Hi - Jed here. Catching up on the blog even though we are back home in the US for good.

Evan's graduation was held at the National University of Singapore. They have a very nice performing arts center and it could accommodate everyone. Evan's class was about 270. The ceremony was good and was broadcast over the internet so friends and family in the US could "attend". Evan's grandparents made the effort even though they had to wake up at 3 am!

SEABSYT Champions - Singapore Seniors

The Singapore Senior Boys (and Girls) are the 2010 champions of the annual South East Asian Baseball & Softball Youth Tournment. The tournament was held in Jakarta, Indonesia this year and featured teams from Jakarta, Bangkok, Perth, Manilla and Singapore. Evan had a terrific tournament as the team when 7 and 0.

Lauren and her Dad were able to travel to the tournament. It was great to have Evan's grandfather be able to see the tournament as he really missed out on Evan's high school career. He really enjoyed himself and made many new friends and, as you might expect, became a defacto assistant coach!

Dan Crosswell, who has coached Singapore for many years, was unable to coach the team this year because he was writing a book. However, he did make it to Jakarta for the tournament and the kids were glad to see him. They won the tournament last year under Coach Crosswell and he was thrilled to see the team repeat. He had some real nice things to say about Evan's catching, especially when his good friend Michael Szopiak was pitching. They made a real good pair. Michael is off to Notre Dame next year so maybe he and Evan will be able to cross paths at a ND/Syracuse football game.

Thanks to Walt Szopiak for the great pictures.

SEABSYT Champions - More Pics

More Pictures (see below for writing - sorry wrong order)

Jane and Pepere's Morning Out

Hi Everyone,

Pepere arrived in Singapore on Wednesday after being delayed for 24 hours in Boston. It was a long flight, but he enjoyed his business class seat on Cathay Pacific, and did really well adjusting to the time change. On Friday morning, Pepere and I went to a place called Kenko's to the 'fish spa' where fish from Turkey ate the dead skin off of our feet. It was a bit different from my first experience with the fish, because at this store we spent 10 minutes with the 'small fish', 10 with the 'medium fish', and then 10 scary minutes with the 'big fish' (they were not that big, but when you were about to stick your feet into a tank full of them, they seemed like giants). The small fish really loved my feet, but the medium and big ones just loved Pepere. You could hardly see any flesh in the medium fish tank! Afterwards, we went to a little out of the way cafe and got delicious milkshakes - plain vanilla for Pepere (no surprise there) and chocolate peanut butter for Jane. They were delicious. We then went to another mall to buy Pepere some flip-flops for when he went to the pool. Yes Grammy - he tried them on and was even able to walk in them! I was very impressed. Anyway, here are some pictures from our day. Mom, Pepere and Evan are now in Jakarta. All I know is that Evan's team won their first game, Pepere got a massage, and Mom is going shopping. So I think they are all happy. Leah and I have been taking it easy. In the next few days we will be going out and exploring Singapore. I'll try to post a few pictures from whatever we do.

Miss you all!

xoxo

Jane

"Gong Xi Fa Cai!"

"A Wish for Prosperity!" The Lunar New Year of the tiger will be welcomed with love on Valentine's Day, February 14. It is a highly celebrated occasion here in Singapore. Serious Spring cleaning is done at home. Business', grocery stores, malls and schools will be closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Families will gather for their reunion dinners. Auspicious foods will be served. Fish represents prosperity, noodles for long life, mushrooms with their good wishes, meat and fish balls signify completeness, yam pudding symbolizes the counting of blessings in the year ahead. Alona came back from the wet market today with mandarins from the vendors who told her "give to your m'am." Their shape and color imply good luck.

Just like food must be served in abundance, so are the decorations. Pussy willows, potted kumquats, red lanterns, red paper cut-outs and red clothing. Red, as you may know, representing luck. There will be parades, fireworks, music and lion dances.

My favorite is the yu sheng get together, observed as Everybody's Birthday. It is the tossing and eating yu sheng (raw fish salad) with sweet sauce and condiments while shouting "Loi hei" ("raise up wealth"). Chopsticks are used, and the higher the toss the more abundance is hoped for. It is a bit messy, and it is delicious. Fortunately, I will get to participate in a salad toss with Jed at Wellington when he comes the end of the month. The yu sheng is observed on the seventh day, and can continue until the 15th day. Last year our book group was adventurous enough to toss this salad, maybe we will do it again this year too.

This is our last CNY in Asia. I have a huge container of pussy willows (a childhood favorite of mine), pineapple tarts in my cabinet, mandarins on my table and a red shirt ready to be worn on Sunday. I will, however, avoid the crowds and noise and heat of Chinatown. Been there, done that.

CNY is truly about taking time off from work to visit with relatives and extended family while eating delicious food. I miss you all, and look forward to spending time with my family this summer, and CNY's celebrated in the States.

XO~
Lauren

Cambodia College Student

Hey everyone,
I've been keeping in touch with the college student, Seky, Claire and I got a scholarship for. She has recently gone to a temple in Cambodia called Ta Prom temple for a school trip. She sent me some photos and I thought you guys might want to see them. She is the one in the orange shirt and red bag!
Missing you all,
Leah