10.2.2024 Saturday - Year of the Dragon

 Heavy rain meant staying in, having mom with us meant staying in late. I felt like the day is seeping away from me; unproductive and inactive. Until evening when we visit my auntie (my late father's only remaining sibling) in her house in Kenyalang Park, whom we visit only once a year it seems.

Visit to Old Hockien School

Visiting Sara

On Sunday, I traveled to Kuala Lumpur with Sam to visit Sara at her National Service Camp in Rembau. This involves a one hour drive from KL International Airport to Seremban and then some more to a small town of Rembau where her camp was located.

I felt happy and relieved; happy because I am going to see my favourite daughter and relieved because recent events at work have taken a load off my shoulders. I brought my ear-phones and my sketchbook - expecting to watch an in-flight movie and the latter to practice drawing people.

There wasn't an in-flight movie so much time for sketching my travel companions.

This guy was a easy target - seated across the aisle and dozing after his in-flight meal

A new father struggling with his ten-month daughter while a teenager struggles with phone puzzle

We arrived at 11:30 a.m. and found Selinna already waiting in her new Volvo, which made easy work of the hour long trip. At the camp, young cadets ushered us to our seats in the huge dining hall, one young cadet even carried the bag of books and goodies we brought for Sara. We watched Sara striding into the hall in her full uniform and perfect posture - which sagged a bit when she saw her mother. She still cries when we meet - the separation is hard for all of us.

teary eyed still when we meet

we met at the dining hall

on the way home, Sam sends a few final messages to Sara before she returns her phone to the camp warden

Another month to go before we have her all to ourselves again....

National Service

We sent Sara off to serve her National Service duties on the 4th of January, she will be stationed at the Rembau Camp in West Malaysia for three months. For most of that time, we will not have contact with her as phone usage will be restricted. We spend a lot of time together as a family so not being able to 'chat' with her will be difficult for all of us.

True enough, her first week was quite stressful for her as she tried to get used to the hours, the routine and the monotony of endless seminars about patriotism. I told her that she will start enjoying it once the physical training starts.

Sara is far left

After the weekend visit from Mom and grandparents, she cheered up somewhat as can be seen from this photo with her dorm-mates.

Last night, we received this photo - it looks like the old Sara ("hiao-lok" *Hokkien slang) is back!

the trademark cheesy grin