The Adjustment Bureau

It's saturday morning and E and I are hanging in our new pad playing in the living room looking out over the Singapore skyline.  The hubby got back late last night and is still asleep from his long week in Hong Kong.  Not much different than most Saturday mornings, except that we have a city view and not a view of our wonderful bird friends back in Charlotte.  Mike and Laura, are you enjoying the birds?  They eat a lot; don't forget to feed them often.

So, it has been a long week it seems.  The week was full of firsts for all of us.  We mastered going to and from school, navigating cabs, shopping for home goods, making new friends, adjusting to this weather, and to the 12 hour time difference.

The week got off to a great start, but by the end of the week it had taken it's toll on our sweet little E.  Being the brave and independent little girl that she is, I was shocked when on Friday morning dropping her off at school, she clung to me.  She had a death grip on me and wouldn't let me go. I tried to explain that I would be back in the afternoon, but she was not going to let me leave that classroom!  She didn't cry; she was just holding on to the one person that was familiar to her in her small life.  Eventually, she did let go and joined her class as they talked about the day of the week and started circle time.  I should have guessed that an event like that was coming when she asked me the night before "Mom, when are we going home?".  I asked in return "you mean to visit Charlotte?"  We discussed the fact that we didn't live in Charlotte any longer and that Singapore was our new home.  I said that we would go back to visit Charlotte and would get to see all of our old friends.

E did make a new friend this week, Cassie.  The two girls hit it off instantly!  We had a playdate yesterday with Cassie and the girls had a ball!  I can't say how thankful I am that she has someone to play with and someone that she likes so well.  I think having new friend will make the transition so much easier.

So, how did I do this first week?  I think pretty well.  Still don't have the sleeping thing down yet.  I still tend to wake up at about 4 or 5 am, but that's not too different from before.  I did venture out on my own to both Ikea and Carrefour (pronounced Car-four).  I enjoyed my Ikea trip as it was familiar!  It was nice to go somewhere that I knew how to navigate.  Yesterday I went to Carrefour.  Carrefour is kind of like Target, yet not as cool.  They have just about everything there:  food, clothes, home goods, small appliances.  The best part is that they deliver if you spend over $100.  So I loaded up and at about 7 pm the front gate buzzed me to let me know my goods had arrived.  Got to love that!  The one thing that I don't know that I will get used to here is that no matter where you go, most stores have a fishy smell.  (Ikea didn't)  Maybe it's just me, but I swear that they do.

So, I can't end my post without another Singapore life tidbit.  This is one I like!

It is customary in Asian homes to remove your shoes before entering.  Our home has a built in shoe closet in the small foyer off the elevator.  So, when we enter we put our shoes in the shoe cabinet.  Smart idea, as it keeps the dirt out of your house.  We also have a shoe rack at our back entrance.  What I haven't figured out is, what if you enter at the front door and leave through the back?  You still need to get your shoes from the cabinet where you put them.  And, you have to remember which cabinet you put your shoes.  Well, either way, I like the tradition.

Our shoe closet

Well friends, keep on reading and know that I love comments!  Comments keep me going and inspire me to think of new and interesting things to blog about.  Enjoy your weekend; I know we will!