Blogland

Only just yesterday I was sighing over my lack of readers and trying to think of new ways of courting readers.

Perhaps go down the whole “Wordless Wednesday”, “Grateful Thursday” path?

Look into hosting ads?

And then stuff happened in the blog world.

Stuff between and Australian blogger and a Singaporean blogger, coincidentally.

And I realised I don’t actually care if no-one reads my blog.

I blog for me.

To record this incredible journey we are on.

And to (maybe) help other expats figure this expat thing out.

The Little Things

Apologies to anyone who follows my blog and who has been wondering where I’ve been.

I’ve not been to London to visit the Queen but I have been dealing with a case of culture shock.  Culture shock isn’t wha tI thought it would be – a deep yearning to pack up and go home.  Rather, (as one friend phrased it) it’s feeling disconnected.

I don’t dislike Singapore, I don’t want to jump on a plane and go ‘home’, I just guess the gloss has worn off and it’s the adjustment to getting on with life.

Same shit, different country. (To be perfectly blunt about it!)

Anyway, this post isn’t about culture shock it’s about how little things can brighten your day.

When you move countries you can’t tell beforehand what you’ll miss.  And for me it’s often the little inconsequential things that I miss, and this may be because the big things (family and friends) are just too BIG to comprehend.

I’ve been blown away lately by two surprise ‘care packages’.  One of which was from a lovely online friend who I have never, ever met in real life who sent me two boxes of Cheezels.  When we first arrived here I learnt very quickly that just because a product has the same name  and general appearance that they are no necessarily the same. All Cheezels are not equal and Australian Cheezels are far superior to the ones they sell here.  And I will brook no arguments about this!

The second package was a 2012 calendar.  A 2012 calendar that comes free with a Melbourne paper every year.  A calendar illustrated by the cartoonist Michael Leunig and has hung on the inside of my pantry for years, recording the endless rounds of swimming, ballet and sporting engagements of my family.  Who would’ve thunk a free calendar would make my heart sing?!

Whilst the Cheezels and the calendar are lovely what really, really thrilled me is that two people (neither of whom I would’ve thought knew me all that well) went out of their way to send me a piece of my old life.

I am blessed to have people like this in my life.

♥

Out and About

Lately we have had a few sets of visitors: two lots of friends and their children, as well as my mum. While we vow we will not play tour guide to visitors it does afford us a good opportunity to get out and see more of Singapore.

Here’s a wrap up of some of the sights we’ve seen:

Jurong East Swimming Complex

This is a local, council run water park.  On a weekend entry is a whopping $2 per adult and $1 per child.  That’s $6 for a family of four which is excellent value no matter which was you look at it!

There are 3 waterslides, lap pool, little kids waterpark, a lazy river and a wave pool.  We had a blast, even if some of us found out that water slides make you dizzy after you reach a certain age!

Singapore River Cruise

I’m well over this cruise now, having done it three times, but it’s a great way to get a different view of Singapore.  I have taken both the Hippo Cruise and the Singapore River Cruises and I much prefer the latter.  It has far better commentary and you go all the way over past the Arts Science Museum, where the Hippo cruise turns around at the Merlion.

Raffles

A Singapore icon and one I had not yet got around to seeing, and then I find myself there twice in a month. The first visit was for High Tea in the Tiffin Room.  Lovely and classy and I was thrilled and touched to be treated by a Twitter friend.  Our High Tea may well go done in Twitter history as the classiest tweet-up yet!

A couple of weeks later I ventured to the Long Bar with my mum where we had a drink and some yummy lunch. I went for the Singapore Sling and mum went for the Tiger Beer.

The Changi Museum

ever since we arrived I’ve been meaning to go to The Changi Museum, but it’s not in central Singapore and not suitable for little kids I’d yet to make it there.  The museum is free, but there’s a box near the entrance to make donations.  The museum is appropriately low-key, and features lots of written information and relics from around the time of World War II.

I’ve read a lot about the experiences of Australian POW’s during WW2 and I’m ashamed to admit that until I visited the Changi Museum I had never considered the experiences of the Singapore locals during the Japanese occupation. Probably half of the displays are based on the local experience and I found these touching and important.

In the centre of the building is a re-creation of the simple chapels that the POW’s built during their internment.  It has a really special feel and you are able to light a candle or dedicate a poppy or a cross for a small donation.

For such a small country there’s an awful lot to see!