Not quite settled in yet

I've been here now for 3 weeks...can't say I'm comfortable. I'm getting there though. Good news - I haven't gotten cained...yet!

No cool personal pictures…I forgot my camera charger back home…and have yet to pick one up. The pictures in this one are downloaded from the internet. The tallest building in two skyline pictures is where I'm working, on the 35th floor of the UOB Plaza.


The first three weeks here were ridiculously busy with work, and I'm a bit inefficient at the moment as I'm trying to figure things out. We had a big client meeting and then the CEO was visiting last week…so it was a bit hectic.

This past weekend I went to a two-night concert with Buddy Guy (one of the godfather's of the blues…which means a godfather of most modern-day music), Buena Vista Social Club, Gipsy Kings, Jools Holland & Orchestra, and The Fray. Buddy Guy stole the show. I appreciated Buena Vista and Gipsy Kings and seeing something Latin, which I miss. They spoke Spanish to the crowd and it was rather cool being one of the few who could understand what they said.

Singapore is the cleanest city I've ever seen. As a co-worker said, 'the streets are so clean, I feel like I'm in a movie set.'

Lots of Asians. Feels like I traded in Latinos for Asians. From an attraction aspect, I'm not sure that was the best deal (though there are lots of beautiful women here…just not sure if I'm into Asians yet). From an efficiency and business standpoint, it was a very good idea.

Singapore was also rated as the #1 city for expats by HSBC Bank. I can pretty much get all the food items I would want from the States – though it's expensive. In fact, it's cheaper to eat out at the Singaporean food centers (called hawker centers, like a food court) than it is to buy food and cook. Therefore, cooking turns out to be a luxury done only when I really want to.


That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for reading.
Much love,
Jake

Singapore!

Just to get an official post on here - I have arrived to Singapore. It appears, at the outset, that I am going to really enjoy this place. But I say that without much knowledge and maybe a little happy to be sitting by the pool and out of the snowiest winter in DC for the last 100 years.

I spent 4 days in Delhi - mainly working, so I don't really have much to report on from there. Although, I will say the driving was the most lawless I have seen yet in my life, knocking Naples off the #1 spot. Cows really were all over the place, just chilling out, and the food was more delicious than I thought it could be.

I'm currently in a really nice hotel in downtown Singapore. Completely different than the Peace Corps. Working in corporate life once again is making me re-train my brain and my use of time - and it's a little bit of a struggle.

Best coincidences: My last night in Delhi, Friday, I met up with the John and Tom Dundon, who were ending their 2 week trip. We were fraternity brothers and John and I lived in New Zealand together - not to mention that I slept on John's couch a lot over the last few months in DC.

Then, to top it off, on Saturday after arriving in Singapore, a different friend from college happened to be in Singapore (she's flying out today though), so my first night in my new home was spent with an old friend. We went out to dinner on the water and then went to a club on the top floor (the 71st) of a building. Great couple of nights.

Much love,
Jake