Good Morning,
It would actually be good evening to the person (aka mom) reading this but for me it is good morning, so lets go with it!
Week three in Singapore is almost at completion. It is Thursday I am actually at work getting ready to "begin" my day.
Since my last post: Monday night has become Host Family night for the 10 travelers. We usually eat dinner with our families and then hang out with them. Tuesday night our little group went to Arab street. Yes, this is the name of the street. Located on the cross section of Bali Street and Bugis MRT stop. When on Arab street you will find a Mosque that for women to visit one must wear a burka (provided), plenty of hummus, sisha (hookah smoke), and persian rugs. It was awesome! The atmosphere is completely relaxed although we were in a group, many people were sitting alone smoking and reading a book. It was nice to see people walking by. This is one of the more local hideaways. That night not everyone was able to come out and all were missed, but with the people that did come we had some great conversation covering every politically divided issue.......only in Singapore:)
I am really really enjoying being in Singapore. It is a break from real life. I am taking the work I need to do seriously when I have to but I am learning that it is just better to be relaxed and enjoy my day! This week I have had a couple Skype calls with people in the US. I do miss everyone but I have not been homesick. I LIKE it here. I really am enjoying my host family and friends.
The maid and I are having a face off and I am totally being dominated. I think we are both enjoying trying to get the other one to do more work. The first week I was here she made it very clear (not through words mind you) that I was not going to add to her work load. My fellow ILAPers have been leaving their dirty laundry with their host parents and they do their laundry. Annie was not having this. I left my clothes, first in my room in my laundry bag and then took it down to the washer, and it sat there for a week. Every time I asked any questions about the clothes.....Annie seemed unable to understand English, funny right? Well I decided it was time for some clothes to get washed because this was week two of living out of a suitcase and threw my clothes in the machine. At this time Grandma yelled at Annie for turning on the washer the wrong way, we went from Annie 1-Eva 0 to a tied score!
Breakfast and dinner are provided by the host family, and by family this falls to Annie. She has not been happy about having to provide me with sustenance so after the washer incidence in which I had not messed up the washer Grandma was just grumpy having to listen to the machine (YEAH GRANDMA!) Annie has seemingly stepped up her game. The last few days breakfast has been put on the table to sit for 20 minutes until I wandered out of my room to find it. No more breakfast calls for me. She is good. I will give her that:) The first two weeks breakfast was: a glass of milk, two pieces of white bread melted together with 1 american slice of cheese, and cornflakes. That is a whole lot of dairy, just saying. I do not know if this was on purpose to drive me crazy or her trying to figure out what I liked, being an American, I think it may have been both.
We have now moved on to two pieces of bread with butter and sugar, I am very very happy and will definitely continue running once a day to make up for the new sugar intake often accompanied by my favorite: bubble tea:D YUM YUM!
This young grasshopper is learning so much, the corporate world is not at all how I imagined it would be, and learning to challenge the Master Maid has really provided great entertainment to my person:)
This weekend is Phuket. When looking up the night life that is available for the Thai island and our little group, it seems like it will be an AWSOME weekend.
The start of a beautiful day in Singapore!
Wishing you the best, missing you but happy to be here:)
Eva
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
So the plan to blog once a week has worked out very well.......
I just read my first Blog. Basically three weeks ago I had no idea what I was in for, and the on site coordinator was not in Tokyo but in Singapore.....I thought I would fix that in case someone chooses to quote me in the future.
Well, I am here settled, happy, and loving bubble tea!! The last three weeks have been one of the greatest adventures so far in my college experience. I think it also helped to be prefaced by two amazing weeks in Montana with my family and friends! I know God has been preparing me in so many ways for this rendezvous since last November, I have been amazed in every way.
A bit of a recap for those that I have not talked with: Arrived July 7th, headed to Bali until the following Sunday. Monday started work. So far I have been put on a documentary media project and a business plan development committee.....NBD;) I have been to the Zoo, the Night Safari, Clarke Quay, shopping in Chinatown, Raffles, Orchard, conquered the MRT (public train transportation), and been thoroughly impressed with Hawker Centers.
Hawk-er Centers= $3SGD for a huge plate of food that is delicious, the trick is to go to ones that do not have AC you get better prices, and the best part of all is the Homemade Ice Lemon Tea. Perfection.
I have a host family here in Singapore:
Mom: the very busy working lady
little brother (Alex, 15)-has a tendency to burst into my room without knocking,
middle sister (Joey, 17) -so wonderful, she makes me miss Zoe
on weekends, oldest brother comes over (Allen, 22)- he does not talk to me but walks through my room to get his guitar so that is some bonding I guess
Dad exists but he works in Vietnam so I have only seen him once,
then there is Grandma, Grandpa, and Annie the domestic helper.
Annie is not exactly thrilled about having another person in house to take care of but who can blame her? Remind me to tell you about the washer experience, and room rummaging when we talk next:)
Moving On: This weekend I had a wonderful dinner at the home of one Kwan and Leon, family friends that I have not seen since I was approximately 5 1/2? Despite the age difference it was INCREDIBLE. Firstly, their home is gorgeous, Balinese style meets contemporary chic! It was a dinner party with all sorts of interesting Singaporeans. The evening began with detoxing Coconut water, wide pepper leaves and lemon grass stuffing, rice cakes and a polynesian dipping sauce. We then moved indoors from the outdoor patio to the actual meal. Red wine accompanied to begin and the appetizer was make your own spring rolls. YES PLEASE:) There were baskets of fresh herbs, a tray of seasoned beef and fresh pepper corn, all ready to be rolled into spring roll sheets. Delicious. Next, pork ribs seasoned with mango and herbs, but it was a very dark curry type sauce yet, slightly sweet. Then there was a fresh greens salad that had been lightly dressed but the greens were so fresh it almost formed a dip. By this time I am in seventh heaven......to conclude the meal portion we had a very spicy soup, traditional to Singapore and meant to burn your lips and mouth, it did the job, talk about cleansing the palette! The precursor for dessert and soothing of the liquid fire that had just been consumed was coconut milk that was chilled and like a pudding. Put the burning lips right to ease......and finally for dessert moshi ice cream topped with fresh pressed mango..........Best thing I have had the entire trip! The dessert Port was lovely and their were white chocolates and green tea to accompany. Talk about a happy girl:) The evening finished around midnight. It really was a great experience!
That was last Saturday night, Sunday began with a skype call to Dad and an adventure to find the Singapore WWII museum. The search was the best part! Cici and Allison and I took off for the unknown location with Cici leading the competition in finding the most people talk to about directions:)
The museum was found about a mile or so up on a seemingly abandoned road at the top of Bukit Chandu. We were there about an hour or so and then headed back by bus to Orchid to see the National Museum of Singapore. Today was free admission and the museum was awesome so it was quite the lucky day, quite the lucky weekend if you ask me:)
I will try to update more consistently so one does not have to read so much..........hope you enjoy my adventures. Miss you all!
Eva
Well, I am here settled, happy, and loving bubble tea!! The last three weeks have been one of the greatest adventures so far in my college experience. I think it also helped to be prefaced by two amazing weeks in Montana with my family and friends! I know God has been preparing me in so many ways for this rendezvous since last November, I have been amazed in every way.
A bit of a recap for those that I have not talked with: Arrived July 7th, headed to Bali until the following Sunday. Monday started work. So far I have been put on a documentary media project and a business plan development committee.....NBD;) I have been to the Zoo, the Night Safari, Clarke Quay, shopping in Chinatown, Raffles, Orchard, conquered the MRT (public train transportation), and been thoroughly impressed with Hawker Centers.
Hawk-er Centers= $3SGD for a huge plate of food that is delicious, the trick is to go to ones that do not have AC you get better prices, and the best part of all is the Homemade Ice Lemon Tea. Perfection.
I have a host family here in Singapore:
Mom: the very busy working lady
little brother (Alex, 15)-has a tendency to burst into my room without knocking,
middle sister (Joey, 17) -so wonderful, she makes me miss Zoe
on weekends, oldest brother comes over (Allen, 22)- he does not talk to me but walks through my room to get his guitar so that is some bonding I guess
Dad exists but he works in Vietnam so I have only seen him once,
then there is Grandma, Grandpa, and Annie the domestic helper.
Annie is not exactly thrilled about having another person in house to take care of but who can blame her? Remind me to tell you about the washer experience, and room rummaging when we talk next:)
Moving On: This weekend I had a wonderful dinner at the home of one Kwan and Leon, family friends that I have not seen since I was approximately 5 1/2? Despite the age difference it was INCREDIBLE. Firstly, their home is gorgeous, Balinese style meets contemporary chic! It was a dinner party with all sorts of interesting Singaporeans. The evening began with detoxing Coconut water, wide pepper leaves and lemon grass stuffing, rice cakes and a polynesian dipping sauce. We then moved indoors from the outdoor patio to the actual meal. Red wine accompanied to begin and the appetizer was make your own spring rolls. YES PLEASE:) There were baskets of fresh herbs, a tray of seasoned beef and fresh pepper corn, all ready to be rolled into spring roll sheets. Delicious. Next, pork ribs seasoned with mango and herbs, but it was a very dark curry type sauce yet, slightly sweet. Then there was a fresh greens salad that had been lightly dressed but the greens were so fresh it almost formed a dip. By this time I am in seventh heaven......to conclude the meal portion we had a very spicy soup, traditional to Singapore and meant to burn your lips and mouth, it did the job, talk about cleansing the palette! The precursor for dessert and soothing of the liquid fire that had just been consumed was coconut milk that was chilled and like a pudding. Put the burning lips right to ease......and finally for dessert moshi ice cream topped with fresh pressed mango..........Best thing I have had the entire trip! The dessert Port was lovely and their were white chocolates and green tea to accompany. Talk about a happy girl:) The evening finished around midnight. It really was a great experience!
That was last Saturday night, Sunday began with a skype call to Dad and an adventure to find the Singapore WWII museum. The search was the best part! Cici and Allison and I took off for the unknown location with Cici leading the competition in finding the most people talk to about directions:)
The museum was found about a mile or so up on a seemingly abandoned road at the top of Bukit Chandu. We were there about an hour or so and then headed back by bus to Orchid to see the National Museum of Singapore. Today was free admission and the museum was awesome so it was quite the lucky day, quite the lucky weekend if you ask me:)
I will try to update more consistently so one does not have to read so much..........hope you enjoy my adventures. Miss you all!
Eva
Monday, July 4, 2011
Leaving Day
Today I and 9 other Texas A&M students are leaving for Singapore to complete a 6 week internship and living abroad experience. I will be living with a host family and working for Vector Scorecard. I am very excited about this experience and I know that the last year of preparation has brought me to this opportunity. I am leaving from George Bush Intercontinental at 9 am in the morning. From there I will be flying to Atlanta and then on to Tokyo. In Tokyo we will meet our on site coordinator and then travel to Bali for our first excursion. I will be updating this Blog, and making it more interesting! Bessings, Eva
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)