Rain storm downpour

Friday, July 30, 2010

Unfortunately not much time to blog. I'm supposed to be downstairs in the hotel lobby to catch the bus to a Thai dinner. Yum. I'm moving tomorrow to my new place and I did a big shopping earlier to get ready for the move- cleaning supplies, etc.

So- this morning was almost pitch black at 8 AM. It was rain clouds and it started POURING on our way to SAS for an HR Orientation. Marco (a fellow DCPSer and middle school teacher here at SAS) walked to the MRT after the HR session to try to buy the i phone 4 which launched here today in Asia. I am pleased to report that we got i phones!! They were S$230 with a monthly 2 year contract of $58 dollard a month- not bad, eh! I was pretty excited and now all of you i phoners, sometime we can chat on video phone. Can't wait to try it out!

Anyway, I think some Singaporeans were jealous that I had the new i phone and they didn't get it yet. But Marco and I put in our time- we waited about 3 hours to get the phone.

More on Singapore and not just i phones in the future!!!

Much love--

Freya. (Danielle)

Crazyness of setting up your life

Thursday, July 29, 2010

So I didn't realize how busy today was going to be. It started out with going to the doctor for a check up and work clearance. That was totally fine- had to get a chest x-ray, etc. Had to do some explaining about the broken ankle. Dr. said I'm healthy, so yay.

A colleague from Canada and I took the MRT (metro/public transportation- so so soooo clean!!) from Orchard (our hotel area and one stop north from my future stop of Somerset) to our school stop. The doctor's office is right by school. I was sitting on the train and waiting for the school stop...many, many stops. It's going to be about a 45 min. train commute for me- which I haven't experienced since London in 2003. New life changes. I'm thinking I'm going to have to sleep early and rise early to get the train early enough to get to school. I believe we need to be at school at 7:30 AM, so you do the math. I haven't really thought that far ahead. Anyway, we made it to the doctor's office and I played on my i phone for some of the way. I also noticed all of the different people on the train- and wow- I'm the minority now! It's mainly Chinese people in Singapore, then Malay, then Indian. I've seen lots of Chinese people- and all very polite.

Sorry- I know this entry is going to be scattered, but i's kinda late and I have to be at school by 8:30 AM tomorrow. A bus is getting us from the hotel at 7:50 AM. HR paperwork to fill out.

So my most interesting experience today was trying to sign up for home Internet/cable TV/mobile phone service. The people at Starhub (as it's called- like Comcast cable or something) were really cool. This one Asian guy just laughed a little at me cause I was trying to figure out what kind of package I wanted- which prices, which services, etc. It took a really long time and once I finally figured everything out- I had to go and not sign up yet because I didn't want to miss the bus for this Chili Crab dinner for the SAS new teachers. So- I'm going to head back tomorrow to Starhub.

More to come...dinner was good....but starting up your life sure takes time! I am excited for my new place, my new HD TV and hopefully new i phone- version 4- it comes with a plan and it's not so expensive! So---why not upgrade right now when I'm going to be locked in for 2 years! Wahoo! So visitors...I'll have a trust i phone waiting for you to use while you're on the island...all you have to do it have it topped up and we can talk! This is if I can get an i phone 4 on this island...we're expecting pandemonium.

Night night. I'm ending my day and you all are eating lunch!

Peace and love--

Settling In

Monday, July 26, 2010

Wow! So I haven't written in a couple of days, but that's okay- I'm going to update now.

1. I found an apartment that I love. It's on Oxley Rise in Somerset, which is downtown and near all the action. I'm excited about it because it's spacious, has a lot of natural light, it's pretty quiet, and it's really close to the MRT (metro station). It also has a 711 close by (reminds me of home) and it's close to a grocery store, etc. I felt very comfortable in that space when I went back to look at it for the second time. I was drawn to the place. The apartment is a one bedroom with a study (so I can put a bookcase and lots of other things in there) and has a lot of storage. I don't have an oven, but I can get a stand alone oven, so I'm told. There is a pool, gym, jacussi, and BBQ in the back of the complex. It's really nice and I can picture myself living there for the next 2 years. I pick up the keys to the place on Friday and I'm going to sleep there for the first night on Sunday night. So crazy! This is going to be my first apartment on my own and I'm excited! I bought a 32" flat screen LCD TV yesterday with an HD DVD player with surround sound. SAS (my employer) helped to make this possible with our relocation allowance. Upon our arrival, they put in a bunch of $ into our Singapore bank accounts. Amazing! Also amazing that SAS is paying for this apartment...

2. Some things I have learned:

-When you're paying someone, it's a sign of respect to hand the person the money with 2 hands.

-There is a tax for having a TV and listening to the radio.

-Hawker stands sell cheap food, but it made my stomach hurt pretty badly

-The sun rises at 7 AM every morning and sets at 7 PM every night

-Taxis are cheap

-Beer and wine is very expensive

I know there are some more things to say, but can't remember right now. The other teachers are fun to be around and it will be cool to see how the school year unfolds. My classroom is pretty big and the hallways are outdoors.

Random tidbit: Ever since I got here, I was waking up naturally at 6 AM regardless of what time I was going to sleep. Today, I woke up at 10:30 AM and I couldn't believe it! I thought there was something wrong with the clock! I guess my body needed it and it's only 8 PM right now and I'm sleepy. We've had a few days to apartment search, so there hasn't been anything else on the schedule, but since I have my apartment all squared away, I've been on my own schedule!

XOXOXO from Singapore--signing off for now.

The Housing Hunt

Thursday, July 22, 2o1o

On our third day here in Singapore, we split up from the group of new hires to search with our housing agents for housing. I'm looking more toward the downtown area. Another SAS staff member and I looked at 5 different places today and it exhausted us. This morning I woke up to major thunderstorms and pouring rain. The weather was pretty cooperative despite rain showers here and there. It hasn't been super hot. I'm noticing how British everything looks here- Marks and Spencer, the cars, some street names. There is so so so much construction! The economy is good here and lots of future opportunities for professionals...it's a very interesting and exciting place!

First Day in Singapore

July 21, 2010

I've completed a full day in Singapore with everyone back at home in the US just starting theirs. Unfortunately, I saved this blog entry until the very end of working on my laptop and I'm fully exhausted. What was today like? Woke up early to go to SAS (Singapore American School), saw my classroom (very big with lots of technology), the temperature and humidity was not bad (it's hotter in CT right now!) and the hotel I'm staying at is pretty cool. I'm at the York Hotel until we (the other new hires at SAS and I) find our housing. A housing agent is coming to meet me tomorrow and we're going to look at some 1 and 2 bedroom apartments tomorrow. Should probably get rested to be ready for tomorrow- a bit jetlagged. Will write more interesting stuff soon.

A New Beginning Starts Tomorrow...

July 18, 2010

Flight to Asia tomorrow. Hartford to Detroit to Tokoyo to Singapore. Wish me luck! I'll have my amazing snuggie with me to keep me warm on the plane...not that I'll need it when I land in Singapore! Some packing left, weighing of suitcases, etc. My sister is making an awesome Gordon Ramsay "last meal in the US" dinner to end with homemadeTiramisu. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight! I'm lucky to have gotten a lot of family/friend time before I leave...onto a new adventure!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

So I'm not really sure how all of this works and how you can start following this blog, but hopefully I'll have some followers. I bet people who I've invited said, "who's Freya??" and who knows why I picked a pen name. Anyway, almost exactly a week until I leave for Singapore and I've been pretty busy and taking each day at a time up until I leave. It's nice to be able to hang out with family and friends in the midst of getting things done. Of course there's a lot to do in preparation for a big move- but it's all working out. Doesn't it all usually work out? Until next time!

Danielle (A.K.A Freya)

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Huge family party in Farmington, CT. Many family members in the backyard playing beer pong. I better get down there! Denise made me remember to make this blog (it was on my "to do" list earlier), and when I had started creating the blog earlier in DC (and kept falling asleep at the computer!), it must have saved my settings with the name Freya. I like the name so I'll just keep it right now. Anyway, not a very exciting first post, but stay tuned for "Adventures in Asia"! T-minus 16 days until I fly out to Singapore for the first time...woo hoo! I'm prepared with a rainjacket for now- (thanks, Mayita for helping me find a good one!)

A bientot. Freya