We're in VIRGINIA! May 12, 2008!
The van we found at the airport which brought us to our place.
Kings Dominion! Where we'll be working at!
Best Western, the hotel we're putting up at for a week.
Minrui's room, which was supposed to be Winnie's room.
Sirong and Winnie in Minrui's original room - Room 511!
Grocery shopping at Walmart. i've heard of Walmart, did case study on Walmart, and i'm finally at Walmart! Heh.
Winnie seeking help from the Walmart people, trying to find adapter and sim card.
Lugging bags of groceries... walking to the place where we were supposed to board the shuttle bus back to the hotel. And may i add that it was after sunset and we were unsure of the directions =X
Minrui's groceries.
And this marks our first two days in Virginia. We slept alot cos of jetlag.
5 comments:
Some safety precautions:
1) never walk alone. If you have to, take out your handphone and pretend that you are talking over the phone. Find out where the high crime area are and never walk into them.
2) lock your room from the inside. There are mobile locks that can do this. Else barricade the room before you sleep.
3) always make sure you eat adequately. Singaporeans tend to look for food outside after 8pm. In US you will not find food anywhere after that time. Having biscuits as you have bought is good. If you do not eat adequately, it will turn to fatigue, then to low productivity, then work piles up, then less time for food, etc. It spirals into depression. Try to learn use the oven. It is the American way of cooking so most instant food are prepared for the oven.
4) Use this website to check the weather and temperature everyday. Make sure you dress warm enough: http://www.wunderground.com/US/VA/Richmond.html Dressing less than adequate for warmth does not make you a "hero", being healthy does.
5) If possible try to get a social security number. This is like the IC number in US. It will allow you to do many things such as apply for bank account, get credit card, rent a lodging, get a driving license, etc. Yes if you can try to get a driving license there. It is easier to pass, and it can be converted to a Singapore driving license.
6) Make sure your work or your school covers your health insurance. Both places should cover due to human rights. Without health insurance, you will not be able to afford any trip to any doctor.
7) Find the nearest Singapore group there. They will share with you all the secrets of how to make yourself at home, such as where "Chinatown" is, which calling card is the best, and other good stuff.
8) Try to apply for a "state id". This would serve like a local IC. This will save you from carrying your passport around, which you don't want to lost it accidentally. If you have a local driving license, this can serve as your local IC as well.
9) The best way to overcome jet lag is to use the sun. Spend your time outdoors as much as possible during the day. As your body interacts with the sun, your body will get the message that "now is day time". Since US is roughly 12 hours behind Singapore, the most common problem Singaporeans met with is that they take "afternoon" naps at night and "proper sleep" in the afternoon. You will need to kick this habit.
10) Make sure you boil the tap water before drinking.
11) Make sure you watch the daily news over TV or the internet. Typically you can watch the FOX or ABC TV for free. Look out for crime reports and disaster warnings.
12) This is a good time to kick your Singlish. When you speak English properly, Americans will identify our speech as admirable UK English or Queen's English. Speak slowly if they cannot understand you.
13) Singaporean will have a problem getting used to the penny(1c), nickel(5c), dime(10c), quarter(25c) system. The secret is to fill up the amount with your largest coin first. Hence to come up with 90 cents, you should use 3 quarters (then you are left with 15 cents), then 1 dime and 1 nickel. To come up with 35 cents, you should use 1 quarter (then you are left with 10 cents), then 1 dime.
14) Americans care a lot about individuals, they are very loving people. When they ask you "How are you?", they actually mean it and would be happy to hear your story. When you ask them "How are you?" they may give you a lengthy answer as well. This is uncommon in a fast paced Singapore. So try to get used to them and enjoy the conversation!
15) If you are Catholic or Christian (and even if you are not), try to attend their church service. Catholic being the native religion there, is run differently from how it is done in Singapore. You will see great practitioners there and how their personality reach perfection through their faith. It is an eye opener.
16) Try to appreciate what an American thinks about versus how a Singaporean (back home) thinks about. What are their daily concerns, family concerns, what national issues are they concerned about and what world issues are they concerned about. The breath of their thinking is amazing. This is something you must experience for yourself instead of reading from books.
17) Summer time is full of free local open air concerts. Try to attend and appreciate in the way Americans appreciate. What do they regard as simple pleasures of life?
Hope this helps. Take good care :)
Sorry, do we know you? We don't seem to be able to recognise your nickname. Thank you for your advice!:)
Haha I guess not. This is just some advice from a Singaporean to a Singaporean. :)
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