Sunlight. Its can be very bright, glaring even, especially on cloudless days. Practically half the population is wearing sunglasses on sunny days!
Cars are inexpensive. A second-hand car can cost just as much as a high-end bicycle.
ABC girls. Australian-born Chinese girls. Eyeliner and mascara. Accent. That's how you tell =D
Most houses do not have all-round fences or a gate. You see the lawn and driveway when you arrive.
Food is relatively expensive. A plate of chicken rice/ horfun/ any food court food costs between AU$6 to $10. In fact, fast food is cheaper on average. Servings are large, though.
Crumpler. How come I only see Asians wearing Crumpler bags when it's an Aussie brand?!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Thursday, March 8, 2007
A different place
Homesick
That feeling of homesickness. Can't be ignored. A new environment, new people. University is a very independent place. Friends don't necessarily take the same units, or have the same timetable. It's a great feeling of freedom, but takes getting used to.
'Home'
I now live with other students in a house owned by a Australian-Singaporean couple. There is a small swimming pool which I can use, and there are like hundreds of TV channels! There's a Malaysian doing BSc in Biomedical Sciences. A German doing his Masters in some Engineering. And a Spaniard doing his Doctorate in Forestry. And there is a big Border Collie, which I take for walks. And a really docile cat that spends its day licking itself clean.
University Library
The Reid Library is where I spend most of my time between classes. Lately, I've been talking to Dr. Vivian Forbes in the Geology-Maps section. He's written several books on maritime political issues, and is extremely knowledgeable on such geopolitical issues. He has a great sense of humour too. Now, he is working on the sea boundary dispute between Australia and Timor Leste, where oil wells are at stake.
I found maps of interest to me - old topographical maps of Singapore! I have the 1:50k topographical map of Singapore 2001 edition, but left it back there. Too bad, will have to get it when I return. Here in the Reid Library, I found lots of older editions, which I had a hard time getting to in the National Archives of Singapore. The landscape of post-war Singapore was, of course, very much different. All reclaimed parts - like East Coast Park, Tuas, Changi Airport - did not exist. And Ang Mo Kio, where I live, consists of brush, trails, hills, and a handful of buildings! The wartime significance of these maps cannot be understated - the grid systems, datums, projections.
Sailing
My hosts invited my housemates and I to go for a sailing trip at Fremantle on 7Mar. A wonderful experience it was. The yacht had sails that were adjusted depending on the wind. The sunset on the horizon was immensely beautiful.
Interesting thing was, it being a weekday, there were many yachts out in the sea. Australians sure know how to relax!
That feeling of homesickness. Can't be ignored. A new environment, new people. University is a very independent place. Friends don't necessarily take the same units, or have the same timetable. It's a great feeling of freedom, but takes getting used to.
'Home'
I now live with other students in a house owned by a Australian-Singaporean couple. There is a small swimming pool which I can use, and there are like hundreds of TV channels! There's a Malaysian doing BSc in Biomedical Sciences. A German doing his Masters in some Engineering. And a Spaniard doing his Doctorate in Forestry. And there is a big Border Collie, which I take for walks. And a really docile cat that spends its day licking itself clean.
University Library
The Reid Library is where I spend most of my time between classes. Lately, I've been talking to Dr. Vivian Forbes in the Geology-Maps section. He's written several books on maritime political issues, and is extremely knowledgeable on such geopolitical issues. He has a great sense of humour too. Now, he is working on the sea boundary dispute between Australia and Timor Leste, where oil wells are at stake.
I found maps of interest to me - old topographical maps of Singapore! I have the 1:50k topographical map of Singapore 2001 edition, but left it back there. Too bad, will have to get it when I return. Here in the Reid Library, I found lots of older editions, which I had a hard time getting to in the National Archives of Singapore. The landscape of post-war Singapore was, of course, very much different. All reclaimed parts - like East Coast Park, Tuas, Changi Airport - did not exist. And Ang Mo Kio, where I live, consists of brush, trails, hills, and a handful of buildings! The wartime significance of these maps cannot be understated - the grid systems, datums, projections.
Sailing
My hosts invited my housemates and I to go for a sailing trip at Fremantle on 7Mar. A wonderful experience it was. The yacht had sails that were adjusted depending on the wind. The sunset on the horizon was immensely beautiful.
Interesting thing was, it being a weekday, there were many yachts out in the sea. Australians sure know how to relax!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)