out the kid is 17...Devin could tell right away his wrist or arm was hurt. Devin picked up the scooter and moved it....and the drama began. Right away the kid said, " I'll pay I'll pay" Must have meant for our car cause he knew he was the one who slammed into us....but as time went on the story kinda changed. I was firm and said I had my blinker on and was clear about turning. The kid said he did not think we were far enough over and were going to go straight...but my blinker was on....so ultimately it was the kids problem cause he hit us...but I could have made a more slow turn too.I am such a new driver..oh god this was the last thing I needed- I am afraid ebnough to drive as it is!
Anyway his family arrives...Devin calls a friend and co-worker named Dominic who has lived here his whole life to come help us. Thank god Dominic lives right around the corner! We talk and talk...then we go to the clinic with the boy and his family...we wait and wait...I have no idea what is going on. Devin, Dominic, the kid his dad and mom are in with the doctor....I am feeling sick to my stomach. I am fighting the thoughts of "I will never drive here again" " there goes my independence" I will be trapped at our apartment forever"...and trying to keep Nevi in her patient state of mind. Things are different here- it is not clear cut- like take info and our insurance companies can deal. Or whoever crashes into who is at fault. It is about having heart and going to the clinic even though it was not our fault- we were the ones hit...but we were not the one hurt. After a long time and not to drag this out too much...we split the doctor bill with the family. The visit was RM50 which is about $15 USD. We paid half and then the father wanted us to pay a bit more- but on principal we said no...we were not admitting to being more responsible for the accident as we were simply being gracious in the first place. The poor kid broke his arm and was off to the hospital in town. We were free to go- the family was smiling and shaking our hands with gratitude and sincerity. We had done the right thing thanks to Dominic translating and leading us to this place of forgiveness on both sides. Now we have a broken tail light~ no dent, but gouges in our rented car. But so what- our insurance will pay(I hope)...this poor boy hopefully will not ride so close or so fast or make assumptions that someone with the left blinker on WILL actually turn left! I am shaken, nervous and a bit queezy. But I feel grateful that our adventure this afternoon could have been a true tradgedy and not just a nightmare. Oh god, please let me just get back on the horse~ I hope my ability to drive around here has not been shattered. Maybe after some arnica and a good night sleep my courage will come back and I will get behind the wheel tomorrow to go pick up the laundry.

Mee Curry

Today we spent the day touring around Johor Bahru with our dear new friend, Lin Choo. She was assigned to be our relocation/orientation person. When we came to Malaysia in April to find schools and housing- Lin toured us everywhere. We became good friends quickly!
We had one more day of her expertise and today was the day. We drove around to find where the hospital is located, we found yet another Mall to shop at, she showed us the Wet market which is the outdoor market closest to our place, we bought a bamboo steamer which I have been looking for- to steam dumplings and such...we met some of her friends for lunch at a coffee shop. This picture is of Devin's lunch. Mee is a type of noodle...and of course curry is amazing here. Nevi had her new favorite snack which is toasted white bread with peanut butter....and I had my favorite snack which is bread with butter and Kaya (coconut spread) and a nice cup of tea or coffee! Delightful day...we are so lucky to have a new freindship with Lin as she has lived here her whole life! Now we are home- we ate take out from our favorite local resturant down the street- Nevi and Devin are having an evening swim, and I am ready for bed...it is only 7:15 pm here:)
Oh and one more thing accomplished today...I drove the car home from the resturant down the way!!! You all say- what is the big deal...oh just that the stearing wheel is on the right side of the car!!!! I practiced a bit in the parking lot and tonight was my first drive on the road. I will take it slow and stick near home for now- but I will feel so independent once I can jump in the car and goooooooo! More on driving later.

Stir fry

More from last night's dinner~

First home cooked dinner

Drum roll please!
A few days ago I finally bought a rice cooker and a blender to complete my kitchen set up.Last night, I cooked our first family home cooked meal since we have been living here. I made coconut rice with stir fried vegetables.Figured that was a good place to start.
Ok so the rice was a tiny bit golden brown on the bottom after cooking...but short of that~ it was delicious. Who knew a rice cooker cooked rice so fast! Seriously- you flick the switch- it boils big and then switches to warm and in about 20 minutes you have cooked rice. Why did I never use one at home?
Then I learned that out hot plate cooks REALLY fast and you must adjust the temp. Learning everyday.
We had three kinds of mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, green beans, peppers, and sprouts in the stir fry. Nevi ate it right up- Devin loved being served the moment he walked through the door,and I felt great about not having to go out! Yippee for us all. Another new task at least attempted! Next on the menu for tomorrow night is Ayam Curry....Malaysian chicken curry. Stay tuned to see how that project turns out.