Baking Joys In Houston

Recounting last 45 Days, life certainly moved fast and furious … I had to be focused and Just Do It!  There is no chance to doubt, I just believe and have faith it will happen and it did.

I have been seriously pondering about my future.  If I need to put a date to it, it must be Jan’07.  I lived a smooth life, yet I feel there is more in me.  I have another 50 years (yes, was prompted by PM Lee in his speech on CPF in 2007)?  The question bothered me enough to take a 6 month breather from corporate life to explore my being, starting Aug’07.  The more I learnt (and read), the more I realized I didn’t know enough.  I was clueless but I just kept going.  I realized my interest in several areas – I love restoring situations, I get stimulated by new information, especially by reading & learning, I enjoy teaching and coaching,  , I have a sense for people, I indulge in creative stuff (eg Wilton Cake Decor courses, a month of piano and dropped it ‘coz I figured I won’t get to practise much).  I was still clueless and frustrated with myself.  I went back to work, I believed I can contribute my part.  It still didn’t feel right.  I found time to indulge in baking classes.

I started to research on baking schools end of May, purely as an indulgence and dream, and I really imagined I was applying for a school, I was that excited.  One day, I spoke to BK about it, and he actually supported the idea.  OMG … I never thought it could be real.  I thought it was selfish to leave him behind to attend a Le Cordon Bleu course in Sydney (oh yes, that was my initial idea as Sydney is close… rather it is closer to home), so I only thought of a basic course in baking which will take me 4 months away from home. 

On 27 May, to celebrate our belated 2nd Anniversary together, BK and I attended a 1 day choux pastry workshop with Chef Judy Koh from Creative Culinaire.  Chef Judy Koh is amazing – from her bio, I read that she was a PSC scholar teacher turned Chef/business owner, how inspiring.  “LeNotre” popped up during our conversation.  I researched more, and found E’cole LeNotre in Paris, and I found Culinary Institute Alain & Maria LeNotre in Houston, Tx, USA.  I thought to myself, better yet in a English speaking environment.  I consulted BK again, he was all supportive and all of a sudden, I was excited and lost!  Do I really want to leave the comfort of home and a wonderful husband back home to pursue my interest.  That held me back when I took a second look at the ever supportive man next to me.  With him as my energy booster,  I researched on many other culinary and baking schools in US, I decided Culinary Institute Alain & Marie LeNotre is it!

This was how amazing things were in last couple of weeks:

• May 29: I enquiried with CIAML. 
• June 2: Decided I am going to give it a Go! 
• June 3: Sent in my application and got confirmation that application was in process.  
• June 4: Resigned from my role as a Regional Product Manager with US company.  
• June 6: Informed my parents & families. 
• June 20: Last Day in Corporate Life!   
• June 21: My first medical checkup. 
• June 22: Celebrated my 36th birthday. 
• June 24: Interview at US Embassy in Singapore; Medical report certified me in the pink of health.
• June 26: Collected my visa!  (Reality sank in…)
• June 25-29: Attended Guerilla Business Intensive by T. Harv Eker. 
• June 29: A casual and lovely farewell dinner at home.  
• June 30:  Finished packing my 2 luggages at 4am, and off to Changi airport at half past 5.  
• June 30 (US time):  In Houston with my der der (an endearing term for my hubby). 
• July 1:  Searched and confirmed apartment with the help of apartment locator May Tharpe. 
• July 2:  Our first time visiting CIAML and saw the classes preparing for the final; Shopped for simple furnishing. 
• July 3: Moved into cozy apartment. 
• July 4: R&R visit NASA Space Centre with der der (oops… He missed his flight that evening and I was so happy!). 
• July 5:  He flew back to Singapore. 
• July 6:  My 1st day alone in Houston. 
• July 7:  Day 1 with Culinary Institute Alain & Marie LeNotre, Pastry & Baking Level 1.    

I started my life here in Houston…