Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn’t stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
-Richard Marx, Right Here Waiting
I saw Richard Marx live in concert tonight in Singapore. It was surprisingly an amazing show. He poked fun at himself and was highly entertaining. It was an all acoustic set, which allowed his voice to really shine as the star of the show. He performed several classics, including NSYNC’s “This I Promise You,” which he wrote. He even sang “Silent Night,” which made me feel like Christmas was just around the corner (you can forget when it is consistently 85 degrees outside). But the highlight was definitely his ending performance of “Right Here Waiting.” It’s what we all came to see and it did not disappoint.
Oh, and in case you were wondering - yes, I was the rude, loud, obnoxious American sitting in the nose bleed seats hooting and hollering. And damn proud of it!
On December 15th, I leave Singapore and arrive in Austin. The trip itself takes a full day…so really I guess I have 11 days. Okay, 11 days and counting.
I have put together a list of things that I’d like to do during my trip back to Texas (in no specific order):
Thank you all in advance for accompanying me while I cross these off my list. It would be rather depressing if you see me at Magnolia Cafe eating Mag’s Mud by myself. I’m not above it, but it is not my preference.
Believe it or not - this was my first Thanksgiving away from family. I’ve always traveled home for it (as per my Mother’s request/demand). Given the 27 hour flight standing (metaphorically) in between Thanksgiving in Texas or Singapore, it was not an option this year. But luckily, a wonderful co-worker organized an Expat Thanksgiving for a proper meal with friends. We had turkey, green beans, stuffing, biscuits, cranberries - and even amazing pumpkin and pecan pies. I made my world famous guacamole for an appetizer. Even though it’s a bit non traditional, I have to slip in a little Texas whenever I can…
The great thing about living abroad, you get to experience holidays twice - once during your time zone and again when it happens in the States. It’s great to see everyone’s updates and what they are thankful for as they are waking up on this one fine Thanksgiving day.
When I think about what I am thankful for this year, two things creep to the top of the list. First and foremost, I am thankful for my family and all their support. It’s a big year for us, given the birth of my niece and nephew. I couldn’t be happier for my brother and sister-in-law and their adorable new additions to the family tree, Cecilia and Charles. I am looking forward to meeting them in person over Christmas. And although I don’t say it enough, I am of course appreciative of my parents for always providing me support, even if they don’t agree with my decisions (which is rare, considering I have a good head on my shoulders).
Secondly, I am continuously thankful for having the opportunity to fulfill my dream of working abroad. A few years ago, I considered this my BHAG - big, hairy, audacious goal. I guess I need to aim higher now. I can’t get home for Thanksgiving because I live in Singapore? I mean, that’s not a bad problem to have.
So as my Thanksgiving comes to a close, I hope all my friends and family in the States enjoy the day. I will be living vicariously through you tomorrow as I read all your updates.
Oh and to my Longhorns playing tonight - please beat the Aggies. We don’t get a rematch next year and I would be most thankful if we left the rivalry on a high note.
[Please note: This is probably the sappiest post you will ever have from me. No need to worry - I’ll be back to my snarky self in no time.]
For those of you that don’t know, I traveled to Bali at the beginning of this month. I can sum up my trip in a few exaggerated statements:
Now, read on if you want to know what actually happened:
Exaggerations aside, a special thanks to Lee Komeda, Nick Kline and Austin Shiner for making this trip as awesome as it was!
I am on my way to Bali for the weekend. Looking forward to the sights, beach and relaxation. Jealous?
That would be a sugar shot next to my iced latte. No, I did not order it. What ever happened to a nice packet of Splenda?