Category Archives: Foreign Service

  I have much to be grateful for on this Thanksgiving day.  First off, I’m grateful for my mother’s turkey roasting pan that she let me take overseas and that I get to use to cook my first ever Thanksgiving turkey.  When I packed it a year ago, I had no idea how precious itContinue reading “Gratitude”

I am fully aware that I spend more time than is necessary admitting my foibles and shortcomings on this blog.  But I’m about to do more.  So if you’re tired of my rantings and want to read about a domestic goddess, stop reading my blog now and check out my friend Melissa’s blog.  She’s moreContinue reading “Thanksgiving Mooching: The End of an Era”

Since this was our first Halloween in Taiwan, we weren’t sure what to expect.  The Chinese don’t really celebrate the holiday.  So our expectations of this day were pretty low. We did try to prepare as best we could.  We ordered candy and costumes from the U.S.  We put up a few decorations around theContinue reading “The Best Halloween–EVER!!!”

I’ve been asked by a number of Americans back in the States if the whole Chinese Tiger Mom phenomena is true. And my reply, “Oh, yes it is!!!!” Here are a few recent examples: Today at my 2nd grader’s Parent/Teacher Conference, I heard a mother bragging to the teacher that she had her son (remember,Continue reading “Tiger Moms”

My 7 year-old is a major diva.  I don’t know where she gets it.  Whenever she sees a camera, she immediately strikes a pose.  Here are a couple of examples:                 Can you tell which picture was taken by a professional photographer (i.e. my sister-in-law Julie; http://www.julieparkerphotography.com) andContinue reading “My Glamour Girl”

Yesterday I had my hair done.  My roots were really, really bad.  To the point of humiliation.  So I went to George Pais Hair Salon and had my trusty hairdresser Susan hook me up with some dye.  Susan has an assistant, I’m not sure of her name;  I’ll just call her Melon.  (Don’t laugh, I’veContinue reading “FIRE!!!!!”