Quick post from KL
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Am at my hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...yep, that is another country to put a tack in on the world map. Am updating from my blackberry so this is a short one since I am off to bed.
More tomorrow...
Numbers
Monday, July 6, 2009
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.
Gee, I wish they had...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
I know I haven't posted to this title in awhile. I guess I haven't been missing too much besides people these past couple of weeks...until today.
Gee, I wish they had...apartment walls made out of drywall. Nope, instead, mine are made out of concrete. I found out this lovely bit of information while trying to a hammer a nail into my living room wall. I bent 3 different nails before I finally decided to concede to the strength of concrete. Holy cow does this create a bit of an issue when trying to hang pictures on the walls. On the flip side, Alan smartly pointed out that is quite a nice thing from a fire safety perspective.
I momentarily thought that I was going to give up and just not hang anything on the walls. But, I just can't do that. The walls are a stark white and without pictures on them it looks a bit sterile in here. Plus, I have all of these great framed pictures that Alan and I have taken on our travels around the world.
Alan sent me over here with a great tool kit (hence the hammer and nails). Included in it were picture hanging materials. Somehow, he had the foresight to include a package with some sticky 3M hooks. According to the packaging, they can hold up to 3 lbs & are fully removable. I decided to try them with two pictures before sticking them up all over the walls. I am pleased to say that they have been successfully holding pictures since about 4 pm this afternoon. I have since decided where to hang the remaining pictures and am waiting the hour for the sticky stuff to adhere properly to the wall.
Hopefully sometime in the next couple of days you'll see proper pictures of my apartment with furniture and wall hangings.
4th of July
Saturday, July 4, 2009
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
I just got home from the 4th of July celebration held here in Singapore. It was hosted by the American Association and was free to everyone. There were a ton of people there (mostly Americans) and I have to admit that it was nice being around a group of similar people. No strange languages, no weird accents, lots of red, white, and blue being worn. And honestly, everybody was extremely friendly. It was a great time.
The celebration was held on the north side of the island at the Naval base. It was on the grounds of the Terror Club which is the name of the officers club at the base. Kind of a funny but very appropriate name for the club.
As you can see, there was representation from the US Navy League. In addition, there was a booth for the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Plus there was an entire section devoted to the kids with face painting, bouncy houses, etc.
They had a ton of food vendors with typical American fare. My friends had hot dogs and hamburgers while I had a bbq chicken sandwich and french fries. They also had beer, wine, and cocktails.
The weather was perfect today. Nice poofy clouds passing overhead with sunshine, blue skies, and a nice breeze. Everybody brought blankets and just sat on the lawn and chatted and ate and drank and laughed. There was always a band playing familiar tunes in the background. They played big band songs and rock songs and patriotic songs.
I think that my favorite part of the night was everybody standing up, placing their right hands over their hearts, and singing along to the National Anthem. It was pretty great.
The evening ended with a nice fireworks show. They were essentially shooting them right above us so almost everybody just leaned back or laid on the ground and looked up at them. The typical "Stars and Stripes" was playing in the background which for a moment made me think I was at home.
I wish everybody a safe and fun 4th of July holiday!
A typical Friday
Friday, July 3, 2009
Alarm goes off at 6:02 am.
Woke up around 6:45 am.
Video chatted with Alan.
Showered.
Ate breakfast.
Caught the bus.
Got to work for my 9am meeting.
Found out my 9am meeting wasn't until 10am.
Worked all day.
Caught the bus home.
Worked some more from home.
Went to the gym.
Came home and showered.
Went to the grocery store.
Came home.
Video chatted with Alan.
Skyped with Dave, Michelle, and Janelle.
Ate dinner.
Blogged at 9:55 pm.
The point of all of this is that while all of you are just starting your long, 4th of July holiday weekend, I had just another typical Friday. No holiday for me. Boo...
On the plus side, it is the weekend! Woohoo!
Singapore songs
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The appliances here in Singapore are very friendly. They play songs when they start and when they stop. My rice cooker plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star when it turns on. My washer plays a nice song when it has finished it'd cycle. They could just beep or buzz like they do in the US but for some reason they play tunes. It was kind of weird the first couple of times but it has definitely grown on me. Why not avoid that annoying beep or buzz when you are cooking or cleaning. Instead, the local appliances have found a way to make me smile at the beginning and the end of their jobs.
I finally got a land line telephone here which required me to purchase a phone. Even the phones had funny ring tones none of which sounded like a normal telephone ring. My phone now plays the circus theme - yet another way to make me smile!
July or June?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
So, I woke up this morning to July 1st. First, I cannot believe that it is already July and half of this year is gone. What the heck happened to it? Second, it seems a bit odd that I am already experiencing July while most everybody I know is still finishing up with June. Really emphasizes the blog title, eh?
I'll blog again when all of you catch up to my month!
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