Hello, my loyal readers! Sorry, no pictures today. Forgot my camera.
I have a story from yesterday that I forgot to post, so I'll stick it here. My new friends, N. the Canadian, A. the Dutch, and I were in the cafeteria-food court having lunch. Eating out in Singapore is the subject worthy of a thousand blogs. Apart from shopping, it's all Singaporeans do! Food is a national passion. For the uninitiated (read:me) it can be intimidating. Menus have no pictures or descriptions. Should I have kampong bai or mee gerong? Gee, I'm not sure... The best way to figure out what one wants is to stalk someone leaving the stand with something that looks tasty and asking him/her what it is called. It's not a foolproof system but it's okay. So, here I was, feeling frustrated and looking for some ever-lovin' fried rice, please. Nothing too fancy, just rice, maybe some chicken, too. I saw a girl with EXACTLY that, and I asked her what it was. She told me the name and I ordered it. Well, either she was screwing with me or she just messed up, because when they handed N. and I our fried rice, it was topped with a huge pile of ANCHOVIES! That's right, little dried fish, eyes and all, like croutons. Well, I was unhappy, but N. started FREAKING OUT. She asked me to scrape them off for her, so she didn't barf. I obliged, feeling now was not the time to mention I was as grossed out as she was. As I scraped the fish off, all I could think of was that damn song my dad used to sing when I was a kid, "fish heads, fish heads, roly poly fish heads. Fish heads, fish heads, eat 'em up, yum!" If you've never heard him sing it, you're missing out. Anyway, it made me smile. Be glad I spared you the picture.
Back to today. I went to registration, which was a ton of long lines and conflicting information. Take your passport and stand in line A. No, take your passport photocopy and stand in line B. I now understand why people emigrate to the US illegally. Customs paperwork is too hard. Even after I checked, double checked, and triple checked, I was still missing a form. One that was not on any of my checklists (I had several). After all that, I didn't even get my student pass today! (No one did-they have to be processed and will be available next week.) So I have to make another trip with more forms to pick up the pass itself. Boo. That's all I have to say.
A. texted me and said that she and N. were going shopping on Orchard Rd and did I want to join them? Shopping? Sure! Orchard Rd is the Rodeo Drive of Singapore. There's Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Tiffany's, Cartier, everything. Very high fashion, and rather American. All the models in the advertisements were American (or at least European), which surprised me. And where were WE headed in this couture mecca? Why, Forever 21 of course! A. had heard of it and was just dying to go. Apparently they don't have them in Holland. Halfway around the world and I spent the afternoon in Forever 21. Oy. But, as Mom says, you have to be a friend to have a friend. And my friends were going to Forever 21. So I went.
When I arrived, I met C. from Denmark. Now, all of my new friends are lovely, but C. is model pretty-tanned skin, legs for days, blue eyes and bleach blond hair (but naturally, God love her). She said she was excited to meet me because she wanted to practice her English. I am a hot commodity around here! C. had two afternoon plans: get a camera and go to McDonald's for her very first time. Someone who has never been to Mickey D's? For real? But she totally was. So, we went. All the girls have questions about America-what do I think of Obama, do we all have swimming pools, how many starbucks are there, etc. At lunch we all discussed the music we listened to as kids (many similarities there-Spice Girls was a universal favorite) and families. It was really fun, finding out about other cultures but at the same time realizing how many things are the same. Also, C. said her Big Mac was delicious.
When we went to the camera store, I swear the guy dropped his clipboard when C. walked in. He immediately offered her a great deal well below sticker price, threw in a charger and a case for free, and gave her a service plan. She was bewildered at her good fortune. She said that since she has been here, everyone has been so nice and Singapore must be full of nice people. Honey, when you're as hot as you are, EVERYWHERE is full of nice people! She's oblivious to the attention she gets and I think it's just darling. N. made a comment on it later, so I'm glad to know it's not just me. A pretty woman is a pretty woman, all around the world.
Things to file also under Stuff I Should Have Known: Look both ways before you cross the street. Because the cars are on the other side of the road here, and it's not habitual to look left. It's just weird for me. But, I am so far not squished. Also, as of yet I am free of DENGUE FEVER!
So that's it for today. I am grateful to be making friends and happy to be an American ambassador. I am also tickled pink to know that no matter who you are or where you're from, if you're a woman, you can always bond over shopping. Seriously, it was like Sex in the City over here. Just delightful.
FYI-I will probably not blog tomorrow, as I have an assignment from Georgetown that needs finishing and I will work on it ALL DAY. So nothing good to report. Also, as I fall into a routine, I will probably also blog less and less. But fear not! I will find interesting things to see and do so that you, dear reader, are never without your Laura fix for long. Love you!
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