This is something that started bothering me a couple weeks ago, mostly because I gave it any thought at all. Here in Singapore, Ketchup is always referred to as "Tomato Ketchup." (Side note, they pronounce tomato toe-mah-toe vs tah-may-toe). Are we making sure that we're not confusing it with other types of ketchup? God forbid you grab eggplant or watermelon ketchup instead. Anyone ever been asked to pass the cabbage ketchup? Sauce for thought.
So most of you may not know this, and why would you, but we have two sets of friends that got pregnant right around the time of our going-away festivities (my guess is that it actually happened AT our going away party, but I couldn't be everywhere at once. Well, these babies are actually going to be born soon, which means, remarkably, that I've been here for just about 9 months. (and yes, I know, I've not blogged at all in their 3rd 3-mesters).
Nine months so far. I wish I could say that it's been easy, that I've acclimated 100%. I still think it's hot, because it is. I still go apeshit when trying to walk through a crowded mall or subway station, because it's the most ridiculous thing. But this is home now, and I'm getting even better at it. I take way more public transportation than I'd like to. I get around the city without consulting maps. I now find cab drivers to actually be coherent AND I can give them directions. Most importantly, we have great friends here, which has been especially important lately.
Frankly, the last few months have been difficult to say the least. Yes, there's been lots of travel (all of which I have to update you on) for both of us, together and Kellie's solo trips for work. There's been countless terrific nights out with friends, BBQs, and seeing F1 Singapore, the only night F1 Race in the world - an event that, including it's concerts, actually had me referring to Singapore as. . . cool.
But I'm still not working.
Four months since I left Questex and this is obviously the single biggest challenge to my otherwise dependable CHEERY MOOD. Long story short? Not only did I count my chickens before they hatched, I had also put all of their hypothetical eggs into just ONE basket. Picking up what I'm putting down? I waited almost 3 months to find out the job I'd been assured was a "go," was a "no go." That almost turned my breaking point into my broken point.
It's been an interesting process, this Southern Hemispheric job hunt. The stuff I can get I don't want, the stuff I want, well I can get and can't have. 2nd Example - last week I find out that the job that I'm in love with, that I'd be PER-freaken-FECT for was to be offered to me, it was mine, right up until this large security software company announced a hiring freeze. Honestly, it's fucking comical - Kellie and I literally laughed when I got that call. Seriously? Twice? Something, anything, has to give, right?
Anyway - keep digging, I keep leaning on poor Kellie, who tirelessly amazes me with her support and patience, and trust that God, either America's God or Singapore's, I don't care, will come up with something for me.
Now - shit ain't all bad, and I don't want you to think that it is. I know my not being in a great place the last few months is why I haven't blogged, but I realized tonight (it's about 1:30am) as I couldn't fall asleep, I realized that writing about the tough parts of this journey will be just as valuable to me down the road as the good stuff. This feeling of just, just floating along (a la the feather in Forrest Gump) - this is important for some reason. I mean it blows, but what do they call this shit? Teachable Moment?
And maybe getting this out there tonight will prevent me from having a complete mental meltdown tomorrow at my landlord and his merry band of AC nitwits when they come back a FOURTH time to try and shore up the endless streams of water cascading gloriously, majestically even, down our walls and all over our floors.
Anyway - like I said it ain't all bad. In fact, it's mostly good, save for the job thing. F1 was amazing, and get this, Capt Danimal will be here a week from Sunday. I'm so excited - and not just because we're planning to A.) Rent Harleys and ride around S'pore and possibly up into Malaysia and 2.) Fly to Phuket for a nice long weekend - I'm thrilled that Kellie and I will get a taste of home and be able to share Singapore with another of our friends. Also, in Phuket, you can really see some crazy stuff. Oh yeah, and did I ALSO mention that the weekend after Phuket is Cambodia (I'm told 10K's don't actually require training?), and the weekend after that is my birthday and the Thursday after that, MY FUCKING DAD IS COMING TO SINGAPORE!!! CEO Phil is coming for 10 days baby. It blows not being home (I mean in Boston) for the holidays, but having my Dad here for Christmas (even though he flies out ON Christmas) will be amazing. Plus he's bringing like an extra suitcase of shirts and shorts and stuff for me BECAUSE NOTHING HERE IS MADE FOR PEOPLE BIGGER THAN I WAS IN FOURTH GRADE! Bus seats = busted knees, train doors = head butts - you feel my pain.
So - I owe the world a finished Bali blog (yup that trip was in May), a Beijing blog (spoiler alert, there will be many references to poop), some ramblings about Langkawi, Malaysia (9 out of 10 stars), and coming in the next 2 months, Thailand, Cambodia and Australia (my 20th country!).
Here are some of my latest observations:
- Want to know what it feels like to lose your mind? Stand somewhere in Singapore and watch Police Cars, Fire Trucks or Ambulances (with the lights flashing) - sitting in traffic or waiting at stop lights.
- You know how in Americaland the "Chinese Food" places give you Fortune Cookies? And you know how those cookies often provide a word for us to learn in Chinese? Yeah well, I should have paid more attention to that shit.
- I've come up with two fashion rules that I've observed among locals here in Singapore that I think the "Make it work" guy Kellie makes me watch would be proud of. 1.) For women, there's no such thing as too short. 2.) For men, there's no such thing as too tight.
Until next time, GMail, GChat, AIM, Facebook, Text, Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp, Visit or Call - I might miss you, so you should check. BTW, since daylight savings, we're 13 hours ahead of the East Coast, 16 for the West Coast, and to my readers in the Ukraine, it seems I'm 6 hours ahead of you.
