We are the Transient People
We are the movers and shakers
We are the Nomads
We don't settle for anything
We know where we came from
We know we are here now
We don't know how long we will be here
We don't know where we will go next
We are Singapore.
It is well known that Singapore has a large international population. There are people from everywhere. And the more people I meet, the more I realize what an unlikely combination we are. Yesterday I went biking with a couple of Americans, an Indonesian, an Australian, and a Frenchman. The two things we have in common? We are all in Singapore and we don't know how long we'll be here.
It is because of these commonalities that I have found friendship here. I am meeting and befriending people that I would probably never have the opportunity to meet and befriend else where. It's been a treat and an honor to meet people from all around the world and find that the one thing we have in common (Singapore) is more than enough reason to be friends.
Beyond the circle of friends that I have formed, Singapore is, in general a transient place. It has a very fluid atmosphere, people are constantly coming and going, even Singaporeans. It's sort of like a college campus--students come from different places, but are all there for a reason, and there are always students graduating and moving on while new ones come in.
It is a little of a strange change of pace. I'm used to the Midwest where most people are looking to settle down. Get a job. Get married. Have kids. Pick a spot and stay there. There are definitely people that I know in America that aren't looking for that, and want to bounce around for a while. But they are definitely in the minority. The majority of people I've met here are certainly not here to settle...
I am definitely encouraged by the people here. It's nice to know that there are others who are sharing in the nomadic existence with me. Most, like me, don't know how long they'll be here. And most don't know where they would go after this season of their life. I am in good company.
22 August 2010
17 August 2010
Richard.
I can't believe I haven't written about Richard yet. I guess I need to be more careful about not letting the little things slip...
As I have previously mentioned, I basically live in Little America. If it weren't for the tropical atmosphere or the Filipino maids, you would think that this neighborhood was an American suburb. What with all the Americans doing American things, going to the American School, etc.
One thing that this neighborhood has that America doesn't is Richard, the Amazing Grocery Guy.
I am becoming convinced that Richard is as established in this neighborhood as the the storm drains are. Every morning we get a call from Richard and we tell Richard what we need that day. Bananas, chinese sausages, rice, pasta sauce, anything! Richard's motto is that he can get you ANYTHING. And so Richard shows up in the afternoon and lets himself in and drops off the box of groceries.
I don't know that there is a family in this neighborhood that doesn't have this intimate relationship with Richard.
Every afternoon you'll see him driving around in his van and popping in and out of people's houses, always with a big smile on his face and a friendly hello.
As I have previously mentioned, I basically live in Little America. If it weren't for the tropical atmosphere or the Filipino maids, you would think that this neighborhood was an American suburb. What with all the Americans doing American things, going to the American School, etc.
One thing that this neighborhood has that America doesn't is Richard, the Amazing Grocery Guy.
I am becoming convinced that Richard is as established in this neighborhood as the the storm drains are. Every morning we get a call from Richard and we tell Richard what we need that day. Bananas, chinese sausages, rice, pasta sauce, anything! Richard's motto is that he can get you ANYTHING. And so Richard shows up in the afternoon and lets himself in and drops off the box of groceries.
I don't know that there is a family in this neighborhood that doesn't have this intimate relationship with Richard.
Every afternoon you'll see him driving around in his van and popping in and out of people's houses, always with a big smile on his face and a friendly hello.
10 August 2010
For the foodies
There is no doubt in my mind that Singapore exists for people who genuinely LOVE food.
I should probably just stop there and let your imaginations go wild before I start salivating. One thing is for sure, I haven't been this in love with food in quite some time.
Due to the extremely diverse population of this island, there is an equally diverse supply of ethnic cuisine. Chinese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and the list goes on and on. Everything from beef and chicken to seafood to vegetables to noodles and rice is available in, what seems to be, an infinite combination of delectable dishes.
The source of all this goodness (besides the kitchen in my house), is the infamous hawker center. Singapore is known all around the world for these establishments, and in my opinion, for very good reason. Think street food stands, but congregated in the form of a food court. Like this:
And now picture one of these congregations on every other block. Each stall sells its own specialties at dirt cheap prices. There are hardly words to describe the experience.
My new favorite meals include: Hainanese chicken rice, steamed dumplings, char kway teow (fried noodles with a whole assortment of meats and veggies thrown in), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), bi hoon (a Singaporean rice noodle dish), and chicken tikka.
One of my favorite pastimes is trying new things all the time. The other day I had my first taste of Duck Rice, which was pretty tasty. The nifty thing about the hawker centers is that if you don't speak Chinese (like me), they have pictures of everything you can order on signs above the stalls. My philosophy: when in doubt order something that looks good in the picture.
When we're eating at home, Papa Bear likes to make attempts at cooking local dishes (and so far he has a pretty darn good success rate). After the first try, char kway teow was such a smashing success, it is now a weekly tradition. Here are the before and after pictures:
I should probably just stop there and let your imaginations go wild before I start salivating. One thing is for sure, I haven't been this in love with food in quite some time.
Due to the extremely diverse population of this island, there is an equally diverse supply of ethnic cuisine. Chinese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and the list goes on and on. Everything from beef and chicken to seafood to vegetables to noodles and rice is available in, what seems to be, an infinite combination of delectable dishes.
The source of all this goodness (besides the kitchen in my house), is the infamous hawker center. Singapore is known all around the world for these establishments, and in my opinion, for very good reason. Think street food stands, but congregated in the form of a food court. Like this:
 |
| First stall on the left sells my favorite dumplings. |
And now picture one of these congregations on every other block. Each stall sells its own specialties at dirt cheap prices. There are hardly words to describe the experience.
My new favorite meals include: Hainanese chicken rice, steamed dumplings, char kway teow (fried noodles with a whole assortment of meats and veggies thrown in), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), bi hoon (a Singaporean rice noodle dish), and chicken tikka.
One of my favorite pastimes is trying new things all the time. The other day I had my first taste of Duck Rice, which was pretty tasty. The nifty thing about the hawker centers is that if you don't speak Chinese (like me), they have pictures of everything you can order on signs above the stalls. My philosophy: when in doubt order something that looks good in the picture.
When we're eating at home, Papa Bear likes to make attempts at cooking local dishes (and so far he has a pretty darn good success rate). After the first try, char kway teow was such a smashing success, it is now a weekly tradition. Here are the before and after pictures:
 |
| Char Kway Teow (bottom) with Chinese Veggies (top) |
 |
| So good, there was nothing left to do but lick the plates... |
07 August 2010
what is that infernal noise?!
As I sit here (inside the house), several things are accosting my ears. 1. World World (a PBS Kids show), 2. Monkey reciting World World, 3. Mouse babbling about some unknown topic, and 4. a loud, pulsating, buzzing noise that is outside, half a block away and driving me crazy! Three days, I tell you, three days of noise pollution. And no one really knows what it is or WHY it is.
I'm glad you, Reader, are captivated enough to read through the rants of my every day existence.
Obviously, I've been reading a lot, averaging a book a week at this point! Not to mention that I've been educating myself more and more about ABA. I do believe I have become a bookworm. It's about time, I missed this when I was in school! Reading what I want, when I want, and for however long I want.
I promise that I haven't just been reading, I have been making use of my life in other ways too. Therapy takes up a large chunk of my time, and has been a joyful challenge. After several supervised sessions, Dana has given her approval of how we're doing, but we both agreed that some changes needed to happen. In the last week, she has rearranged, rewritten, and revised many of Monkey's programs, as well as adding some new ones. This means that Monkey and I have tons of things to do before school starts.
And speaking of school, Mama Bear and I took the kids over to SAS (Singapore American School) yesterday to play on the playground. This was the first time that I had ever walked around inside, and it was AMAZING. The classrooms, the playgrounds, the grade common rooms, everything! I peeked inside a 3rd grade science room and it was decorated like a jungle with vines and animals hanging from the ceiling. I would go back to grade school if it meant that I could to this school. They even have a rooftop playground that has a tent like covering over it so that the kids can even play outside when it rains.
Needless to say, Monkey will be in good hands, and I will be finding excuses to go and visit his kindergarten class.
I'm glad you, Reader, are captivated enough to read through the rants of my every day existence.
Obviously, I've been reading a lot, averaging a book a week at this point! Not to mention that I've been educating myself more and more about ABA. I do believe I have become a bookworm. It's about time, I missed this when I was in school! Reading what I want, when I want, and for however long I want.
I promise that I haven't just been reading, I have been making use of my life in other ways too. Therapy takes up a large chunk of my time, and has been a joyful challenge. After several supervised sessions, Dana has given her approval of how we're doing, but we both agreed that some changes needed to happen. In the last week, she has rearranged, rewritten, and revised many of Monkey's programs, as well as adding some new ones. This means that Monkey and I have tons of things to do before school starts.
And speaking of school, Mama Bear and I took the kids over to SAS (Singapore American School) yesterday to play on the playground. This was the first time that I had ever walked around inside, and it was AMAZING. The classrooms, the playgrounds, the grade common rooms, everything! I peeked inside a 3rd grade science room and it was decorated like a jungle with vines and animals hanging from the ceiling. I would go back to grade school if it meant that I could to this school. They even have a rooftop playground that has a tent like covering over it so that the kids can even play outside when it rains.
Needless to say, Monkey will be in good hands, and I will be finding excuses to go and visit his kindergarten class.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Photo courtesy of Amazon
It was almost 10 and a half years ago that I was first introduced to Harry Potter. I remember it vividly...
I was in the seventh grade at Jefferson Middle School. It was lunch time and I walked up to my friends in the cafeteria. They were in the middle of a discussion about these books that they had all been reading. I peeked over their shoulders and piped up: "Who's Harry Potter?" The table fell completely silent. What do you mean, "who is Harry Potter?". The rest is basically history. One of them lent me the first one and I got hooked. This happened right before the 4th book came out, so I had just enough time to catch up on the first three. And then I had my first midnight book release experience.
Since that fateful day in 2000, I have read and reread and rereread the entire series as each successive book made its appearance. These books have been dear to me and always bring back wonderful memories of time spent with my friends and siblings.
As I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone this week, I not only felt constant pangs of nostalgia, but I also grew an even deeper appreciation for the series as a whole. Knowing how J.K. Rowling develops the characters and how the story eventually ends made me even more captivated with the beginning.
Next up, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...
05 August 2010
"I know why the caged bird sings"
Confession: this was the first time I've read a book by Maya Angelou all the way through. And it was one of the most heart-wrenching, emotional books I have read in quite sometime.
It is an autobiography, telling the story of Angelou's early life. With parents divorced during her toddlerhood, she is carted to the South with her brother to live with their grandmother. The reader follows her as she grows, suffers, learns, makes mistakes, and experiences life.
The tales that unfold intricately describe her experience as a Black in a world run by Whites, as a child in a world ruled by adults, and as a girl in a world ruled by men. Having cried my way through half of the book, it made me question how we can live a world that is so cruel. Angelou gives the account from the perspective of the oppressed, but never in a condescending way. She describes injustice as it is, a disease deeper than the individuals involved.
The stories played out in I know why the caged bird sings are beautiful and and horrifying and hopeful and devastating all at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone who has never read it, but please make sure that you are in an emotionally stable state of mind when you crack it open...
Photo courtesy of Angus Robertson
It is an autobiography, telling the story of Angelou's early life. With parents divorced during her toddlerhood, she is carted to the South with her brother to live with their grandmother. The reader follows her as she grows, suffers, learns, makes mistakes, and experiences life.
The tales that unfold intricately describe her experience as a Black in a world run by Whites, as a child in a world ruled by adults, and as a girl in a world ruled by men. Having cried my way through half of the book, it made me question how we can live a world that is so cruel. Angelou gives the account from the perspective of the oppressed, but never in a condescending way. She describes injustice as it is, a disease deeper than the individuals involved.
The stories played out in I know why the caged bird sings are beautiful and and horrifying and hopeful and devastating all at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone who has never read it, but please make sure that you are in an emotionally stable state of mind when you crack it open...
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