Kiasu

The owners of our lovely apartment building decided that each unit needs to be 1/3 of its current size, so we were given a one month notice to leave in January.  It wasn't unexpected, however, as they had advertised in the paper over a year ago that our building was 'en bloc' (i.e. sold for demolition) - a fact repeated to me by every cab driver as they approach our doomed domicile!

 

So, we found a 'landed' house (i.e. one with a yard) and moved over the weekend.  Moving, normally a stressful task, was made simple by the movers hired for us who wouldn't let us pack or carry a single item.  We did end up living out of boxes for a few days, but essentially we were teleported from one building to another.

 

So far, so good - we like having 'land' and it's nice being on a small street as opposed to a major road, though we have now found that the flying fauna of Singapore makes a helluva lotta noise in the morning...

Hi - not much to say 'cept we're back in Singapore (after 20 hours on the plane!) and not travelling anywhere anytime soon.

I just found out I have a class on Saturday mornings (!) which will really keep me landlocked - though it's probably not such a bad thing as I have a lot to catch up on after running around the States for the past couple of weeks.

 

We're so happy we got to see so many people during our visit to the States - and hope to catch up with everyone else soon.

Just a note to stay that we're still alive, just busy with travel, work and studying (for me). 

We have our trip planned back to the States - December 24th - January 9th - and I'm so looking forward to being there, though less so the 2x 20 hour flights.

 

Photos still forthcoming...

Will try to get them up next week...

 

Not much new in Singapore - the haze from the Indonesian farmers burning their fields has finally lifted so we can see the sun again.  I see that it's been cold in the States - which reminds me of how unseasonal it is here.  I do miss the autumnal chill and the start of the snowboard season - but I'm not sure I could handle a New York February at the moment!

Quick update - Lorraine and I were married on Saturday September 16th. It was a beautiful day on the beach in Amagansett and we had a great party afterwards.  Pics to be up as soon as we get them from the photographer...

Well it's 5AM on the Thursday before my Saturday wedding and I can't say how much I'm looking forward to it!  Without getting too gushy about it, I've finally finished the hell of my exams and now have a wonderful wedding to a wonderful woman with all great friends and family around in a beatiful place.  Can't ask for anything more...

 

Every time I come back to the states, there's always something in the first 2 hours or so after landing that just sticks out at me.  As we were driving through Brooklyn on the way back to Long Beach, I just looked around and could believe how stereotypical 'Brooklyn' the people in Brooklyn were.  Hooded tops, full length black leather jackets, gold chains, and even someone giving us 'the finger' from out of a Cadillac Escalade.  As I said to Lorriane  'You couldn't make them up...'

Finally got some new photos up of our vacation in Bangkok and Bali in August.  Note the failed attempt, once again, to get a picture of me actually standing on a surfboard...

The lack of updates is certainly caused more by the difficulty of my financial engineering course as opposed to interesting things happening.  Since the beginning of the month, I've been to NY and back (for a weekend) and am currently in Shanghai.  Lorraine is now in NY and will be there until she is officially Mrs. Rajeck!

 

I really should get some pics up of Shanghai - it's like the future as it may have been pictured in the 1950's and never updated, kinda like Land of Tomorrow at Disney World.  The expat community here seems very energetic and young and this place certainly be appealing to me if I was 10 years younger.  Everyone here, apparently, has some import/export company idea in the making but it's very difficult to find local partners.  Haven't seen much of the nightlife (or day life for that matter) but what I did see was extravagent and expensive.  Looking forward to coming back actually as it's quite easy to get around and there's apparently very cool things to see all around the city...