Numbers

I finally have both a local landline telephone and a local mobile telephone. For months, I have just been using my US number which is fine, however, most places here don't want to make an international phone call to reach you. So now that I have these two lovely local numbers I cannot for the life of me remember them. I just made an appointment for this Saturday and they asked me for my number and I had to read it off of the sticky note sitting next to me.

In case you were curious, the phone numbers here are 8 digits long. In the US they are broken apart into 3 digits and then 4 digits, here they just split them down the middle into 4 and 4. Since Singapore is both a city and a country there is not a need for area codes. Also, just in case you were curious, the country code for Singapore is +65.

One would think that since a typical US number has 10 numbers (including the area code) it would be easier for me to remember an 8 digit number or two. Heck, Sunday morning Alan and I were booking our trip to Hawaii and after only a couple of times I had our entire 16 digit credit card number memorized. I can even recite just about every phone number I've ever had in the US. Just doesn't seem to be happening - just cannot get these two numbers. Nope! I've had my office phone number since last October and I couldn't begin to tell you what the number is. I never call myself...and I hate talking on the phone...so I try and use email and instant messaging as much as possible.

In addition, with my digital phone line, I have to dial either 008 or 018 to place an international call. One charges 88 cents/min and the other charges 8 cents/minute. For the life of me I cannot remember which to use. Have to pull the website up each time. Grr...

My goal is to have these numbers memorized sometime in the next two weeks. Somebody out there who reads this should quiz me in a couple of weeks to see if I hold true to my goal.

On the other hand, I had my new zip code memorized within a couple of days of knowing it. Zip codes here (for those who haven't yet used mine...I am pathetic, aren't I...) are 6 digits instead of the 5 digits we are used to in the US.

So far, those are the only differences in numbers. I have no trouble remembering my bus number or my bus stop number or all sorts of other random numbers. Hmm....maybe I need to do a purge of some of these old numbers.