Hair Cut

Oh yes I just realized that I posted some new pictures and the last pictures of me you saw I had long hair. It is really very warm here and having long hair was a bit of an inconvenience. So I cut off 25.4 centimeters or 10 inches, so that I can give it to "Locks of Love" when I come home. Every time I cut my hair I try and wait until it is long enough that I can send it for children who have lost their hair and need a wig. The nice thing about "Locks of Love" is that they try and match the donor hair with the child so that they are similar. With a wig from real hair the children are able to shower with it on just like a normal child would.

The Merlion and Rotary Dinner

Me and the merlion

On Saturday I was supposed to go to Rotary meeting in the morning but I just couldn't make it. I felt horrible. I had a headache and my throat was hurting. I was so determined that I was going to get there that I got on the train only to get back off again and call my host to tell him that I really couldn't come as I just felt terrible. So I went back to the house and went back to sleep. I slept most of the day. However, I really wanted to see gymnastics, but when I got all the way out to the place where they were being hosted I found out that some guy had waited in line for six hours to get the last tickets.

Jan met me there but there were not any tickets for us so we went to see the Merlion. I was the only one of us that hadn't seen it yet. Now that I have seen it I don't need to do anything else in Singapore. Well that isn't true. However it was good to see it. I would have liked it a lot more if it had not had a square on the back for maintenance. That just ruined the illusion for me.

Jan and I with Leo and Molli

After the merlion we walked down Marina Bay and came to a place that had a band playing and performers as part of the Youth Olympics.  While we were there we had dinner at a little sandwich place. I had a tuna sandwich, it was good but it was really small and I was still hungry after. Walking out we sat down to watch a little of the hurtles on a screen. While we were sitting there Leo and Molli, the mascots of the YOG came by. Jan and I lined up with all the little kids to have our picture taken with them. Okay so it was a little childish, but it was really very fun. As you can see these creatures are really something and who wouldn't want to have their picture taken with them. I'd stand in line with kids all over again.

After we left Marina bay I headed home to go to bed as the outing had completely worn me out.

On Monday I contacted my Rotary host to let him now I was better and he invited Jan, Daniel, and me to dinner today. As Jan has Craig here he couldn't go. Daniel and I went to his house and he and his wife had prepared Mexican food. The food was really good. I think I ate the most I have had the entire time I have been in Singapore. I had four tacos, with chicken. I think if I ate at his place every night I would gain a bunch of weight. If for no other reason because they would have good desert that I would eat two or three of, encouraged of course. I would have only had one on my own but Dr. Reto had me and Daniel split a second one, also they had strawberries. Really big pretty ones that just wanted you to eat them.

Dr. Reto and his wife were wonderful. I feel really lucky that he is my host for the year.

Asian Civilization Museum

Me on the river

I finally got out and saw something in the city. I got my student pass this morning and it was an interesting process. Not one I really want to have to go through again. I find it strange how in a place like an immigration office where English is going to be the main language spoken that many of the people do not speak clear English. How did they get the job? I could barely understand the woman who was giving me the pass. I don't think she could understand me either.

After I got my pass I went and met with my Host Councilor. He gave me the District directory so that I can organize speeches. It is really good to have him as a resource for organization of rotary events and helping me complete my requirements for Rotary. I don't think I would be able to do it without him.

Creature of Myth

Today was my first day as a tourist here. I went and visited the Asian Civilization Museum with Jan, and Jan's friend. There was a lot way to much to see, and the lighting was dim so when the cloth came up I started yawning and was thinking that maybe it would be good to go outside and get some sun.

looking over the river

The river front is a very pretty area but it is very touristy. While this is not a bad thing, there are definitely more westerners and Chinese tourist here. When you see a skyline of Singapore this is what you see. It is also a bank and business area, so you have some really tall buildings in this area. After the museum we went back to the apartment for some dinner. The Hawker centers here while they don't have a very large variety of food are almost cheaper than cooking your own meals.

Asia-Pacific Program For Senior Military Officers

Banner

This week, starting on Thursday, was the Asia-Pacific Program For Senior Military Officers (APPSMO). Classes were canceled so that the students could attend the program. It was held on Sentosa, which is a small island resort. Sentosa is a very touristy place and that was definitely the feeling I got from being there. I don't think I need to see anymore of the island than the hotel where the Program was held.

Like most programs some of the speeches were really good and some of them were not as good. I think that part of the issue with APPSMO was that it was for a very different group than us students. It was for the military officers who were there. As a result I think I ended up like and finding the talks they didn't like very intriguing. I think the best part was the food there were lots of good little pastries which I had been missing as they are not easy to get here.

Ships of the coast of Sentosa

Representation a country where the Olympic torch stopped

I was really glade that we had APPSMO going on as it gave me a chance to try and catch up on my studies and really settle into the apartment. On last Thursday they installed the A/C and I thought it was working and then it really didn't seem to be working. It was really hot as well so even with a fan it was uncomfortable. On Friday they A/C guys came back and they had just forgotten to turn on the compressor for the two A/C in the bedrooms. The Master bedroom compressor hey remembered to turn on. Really not fun. Luckily it was fixed and is still working.

On Friday, Jan and I joined up with the other Ambassadorial scholars, Rachel, Sharron, and Ermanno and his girlfriend. When went to the Olympic Torch Lighting ceremony on the National University of Singapore campus. It was a really big event and the school must have spent a large amount of money on it. It was the opening ceremony so one would expect nothing less for the first every Youth Olympic Games. My understanding is that while there is still an emphasis on competition there is also an emphasis on comradeship and making new international friends. I think it is an interesting idea and we will see how that works out.

Ermanno's girlfriend, Ermanno, Sharron, me, Jan, and Rachel

It was good to get together with the Rotary scholars. It is nice to have a group of people who have something in common. It is interesting as we are a group of westerners. After the ceremony we went to dinner in Chinatown. It was a nice evening out. We are thinking of having a monthly dinner so that we can keep in touch since we aren't all in the same school and we are going to be busy with classes and everything we have to do as a Rotary scholars.

Me at the Olympic torch ceremony with glow sticks in my hair

Monday was the last day I attended APPSMO. It was half a day. I was pretty happy about that as it gave me a chance to read and study some. Today there were more programs but I decided to stay and get stuff done.

Apartment

On Friday the HDB approved our application and today we can move in. It was really exciting to finally have a place where I will be able to live the rest of my time in Singapore.

This morning I attended my classes and then I went back to my room in Clementi to get my stuff. My rotary host is going to help me move all of my bags to the new place. I seem to have expanded some since I got here. I think it is mostly groceries, and well I bought a blanket. I forgot my sweater one day for class and realized that if I didn't buy a sweater or something I was going to be miserable. So I stopped at Fair Price, it is like a Wal Mart, and looked at sweaters but they were expensive. I thought that maybe I could get a little blanket, it was much cheaper than the sweaters as well. While one would not expect to need such a thing in a country where it is 80 degrees most days, it is probably the best purchase I've made here. It comes to all of the lectures, and classes with me and many students are jealous of my blanket. So as you can see I didn't have just what I came with but food a blanket and all of the stuff I arrived with to move into the new place. It was very nice of Dr. Reto to come and help me. I don't think I would have made it to the elevator otherwise.

When we got there the family was still moving out. So we left our stuff and went and got some dinner. They called us to let us know when it was ready. Jan, Daniel, and I started the cleaning process. We drew for the master bedroom. Daniel got it. It is okay with me as I have the blue room which is the one I really wanted. I would have taken the Master bedroom because it has an attached bathroom, however I'm fine sharing. The room I took was the kids room and so I ended up doing a lot of cleaning to get stickers off the wall.

The family was nice enough to let us keep the internet, until we are able to get our student passes and set up our own. The only thing that isn't as great is that we don't get A/C until Thursday. It is going to be pretty hot until then. I'm going to be sitting in front of the fan trying not to sweat to much.

View from the top of S4 building on Campus of other look alike buildings

Our apartment has a really good location. We are right next to the Pioneer MRT station which means we can easily go into town. the other nice thing is that the NTU free shuttle bus comes right by there so we can take that into campus and save a little money.

Once I get caught up I think my stress level will go down and I will be able to get out and see some more of the city. This week is APPSMO (Asia-Pacific Program for Senior Military Officers) so I will be going to Sentosa which is a small island which is basically like a resort and entertainment place.