My "first time" chronicles.

Working is nothing easy. Just like anything else that we do, it serves a purpose.My decision to work abroad is a big challenge I know, but for sure it is for greater reason. I need to overcome homesickness daily with many alternative diversion I have yet to discover. Blogging has ceased in my itinerary since then, and I realize this will be a great way to alleviate loneliness. Since Singapore is a diverse city, there's a lot of things that can be discovered. Unlike Manila, Singapore relies mainly on government facilities. HBD's are one of those even foreigners dominantly live on shared flats. My sister and her friends got a flat close to the city, and I'm joining them. Everything that I will do will be charged to my "first time" chronicles. We live in a flat with two rooms, a decent living room, kitchen and bathroom. I didn't expect much of a home decor, as usual most tenants just rent purposely to sleep, cook bath and rest here. Other than the usual sofa,some flat screen LCD TV, dining table, 12 cu ft fridge, a bed and kitchen utensils, it's all there is. A lot of Pinterest home decor tips were already flashing in my mind, what to post in the walls, and corners as I sat.. My room mates were just so accommodating and extremely nice, which made me feel like I am not far from home. Most of the time I find myself alone. My sister is doing graveyard shifts, and my other roomies.
 
The main thing I learned is, -- know my way home. During my first day, second and third, I still get lost somehow.Either the train is going to other side of my way, or I exit the wrong way. The MRT map they gave me was really useful,I pull it out when my sense of direction is going awry.My way to work, is a two-MRT ride, green and red line, then a quick bus trip, which will take roughly 45 minutes of travel time. Ironically, I find my trip unusually comfortable. Back home, I would silently complain that distance.Here, since locals depend on public transportation, everything seem to work well. The coach are wider and well ventilated but a little bit "spiced up" of which I am getting used to as time passes. There were announcement of train estimated time of arrivals flashing on the TV screens per station. People follow the arrows painted on the floor to tell passengers to wait for alighting commuters to get out first before they get in. As days turned to a week, I have already learned a few local gestures.
 

 
Since my sister works on GY shifts, I hardly see her awake that long. I asked her to teach me how the washing machine operates since it's automatic. My first attempt to use it was not quite a failure, but a little bit challenging. It took me a couple of hours to wash . I feel like the clothes were still dirty knowing that I didn't manually washed it.But then, it has to come to another try before I can get used to it.
 

 
In Manila, it is uncommon to get warm water within your reach when you bathe. Oftentimes, I'd heat a kettle of water in the morning when its colder season., or unless you have a heater installed. Yet, this is only available to those who are a little bit well off. So here, since it's a common amenities in every households, I tend to always forget to turn the heater switch on before I get in the bathroom. The umpteen times I have also forgotten to turn switches while charging.
 

 
I know that there are still many things here that will go to my first list. And I hope it aint gonna be an expensive "charge to experience" --first. :)
 


~h

La Singapura.

My first weekend.

As soon as I settled my self here,I messaged Fil right away.He is a very good friend in college and is my eldest daughter godfather. We have fondest memories together.The fact that I live with my sister and I have a friend like him here, I didn't feel the separation anxiety, at least for now. He invited me for a barbeque party along with his colleagues. He fetched me at the MRT station near the condominium he live. This time around, where he lives, were all surrounded with landed property far from tall HDB buildings. Overlooking his flat, were big trees, bungalow houses, and dainty Chinese scenery.

~h