Just to fill in on the background. I recently decided to take up a job offer in Singapore after spending 15 years in NY (actually in Jersey, but even Frank Sinatra denies that fact). The weather so far has been bearable after experiencing the record temperatures in NY. I have done enough shoveling snow and driving on ice for a while. As a matter of fact, I am still sore from chopping the ice on my driveway a few weeks back. But I am definitely going to miss skiing.
I don't miss driving, at least for now. After commuting 45 miles one way to work for five years, taking public transportation is quite refreshing. The public transport here is excellent. Armed with an TransitLink card (with enough credit), I was able to travel around S'pore with ease, both on MRT (the subway system) and buses. That's if you are traveling light. For heavier burden or if you are in a hurry, taxi is quite easy to get and cheap comparing to NY standard.
Just an observation, cars and houses are considered a luxury here. Over in the states, we often take them for granted. It costs about 4 times as much to drive in S'pore. Getting a house with nice lawn is almost an impossibility. I am not quite sure if I will be content in S'pore with these restrictions. Maybe it's because I was brought up believing owning cars and houses is an essential part of the American dream (or reality). But maybe there is something here that outweights those items. Only time will tell.
My biggest priority now is to make new friends. It's just not the same if you are doing things by yourself. I broke my first New Year's resolution of not eating American fast food by eating at a local KFC out of desperation. With the weekend coming up, all I have planned is stereo shopping and maybe walking around Orchard Road and Chinatown. I guess I just have to bear with it for a while until I get to know more people.
I have always looked forward to celebrate Chinese New Year in an Asian country. Mainly because it's a holiday and you don't need to work 8-) Now I am here, I am not really looking forward to it. With the four day weekend, most people are going away and shops are going to be closed. I have been warned to stock up on food and supplies. It's less than two weeks away and hopefully I will find something to do by then. The last thing I want to do is watching TV and eating snack for four straight days to celebrate the coming of the New Year.
That's it for now. If anyone out there has any more suggestion or just want to find out more about my experience, pls drop me a note. I will be glad to make new friends 8-)
