This is wrong

...because I am here to work and i went to the themepark and went crazy instead...for the 2nd time in less than a week. Quite disappointed that i have to take down my previous blogpost...am not allowed to post sensitive issues such as that on the internet. Better not get into trouble even before i start work

So i went to the themepark again...this time with more people (i think there was like 8 of us). This time, i went for the front row seats on the roller coasters, hands free from the handle and rode it like a pro. And of course, we went to psycho all the guys and gals who dare not take the rides to hope on the front seats. It's very interesting to see guys squirming and finding excuses to not get on rides. To all my female friends, bring ur macho males friends to a roller coaster and u may get a chance to watch them squirm and beg for help...wahahahaha

I still have not conquered the Intimidator...as in, i've not tried the front row seats. Took it 3 times, blackout 3 times (the 2nd time was the worst...i think lose consciousness for 3 whole seconds). Will train till i can seat on it and yawn during the plunge down. According to wikipedia, it's 93 metres tall, reaches speed of 151km/h, descent angle of 85 degrees. Apparently, tt has been slowed down and modified because people were really blacking out during and after the ride. It was rated the 11th best steel coaster in 2010 (i can't wait to try the top 10) and the 2nd best new ride in 2010.

Now to the more serious stuff...REVIEWING EXPECTATIONS

I've been here for abt a week already...time to see if things have match up or not. Haven really started work but it seems slightly mundane with long working hours. This is within expectations, since i'm here only for 1 month, of course i'm not expecting high profile jobs and workload. Hope to brush up on my bullshitting skills with the Americans.

Food (eating white bread for breakfast while typing this)

Already expected food to be a concern. Heard so much abt the high fat diet of the Americans. Hunks in shows like Baywatch only exists on tv...the Americans (both male and female) are easily twice my size. The pricing at the employee cafe is reasonable but still on the high side...something like a fastfood meal in Singapore. It's high in calorie, and not filling at all. So have to resort to Walmart. I miss the Chai Fan stall under my block in Singapore. When I'm hungry, i'll just go get takeaway. Down here, if i run out of food, i have to take the company's bus to Walmart and the bus doesn't come everyday and only at certain times. This really does feel like army and outfield, where i survive on energy bars solely for a week. This trip is 2 month...Miss the food and convenience in Singapore.

See! From Walmart. $2.50 for a can of 12. Slightly more than 20cents each. Makes u wonder what goes in the can...20cents of ingredients. The empty can probably cost 20cents

Not so sure abt this but my roomie says a tub of ben and jerry is abt $20 in Singapore. It's $3.25 here. Someone must be ripping off gullible Singaporeans if it's true. To Singapore, u are paying $20 for something that cost less than $3 to produce...SUCKERS!!!

Roommates

Just to clarify the terms. Roomie is my friend from Singapore, roommates are the other 2 in the room

Not much expectations from roommates, u either get good ones or bad ones...nothing much u can expect. Got in a room with 2 Philippino...and how would i describe them...extreme, very young, individualistic and open. Firstly, the are extremely messy. Got a shock during my first night. It's not just messy, it's dirty. Clothes just dumped into cupboards, weird liquid paste-like goo in their cups. My roomie and i occupy only our bed, our cupboards, the top of the fridge, half the fridge and they take the rest of the room, cupboards drawers, floor and table.

This is their cupboard...look at the pile of clothes at the bottom! I know what u are thinking. YES! I will snap pictures of u if u are that messy and dirty!

The temperature in the room is also very extreme...when they sleep, they switched the temperature to the coldest, and when they leave, they turn it to the warmest, even when my roomie and i are still in the room! No wonder my laptop is making that wheezing noise

That's why i say they are probably still very young...like not enough life experience. Not very sure how to arrange their stuff, not sure wat to put in their cups, cleaning up

They also tend to keep to themselves...even between the 2 of them. Noticed that they prefer to talk in their own language rather than English...so my roomie and I cannot join in lor. They also like to spend time in other rooms, probably with people from their own country. Interestingly, they dun share their foodstuff and items with each other even though they are in the same room. My roomie and i share EVERYTHING...just short of our beds and underwear...oops, too much details.

And this is the most disturbing thing...they are quite open. Open not as in that they are promiscuous or something like that. But i really hate the fact that there are girls coming into my room when everyone is still asleep. Maybe i'm conservative...but "guys", "sleeping", "dark", "girls walking in"...put these words together and they dun paint a very nice picture. Let's not talk abt opp gender...i'm sure no one likes people to come in when they are fast asleep rite

Anyway, this sounds like i'm ranting on my roommates. Actually they are pretty fine...just some traits that i pick up during the week here. They probably have complaints abt me as well...but i guess this is wat cultural exchange is all abt. I would like to know more abt them, but currently, it's 井水不犯河水

Singaporeans

Of courses there are Singaporeans here...abt 14 of us...all pretty friendly since we are 同乡. This differs slightly from expectations. Initially, i wanted to come over here alone...and then force myself onto some international group of friends. But this plan is not working well. Everyone sticking to their own group of people...so i suck thumb and stick with Singaporeans as well. I thought everyone was here to mix around...apparently i was mistaken

The Americans

My impression of the Americans are like that. They are capable of the worst individual acts, but when the time comes for them to rally behind a cause, or a person, they are able to set apart all their individual differences for a greater cause. This is my general impression of them. Initial view of the Americans...if they are friendly, they are really friendly. If they are hostile, they are really hostile. Most of them are very friendly and extremely helpful. Also, i'm interested in their black-white discrimination...and i must really say that they are really one people now. Singapore has always stressed on being multi-cultured, but i think they the races are still not integrated enough. Look at how many chinese friends i have and we normally dun interact with people from the other races. The Americans have really look past skin colour...something Singapore should strive to achieve.

Me!

I'm not sure. I think i'm slightly more wild in the States. Chatting with the bus driver on the way to work. Talking with the ride host before the ride. Cussing the american next to me before the ride starts. Saying Hi to everyone as i walk through the theme park. I dun think i'll do that in Singapore. Different culture, must act differently.

Ooh, another pretty lengthy writing. Guess i should stop here

Mark the mirror (this post is effectively a short reflection)

PS: I think i won't be writing much in the next couple of days. Training starts today from 5pm to 10 pm. And then 9am - 6pm on Sat and Sun. Then work officially starts. I think it's abt 10 hrs a day, 6 days a week. Only off on Weds:(