hodgepodge of latest happenings

Health insurance is a concern, especially for the little one. So the husband took the son to a community health center last Monday to ask about at least insurance for one of us. Perfect, we thought, since that would give me time to lesson plan for my work later in the afternoon. I had some misgiving...

Which turned out to be legitimate. There's a reason why I hate going to hospitals or health clinics. They're festering swamps of contagious diseases. Declan fell ill to a nasty bout of what I had thought to be a cold, but was really I think the flu. Given his propensity to share all his pre-chewed food with me, and loud wailing at my potential rejections, I succumbed to the same virus a few days later. Yesterday I tried to teach my class with a microphone, which turned out to be no match for screaming elementary kids. Between my groggy head, plugged up sinus, and sore voice-stealing throat, I really should have cancelled class. Instead, the program director paid my class a surprise visit yesterday. Of course, during my worst class yet.

So that's the health front of la famille right now. Other random trivia of my current life: I am currently entranced by South African apartheid protest songs, after reading Playing the Enemy, which details the end days of apartheid and the early days of South Africa coming together as one multi-racial country, with rugby as the ultimate political leverage. What a wonderful, wonderful story. It made me: a) want to return to being a college lecturer or become a human rights lawyer, b) want to live in South Africa, c) start following rugby, d) replace the decided name of our second son, if we ever have one, with Anton, after Anton Lubowski.

Having a second child is very much growing in my mind now. Three families belonging to my old Pittsburgh circle are having dragon babies this year: a second child--a daughter--born yesterday, a second child--a daughter--expected on leap day, a second child--a son--expected next March. But I would like to be in better physical shape, and for our family to be on more certain grounds before we even think about conceiving.

Speaking of more certain grounds, the husband and I had been getting pretty discouraged by the job search in Seattle. We're pretty sure that he didn't get the faculty position at Seattle Pacific and Seattle U, or Amazon, or even North Seattle Community College. My applications at NSCC are still pending. We have decided to cast a wider net by applying to places in Taiwan and even the old position Daniel had been offered last year in Israel. I had been so, so tired of traveling and moving overseas and back that I really, really would like to stay in Seattle for longer. If God has other plans for us though, so be it.

Now, to get over this sickness. Blech.

the beginning of a routine?

This past weekend was a physical as well as emotional journey a little over 200 miles south, to Salem. Christy was visiting her mom for Chinese new year and gave us a ride down to grab some more household supplies for our new apartment. There is a possibility, after all, that if we remain jobless by the end of our six-month lease, for us to leave Seattle. No need to buy more things that we'll have to part with again.

I visited my mom's house, passed by Chemeketa Community College where I attempted to take Spanish night classes after a summer interning at the Capitol during daytime. (That gave me a new respect for people who achieved the impossible-to-me task of working full-time and going to school), passed by so many old and new businesses, and visited my grandparents' church (with all its memories, most of them....hm.)

And now we're back. Declan's developing a little cough, which worries me. But life seems to have more of a rhythm. Everything's pretty much the same up-in-the-air, applying to jobs and waiting to hear back, but I feel settled enough to start cooking with care again. Despite the sad existing separation between me and my beloved Art of Simple Food cookbook by Alice Waters.

Mondays/Wednesdays: lesson planning, catch the bus, teach children, return (picking up groceries at Safeway), cook, after-dinner stroll with family to Trader Joe's, read to Declan, read/edit thing for Daniel after Declan goes to bed.

Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: grade homework, prepare for PhD application (study GRE, etc), spend time with Declan (go to the library, etc), cook, read to Declan, read/clean after Declan goes to bed.

Weekends: we're really trying to live real Sabbaths on Saturdays. Sundays are for hanging out with people. Hopefully, friends.

And we are all the while, waiting, waiting, studying and praying. What will happen next?

Happy new year!

The thing I really like about Chinese new year is that it always follows the Western calendar's new year by about a month. The freshness of a new year, with its pristine motivating beginning, is just about yellowing as we reach this point, as noted by the diminishing frequency of the slamming gym door when I was living at Highland Park in Pittsburgh. (The gym door is right underneath my bedroom window.) BUT, as someone who observes this second new year's start, I get to have a second wind.

I know, it's very psychological.

Tomorrow we move into a little apartment in Wallingford. We've signed up for a six-month lease, extension depending on when we get sustainable work. It's a small space, but well taken care of. It's the semi-basement (really, the first floor with a side entrance) of a house owned by a Messianic Jewish couple. The wife has 20+ years of real estate experience, and does all the fixing and renovating of the place; the husband has a garage band. They are politically conservatives who support Santorum. Living in the near-heart of Seattle, I find them an incredibly rare breed. We'll be sharing a washer and dryer (so nice that they'll be *right there*, instead of several flights down = difficult with a baby). I hope they won't mind about Declan's cloth diapers.

With a(nother) new year, a new space, I am eager for a new start. Catching the bus in an hour or so to get job training later today.

slow progress

I am almost too weary to write, except that now I really wish I had kept more of a record during my first year in Pittsburgh. It was a similar situation as it is now, as I live each day unsure of what the next will be. Or if we're even going anywhere at all. And any record of living in the moment back then might help alleviate the daily stress now.

Still no apartment. Lots of calls back that the places we were interested in got rented already. We went to see a place that is pretty nice and is within our cost range out of our savings for the determined period of time that we're willing to pay while still unemployed. As we were deliberating regarding this place that was just posted on craigslist a few hours ago (and we got there soon after), a woman that showed up to see the place as well five minutes after us decided to take it.

So there's that. I did get a part-time job today, after a phone interview and a face-to-face interview downtown. It pays well and is fairly interesting. Unfortunately, it's only for two days a week, so I'll be able to pay for our groceries but that's about it for now. Another interview offer came, for a part-time job position that pays all right and would add another $600 to my monthly paycheck if I get the job. HOWEVER, it would require me to work on weekends, and the block of work-time is long enough to prevent Daniel and me from sharing childcare duties in the event that Daniel gets a job too.

After tortured deliberations, I had to reply a sad decline. Argh.

It's nice to know that I'm hirable though, and far better than sending out ten job applications when I first arrived in Pittsburgh and not hearing anything at all from any of the organizations.

I'm excited about the opportunity to officially work again, and a downtown job at that. Still, we are essentially continuing to operate on our savings, and that worries me. I have never been in debt, and I hope we won't come to that. Far from it.

This time has been really challenging regarding my attitude/dependence on money, especially in relation to my faith in God. It is also challenging me regarding thankfulness. I catch myself thinking at times: Oh, if only Daniel (or I) have that position that can cover all of our expenses! Then I would be happy/content/grateful.

Really? I am not already fall-on-my-knees thankful for what God has done, is doing, and will do for me and my family? It's ludicrous. Really. And so I give thanks, during this chaotic, uncertain, scary, humbling time.

life in transition

A memory to take a snapshot of: 5:30am this morning. Declan's crying wakes me up. He was sleeping beside me on the futon, but he kind of wants to nurse right now. So I lift up my shirt, and, half-asleep with his eyes closed, he instinctively moves to where he needs to be. Nurses. Then, just as I am about to doze off again myself, I hear him giggle. I look down at him, and his eyes are looking at me. He has a huuuuge grin on his face, and he is still giggling as he shakes his head in that way when he's trying to dance.

What a funny kid.

My little family is currently staying at my childhood friend's place in Seattle. Daniel and I have been job and apartment searching during the days (two, so far) and eating dinner with Christy at night. I sent off an application to another job. This time, one that I really, really hope I get.

We'll see what happens.

hitting the road again

...tomorrow.

There's really no more procrastinating on this project called life. We head to the place that has been selected for our next stop in a matter of hours. No job, no place to stay, some friends. And praying hard that God will provide as we job and apartment search.

People who've been expecting us to live in China for the next three years are starting to hear about this new plan, little by little, and we've been receiving various reactions. I'm kind of tired of explaining, mainly because we are so uncertain about the future and I can feel the judgment by certain people who probably think less of us for our decision.

Not that I care enough to change course.

I just hope God will, in fact, provide.

He has, time and time again, and so I shall not worry.

When I do, I'll pray all the more.

baby steps

Well, in light of what I actually got done since then, my last post sure was ambitious. I would feel incredibly accomplished if we get by with most of them by the time we leave Chicago.

So far the things that make me feel like I haven't been wasting my time completely have been:

1. Getting Declan to eat a more varied diet - Food sources being a lot clearer here, I've felt more adventurous in what I'm sharing with him. So far, he's opened up to banana, cheerio, some avocado, bread, hash browns, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes (it's winter time after all = root veggies as current seasonal staple), a little meat, rice... And he hasn't immediately started getting an upset stomach and diarrhea like had been the case in China. Hooray!

2. Not being so jet lagged anymore - We've been sleeping a lot. This may need adjusting again when we head west some more. For now, this is nice.

3. I got a new mac and a GRE study book - Hopefully tomorrow shall be the beginning of studying and writing for both graduate school and job applications. (Yes, I should break the tasks down according to urgency. Divide and conquer.)

Right now, I'm going to read a frivolous fictional story before bed more or less around midnight. And tomorrow, I shall organize our luggage as the starting point of productivity.