Staff Training Begins

Today was the first official day of staff training for summer 2007. We have a TON of staff, but the atmosphere so far is really good and encouraging.

And, for the record - I still miss Singapore :) You guys should come hang out, because I will for real take you on crazy little road trips, haha. Man, I could use a plate of rice right now...sigh ;)

Camp!

I moved down to camp yesterday afternoon, and was met by the task of unpacking from Singapore and all of last semester's stuff, and then repacking for the summer and next semester. Waaaayyyy tooooooo much stuff. Yikes. So, I just spread out my life across the couches and floor of the staff lounge and went to work. After a hard day's work...I am about halfway done.

Anyways, on Saturday I have to go back to Raleigh (an hour and a half away - where my home uni is) for my sister's graduation (she's getting her masters degree). Sunday miiiiight be a trip to Richmond, VA to see a certain Eugene (after all, there just so many Eugenes) who is working at King's Dominion. We'll see :) And then on Monday, it's to work I go - and nonstop until August.


Note: to answer questions about redirecting to my blog instead of keeping one just for my Singaporean counterparts - this is the only blog I have, haha, so, uh, here it is ;)

And, So...

I've officially been back in the United States for 8 days...and I've been trying to think of the things that I have learned and all that mushy, cheesy, recapping and reflecting stuff. And, so, this is what I came up with:

- I like Asian food. A lot. I was born to eat with chopsticks.
- Squat toilets aren't so scary. In fact, they add a little spice to your life...especially on a moving train.
- Holding up the peace sign in a picture is really just to give you something to do with your hands and to prevent otherwise awkward poses.
- It is possible to kiiiinda forget what a Southern accent sounds like...
- I'm a pro at text messaging. The dexterity and quickness of my right thumb is absolutely amazing.
- Driving on the left isn't THAT hard...I mean, as long as you remember to hit the turn signal instead of the windshield wipers, and once you've recovered from the surprise of wipers moving across the windshield, you should make sure you drive in the correct lane....
- You can, in fact, re-wire your vocabulary: lift = elevator, toilet = restroom, circus = traffic circle (or whatever we call them here), etc.
- There are times that you just mess up...it's a fact of life.
- "Can" and "cannot" are perfectly acceptable answers to questions.
- Making friends in a different country and culture is not tooo hard; you just have to be willing to laugh at yourself.
- Ninja tag is an immensely popular game - no matter where you go.
- No matter how hard I try, putting "lah" at the end of a sentence will never sound natural.
- Singaporeans like to eat. So do I.
- I can say "thank you" in many different languages: terima kasih (Malaysia and Indonesia); aw kohn (Cambodia); kkawp khoon (Thailand); cam on (Vietnam); and xiexie (Singapore, haha).
- And, finally, sometimes you just need to leave the country for 4 months in order to regain your sanity.

I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone at home that thought about me, prayed for me, sent me email and snail mail, wrote to me on facebook, talked to me on AIM, came to visit me (and seriously considered visiting me...). It really meant a lot to me!!!! It might take a while for me to make the rounds in seeing everyone now that I'm back, but I look forward to seeing everyone again.

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And, so, this marks the end of Jordan's stay in Singapore. Due to the many requests of my Singaporean friends, I will (try to) maintain my blog in order to keep people updated on what I'm up to. And, of course, I started saving my pennies the day I got back to the States...I think a flight to the other side of the world will be in order sometime in the future. :)

Welcome Back to the U. S. of A.

I'm in Colorado, safe and sound, although United Airways messed up my ticket, and followed it with making me miss my flight, and then had to book a new, later ticket for me. I seriously shed a few tears out of frustration and exhaustion. To make a long story short, it took me 27 hours and 4 airports to get here.

I

am

TIRED.

Goodnight.

Coming Home

It is currently 4:17 AM Singapore time...and I'm still awake. I just finished packing, and I ASSURE you, I am over the weight limit.

I mean, my luggage is over the weight limit...not me personally, haha.

Anyways, my flight to the States leaves at 9:45 - do the math; that's less than 5 and a half hours away. My friend, Jianxun is taking me to the airport...

And then it's over. 18 weeks that went by wayyy too fast. I'm still in sort of a state of shock that I'm REALLY leaving. But, I guess I have 24 hours of sitting in an airplane or airport to let it sink in and to reflect.

Ok, I'm going to end this sad and depressed sounding post.

A Whirlwind 48 Hours Left...

Back from Thailand! (See pictures below) It was a really beautiful country, but it was a good feeling when the plane touched down in Singapore - traveling always makes me tired! Anyways, as we were flying into Singapore, I also realized that it would be the last time I flew into Singapore for a loooong time. Sigh.

So, in my remaining 48 hours (which started this morning), I have so far: visited the ICA (Immigration and Customs Authority) building to cancel my student pass and get a social visit pass (so I will be in the country legally my last day haha); checked out with the hostel management and received back my huge deposit; had lunch with my fellow CFers; had coffee with another friend, and then went to buy some food and tea to take home; and finally, dinner and dessert with two of my classmates from Malay class. Tonight holds in store plenty of laundry and packing, and tomorrow the whole business repeats itself. Less than 36 hours left in Singapore....


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PICTURES FROM THAILAND

The highest point in Thailand...and it's a part of the Himalayas. Yes sir, mark that off the list, I have been to the Himalayas.

Waterfall!!!!

At the Grand Palace in Bangkok...I just like this picture.

Tomorrow = Thailand!

In less than 19 hours I will be on an airplane heading to Chiang Mai, Thailand!

Did you hear that?! THAILAND!

Then Wednesday it's a 13-hour train ride south to Bangkok. And late Friday night, flying back to Singapore.

:)