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."