Sunday, June 24, 2012

One Year of Blogging and the Best Gift I Could Have Received





This blog is primarily about food.  Buying it, cooking it, eating it and sharing it with friends and family.  It is also secondarily about living an expat life.  Because being an expat is my life and colors everything I buy and cook and eat, and also with whom I share that food.   I started this blog at the instigation of my daughters who probably thought Mommy needed something to do in her empty nest but the truth is that I have always cooked and I have always written, just not necessarily about cooking.  For years I have ghost-written persuasive letters for friends, news articles for more than one PTA president, edited campaign speeches for one potential School Board candidate and once I even helped with a talk a dear friend gave in aid of the Malaysian Cancer Society about her triumphant battle with ovarian cancer.  If I can wring a few tears (and possibly a donation) out of you, my work is done. :)  For several years I wrote a monthly “letter from the editor” in my role at the American Association of Malaysia’s magazine, the KL American. This gave me an opportunity to share a bit of myself and also direct members’ attention to the parts of the magazine I really wanted them to notice.  Even as part of the ISKL PTA executive committee for several years, and being in charge of SAS Booster Club publicity, I now realize that persuasive writing was at the heart of most projects because that is the way you get people to step up and help or respond to a need.  And, of course, all this time, I was in the kitchen having the best time preparing meals and decorating fancy cakes (with the help of my friend, Gillian) or traveling the world and scoping out the markets and grocery stores. 

But my most important job – the only job that really matters - has been right here at home, as an expat, wherever that may be, encouraging my daughters to live their lives to the fullest and to grow from (and despite) the moves we make and the friends we leave behind and the challenges of new places.

My elder daughter was with us for this Fathers’ Day weekend and when she headed back north to her internship/job for the summer, she left behind a surprise gift for me on my bedside table.   I’d like to celebrate today with an unusual post - because today is the first anniversary of the first post on my blog, a birthday of sorts - by sharing that gift with you instead of a recipe.  For all of you out there in expat land, wondering if you are helping or harming your children with this life, I will tell you only what Victoria responded when I asked her if we had done the right thing, “You did.”  It doesn’t get simpler than that.  And here is the proof and confirmation.  The best gift ever.  










© Victoria Rushton  Click on her name to see her website.  Totally talented and I am not even biased. :)

With this blog, my cooking and writing come together and my goal is two-fold: 1. To get you in the kitchen cooking, and  2.  To connect with fellow expats and friends who share my experiences.  Thank you, to all my friends, new and old, who have graciously allowed me in your lives with my blog posts, written me great comments, tried my recipes and spread the love.  I am grateful.   It’s been a great year. 

13 comments :

  1. Congratulations on your 1-year blogiversary! What a talent your daughter has - in both art and writing. That card sums up exactly how I feel about having 'grown up expat' - although, when I was experiencing it, I didn't always appreciate it. It took me a while to realize how fortunate I'd been, and now that I'm living as an expat adult, I value those early experiences even more.
    Glad I found your blog and looking forward to many more posts in the future!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful gift your daughter is! I travelled with my parents, as our dad worked in the oil business, for the first 13 years of my life. My only regret is that it had to end because of my mother's illness and we rooted in Houston.
    Ann b

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Mrs. Biundo. I am sorry for your loss but grateful that you ended up "rooted in Houston" because, otherwise, I possibly would never have connected with your family and especially your lovely daughter, Belinda, who is so dear to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you! If you click on Victoria's name in the last photo caption, you will get to see her website. She is indeed talented and I am blessed. I think it takes us all a while to appreciate the lives our parents offer us, whether at home or abroad. :)

    I am glad you found my blog, and I am glad I found yours too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations on your blogiversary... I just loved Victorias website. She is so creative and talented. I love what you have done with your love of food and cooking., the writing is like dessert!! I enjoy the recipes so much and especially love to keep up with your family.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Cyndy! At least my "dessert" is not fattening then! If only you could come and keep me exercising, I wouldn't be so fat. :) Missing you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unquestionably believe that which you stated.
    Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the simplest
    thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they
    just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole
    thing without having side effect , people can take
    a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
    Feel free to surf my blog :: http://195.83.216.31/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It's on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
    Here is my web site - lrg clothing

    ReplyDelete
  9. hello there and thank you for your info – I've certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise some technical issues using this website, since I experienced to reload the site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this again soon.
    Look into my web-site :: justin bieber smoking weed

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's remarkable in favor of me to have a web site, which is useful in support of my experience. thanks admin

    Review my web site - 1 month loan
    Here is my blog : 1 month loan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ӏf yοu arе going for finest сontents likе mе, just visit thіs website
    everyday since it offers feature contents, thanks

    Feеl frеe to visit my ѕite: guaranteed payday loans
    Feel free to visit my website - guaranteed payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  12. In tears reading this. What an extraordinary gift. I am so grateful you share it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you, Marilyn. I know a lot of people who feel the guilt you spoke about in your recent post. In my experience, it's just not warranted.

    ReplyDelete

Where in the world are you? Leave me a comment! It makes me happy to know you are out there.