It's no joke. I thought everyone here spoke English but in fact it is a combo of English and Singlish. I find that employees at all the official companies - banks, utility companies, cable company, they all use Singlish and it is difficult to understand.
I most commonly here: Can, lah. or Can lah? or Cannot. or Can Can.
Lah softens a sentence as if to add Y'know at the end of it.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
INDONESIA - Ferry Ride
Forgot to mention that the ferry ride over to Bintan was so tumultuous that have the people on the boat threw up. There was a guy whose job it was to pass out and collect plastic bags. The horizon line jumped above and below the window.
Monday, February 18, 2008
SINGAPORE: Expense
It's fun to be here but it's expensive for the four of us on one salary.
To travel we are dipping into our savings. If we didn't travel we still wouldn't make enough to contribute to retirement, savings or college fund for the girls.
I take care of the kids, Lula is in school half days, Maya is home with me and often I take a few hours for myself (or drs appts, paying bills, date, whatever) and then I get a babysitter.
Top expenses are: Childcare (School & babysitting), Taxi's with the children, air conditioning ( $200-$400) a month. I try to cut down on A/C but I find being sweaty unbearable and sticky ten minutes after showering to be unpleasant. If I can shop at more than one market I can save a lot of money. The times that I did all my shopping at the expat super market were convenient but super expensive.
It would be nice if I could find a job that fit in with Rob's schedule and I may need to think more seriously about that down the line since I would make more money than the cost of school or babysitting.
With the falling dollar Singapore is not cheap- not the bargain I assumed it would be.
To travel we are dipping into our savings. If we didn't travel we still wouldn't make enough to contribute to retirement, savings or college fund for the girls.
I take care of the kids, Lula is in school half days, Maya is home with me and often I take a few hours for myself (or drs appts, paying bills, date, whatever) and then I get a babysitter.
Top expenses are: Childcare (School & babysitting), Taxi's with the children, air conditioning ( $200-$400) a month. I try to cut down on A/C but I find being sweaty unbearable and sticky ten minutes after showering to be unpleasant. If I can shop at more than one market I can save a lot of money. The times that I did all my shopping at the expat super market were convenient but super expensive.
It would be nice if I could find a job that fit in with Rob's schedule and I may need to think more seriously about that down the line since I would make more money than the cost of school or babysitting.
With the falling dollar Singapore is not cheap- not the bargain I assumed it would be.
SINGAPORE: Ang Mo
It turns out the Ang Mo means red-headed devil foreigner. It is a derogatory racial epithet. I am most definitely getting a t-shirt made.
SINGAPORE: Things I like
Things I like about Singapore:
1. The hawker stalls! They're the best. I like that its the perfect place to bring kids because no one worries about the mess and its pretty loud there so they are not disturbing anyone. I can also go and eat by myself and it's not weird. I can get an excellent meal for $2. There's lots of variety so you can go with a crowd and everyone can get what they want. No need to discuss which restaurant to go to.
2. Access to swimming. The pool is great.
3. I love a big rain storm when we're inside. I love getting to watch it from the window.
4. I like the balmy night breezes.
5. I love the proximity to lots of exotic locations and also how easy it is to come back to an extremely civilized country with clean drinking water.
6. I love the tropical greenery and the flowers that smell like Hawaii.
7. I like that there are lots of things to do with kids.
8. I like the public transportation.
9. I like the lizards that make chirping sounds and eat bugs.
10. Though sometimes at extra cost, most everything is available here - with the exception of good Brooklyn bagels.
1. The hawker stalls! They're the best. I like that its the perfect place to bring kids because no one worries about the mess and its pretty loud there so they are not disturbing anyone. I can also go and eat by myself and it's not weird. I can get an excellent meal for $2. There's lots of variety so you can go with a crowd and everyone can get what they want. No need to discuss which restaurant to go to.
2. Access to swimming. The pool is great.
3. I love a big rain storm when we're inside. I love getting to watch it from the window.
4. I like the balmy night breezes.
5. I love the proximity to lots of exotic locations and also how easy it is to come back to an extremely civilized country with clean drinking water.
6. I love the tropical greenery and the flowers that smell like Hawaii.
7. I like that there are lots of things to do with kids.
8. I like the public transportation.
9. I like the lizards that make chirping sounds and eat bugs.
10. Though sometimes at extra cost, most everything is available here - with the exception of good Brooklyn bagels.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
BINTAN INDONESIA
Lula did not want to leave the hotel, the Nirwana Resort Hotel. She said she wanted to leave in three days. It was nice to hang out by the beach, by the pool, at the Kiddy Club, feeding fish, visiting the birds at the little rescued animal zoo...
****
Maya has started preparing for her birthday by singing "HADDY BIRDAY TO YOU HADDY BIRDAY DO MAYA HADDY BIRDAY DO YOU" Also, she can sing along to the whole alphabet. She spontaneously counted to eight the other day. She told someone she was two this morning. She also sings lots of other songs "NO MONKEY ON MY BED" and "BABY ALUGA", "TWINKLE LITTLE STAR", and quite a few others. Lula can sing a song in Chinese that may be for New years, "CONSHI CONSHI NIA".
BINTAN INDONESIA: The Pool
Lula & Maya really loved the pool and got into very serious work with the water bottles requiring a lot of filling and emptying. Very tedious work mind you...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
INDONESIA
Hello All,
We are going to Indonesia overnight with Shannon Lindner of Arizona.
We are most likely staying at the Nirwana Resort Hotel in Bintan and returning tomorrow.
www.nirwanagardens.com
Tel (62)770-692505
We are going to Indonesia overnight with Shannon Lindner of Arizona.
We are most likely staying at the Nirwana Resort Hotel in Bintan and returning tomorrow.
www.nirwanagardens.com
Tel (62)770-692505
SINGAPORE: More responses to Article
This is a page of responses to the original article "A Graceless Society"
One mentions me by name - lower left hand corner.
One mentions me by name - lower left hand corner.
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