25 things that have happened while I've been turning 25...

HELLLLLLLLLO people! It's been awhile, huh? Welp, I'll give you the skinny on what's been going on:

I have had two sets of visitors from the US travel ALL the way out to Sing then on to Malaysia and Vietnam with me, the Breaking Bad season in my life has come to an awesome but devastating close, my 1-year anniversary in Sing happened, I hung lanterns/ate mooncakes for the New Moon Festival, Miley's tongue has been getting more attention than Nicholas Brody's absence on Homeland, I celebrated my first Singapore National Day, I've been a pretty terrible blogger, and I have turned a quarter century old.

In honor of turning 25, I am going to dish about 25 things that have happened while I've been turning 25. Some things will have their own post later but to try to catch up, I will start with an overview of things that have happened since the last post. (eek, this blog has seen less action than my running shoes...and that's saying something).



25. Well, I turned 25. And I turned 25 with the most generous, hilarious and totally unforgettable string of celebrations. Proof. I have some really incredible friends and family!






24. MY MOM CAME TO VISIT, and it was fantastic! We explored all of Singapore and then took a weekend trip to Penang (beach in Malaysia). I was so proud to introduce my mom to everyone and no surprise, everyone loved "Aunty Anne!" We jet-skied on the Indian Ocean, saw a touring Broadway show, had cocktails on the 77th floor, bargained with the uncles at the market, cast our lots at a Buddhist Temple, had an incredible spice garden day/lunch, hung fortune ribbons at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang, found a lilypad sanctuary on an island bikeride, and ate to our hearts' content. 


23. I am going to see MATCHBOX 20 in Singapore (on Nov 10)! Kathryn and Ed gave me tickets for my birthday and oh baby," I wish the real world would just stop hassling me" can't wait!!!



22. I visited a Feng Shui master (they are not limited to only household arrangement) who told me I would marry someone rich and handsome in the next 10 years...
...if I hung a picture of a horse in my room. 
<--Who am I to test fate? 
But she also said that I might break my leg in the near future so heads up. Fair warning I suppose. 


21. I celebrated ONE YEAR of being in Singapore on the 20th of September. one.year. I cannot (cannot lah) believe it...and I FINALLY know what KPI stands for. 

20. I checked off a bucket list item: Upgraded from white belt to blue belt in a martial art-Aikido.

19. After many weeks (who are we kidding, months) of practice, I finally said hello to our neighbors in Mandarin, "早安" Although I definitely and most certainly nailed it, I lost all street cred during my rookie mistake-no response ready moment when they answered me in Mandarin. Foiled. 

18. Some of my dear friends from Clemson came for a visit and we took an incredibly scenic and crunchy, adventurous trip to Vietnam! It was the most beautiful and peaceful place I have ever seen (more to come-there is so much more to tell). They were such fun visitors and we had the BEST time together in Asia! To the best Dongs around...

17. I survived THE HAZE.

16. I decorated our apartment and wore national colours for Sing's National Day (August 9). Singapore gained independence in 1965 from Malaysia and has a huge celebration every year with a new theme and song each time:
National Day Song 2013

15. I played paintball for the first time...in the Singapore heat. Survival of the fittest. 

14. I'm involved with 2 projects with CARE at the National University of Singapore. Check them out:
Domestic Helper project
Women's Heart Health in Singapore

13. These buildings were built. I think there is a lot of creative and really interesting architecture in Sing! And always new things popping up. 



12. When Jordan, Em, and Kristan were in town, we sort of stumbled upon the light show at Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove that was INCREDIBLE. Gardens by the Bay is something to marvel on its own but this quickly became one of my favorite things in Singapore. (This is a little clip we took but if you want to see the whole thing: come visit me!! haha or click here)

11. I now find myself spelling things like flavour, programme, centre, colours (see number 16) just to avoid that red squiggly line from spell check in Word (on a related note, how does Word know that I am now in Singapore??? c/o Edward Snowden. Too soon?)



10. I successfully made authentic chicken rice... from scratch. AND had to spontaneously serve to 2 Singaporean Aunties who (over my more than usual sweating and bated breath) gave their approval. Bring it on Iron Chef Asia. 





9. I went to the most beautiful house warming Sikh ceremony for one of my dear friends in Singapore. I was so moved by her friends'/family's prayers over the couple's new home and how their friends would sit for hours/sometimes days on the ground to pray over the place. It was awesome. Beautiful. Not to mention my friend and her partner's new place is wonderful!  





8. I had my first experience with the ever famous Singapore Chili Crab. CNN Go ranked Singapore's Chili crab as one of the world's 50 most delicious foods.

7. I celebrated my first Chinese Mid-Autumn festival (aka the Lantern festival aka the Mooncake festival).

The first round story I got from my flatmates is as follows (as I remember it): 'Well there was once this princess and she was burning hot because there were 10 suns. So, a prince came and shot down 9 suns but the princess had to fly to the moon as punishment and live there. Then, something about a rabbit on the moon and the prince honored the moon because the princess was there and offered moon cakes to her.' 

The specifics of the story is interpreted differently by different people but here are some more detailed:
One version
Another

Nonetheless we had B-shack 193 mooncakes and tea to celebrate! -->

6. I for the first time since moving here said out loud, "It feels chilly." It was a brisk 77 Fahrenheit and 90% humidity. It's rainy season (winter) here y'all-break out the sheer cardigans, I'm getting wiiiild! 

5.  I visited the "GP" (general practitioner) for the first time in Singapore. Within about a 3 block radius of my flat, there are probably 5 clinics (some traditional Chinese, some surgical, and some general practitioners), all walking distance in 10 minutes or less. I was in and out with 2 prescriptions in less than 15 minutes-all to the tune of $10 total. Thanks Singapore's healthcare system. 


4. I celebrated my first Ramadan/Hari Raya Aidilfitri  with 2 of my Indonesian friends who were my computer students. They took me to a HUGE Hari Raya night market. They explained to me that Ramadan falls on the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and marks a month of fasting from dawn to dusk. 




















The fasting is a collective expression of some of the core values of the Muslim community including showing empathy for the poor, charity, worship, steadfastness, patience, etc. During the month of Ramadan, all are encouraged to pray and give to the poor in addition to fasting. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the celebration marking the end of the fast where you would meet with friends and family and forgive any unresolved differences and have a FEAST.



3. We had our first Bollywood karaoke debut. 
And Rumee's debut as an item girl with those dance moves! 

2. This happened in my neighborhood.

1. annnnnd I wrote this blog post telling you about the 25 things that have been happening while I've been turning a quarter-century.  


I'm SINGing: "New Soul" Yael Naim