Reso-lations of 2014

News Year’s “reso-lations”
(see what I did there?)

 EVERY year, I make resolutions because it’s a new year new you (insert an eye roll) right? Mmm, I somehow feel almost exactly the same on Jan 1 as I did on Dec 31. I am no resolution hater-I actually sort of love them, until I get to the end of the year and realize I never did knit my own scarf, exercise everyday, or solve the 2013 mega crossword puzzle from the Augusta Chronicle. 

So this year I have made a resolution that I will reframe my resolutions to be reso-lations, revelations from 2013 to resolve to learn from in 2014 because let’s face it, I did not read 5 classics last year, and I was not an extra in any movie so here’s the new game plan:

 1. Worry less (much less) about flight delays.
 Most of the time All of the time, I just feel like a dum-dum for worrying about something so out of my control. There are worse places to be than in the airport (especially this one)
 

2. Remember people’s names…the very first time they introduce themselves.
 

3. “Don’t be scared to walk alone, don’t be scared to like it” I’m not proud that this is a John Mayer lyric BUT take what you will from it, I like it. 

4. Find your place in the story, don’t fight the story you're in. While I was traveling in Thailand in November, a fellow sunriser bestowed some very wise advice to me – don’t fight what is, find your place with it. Whether it is test-taking, yours (or others’) circumstances, work, football game outcomes, etc. it IS happening so fighting its existence just ensures your loss. Figure out where you stand with it- to change your place or embrace it. But the point being approach unfavorable challenges, circumstances, and events with a sense of zen and find your place there.

 5. Southern hospitality is a beautiful thing, bless its heart. When I was home for Christmas, I stepped in the grocery story with Dave on day 1 of being home. Someone accidentally knocked into me and immediately turned to say, "Oh I'm sorry sweetheart" and I all but asked for their address to send a thank you note. There's something really special to carry forth about kindness anywhere in the world. 

6. Carry an umbrella. It’s just a good habit.

7.  DON'T LOSE YOUR SUNGLASSES.
No monkeys. No excuses. No more replacements.
 

8.  Also, don’t lose your cool (See #1)
Singtel does not in fact stay up at night thinking of ways to torture me (I'm about 85% sure) so Sarah, lose the badittude entitlement for customer service on a silver platter and remember any job you've ever had in customer service or retail.
 

9. Invite people for dinner more often. In Singapore, people have been so generous in inviting me to their homes for dinner-- friends, sort-of-strangers, and colleagues. It is so special, and I want to take that trait home to the US and invite more people to dinner. Cooking TBD. 

Hellllo 2014 Bring it!

Listening to: "Age of Worry" -John Mayer

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 

Escalator warnings. Noted.

 You know back when your parents told you if you cross your eyes, your face would get stuck that way but you secretly knew it would never happen? Well, don't make that mistake with escalator safety. It is not in fact like that...

After the escalator was stopped and before a band of security
guards came to cut my skirt out of the escalator
with craft scissors.

The escalator at the National Library of Singapore: 1

My skirt: -4 inches off the bottom 

But you can see why it could get confusing:

So, lesson learned. 

Caught between a Komodo Dragon and a hard place

You see, what had happened was...

On this ominous stratonimbus studded day, we traversed through MacRitchie Reservoir to check out the tree top walk. Little did I know I was about to be bullied for the first time in my life (barring the jumping bikes over my head and other bullying from Mike and Ben Comer in the late and great 90s)

So it all started by almost stepping on this little (highly venomous) guy, the Malaysian Coral Snake. Aint no thing-just some wildlife, recovered. 

After about 12k of hiking and a little rainstorm, I was led into a well executed trap by some clever Ray Ban predators. 

First accomplice, this swimming komodo dragon/monitor lizard. He did not play an active role but he secured restriction to exit by water.

Now, public enemy #1. We were just walking on our merry way and this guy jumped down out of the trees directly in front of us, separating our group. We were instructed by probably 10 signs not to make "direct eye contact" (he must be related to the basilisk from Harry Potter and Medusa). So this picture was taken at extreme risk.  

We were also warned that the monkeys here felt like any cameras, bags, bottles, SUNGLASSES, etc. were subject to their taking...and so it was. So once he came and stole Dona's water bottle out of her hand, two more of his cronies surrounded us. To recap, brazenly bold bottle snatcher monkey at our immediate 12 o'clock, side kick #1 at our 9 o'clock, komodo dragon at our 3 o'clock and one other monkey taking a lap, and all closing in. We were surrounded. 

So what were we to do? RUN! I Usain Bolt-ed out of there as fast as Comer-ly possible. Once I had reached a safe distance, I finally looked back only to realize my Ran Bans had been jacked. Do I dare step back into dragon and monkey territory?...and now in the rain. The outcome:

My Valentine from one of my coworkers 

Well, at least they are being put to good use. You're welcome you scoundrel. I got swindled.   

I'm Singing: "Survivor" -Destiny's Child

The Best of You

Singing: "The Best of You" -Foo Fighters

Home is a story...your story.

I have been teaching the guys on my CARE team at least one American saying per week, and I realized how many sayings we have about "home." Home is where the heart is, There's no place like home, I'll be home for Christmas [fingers crossed] and so on...not to even mention the songs written about home. And for the proverbial icing on the cake, for one of our CARE projects, we are working with an nonprofit organization called HOME (Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economies).

The identity we take in relationship to our "home" is certainly more complex than Phil Phillips' one hit wonder, "Home" (Anne & David Comer, that pop culture reference is for you two #Idolgroupies). When we say "Home is where the heart is," does that imply that we have only one place we call home, a single place for our heart to be tied to? Every city or house or season is just that, a plain old city, house, or season until you paint life into it by investing a piece of your heart in it, and in turn allow the place to become part of who you are. But doesn't it seem like a crossroad sometimes when we face knocking on the door of a new home? I am reminded that home is not really confined to earthly measures, and really, we are all migrants and nomads, some in different seasons of life or in different places geographically but we are all the products of loving and being loved by different cities, communities, family members, etc. 

 We are broken and weary travelers, and it is not a house or a town or a city alone that heals us, it is the promise of an eternal home where our spirits belong, with a loving Father in heaven. It is the promise of community for our temporary homes here on earth. We probably all know that deep inside, but when we think of home, we sometimes long for the places we used to know-familiarity feels like home to us. But what I have learned after my first few weeks in Sing is that it is not familiarity necessarily that defines home, home is where we get to be a part of a place, a people, a community that invited you into its story, and in turn, it becomes such a significant part of yours. 

Here is a snapshot of what my home in Singapore looks like so far: 

Top left: Marina Bay downtown Singapore. Middle&Bottom left: The
 "Sarah Comer" pose enacted by my sweet LifeGroup members. Top
right: My CARE family goofing off on the first day in our new office! Middle
right: Botanical Gardens in the middle of the city...so beautiful (more pictures
to come!) Bottom right: My cousin Kathryn (and Ed-who took the picture)
are such a HUGE part of how much I love this city! They have been the most WONDERFUL "relocation specialists!" I am so lucky! 

My encouraging, funny, and loving Life Group in Sing
 #LivingthePhilippinedream

Din Tau Fung (http://www.dintaifung.com.sg/)
My favorite thing I have eaten in Singapore!

The view from "The Deck" where I
eat lunch every day around the corner
from my office at NUS

                                                                                  A beautiful view of Marina Bay 

                                                                                                              from the pool!

Thank you for being part of my ongoing story of home! I have already shared so many stories of North Augusta, Clemson, Athens, Australia, and Houston with my friends in Singapore and will always consider those places and the people in them permanent residents of what I consider "home!"

                                          
                                                                       

• Singing:"Home" -The Wealthy West