Posted 1:50 PM by Anne Wilhoit
More things that are different in Singapore:

-Cantaloupe is "rockmelon"
-"Sorry" is used a lot like "excuse me"
-Eggs come in groups of 10, not one dozen
-Enter the bus through the front door, exit through the back
-Carrot cake is not JUST carrot cake, it's also a Chinese dish topped off with a fried egg
-Trunk of a car is the "Boot"
-Candy is called a "sweet"
-Parking Lots are "Car Parks"
-At the salon, you get your hair washed and scalped massaged right at the chair (not back at the bowl) by an "assistant". Only rinsing is done at the bowl.

Posted 8:38 PM by Anne Wilhoit
Our big news here is actually about something very small…make that two things – Katie lost not one, but two, teeth yesterday. These are the first teeth she has lost. She was just too excited! She made good use of her new tooth fairy pillow (thanks Auntie Joan!) and placed the teeth in the little pouch on the pillow, and placed the little pillow under her big pillow. Yup, the tooth fairy comes to visit in Singapore. Katie awoke to 2 shiny new “gold” Singapore dollar coins.

David is out tonight attending a “farewell” dinner for someone at Wacker. He actually has work dinners every night this week except Friday. They are having sales meetings with several people in town from the U.S. and Germany. It is tough having him gone in the evenings…we miss him so much. However, at least he is not traveling as much as he did when we were in the states.

I just glanced out my bedroom window to the most beautiful sight – a full moon, just slightly above the building next door. It looks like it is sitting right on top of the building, peeking through the clouds. It really is incredibly beautiful tonight. Here in Singapore, many people celebrated the Hindu festival Thaipusam today during which devotees carry heavy steal framework called kavadi. The kavadi is attached to the carrier’s bare flesh with small hooks, spikes, and skewers. Although they feel some pain, the kavadi carriers do not bleed. This is because they prepare themselves carefully with prayers and a vegetarian diet before taking part in the 3 kilometer procession (from temple to temple)*. (I’ve been told they are actually in a trance of some sort). I had all intentions of checking out the procession for an hour or so, but I ended up having physical therapy instead. Maybe it was sympathy pain for the Hindu kavadi carriers…actually, it is my old leg muscle pain flaring up again. I strained it working out on Friday and it just got worse over the weekend. I will be ok, the therapist is really good and I had a good session so a few more and I’ll be back to normal again. Ok, for all you laughing about that “back to normal” thing, you can stop now.

Happy Thaipusam everyone! Pretty soon it is Chinese New Year, Spring Festival (Lunar New Year celebration), and Chingay too. I’m tapping into my local resources and finding out the best places to take in the Chingay celebrations…I thought Katie would enjoy the parade, dancers, acrobats, etc. Since we will have to dodge about 100,000 other spectators Amanda will stay home…maybe David will too…he is not much for parades and crowds, unless the end result of dodging a crowd is that he gets to see the Giants play. Oh yea…I almost forgot…David was on cloud nine this weekend. Know why? He signed his little girl up for t-ball! He came home with a Katie-size glove in hand, singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. And some of you think we need to try for a boy! Katie was ALMOST as excited as David.

*Crediting the definitions to the book “Feasts and Festivals of Singapore”

Posted 1:57 PM by Anne Wilhoit
Sometimes I just look out the window and say "I live in Singapore...I LIVE in Singapore...I live in SINGAPORE" I've just had one of those moments. I'm fighting off a nap as Amanda has been up since 5 AM. Go figure...anyway, she is asleep now, and it is so tempting to join her but I feel like I should be doing something more "productive". So, I've turned on the TV and am watching Oprah interview Tiger Woods. Now you thought I was going to say something like doing laundry or picking up. I rarely get to watch TV here which is not a big loss as there really isn't much on - oh yea, excpet Barney, Rugrats, and Mouse House. I will go make a cup of coffee to help me make it through this rainy afternoon...after Katie is home we have to taxi over for her swim lesson. Taxi rides with both girls are not my favorite thing especially in the rain. I would love to just hop into my mini-van and be there! I could even drive through at Starbucks...oh wait, that is in Santa Clara. Not much "drive through" service here. I have only seen one drive through McDonalds and there seems to be a McDonald's on every corner here...that or KFC. I prefer the local chicken and rice, sorry Colonel.

Posted 10:41 PM by David Wilhoit
We were all kind of "moody" here this weekend...a little stir crazy... a little down, I suppose. I think we are finally getting a little island crazy...wishing we could just call several of you up and drive on over for dinner. We had some good times though - a nice time at the SAS wine-tasting dinner and auction on Friday night. The dinner was really good - a nice steak...yummm! We tasted several wines and each picked our favorite...Anne's a 1990 Chenin Blanc from France (Coteaux Du Layon/Anjou)...A. Davy. David's a Bordeaux, 1996 from France (Pauillac) - Hauts de Pontet. David and I don't get out much...the wine went right to our heads, and I felt it on Saturday morning.

We also video-conferenced with our friends Greg and Lisa Agnelli this weekend. It was great fun talking through the computer and seeing their image at the same time. David got to see part of the Raider game as Greg pointed the video camera to their TV. Katie got to see their cats and dog Sprocket. Katie sang to them...Amanda waved....we all chatted for quite a while. It was great fun...so if any of you have the video-conferencing technology, let us know!

We are trying not to focus on all the negative news here regarding the terrorist arrests and activities. There have been more arrests in Malaysia. A lot of the parents here are really frightened...I guess an article did say that the American School was targeted however, we did not see the article. Anyway, I don't think the police are going to bust us for possessing and chewing a little gum...they have much bigger fish to fry. Thank goodness because that Santa Claus doesn't know about Singaporean laws - he brought gum for Katie. (And thank you Auntie Theresa and Nancy for sending some along as well!)

Have a good week everyone.
(Anne Wilhoit)

Posted 10:01 PM by Anne Wilhoit
Not too much is new here…we are back in the swing of the whole family getting up by 6:15 in order to get Katie to the bus by 7:00. We missed a message from the bus company saying the bus would now be arriving 5 minutes earlier, so we had a “close call” Monday morning. Besides Katie starting back up at school, Amanda and I attended our class at Kindermusik today. She really enjoys the music, movement, instruments, etc. I’m glad we signed up…it is a full class; today there was even a dad there with his daughter – very neat to see.

Here is one of the fun things about some of the food imported from the U.S. –some of it has bugs! I’m not sure where they come from but I guess probably when the containers are sitting in customs. Anyway, as I have reported, you can find lots of imports at different stores here but I’ve had this happen 3 times now. Last night the little critters were in the Rice-a-Roni that I purchased just a week ago. I don’t think the marketing executives had bugs in mind when they came up with the jingle, “San Francisco’s Treat”. I have never returned the infested item before, but since I was going to the same store today (it is in the mall where the Kindermusik class is) I brought the box back. I even brought a little “sampling” in a baggie…the manager was not very pleased either and promptly returned my money. Hope I have not “grossed “ you out…the other times the bugs were dead, but this time they were most definitely alive. Just a “hazard of the job” as a recent taxi driver told me. Of course, he was not referring to imported food but rather needing to use the toilet. He said…I just gotta make a quick stop and pulled over really fast by a gas station. He ran out of the car and as I looked around to make sure it was not a “set-up” (ok, I get a little paranoid sometimes!), he was running back to the car already. He just really had to go. He promptly said “just a hazard of the job” and explained that I would not be charged the 30 cents the meter had accrued. Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

I gotta go…

Posted 5:48 PM by Anne Wilhoit
Despite most establishments providing excellent service here, we’ve had a difficult time finding a travel agent whom we felt was helpful and knowledgeable. Today we finally found one and booked our first vacation in Asia. The week before Easter (March 24 – 29) we will set sail on a cruise to Langkawai Island (Malaysia), Phuket Island (Thailand), and Kuala Lumpar (Malaysia). We are so excited! It will be a family vacation but also happens to be over our 10 year wedding anniversary, so we are “splurging” and bringing our baby-sitter along. It will be kind of fun reliving our cruise experience ten years after our honeymoon cruise. I don’t want to disclose all the details now (or I’ll have nothing to write about later!) but a few things we are looking forward to include: an elephant ride into the jungle in Phuket (with Katie) and a beach day of total rest and relaxation with a little snorkeling but no kids, in Langkawi (the “Great Barrier Reef” of Malaysia). The ship is a full “mega-ship” so it’s well equipped with a children’s center, play area, and pool with slides as well as all the fun stuff for adults: casino, disco, restaurants, spa, sports deck, etc.

On the way home from the travel agent we found ourselves aside the “motorcade” of the Deputy Prime Minister. Our taxi-driver recognized him. He was driving his own car (a Honda) while 2 guys in a Volvo and one guy on a motor-bike followed behind and alongside. The Volvo had an electronic sign in the back which read: “Police, Stay Clear, thank you”. Also, they had a flashing light that they kept putting on top of the roof, then taking down again. The taxi driver told us they do that when they do not want the traffic to over-take the person being escorted. Kind of interesting…as the taxi driver commented though (regarding the Minister’s life): “Good Money, No Privacy”.

We are having a lazy afternoon here…contemplating an early “local” dinner of chicken and rice at the local stall down the street. We are all pretty pooped out and Katie is just recovering from an ear infection so we don’t want to do too much. Also, I spent the entire day at the zoo with the girls yesterday (check back if the pictures are not posted yet). We did a few things which we had not done there yet: wading in the swim pool and discovering the butterfly enclosure which also housed bats, lemurs, birds, and the tiniest deer you have ever seen. Katie had a repeat performance from one of the bats…if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’ll have to read back about our night at the Night Safari.
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On a much heavier note, there has been more news here about the plots to bomb local venues. Plans of one of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) stations and shuttle bus stop used by U.S. military personnel, as well as details of the U.S. military vessels in the harbor, and 3 U.S. companies were all found. Today’s paper has copies of the transcripts and pictures found. It is really scary…we are all so blessed these attacks were averted…we don’t want to imagine if they had not been averted. In closing, I say a prayer of thanks: Thank you God, God Bless America, and peace on earth.

Posted 8:39 AM by Anne Wilhoit
The latest news from Singapore is that the government just released the report that within the last few weeks 15 Islamic militants have been arrested here. Indications show that the group was planning terrorist activities HERE in Singapore...with targets including "mainly United States assets here, including the embassy and commercial entities". "Detailed information on bomb-making, as well as photographs and video footage of potential bombing targets, had been found in the suspects' homes and offices". Also, "material linked to Al-Qaeda, as well as passports which had been tampered with and stamps, had been found". I'm not sure how much, if any, of this news you have received back in the states. Of course, it has been disturbing to us but we were aware that being nestled between Malaysia and Indonesia, that most likely active groups were in Singapore as well. We are fortunate to have the Singaporean government acting and aware. In late November, the security at the American School and the American Club was heightened - we were assured that it was NOT due to any "new" information or threats. There are now armed Singaporean police at the guard station at the school as well as at the entrances to the American Club. We had to discuss it with Katie because the guns these guys carry are semi-automatic - large enough to be easily seen by the kids as they pass by. I know we see armed guards in the states, but this is a little different…the guns are drawn…I know it is like this in numerous countries but for me, it just takes a little getting used to. Katie has been having a lot of bad dreams about “bad guys” so I know it has affected her as well. It is so hard explaining the difference between the “good” guys (police with guns) and the “bad guys”. She still asks about “Osama” and the “bad guys” and whether they are going to “get” people here. When her class was working on the letter “O”, Osama’s name even made it on the white board with all the other “O” words. Are you guys having these discussions with your kids too?

We had plans today for a nice outing to Amanda's first kindermusic class and a stop at a nice grocery store (bus ride away). However, Katie has woken up with a fever and complaints of ears, eyes, and neck bothering her. Most likely she has an ear infection as she is prone to them. We will post-pone Mandy’s first class and stick around the apartment so we can get to the doctor (has an office downstairs in our complex) and so Katie can take it easy.

(Quotes credited to THE STRAITS TIMES, Singaporean newspaper)

Posted 9:25 PM by Anne Wilhoit
Saturday evening greetings from Singapore. Not too much is new here...how about there? We had a fairly quiet day today; David and I went out this afternoon for a little while. We heard from my parents this morning (our time) that they made it safely home to California. They were trying to adjust to the "cold" and to stay awake a few more hours;they were really tired after the journey home. Yesterday Katie kept walking down the hallway as if she was going to visit my parents in their room. She really "lost it" when we had to say good-bye. I don't think Amanda quite understood what was going on. Good thing because between my mom, Katie, and myself, there were plenty of tears.

To get our minds off of my folks leaving, the girls and I accepted an invitation to meet our friends at the Swiss Club yesterday afternoon. We had a fun time swimming and enjoying a pizza dinner. Katie and Emily were in the pool for almost 2 hours. Amanda seems to be enjoying "swimmming" a little more now that she has discovered that she can stand up in the "baby" pools. I still cannot get her to try out a ring or floaty...she does not seem to want anything around her or doesn't want to be "in" any floatation item. It just means that I am climbing in and out of the pool with her.

Katie will start Sunday school tomorrow as well as have a practice for a childrens choir at our church. We were too late to get her involved last "semester" but the new "semester" starts tomorrow. Choir practice is an extra half-hour earlier than Sunday school, but arriving at 8:30 AM will help keep us on our morning schedule for the week-days. It is nice to laze around on Sunday morning and attend the later mass (10:45) but this way we can be home by 11:00 and maybe have a nice brunch and swim before Amanda's nap time.

Thanks for logging on! Ciao for now.

Posted 9:07 PM by Anne Wilhoit
I feel that I should start out with something profound being that it is a New Year. I can’t think of anything but a sincere wish to all of you for a New Year filled with peace and joy. We actually stayed awake to ring in our first New Year here in Singapore. It was fairly quiet. After dinner in and Amanda was tucked into bed (about 9:30), the rest of us watched SHREK. Katie was excited to stay up until mid-night and was aching to go downstairs (poolside) to the New Year’s party given by the apartment complex. At about 11:30 PM my mom, dad, and I took her down. They had drinks (free beer!) and pizza. I’d say about 30 – 40 people were hanging out around by the pool waiting for the New Year. After saying a few quick hellos, I came back upstairs to be with David. He quickly ran downstairs to bring the kids some “poppers” and blow horns. They were excited! There was not much noise at mid-night – in fact it was very quiet. From our apartment balcony we could see some flairs being shot in the sky (assuming from boats in the harbor). As David said, about 70% of the population here in Singapore did not celebrate “New Year” last night so that explains a lot. Chinese New Year is in February.

Well, my folks are winding down their trip here; they leave on a 7:00 AM flight Friday morning. We would still like to go to the Botanical Gardens which houses the Orchid garden but besides that, we will mostly just “hang out” and they will start getting ready for their trip home. It will sure be a tearful parting; another one which I am not looking forward too. We’ve had a great time. The girls have been over-joyed to have their grand-parents here…I’m not looking forward to the days after they leave and especially because David will be going back to work as well. Amanda hs been really attached to “daddy” since he has been home this past week and with him going back to work, and my parents leaving, it will not be easy.

Hi! I’m back…we ventured out to the Botanical Garden and got to spend a few hours there. The National Orchid Garden houses the most variety of orchids of anywhere in the world. It is really beautiful. It was very hot today (have I said that before???), so we all took several breaks along the afternoon’s walk through the gardens.

This past Saturday, Katie and I took my parents to Sentosa Island. (David decided to stay home with Amanda). Although we had to wait in the ticket line for quite a while, my folks really enjoyed the cable car tram ride over to the island. While on the island, we checked out the Butterfly garden (a first for me as well). Cool display of butterflies and insects. I’m not much for insects but I have to say the beetle collection was incredible…beetles from all over the world…the smallest, largest, heaviest, one with the longest antennae, the prettiest coloring…etc, etc. We also took a tram ride around the island and lunched right near the little beach. We braved a suspension bridge (ok, I confess, it is only about 10 feet up from the water) which took us to a little part of Sentosa considered the “Southernmost Point of the Continent Asia”. Dad, Katie, and I ventured up a 3 story look-out tower and the view was spectacular. I made a mental note that David and I should return some afternoon with a picnic and a good book.

We also got the opportunity to cruise though Chinatown yesterday and then took a taxi ride to the East Coast of the island and enjoyed a delicious meal at the East Coast Seaview village. This restaurant village is known for its pepper crab and chili crab. We ordered the chili crab and drunken prawns. The prawns are brought to your table alive (for your approval) and then doused with whiskey. They start hopping around in the bowl as the alcohol penetrates them. Kind of cruel actually, but after they are cooked up, and you go through the trouble of shelling them yourself, them puppies are good eatin’. From the restaurant, one can view the container ships in the sea…the “lines” of them coming and going is as far as you can see.

David is back to work tomorrow. The girls are tucked into bed. I’m really tired…it’s been a busy few weeks. I’m off to bed too. We hope everyone had a safe and fun time ringing in the New Year in the U.S.A.

Posted 12:00 AM by Anne Wilhoit
Happy New Year!