swingapore post

District 12, SINGAPORE--In my nearly five months of living in the tidy tiny island of Singapore (Singapoh), I've had to deal with the usual string of questions that start out with 'where are you from, why did you move to Singapore, do you like it so far?'. Well, obviously I'm Filipino but here's why I moved to Singapore and what I've learned to like/love/hate (depending on the day) in this 'fine' city:

1. I don't have to be subjected to crazy bus drivers in Singapore
2. at the same time, no one has to be subjected to my uh, driving skills
3. everything works like clockwork in Singapore
4. when you're in the ferry queue to bintan at 7am and you haven't had coffee being told to 'please follow one line' just doesn't work
5. i have learned to do my own laundry, make my own bed, breakfast, clean the toilet, use a screwdriver and hammer!!
6. i have shrunk many clothes and nearly lost a hand in the process
7. singapore is a melting pot--i've met norwegians, kiwis, aussies, brits,scots, welsh and the dutch
8. from these mix of people i have learned that a small backpack in england is called a 'rucksack', in australia you don't make out but you 'pash', say 'skal' when drinking with the norwegians or 'proost' with the dutch, and when the kiwis offer you anything with vegemite, politely refuse and run for the door (sorry helen!)
9. change your language settings to UK English: authorise, analyse, favourite, colour, whilst
10. say 'bloody hell' when you're 'pissed' or worse when you're 'sloshed' then when you're ready to call it a night, say you're 'going back', you had a 'lovely' time but you're really 'knackered' (this i love!)
11. travel is good in singapore, you can hop on a bus/train to malaysia, a ferry will take you to indonesia, and budget carriers can take you as far as perth
12. alternatively, you can hire a car and drive around the country for the 1 hour that it takes to get from end to end (and you wonder why the 'get-out-of-singapore-once-a-month' policy is the only way to maintain your sanity)
13. it's an english-speaking country
14. ok, it's more like a singlish speaking country and if you find yourself squinting in concentration trying to understand the locals, don't worry because they're probably squinting right back at ya
15. the best indian food, noodles, chicken rice and chilli crab around
16. did i mention these were all fried?
17. independence
18. too much independence
19. happy hour and free flow wines at 1 for 1 rates
20. still double the price of a vodka seven in manila
21. meeting new friends
22. missing your old and best ones

I'll leave it to Reese and Jan to post something on the 'sights' here in Sing. Flight details Reese!