singapore

Two weekends ago I was in Chiang Mai (again) to assist with a group of Singaporean students here on a school trip. Their school is supposedly the top boys school in Singapore and I believe it after one child told me he wanted to be a banker. I don't even know what bankers really do, but I am sure it involves more money than I will ever make. I mostly tagged along, taught them how to count to ten in Thai and enjoyed the sights. The highlight was definitely the "talent" the boys displayed when we visited a local school. About ten of them rocked out to "Jesus, You're the Savior of my Soul." Now, I am using the term talent loosely, and was most impressed with one boys wonderful impression of a worship leader. There I was in room, with maybe one other Christian, jamming to a Jesus song. It might make sense to mention that the boys school was founded by Presbyterian missionaries and still has mandatory chapel.

Being around 9th graders brought back so many memories of my prep school days, the uniforms, the teachers, the ridiculousness. It was nice to pay a momentary tribute, savor the good times and then check back into being 22.

This past weekend Christina and I went to Singapore. The trip was short, but enjoyable. We stayed in Little India, in what is likely to be the cleanest dorm-style hostel ever. Leave it to Singapore to make even hostels clean. We saw some sights, mainly malls, subway stations and more malls. The city really didn't feel like SE Asia, it kind of reminded me of Japan in its organization, cleanliness, walker-friendliness and endless quality shopping. Thailand has shopping, but its either junk or Channel. I'm not going to lie, it was nice being in a Gap in Singapore. Yes, I admitted that consumerism does play a part in my emotional comfort, more psychological than not. Just nice to even think that a store might have my size.

The highlight of the trip was when we were recruited to "model" for an ad agency who needed caucasian faces for a project. Now, I may not offer much, but a caucasian face- that I do have. Christina and I trusted the photographer ( I mean it's Singapore-whose not to trust), boarded a taxi and hoped for the best. Don't worry, I asked questions and got a business card, plus other foreigners- including 2 men where also going. I did get a little sketched out when we had to climb up 8 flights of stairs to reach the studio, but alas my faith was restored when we entered a room full of cameras and lights. We laughed with the Australians about how random this was. One guy in particular, was quite the character and kept us entertained the whole time. We are now all facebook friends, which signifies a bond that shall never be shattered. Sarcasm. Needless to say, it was nice to be reminded of the perks of being caucasian in Asia; you get paid for it.

On a completely un-Singapore note. Yesterday I completed my SAT tutoring with Cartoon. He is the most colorful student I have had. In one of the practice tests there was a question involving vampires, which prompted him to tell me more than I wanted to know about his previous study on the subject. He warned me to stay away from night clubs, because that is where vampires like to hang out. Since I am a "American girl" he assumed I, like in the movies, tend to go home with random men after a night out. Sometimes these men are vampires. (I remind you that I am trying to keep a straight face). There are many quotes from Cartoon, but I will end with the following, taken from his essay on the influence technology has had on the world:
"technology could easily turn the 'Mother Terra' into an Italian spicy smoked meatball."

2008. when did that happen.

Happy New Year!

Lucy should be mid-flight on her way to Japan and then back to the U.S. I think she loved Thailand more in her two week visit than I will in my one year stay. It was great to show her my “new life” here and have her take good reports to those Stateside. We went to Koh Samet and toured around Bangkok, well my bubble of BKK, which consists of shopping malls and fine dinning. Only the best for visitors.

New discovery in my neighborhood; a public scale. A few feet away from the skytrain station entrance is a scale with two photographs. The first picture has a woman, resembling Natalie Portman, and a Thai monk visiting a sick person in the hospital. The next is of a malnourished, topless woman who is staring at the floor. Since the picture is pixely I can't tell id she is Thai or Western. There is some Thai under the pictures explaining their connection and likely the reason for the public scale. I could learn Thai to figure it out or continue to make up my own extensive explanations. My best guess is that it's a public awareness campaign for eating disorders.

In other news, the King's sister passed away. She was 84 and had been in the hospital for months. Thailand is now in mourning for 90 days. This means that everyone wears black to work. Thankfully my office is more...not sure, but we don't have to wear black. I would have had too at my old job. Another reason to be content with the change.

Tonight I'm taking the overnight bus to Chiang Mai for a fun filled weekend of “chaperoning” 100 Singaporean 9th graders. I will basically be tagging along on their extended field trip, being the "foreigner-in-a-box" that I usually am. Did I mention how at the science camp I was photographed with each student, handing out their "diploma"? I was also asked to m.c. the whole day, a little foreign monkey on stage. Nevertheless, it should make for some great stories.