Hello all-
Sorry for the mass mailing, but here is the update that I have been promising for two weeks, but somehow never got around to (also, its been in Draft mode for a while too):
We love Singapore so far. The weather is great—warm (hot sometimes) every day and my favorite part of the morning news (that I watch when we are down in the Resident’s Lounge for the free breakfast they have every day) is when they show the temperatures all around—particularly looking at NYC and Toronto and the like. Also, it’s a good reminder of all the major cities in each region, which is how they list them.
The public transportation system is really good—and so efficient and clean—and quite cheap.
Everything is so clean. It would be somewhat disconcerting if we hadn’t been to India before and I am now all for the strong-arm of the law making cleanliness a national mandate. Everything is well ordered and so far there is no “culture shock”. I know that this will appear at some time, but it is really so easy to live here. Everything functions as it should and Leon and I have had a lot of help from the relocation people hired by JP Morgan. They call this “Asia light” for expatriates because it eases them into Asia. I think its just fine and see no reason to go further a field right now!
It looks like we have found an apartment—3 bedrooms/ 2 bathrooms (with a view of the Singapore River—the end bit) plus a maid’s room (and small bath). We’ll have more news on that later.
The maid question: everyone has one. They are called Amahs and do cleaning, laundry, cooking and babysitting. They come from the Philippines, India, Indonesia (or maybe Malaysia). They apparently cost about US $6,000-$10,000 per year to do all that for you. I am having trouble getting used to the fact, but I am using my friend Marc as a guide—he was one guy with a family of three servants, perhaps one would be okay for 3 of us—and not seem too imperialistic. I’ll have more update on that later too.
Siena loves her school and is going 5 days a week from 8:30 to 3:30. So far I am taking her and picking her up (we take a cab there and a bus back), but we may get a bus to take her one (or two) ways when we get our permanent place—they are busses (minivans really) just for the school and fit like 7 kids and there is a bus “Auntie” with them—and they all have seatbelts—these things are the best—we seriously have a lot to learn from this country on this front!
Here are some things that I have been thinking about sharing:
there are Orange Julius all over the place—I haven’t seen these since high school and LOVE them
there are also Long John Silver’s—I have considered—in depth—eating chicken again to get that fried stuff and the vinegar for the fries! I had forgotten all about those things—I used to love them
7-11s are everywhere—little boutique shops—like they usually have at a gas station in the U.S. except these are all over the streets and malls
Everything is in a mall—there aren’t any free standing stores
The food courts in these malls are awesome in terms of variety and quantity—and the price is usually really low
Little India looks JUST LIKE INDIA—except that it is exceptionally clean—all the people out on the streets and the little store fronts and everything else is the same—which is in such contrast to how the rest of the city is
All the kids are always in school uniforms and they different for every school-they look so cute
There are so many non-Asians here—I was (and am) surprised at how many blonds there are
English is spoken everywhere—except by one cab driver I had today—and I think he thinks he was speaking English
Singlish is what many Singaporeans speak and it is just crazy sounding English with some odd expressions
Okay, this is not really enough, but it is high time I send something….
Faith
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