For several weeks now when something interesting, funny, random, lessons learned, things we do, etc. about our life in Singapore came to mind, I added it to a note on my iphone. They’ve been piling up just waiting for this blog post to spill out. And now it’s time.
It’s random. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. But it’s all just everyday stuff around here.
A dozen eggs is really ten. And they’re brown. The only time you see white eggs is at Easter time and they are pricey!
Singapore is a place where you rarely walk side by side. Single file is the way it goes.
We are master packers and often wait until the last minute now. We’ve got it down! However, winter destination packing still throws us off a bit.
Without even thinking about it, we keep our mouths closed when going through security or immigration. It’s just a normal part of life.
Friends are few but the few are fabulous and forever!
We almost never complain about the air conditioning being too cold.
When leaving your house/condo, you are prepared for the day. There are no quick trips back home for anything forgotten.
Flexibility is key! Sometimes we completely skip Plan B and go straight to Plan Q and it doesn’t even frustrate us much anymore.
We have learned to live with the not so ideal and have actually realized over time that the not so ideal has become relatively ideal.
Thawing meat happens very quickly. No need in this tropical climate to plan too far in advance to thaw meat. And actually, if you leave it out too long it might be partially cooked. 
just kidding.
Butter melts without a microwave.
Laundry sours super fast.
Finding dual voltage appliances is way exciting!
How is it that we live in a 1st world country and body odor is such a problem. I feel like I need to spread the good news of Jesus AND the news that deodorant is here!!
Small loaves of bread are preferred since they mold so quickly and cold bread is normal since we keep it in the fridge because it molds so quickly.
Baking is done in the morning while it’s still sort of cool. And you’re thankful you even have an oven, albeit Barbie sized.
Tea time just means snack time. And not necessarily with tea. Really, it just means you take a break and eat a snack and drink something. Snack time.
It’s still strange to see a real truck. Not a lorrie for those who are not Texan, a real pickup truck. They are few but they do exist in Singapore.
You ALWAYS know where your passports are. You’d rather lose a part of your body than your passport.
Lines in the road are but mere suggestions.
Charcoal tablets are a normal part of our medicine stock.
We’ve learned (not mastered) dealing with loss. Lost relationships, loss of the life we once knew, lost time with loved ones, loss of waist lines, loss of convenience…
Bad hair days are just the norm. Good hair days only really happen when you are in another country with mountains and snow.
You assume that anyone not wearing makeup started out looking fabulous and just sweated it off.
There’s no judging here for bad hair, makeup or clothing. Anything goes. Anywhere.
Bulk items attached to your keychain are normal and necessary so you can find it in the purse that has everything in it but the kitchen sink because you have to be prepared for the day when you leave your house.
Having a collapsible shopping bag attached to your keychain is cool.
Big things fit in small places. Our Western sized bodies, cars in parking garages, size 11 shoes in size 5 shoe cabinets, etc.
A lorrie can park ANYWHERE as long as it has orange cones or hazard lights on. Seriously, anywhere.
It’s perfectly acceptable to take a rolling suitcase to the market or grocery store.
What you CAN do one time you CANNOT do the next time. And although it was once frustrating, you laugh about it now because you are grateful that you at least got to have your way once.
It is considered a HUGE success to get a compromise in a rule that makes no sense. HUGE! The rules are strictly enforced and it doesn’t matter if it makes sense or not. BTW, I’ve only been “successful” once and it was a great victory.
Told ya’. Interesting, funny, random. Very random.
Ha ha!!! Did you see our blog from Feb 4th? The egg comment looks familiar
.
http://calebheinlein.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html
And your comment on “ideal” reminds of one of my co-worker’s sayings… I find myself repeating it all the time:
“Normal is what you’re used to.”
I had forgotten but I do remember your egg comment.
Yes, normal is so completely relative and ever changing.
You wrote some of the same things Kristin has hold us about.
I’m sure she has. It’s an interesting and random place to live.
Brilliant observations, Andrea! Can I add – it’s o.k. to wear your pajamas to the wet market and bananas ripen overnight and then have to be put in the fridge. More randomness…….. x
Another one (or two) from Andrew…… On expressways the lanes are numbered 4, 3, 2, 1 with 4 being the slow land and 1 being the lane near the central divider? Surely, it should number 1, 2, 3, 4, from the left?
In Singapore the formal way to write your addresses is Personal Name, House Number and Street, Name of Condo and Unit Number, City. Surely, the name of Condo and Unit Number should come above the line for House Number and Street.
I should have thought of the pajama one!! And I don’t drive all that often but we’ve thought the same thing about the lanes. But then again, for us Americans, almost everything is backwards here, driving on the wrong side, steering wheel on the wrong side, walking on the left, etc…
I think pretty much anything goes for addresses as long as the postal code is correct and the unit number is on there somewhere.
The road lane numbering is definitely the wrong way around! We would do it the other way in Oz, and we drive on the left like Singapore. Surely the fastest lane has the highest number?!
Oh, so funny. I can relate to lots of that. Wish you were back in the states.