Living in 2 worlds

Dear SG,

I'm constantly amaze by the fact that I get to live in 2 worlds and often gets to enjoy the best of both.

Only last evening, I was stuck to the TV throughout the whole rugby league game rooting for the Warriors. It was exciting watching the game and the feeling is exactly the same as when Singapore played against Malaysia, only here, it's the New Zealand against Australia. Both SG and NZ are smaller when compared to their neighbours and both needs to be reminded to keep their goal in mind and to fight till the end. Time and time again they might have lost, but they are certainly getting closer and closer to their dream. DON'T GIVE UP, NEVER EVER!


This morning, I was downloading songs sample sent to me by my friend in SG via email. They are songs from Royston Tan’s latest film 881 about 2 girls wanting to be the best getai singers in Singapore. I so love the songs and I am definately interested to see the flim because of the songs. Thank you for keeping me in the loop. I'm also glad that part of SG history will be preserved in this film. SG needs more production like these, I hope more people will support them.



with love from NZ,

J

Dab-ber-you, Dab-ber-you, Dab-ber-you

Dear SG,

We singaporean loves to "cut short" our words or sentences. I remembered a funny joke on how SG-ian speaks in the most "efficient" way. Instead of saying "Have you had your dinner?", we say "eat already?". Instead of "We've ran out of stock.", we say "No stock!". Instead of "Please repeat what you've said", we say "Again?" or "huh?". Wah lau, if any of you have that long joke about our "effective english", please send it to me again, i really miss that joke.

Now, back to my blog of the day. We always think singaporean very smart hor, can cut a long sentences until so short. But then hor, kiwi smarter leh, they manage to outdo us with one word that I bet we won't have thought of. Instead of cutting a long sentences short, they manage to cut a long letter short!!!

Compare an ad on the radio.

In SG, "Visit our website at Dab-ber-you, Dab-ber-you, Dab-ber-you, dot something dot COM dot SG",

In NZ, "Visit our website at Dab Dab Dab dot something dot CO dot NZ!!!"

The whole website can be easily announced over the air !!! Even their dot "CO.NZ" has one letter lesser than our dot "COM.SG".

Interesting right? (aka "Isn't it interesting?")

with love from NZ,
J

Libraries

Dear SG,

Another thing I miss in SG is your library... You know how much I love going to the libraries. I wish I could just spend my time in a cosy chair and read non-stop. (This and computer game playing explained the reason for my myopia)

There's libraries here too and they are pretty well equipped. The subject range is pretty wide but the size isn't quite as big as our average library. Then again, the libraries here do exchange their selection around so it's possible to see something new each time. Also, the libraries here are manage by different Counties, I was told the library manage by Auckland City is much bigger.

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting that one, the libraries I frequent all belongs to the Manukau Town Council. If I need to borrow books from that library, I WILL need to apply for a different library card, one that is for the Auckland City Council's library. SG is easier, one card from the National Library Board if you are not a citizen or PR, or simply just with our Identity Card.

Another cute differences between the libraries here in NZ and in SG is the book drop. Both countries offer book drops which are wonderful for folks like me who could never return my library books during operating hours. But in SG, we are only allow to drop the books back in one at a time. The scanner automatically checks in the book so that we qualify for another book if we so desire. There is no scanner in NZ, we'll just squeeze as many books as the slit would allow and drop the whole lot in. The books will fall into a bin and gets scanned in manually the next day.

Now, you might think that NZ's a little behind us when it comes to automation of books returned. SG used to operate like this but we are now fully automated. NZ is also automated when it comes to checking out of books but it's not a priority for them to scan in returned books. This is because there is almost no limited to the amount of books one can borrow from the NZ library. The last time I borrowed books in SG, the limit was 4 books per person. Sigh... oh well, nothing is perfect in the world.

with love from NZ,
J

Spot the differences:

In NZ, you need different library card to borrow books from libraries operated by different town council

In SG, you will only need one card (identity card) if you are a citizen and PR or a library card if you are not.

In NZ, we can returned books to any libraries so long as the books that belongs to a certain council are returned to the libraries in their district

In SG, the libraries are owned by the same board and we can return the books to any library's' book drop.

In NZ, there is almost no limits to the amount of books we can borrow. We can borrowed up to 19 books if necessary

In SG, the limit is 4 books per person but we can pay a small subscription fee to extend that.

In NZ, the duration we get to keep a book is 30 days. When our books are overdue, an automated phone call will be made from their system with a pre-recorded voice message reminding us to return any overdue library books. The overdue fine will not start immediately, we noticed that we do get an extra day or 2 allowance to return the books before they start fining us.

In SG, the duration is 21 days. If we forget to return, all that's automated is the overdue fee which will increase intelligently by itself every day.

Birthday treats! My treat or your treat?

Dear SG,

You know how during your birthday on Aug the 9th, you set up this big party called "National Day Parade" at the Marina Bay and invited heaps of people to celebrate your birthday? Birthdays are certainly a big thing for everyone and that got me comparing the differences of having a birthday in SG and in NZ.

In SG, whenever there's a birthday, we'll have gatherings of families and friends, getting together to celebrate the once a year event in the honor of the birthday person. Usually it's a lunch or dinner celebration, where we'll find a nice spot of place to sit down and catch up with one another. Preferably, a place where we get to enjoy some delightful cuisine as well. Usually the birthday person will get a free treat, cost bore and shared by everyone.

I've been working in an office environment in SG for around 9 years. From my personal experiences, everyone will contribute a token sum of money to get the birthday person a gift or a birthday cake. (unless that person is really unpopular which is pretty rare... I hope) Sometimes, the person with a birthday will bring in some tasty snacks or treats to show their appreciation afterwards but it's not expected and it's optional.

So far, I've been working in NZ for the past 3 months, the culture here is certainly different. If it's your birthday, it's a culture expectation for you to bring in some cakes or food as a treat for everyone in the office. Isn't it interesting? And it seems that most folks will apply for annual leave if their birthday falls on a working day. They will bring the cakes in a day before and share it with everyone, then they will go on leave on the actual day.

My birthday is still a few months away but I will be ready for it now. I wonder if the folks in my office is adventurous enough to try a new type of cake, our Pandan Cake! haa.... or Kueh Lapis? Some parents in Victor's school was so curious about the Pandan Cake that Ann put into his lunchbox. They asked him why is our cake green!!! haa.... But they don't seems very eager to try it though. hee... Gosh, they don't know what they are missing.

Here are the 2 cakes you won't find in New Zealand. Photos from Bengawan Solo Cake Shop in Singapore. Boy do I miss these yummy cakes....

Pandan Chiffon aka Pandan Cake

(I bet everyone will also wonder why there is a hole in this cake! kekeke...)
Read more about this cake @Wikipedia

Kueh Lapis aka Thousand layer cake (千层糕)

(And why this cake has so many lines? *grin*)

I'm so ashamed I've taken these cakes for granted when I was living in SG. Dear SG, I will never take any food in Singapore for granted again! I Promise!

with love from NZ,
J

P.S. I've only had 3 months of working experiences here and only in one NZ company, I may have assumed too much, please pardon me if I am wrong. :)