We had our first typhoon blow through here yesterday. Man, was it windy. We took a walk today and there were some street signs that had been uprooted from out of the cement sidewalk, and there was various debris everywhere. This is the rainy season and typhoons are what we get here from time to time. Our balcony sliding doors were rattling pretty hard, but no damage done to our place.
Well, we moved into our new place on Wednesday. It's a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom flat on the 16th floor, overlooking Macau stadium. And we have a huge living room. Plus, we're very conveniently located. There are restaurants, banks, and small supermarket/convenience stores on our street right when you walk out the door of our building, and it's only a 10-minute walk to work.
Well, we're in Macau, and staying at a hotel for the week, while we look for a flat. I love being back already. Just walking down the street is so nice. Macau kind of has the feel of New York City or a European city -- you can get around very easily just walking or taking the bus, or a taxi if need be. Life already feels so much more relaxed. It's hot though. But we do get a nice breeze though, being on the water.
Well, me and Gisou and the girls are moving back to China, specifically to Macau. We're very, very excited, and hope this will be a long-term move for us. We'll be teaching at, and the girls will be going to school at, the School of the Nations. 4 days and counting!
My 5-year-old just spilled some Froot Loops on the carpet. After a minute of cleaning them up, she says to the rest of us: "Is no one helping because they want to make it harder, or because they don't like helping?"
My wife and I started laughing and helped her out.
It's the Bahá'í New Year, and Gisou has typed up a nice little hello and update for everyone. So here you go...
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Happy Naw Ruz to our dear Family and Friends!
We wish you all a happy and joyous new year !
We thought we would take a moment to share a little about what we have been up to this past year. This year has been a time of change, growth, tests and blessings for our family.
Afshin: Afshin is now working as a video editor for the Weather Channel, and freelancing as an editor for two locally broadcast half-hour television shows. His visit to the Holy Land in early February was perhaps the highlight of his year. He has written a couple of new songs which he plays on the guitar. One in particular was inspired by Eve and May; it's titled "Whining is not the answer to your problems." :-)
Gisou: Gisou will begin her second year serving the Louis Gregory Baha'i Institute. She now serves as the Project Mona Coordinator (www.projectmona.org), and is looking forward to spending the summer on-site in Hemingway, South Carolina. She has truly enjoyed her special time with May this year before May starts pre-K in the fall.
Eve: Eve has really blossomed these past several months in kindergarten. The somewhat shy little girl we used to know has become surprisingly brave. She attends a wonderful and loving international charter school where she has friends from all over the world. She loves reading books to us, works hard at her vision therapy, enjoys ballet classes and just recently began taking horseback riding lessons. She is particularly good at drawing cows.
May: May loves being with her family and performing a dance routine for just about anyone who will watch. She loves outings to the park, the natural history museum, and the library. She can hardly wait to start pre-K in the fall. She is looking forward to her first ever ballet recital this spring ! She also enjoyed being a flower girl for the first time at her aunt's wedding in February. She loves drawing.
May this year be full of joy, love and laughter for each of you!
A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I were in the car, parked in front of an office that looked similar to this one (with a set of stairs leading up to the entrance, only it was a bit higher up, with more stairs to climb).
May then asks me, "Poppy, what's that?"
"That's someone's office."
"Oh."
[audible pause, with the mute sound of May's brain gears cranking away...]
"Poppy, if those stairs weren't there, nobody could get to that office, and it would be just for decoration."
"Yup, that's right," I said matter-of-factly, while in my head I'm kissing and squeezing her curly little head BECAUSE - SHE'S - SO - FREAKIN' - CUTE!!!!
It's the Bahá'í New Year, and Gisou has typed up a nice little hello and update for everyone. So here you go... 
A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I were in the car, parked in front of an office that looked similar to this one (with a set of stairs leading up to the entrance, only it was a bit higher up, with more stairs to climb).