Here you go. This one is a bonus because you get a photo of some of the instructional/ how to signs. I love these—they are exactly what you should do. Of course, after elementary school in the US they do not put these things around for fear of offending. I love “avoid crowded places.” Also, I love the tag line (at the top) “Together Singapore’s OK.” Not “great”, not “second to none” just “ok”.
You have heard me opine about the lack of thinking outside the box. Let me tell you what 13 years hard education gets you here—these people can do all addition and subtraction and a whole lot of multiplication in their head—and fast. They may be able to do differential calculus quite well too, but contrary to what they told me in high school, I actually do not use it in public interactions each day.
There is a campaign that they have been trying to get off the ground for some years and it has a new, vibrant chairman, so things are looking up. It is called: “Speak Good English.” The goal is admirable. The only thing I could wish for is that they would even name the thing in “good English.” I mean, after all those years and study no one has pointed out that it would correctly be “Speak English Well”??
We have been here almost 5 months. The other day I was waiting at the bus stop and there was the unmistakable sound of jets flying (or coming up quickly) overhead. I stepped out of the overhang to watch them and they were (I believe) the Singapore Blue Angels. They were great and were so close and obviously practicing for something (maybe National Day in August). Anyway, it was great. I was the only person watching. There were maybe 30 people in my range of vision during the time I watched and I did not see anyone else look up. It cannot be so common that they see it every day—I was here 4 months and didn’t. I am trying to figure out if this is a cultural thing and cannot see how it fits.
Siena and I got to see them again today and it was like a private air show for us—we watched from our apartment on the 19th floor and they look so much closer than I have ever seen in the U.S. they must be over Indonesia and Malaysia from turn to turn.
I was in a hospital/medical center the other day and there is one room/office where you register and also pay at the end. The hospital and staff are all very first world—better than average in the U.S. and the people who registered me and checked me out were completely competent and helpful. Both of these things are somewhat of a culture shock to me and I loved them. There is a machine there where you press a button (either next to “register” or “pay”) and a numbered ticket comes out. When your number comes up above the appropriate window you go up for service. The same kind of thing all of you know from the DMV or a deli. I dutifully did this when I came in and there were three other people there and two already seated at the appropriate desk. This is a small room there is no room for a line and it seems a good idea. Plus, I would never want to assume that Singaporeans would politely wait until their turn came by looking around at the people who came in before them.. They are not the type to do that, they are the type to get in wherever there is (or isn’t) an opening.
So, when I came back to “pay” at 6pm I was the only person in that room other than the guy who worked there. I walked in, said hello and went to the desk and gave him my paperwork. He told me, “Take a number,” I looked around, laughed and said, “Oh, okay, so we know that I’m next, right?” No answer.
He was quite efficient when he did finally push the number machine and my number came up, but it was too funny, just too Singaporean! Anyway, in hindsight I wish I would have sat there and then have jumped up to say “Oh, that must be me!” after he called the number a few times. However, that will have to be in the screenplay only as it didn’t happen in real life.
Here is the downside to having a “helper” (read “person who does everything I don’t feel like doing or am not good at”) here: we eat too much and she puts things away all the time—even stuff I have out for a purpose. Leon gave me a pair of pants three times (to give away) and I left them where I would remember and then they were gone by the time I got back from taking Siena to school.
That’s all for this time! We go to Bali in two weeks with Leon’s brother’s (Sean) family and then Langkawi, Malaysia after that. These are weekend trips. You have to love being able to do that!
