Pedestrian traffic tends to pass on the other side from the US custom.
You must “top up” things instead of “upgrade” your rental car or “add more funds” to your accounts.
If you have a question about something you must “query Mr. X” for more information rather than ask him.
“On the stove” is to turn the stove on.
Want to quickly jump in the shower to clean up and run out? Well give yourself an extra 15 minutes if you want it to be a warm shower. Same thing for washing the dishes. You must flip a switch to warm your water so planning ahead is key. It’s all about saving energy and money.
Special K cereal, a staple in our home, is available at about $10/box but they definitely use a different formula to make it. The strawberries are more grey than red but softer than back home.
Food portions at the store are half the size and twice the price, even after the currency conversion.
The fridge here leaves much to be desired. It’s small and I mean really small. I’m a Costco girl at heart and require a deep freeze to be truly content.
Tampons must be a novelty item. 7-11 didn’t have any at all, the grocery had a huge section of maxi pads but only one box of tampons for sale.
Nightlights are not required. There is enough ambient light from living in the city that unless I want to read a book, I can see just fine with all the lights off.
Using a grocery cart is like at Aldi in Virginia. You must insert a coin to use it and get it back upon return.
7 comments:
funny to think about all the differences in language usage, even though it's still English. I hear you on the Fridge. Are they "built in" to look like cabinets? i found that almost everyone here has an "auxillary" because fridges and just fridge and not everyone has a freezer. do you have a freezer??
i took a year's supply of tampons with me... funny. i think it was the only thing like that i really took with me.
looking forward to your next post. is the place you are in now your temporary housing? or did you go straight to the "real" one? are you having furniture shipped or renting a furnished place? are you expecting your air shipment to arrive soon??
when is ben starting school?
keep posting :-)
I read this post before the previous one and felt like I wanted to run to Singapore and give you a giant hug! You all are my heroes for going on this adventure. Hang in there!
Oh the adventures! Figure out what you can order online. We can always ship you care packages of Special K and tampons :)
Oh the joys of living in another country! Let me know if you need any care packages...I owe you big time!
Do they queue up there (as opposed to lining up for something?) I just had lunch with a girl who moved from Indonesia. She said she was amazed at how big the bags of chips are in Australia. Australian chip bags are about half the size as the US. They must be absolutely tiny over there. It is wise to completely ignore how much things cost, for a couple months. Seriously. Just buy the things you usually buy and close your eyes at the check out.
Julie is right - just close your eyes and pay it or you will drive yourself crazy - ;).
I do love the crazy face photo. Hugs!!
in the beginning there is no such thing as "bargain" shopping. it's a bargain if you can get it in the first attempt and no tears are involved :-)
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