Day 5: Things I've Learned So Far

Having lived here for a few days now, there are many things that I've noticed and learned. Most of them are minor, but I still find them useful to know.

1) A ceiling fan and an open window are enough to keep me comfortable for now.

2) A boy today told me that the weather these past mornings has been "cold". So apparently, cold weather for Singaporeans is approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So why are their air conditioners cranked up so much...?

3) If possible, sit down while riding a shuttle or bus. If not possible, hang on tightly to a pole.

4) Pretty much everyone speaks English, but not everyone understands you.

5) Anything labeled "curry" is too spicy for me to eat.

6) Expect rice or rice noodles at nearly every meal. Also expect some sort of soup to be offered with most of your meals.

7) Public bathrooms have at least one stall equipped with a handheld sprayer to um, cleanse yourself after you do your business.

8) Hot water in my floor's bathroom runs out quickly. My showers have to be pretty quick.

9) Most women's antiperspirant claims to whiten your underarms. I have no idea why you would want to do that, but this is a foreign country.

10) Many dining areas do not have napkins. Not a good thing when you're trying to eat noodles and get broth or sauce all over your chin

11) Red bean soup is really sweet. I found sweet beans to be kind of hard to believe, but they're real!

12) There are no drinking fountains in UTown or on campus. Instead, there are water coolers. Bring a water bottle when you go out.

13) If you don't know where something is, Google search it.

14) Don't knock something until you try it, even if it sounds weird.

15) Most signs and labels are written in English and at least one other language (Mandarin, Malay, etc.).

16) There are very few insects (at least around campus and where I'm staying) in spite of the warm weather. Great for people who hate bugs!

I think that's about all... If there's more, I can add 'em later.