Treasures

Couldn´t resist talking about my treasures. My biggest earthly treasure now is my son. The kind of treasure that drives you to want to be around it all the time, to invest in it, to give it your all.  So how is life as a mother? I always say, it´s extraordinary. It's also an extraordinary form of love.   Sometimes, I look back at my 10 year relationship with Luis, my husband and I smile, how lucky  no... how blessed was I to have met him. To know that kind of love - a partner in life to take me through its turns.. and at such a young age.

 Life seems meaningless without love.We are meant to love and to be loved.

 

 Now, I am showered with another kind of love from Luis Andrés. So distinctive, so pure, so peaceful,  something I believe you can only feel when you really want a child not even if you just have children. Just imagine. Another whole dimension to feeling "love". I´m glad Luis and I prayed for our child, and we do pray continuously for his well being. This morning Luis said to me, I pray everyday that he´ll grow up loved, he´ll grow up to be a good person. It´s so nice to have a husband that just prays. Does yours? Do you wish he does? Pray for him then.

 

Being a mom has shifted the paradigm for me. It's a great feeling to finally understand a few things that I thought I knew and understood to really feeling it to the bone now. When I think of the responsibilities as a mom, a parent, I think of how much my own mom has done for me yet at the same time pursued such an amazing career.  The biggest lesson my mom has thought me is to be focus on your current task. She left her worries at work, and left our worries at home when she went to work. This essentially is what I have taken from her. To just be at the moment with my son and my husband. The power of being in the moment.
As you can see, my earthly treasures lie within my family.

 

As mother day approaches, it's nice to share in its celebration with my own mother, my mother-in-law, to think about my grandmothers, my aunties, to relate to single mothers out there and to think about how things must have been and still is for these significant people in the world.  To have the common ground of the essentials of being a mom -  always wanting to give the best to our children. Sacrifices, I think people call it at times.  I don't anymore. When you love something so much, it's barely a sacrifice.  A job over your child? Time to travel versus your child?  Being a mom, these things don't even cross your mind.  Perhaps the juggling of time to try to fit everything in. Now that I am a mom, I know once I feel like I am sacrifiying anything, is when I have forgotten my most precious gift from God. My son.

Things I know for sure now even though this is all fairly new to me is that the biggest gift I could give my son is to just be there - to listen to him, to be present in his life, to laugh the hardest at his jokes and to uphold him always. Even though he doesn't talk yet, it's wonderful to see how excited he gets when we say "bravo"!! and we clap our hands and how he glees with excitement at his little achievements. It´s priceless.  It melts my heart!  In my books, it is so much  better to have a spoilt kid than to have an uncared for child. To have a child that thinks he's the most beautiful thing that has existed to mankind than see him live with self doubt.

 

 I thank God for everything constantly, for this little miracle at large.

Now I have the biggest responsibility to date  - to raise him to be pleasing in God's eyes.

  So far, being a mother beats every other thing I have done in my life! It's so fulfilling.

 

 I'm a proud Mother to my son.
  Luis Andrés Unda Mathews, you are so so loved!!

 

Happy Mother's Day 2013 to us mums who share such a special bond  xx

My husband Luis shot this one of restful LA one fine Sunday afternoon 

 

Lessons of Passion

Tomorrow is mom's last day as a high-school principal. This post is a little tribute to her.  Hearing her prepared speeches for her last assembly and her farewell dinner, brought back fond memories of how at one point in my life, I used to listen to it every Monday morning.  Passion is something beautiful. If one can after all those years shed tears as one recollects and reminisces about the years gone, that's true purpose. Just in sharing her speeches with me over Skype this morning, evoked so much emotion in her. I think it's a beautiful thing when God blesses one, it's recognised and one takes up that challenge in life putting all trust in the almighty one. A position in life to improve the quality of people's lives and to have others at the forefront of ones thoughts.

  For those that have known my mom, have gotten to know her or who has had the privileged to have worked or be mentored by her,

I'm sure you all have your own testimonies.

As a daughter, she's my ultimate role model on how I would like to raise my own children and be that glow as she has been and has always been for me. A wholesome person with so much joy and with so much life at all times. I don't remember a time, when I have called home and not heard a happy cheerful voice at the other end. I must add too, that she has the most contagious laugh and I find myself missing her company as one of my best friends. From gardening, to knitting, to cooking up incredible meals to organising parties to picking us up from night classes and being that constant in our family.

 There's an inner strength and drive that only when there's that much love can one truly be selfless and give back in life. I believe that my mom has that sort of passion in whatever she does.

 With that much motivation, I'm sure she wouldn't have to worry about her next chapter in life as God has already paved that path for her. Finally, thank you for imparting the best of yourself to us all.  Your 33 years of service as an educator, 27 years as a principal will never be forgotten with the many lives that you have touched and your outstanding achievements. Your legacy will be missed but will most definitely be remembered.

  Now, it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the next exciting chapter in your life. 

 Happy Retirement Ma & Happy Birthday !

With thoughts of wonderful memories during school and to the life that you have given me as an amazing mother.

Your loving daughter, Marsh

   Always the stylish one !

The great companion 

The supportive wife

The loving daughter



The mother who's always there



and the one who embraces life !!

 Here's to many more adventures & memorable times to pocket ! 

You are so adored and loved





International Charity Bazaar

Once a year, the ADD (Asociación de Damas Diplomáticas), association of diplomatic women organises an International Bazaar. This year, it was held on the 27th November at Parque Ines de Suarez. It's a charity event; the money raised is forwarded to many Chilean charities supported by the ADD.

It was a great day - the sun was shining and we spent a good 4 hours there. To our dismay, the Malaysian Embassy representatives were not there.  It seems, after the massive earthquake earlier this year, the ambassador fled ! So, we have an undesirable no -ambassador- situation.  Anyhow, we weren't alone, the English didn't participate too. The difference is - they do still have an ambassador !



First stop German Stand - beer and sausages





Pad Thai from the Thailand Stand





Satay from the Thailand Stand 





Satay also from the Indonesian Stall. We also bought food to go - " Nasi Goreng" which is Fried Rice & Spring Rolls ( the closest we got to Malaysian food) and also Nasi Briyani  and Gulap Jamuns from the India Stand





The atmosphere



Colours of the world





Us before leaving -  very happy, satisfied and looking forward to next year's Bazaar :)



Undas' Go Italian

The Latin culture is one that sticks with you. It's warm,  touchy-feely, generous and you get kissed a lot so much so that even if you're a wet-blanket, you're really forced out of your shell for with that kiss there's always at least a "Como estas" or how do you do.
  People even open and shut doors for you
 (well,a great majority do). 
I so love this, I love it all
  Although, coming from an Asian upbringing, I have many stories of adaptation.
  This experience I'm living has really opened my eyes to a world that I never dreamed existed.  I'm thankful, grateful,  that I've had the opportunity to live abroad from such an early age, I've always believed that the person I am today is really a product of the choicest I've made,
 take in the good and leave the not so good behind
(  I'm sure I've not necessarily chosen the best at all times, I'm sure my parents would agree)
 -  I'm the person looking through that window,
  I get to window-shop for the things that may add to my life
So below are the things that I've been so "loco", or "crazy" about,  factors that have made my first month in Chile an enjoyable one.

1) There's crazy passionate love - they might be living down the road or a city away,  but they'll call each other up at regular intervals, plan things to do even during the week and generally are very family orientated.  We fall back on family, don't we all?

2) You always feel so loved - you get kissed and you get to kiss everyone ( on the cheeks of course ). That trip around the table is essential when you enter a house - no time for hostility, makes you a better person no? and when you plan to leave you get all that loving again.

3) They celebrate each other - whether it's leaving the country to further studies for 3-6 months or more than a year , people take the trouble -  there will be a party, there's always a reason to party-away in the land of the Latinos!

4) People go-out of their way - you may be a lost soul in the streets of Santiago or Buenos Aires, but people are almost always willing to lend a helping hand and people really try their best to accommodate -Take example,  people will try to speak English when only 2% speak English and that's mediocre English - I always find this very endearing.

5) "Open House" concept - no, not Hari Raya kinda thing in Malaysia,  but what I mean is that people are ever willing to accept people into their homes even if they haven't known each other for long.  Also, at meal times, you can turn up with a whole other family and.... there will be food on the table even if it means fixing something up quickly ! ( this certainly freaked me out the first time)

6) The city never sleeps - well they do eventually, but they really live life, cramming as much as possible in a day. You can find yourself lining up at 11.30pm outside a restaurant for dinner. I certainly lived this one,  I remember being quite hungry and in Argentina at the time.

7) Kids are allowed to be kids- Parents bring up their kids with the notion of "fun" in the background
    - Have you done your homework?  Good,  now go out... , go play !

8) "Once" or tea-time - Turn up at a person's house around 6-7pm and if you're hoping for dinner you'll at least get tea ! Nice no? :)

9) People are not up-tight -  Tell you what, being called a name other than yours isn't always bad - the quicker you get one, the quicker you're in the group ! It's a good thing. We're looking at, Gordito ( little fat boy) to Negra ( black girl ). Gosh I really need to get sorted with one quickly ha ha, though people are quite amused calling me "Macha" which is easier as it's similar to a kind of delicacy here, "Machas a la Parmesana" which translates to," Pink Clam with Parmesan Cheese".

10) Asados- the BBQ's are nice and with no seasoning - there live by the, "no sweat concept" just salt and cook when people arrive.  They have the best cuts I tell you, just imagine all that flavour! Why cover it up?

So there's my top 10 :)

Below are our recent photos from a Unda gathering at 

a fancy Italian Restaurant at Borde Rio, Santiago Chile.
 

This covers my number 1 : Luis's dad shouting us dinner on a Wednesday night , just because  :)   



Borde Rio is fancy enough to bring out those pearls






And take my Gucci Bag for a stroll,

 




The Undas

 



This is the atmosphere around Bordeo Rio - This was around 11pm, people still having dinner, some just arriving





This is Luis all dolled - up for the night.  The shirt from Cuffs, cufflinks and blazer from Hugo Boss, jeans from Massimo Dutti, socks from Paul Smith and shoes and wallet from Alfred Dunhill ( shop much babe? :)







" Everytime we go out, its an opportunity to dress up", by Luis Unda the 4th

  



One for the camera before we called it a night