On Monday night we spontaneously went to the Singapore vs. Brazil soccer game at the national stadium. It was actually really fun - we hadn't yet been in the stadium, and it was my first soccer game ever.
The stadium had its last match about a year ago, and they were supposed to tear it down right away. For some reason they still use it.
Brazil is supposed to be one of the best teams in the world (Singapore is not...), so most of the game was on only one side of the field.
Also - the weirdest thing - when Brazil did well, or scored, the crowd went NUTS. I was very confused, since we were IN Singapore...but when Singapore did well, the crowd also went nuts. I think they're just generally happy for everyone.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
When Public Transportation Doesn't Work
Singapore has something called ERP - some people say it stands for "everyday rob people." It's this thing you drive under, and it steals your money. It could potentially cost you $8-$10 to get home - by ERP charges alone. This is to cut down on people driving their cars to the CBD and congested areas.
Taxis are TOO expensive during peak hours. There are CBD charges for getting picked up in the middle of the city, there are peak hour set charges as well as a faster meter during these hours. You pay ERP in the taxi...it's REALLY expensive.
So...people are meant to take buses and the MRT. Well, the MRT doesn't go everywhere, and sometimes your only option is the bus. Last night, Nicole, Paul and I were looking to take the bus to get some laksa in Katong, and it was around 7. Two buses that we needed didn't even stop at my stop, because they were already full. We waited for a full half hour. There were no bus options, the MRT doesn't go there...we couldn't walk, so we took at taxi - $18 to go just a few kilometers. It was more than $10 before we even started driving.
There have been other times at night when the MRT and buses aren't running anymore (they stop just before midnight), and we have to take a taxi, but we call and taxi and no one picks up...and it takes forever to find a taxi home. I know that stuff like this happens all over the place in the rest of Asia, but since nearly everything works so well in Singapore, I think I get really frustrated when it doesn't work so smoothly.
On a related note - in my Spanish class this evening, we learned the phrase "suffering pushes." That cracked me up. It's like when you're in a big crowd, and people are pushing you. You suffer pushes.
Taxis are TOO expensive during peak hours. There are CBD charges for getting picked up in the middle of the city, there are peak hour set charges as well as a faster meter during these hours. You pay ERP in the taxi...it's REALLY expensive.
So...people are meant to take buses and the MRT. Well, the MRT doesn't go everywhere, and sometimes your only option is the bus. Last night, Nicole, Paul and I were looking to take the bus to get some laksa in Katong, and it was around 7. Two buses that we needed didn't even stop at my stop, because they were already full. We waited for a full half hour. There were no bus options, the MRT doesn't go there...we couldn't walk, so we took at taxi - $18 to go just a few kilometers. It was more than $10 before we even started driving.
There have been other times at night when the MRT and buses aren't running anymore (they stop just before midnight), and we have to take a taxi, but we call and taxi and no one picks up...and it takes forever to find a taxi home. I know that stuff like this happens all over the place in the rest of Asia, but since nearly everything works so well in Singapore, I think I get really frustrated when it doesn't work so smoothly.
On a related note - in my Spanish class this evening, we learned the phrase "suffering pushes." That cracked me up. It's like when you're in a big crowd, and people are pushing you. You suffer pushes.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Size Inflation
Our weekend was excellent and totally normal - drinks and dinner with a friend on Friday, running around, marketing (which IS a word here), doctoring (which ISN'T a word here), relaxing, tutoring, dinnering, settlering, having guests for a few days, hanging out with my friend who is moving out of Singapore, our other friends who have the cutest baby in the world, out other friends whom we love...pretty normal (and wonderful). Oh - and a pretty ok movie.
This posting has nothing to do with ex-pat life in Singapore. Nothing to do with a cool place in Asia or a cool food (or good book). If this doesn't interest you, please wait for the next posting.
A few thoughts about size inflation - expansion on the points below.
1) Jer and I went shopping last year in Detroit, and there was one store in the whole Somerset (HUGE) mall that had pants his size (28).
2) I grew up and have always worn a size 8. I have not gotten smaller. Now I'm a size 4.
3) All of the clothes I got in America in the spring were made in S.E. Asia. Literally.
EXPANSION:
1) Jer has always found clothes for himself somewhere. Last year, all of the stores that should have something his size started at 30 or 32. This is clearly not an example of size inflation - which I think is because he's a male, and this might not exist in the male world. The only store that had clothes his size was Banana Republic (and the pants looked really good on him). That is just really weird - aren't there other skinny people in the world? Apparently not - I think it's not just the statistics that say that Detroit is getting fatter.
2) I have always worn a size 8 (sometimes a 10). When I was living in NYC, sometimes I wore a six. Most of my size 8 clothes still fit perfectly, so I know I have not gotten smaller, yet my size kept decreasing. This time, when we went to America, I got a lot of work clothes (the clothes in Singapore TOTALLY don't fit me). Nearly everything I got was size 4, and a few were size 6. Again - I have not gotten smaller (dafka - most likely bigger!), and most of my 8s still fit me. What is wrong with this? Is the clothing market trying to make people feel good? It's just confusing me, and it's making me spend more time trying clothes on, because I always have to go get the smaller size!
3) Literally everything I got in the US was made in S.E. Asia. I think that's pretty hilarious - to travel all around the world to get clothes that have also been flown around the world. And then fly back around the world with them. There are a few stores in Singapore where they sell the "left-overs" from gap, esprit, etc., but for the most part you just don't have the same clothes that you have in the States...even if they're all made out here!
This posting has nothing to do with ex-pat life in Singapore. Nothing to do with a cool place in Asia or a cool food (or good book). If this doesn't interest you, please wait for the next posting.
A few thoughts about size inflation - expansion on the points below.
1) Jer and I went shopping last year in Detroit, and there was one store in the whole Somerset (HUGE) mall that had pants his size (28).
2) I grew up and have always worn a size 8. I have not gotten smaller. Now I'm a size 4.
3) All of the clothes I got in America in the spring were made in S.E. Asia. Literally.
EXPANSION:
1) Jer has always found clothes for himself somewhere. Last year, all of the stores that should have something his size started at 30 or 32. This is clearly not an example of size inflation - which I think is because he's a male, and this might not exist in the male world. The only store that had clothes his size was Banana Republic (and the pants looked really good on him). That is just really weird - aren't there other skinny people in the world? Apparently not - I think it's not just the statistics that say that Detroit is getting fatter.
2) I have always worn a size 8 (sometimes a 10). When I was living in NYC, sometimes I wore a six. Most of my size 8 clothes still fit perfectly, so I know I have not gotten smaller, yet my size kept decreasing. This time, when we went to America, I got a lot of work clothes (the clothes in Singapore TOTALLY don't fit me). Nearly everything I got was size 4, and a few were size 6. Again - I have not gotten smaller (dafka - most likely bigger!), and most of my 8s still fit me. What is wrong with this? Is the clothing market trying to make people feel good? It's just confusing me, and it's making me spend more time trying clothes on, because I always have to go get the smaller size!
3) Literally everything I got in the US was made in S.E. Asia. I think that's pretty hilarious - to travel all around the world to get clothes that have also been flown around the world. And then fly back around the world with them. There are a few stores in Singapore where they sell the "left-overs" from gap, esprit, etc., but for the most part you just don't have the same clothes that you have in the States...even if they're all made out here!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Shantaram
I just finished a totally amazing book: Shantaram. Basically, it's the story of this Australian guy who broke out of a maximum security prison and somehow arrived in India. He ends up living in the slums, getting involved in the mafia, fighting in Afghanistan...and it's just the most amazing story.
The MOST amazing part, though, is that the story is true, but the characters are not true. The characters are what I fell in love with in the book. He must be a serious genius because these characters are all so amazing, and the dialog that they have is brilliant. When I thought it was real, I was impressed that he was able to remember it so well - since it's so creative, but now that I know he made it up, it's really unreal.
Apparently there is a movie being made of this book, but please don't wait until then to learn the story and meet Prabakar. READ THE BOOK!!!
I'm not sure what I should say about the fact that I have read TONS of books since I moved to Singapore, and my two favorites have been about life in India (and the one about gay guys in Sri Lanka came in a close third). A Fine Balance was the other. (and Funny Boys was the Sri Lanka one).
The MOST amazing part, though, is that the story is true, but the characters are not true. The characters are what I fell in love with in the book. He must be a serious genius because these characters are all so amazing, and the dialog that they have is brilliant. When I thought it was real, I was impressed that he was able to remember it so well - since it's so creative, but now that I know he made it up, it's really unreal.
Apparently there is a movie being made of this book, but please don't wait until then to learn the story and meet Prabakar. READ THE BOOK!!!
I'm not sure what I should say about the fact that I have read TONS of books since I moved to Singapore, and my two favorites have been about life in India (and the one about gay guys in Sri Lanka came in a close third). A Fine Balance was the other. (and Funny Boys was the Sri Lanka one).
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Kitty's Kitties
So when the kitty had her three baby abortion, apparently they forgot six kitties in her. Last night the kitty went into labor and she was having a hard time getting the babies out. Mustache man (pictured) to the rescue. He's a cat we're really close to, and he helped deliver the kitties. One didn't move when she came out, but then she was okay. All six were healthy.
Then Jill and Ben came to visit, and Jill had to work, but for some reason Ben didn't have to, so he cooked for us, cared for the kitties and he even fixed the floor when it broke. It was great to see them, and we were so thankful to have Ben's help during such a crazy time.
Okay - that was my dream. I can't even begin to interpret it. I know I'm thinking a lot about having babies, but I didn't realize that I pushed that to my kitty too!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
To Judge a Book by its Cover
Today I judged hundreds, maybe thousands, of books by their covers. After staying up late because I watched a cheezy chick flick, and then having my air con service guy come in the morning, and a nice work out - I went to meet my friend, Gal, at the Singapore library's annual book sale. They put TONS of books in an expo hall. They are separated first by language (Chinese/English/Malay) and then by fiction/non-fiction, but that's IT. Biographies are next to "Winetasting for dummies."
In the fiction, I only recognized two authors, and one was Garrison Keillor, and th book was in such horrible condition, it wasn't even an option.
Luckily I found a superstar in the non-fiction. I found a book on the social history of toilets.
In the fiction, I only recognized two authors, and one was Garrison Keillor, and th book was in such horrible condition, it wasn't even an option.
Luckily I found a superstar in the non-fiction. I found a book on the social history of toilets.
NSmen
Since Matt's in Israel, I figured I would post about something that I have been thinking about for a while...that has to do with Israel.
In Israel the military is mandatory - as most people know. Men serve something like three years, and women serve a bit less, but they also serve. When you're in Israel, you're well aware of this fact. You see soldiers (with guns...which is a bit alarming when you see it for the first time) EVERYWHERE. They're sitting/sleeping next to you on the bus, they're walking around town, they're out with you on the weekends. At least while I was living there (and younger than I am now...) it seemed like EVERYONE was in the army, and it also seemed like they were mostly all hot.
In Israel, it really appears to me that nearly every 18-21 year old guy is hot. Maybe that's gross to say now that I'm 30, but when I was living in Israel and 20 and then 22, it was amazing! They look older, buffer, tanner, more confident than American men. They had great bodies, and they fricken fought for their country!!
In Singapore, military service is also required, but for men only. I feel horrible writing this, because they're also doing a great deed for their country, but here goes...they're totally not hot in uniform. They look like skinny little boys wearing a costume of fatigues. A couple of points: Asian men look younger than Israeli and American men, so they look young to me no matter what. Singapore isn't in immediate danger like Israeli is (though some people think they are in immediate danger from Malaysia - or at least could be at the drop of a hat). For some reason they're not as visible as the Israeli soldiers, so I only see about five per week, so maybe the buff, hot ones are walking around somewhere else.
In other news, I have so many friends having babies!
in November: Cristine
in December: Lauren, Laura, Lee Fong, Liba and Sara
I think there are more, but I'm just forgetting for the minute.
Also - do you think there is something about having your name start with "L" and getting pregnant sometime around Feb/March?
In Israel the military is mandatory - as most people know. Men serve something like three years, and women serve a bit less, but they also serve. When you're in Israel, you're well aware of this fact. You see soldiers (with guns...which is a bit alarming when you see it for the first time) EVERYWHERE. They're sitting/sleeping next to you on the bus, they're walking around town, they're out with you on the weekends. At least while I was living there (and younger than I am now...) it seemed like EVERYONE was in the army, and it also seemed like they were mostly all hot.
In Israel, it really appears to me that nearly every 18-21 year old guy is hot. Maybe that's gross to say now that I'm 30, but when I was living in Israel and 20 and then 22, it was amazing! They look older, buffer, tanner, more confident than American men. They had great bodies, and they fricken fought for their country!!
In Singapore, military service is also required, but for men only. I feel horrible writing this, because they're also doing a great deed for their country, but here goes...they're totally not hot in uniform. They look like skinny little boys wearing a costume of fatigues. A couple of points: Asian men look younger than Israeli and American men, so they look young to me no matter what. Singapore isn't in immediate danger like Israeli is (though some people think they are in immediate danger from Malaysia - or at least could be at the drop of a hat). For some reason they're not as visible as the Israeli soldiers, so I only see about five per week, so maybe the buff, hot ones are walking around somewhere else.
In other news, I have so many friends having babies!
in November: Cristine
in December: Lauren, Laura, Lee Fong, Liba and Sara
I think there are more, but I'm just forgetting for the minute.
Also - do you think there is something about having your name start with "L" and getting pregnant sometime around Feb/March?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)