Tag, you're it!

Dear SG,

I “kena” tag. To play this silly game where someone will post a random question and tag their friends to answer them. And I will get to tag someone else(s) to answer this question and on and on like an Energizer bunny (until the battery runs low). According to the "tagger", I need a distraction from the baby (chuckles).Since I’m game enough to entertain any challenge this young lady throws at me, bring it on! ;)

Tag Topic: 20 Random Facts
Tagged By: QiQi (Mel)

1. Fact number one, I realize I didn’t know myself very well. I’m not sure if I can produce 20 random facts about me.

2. Fact is, I’m still trying to lose those stubborn fatty tissues from child bearing.

3. Another obvious fact is that I’m a female but I didn’t have maternal instinct; I’m attentive to the baby simply because she continues to fascinate me and of couse I do love her in my own way (Awwww...)

4. I recharge by sleeping for 24hrs straight through but recently, sleep has been considered a luxury.

5. I love watching a good movie

6. I speed read

7. I can’t read Chinese books, only English books. Because while I can speed read in English, it takes me much too long to comprehend a passage in Chinese. I ended up getting really impatient which makes me give up reading a Chinese book.

8. I love dogs, love them since I was 5 yrs old. Other children had imaginary friends, I had 5 imaginary dogs.

9. I don’t particularly like to talk on the phone. Don’t get me wrong, I love to chat but I don’t like using the phone. Send me an email or better yet, let’s chat over a cup of coffee. Just spare me the phone.

10. I can’t live without modern technology. Always an urban girl at heart.

11. I can actually rough it out in the great wilderness but as I grow older each year, I begin to appreciate the effort it took to advance our world into what it is now. :p

12. I never thought I would fall in love but I did. Hi Andrew! Did I make you happy enough to take over the night feeding? Hee…

13. I stopped playing computer games like Warcraft and Starcraft because I get so addicted I would not leave the house or move from the desk.

14. I rather have a new electronic gadget than a diamond ring.

15. I love roller coaster rides

16. I’ve bungee jumped before and would love to try sky diving the next time.

17. I love programming… weird but true.

18. I’m blessed with heaps of good friends, all of them sincere and kind (and a little weird to keep the friendship interesting).

19. I’m very wise, ask me some profound questions and I will talk you to death (or deaf)…

20. Truth is, I never realize how uplifting it is to list so many pleasant facts about myself.

There! I’m done. The following lists are friends that have their own blogs and I hope they would play this silly game with me.
1. CF
2. Janice
3. Belinda
4. Maureen
5. Winnie

Tag! You’re it. ;)

Tagging from NZ,
J

Native names

Dear SG,

While most friends of mine from SG will know that "Temasek" is what Sinapore is used to be known as, New Zealand has its own special name too and it's still widely use today. It's "Aotearoa".

Aotearoa means "Land of the long white cloud", the maori name of New Zealand. The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. It's not uncommon to hear folks says "New Zealand Aotearoa" as the name of this country.

Temasek means "sea" in Javanese, it's a name by which Singapore was known before the Prince Sang Nila Utama named it "Singapura" (meaning "lion" (singa) "city" (pura) in Sanskrit. Why a lion city? It was because he spotted a lion when he landed on our sunny island, that's why. ;)

with love from NZ,
J

Driving license

Dear SG,

Andrew had a driving test today because we finally need to convert our driving license from a SG driving license to a NZ one. SG driving license allows us to drive in NZ for one year upon entry but we manage to drag so long because we went back to SG last year for some family matters. I’m due to take mine this Friday afternoon so wish me luck.

Here’s some interesting comparison on NZ and SG driving test.
SG driving center is known as “SSDC – Singapore Safety Driving Center”
NZ driving center is known as “AA – NZAA Inc”

SSDC provides the following services; Driving lessons, driving test and Road safety education talk.
AA provides the following services; Car registration, plate registration, transfer of vehicle ownership, driving lessons, driving test, vehicle insurance, AA maps n guides, road services for breakdowns etc.

SSDC has a training circuit for motorist
AA has a membership scheme that provides insurances, help and any road services a driver could ask for. As with most membership scheme, they have rewards scheme too.

SG practical driving test cost SG$156.96 (including GST)
NZ practical driving test cost NZ$70.80 (including GST)

SG Theory test has a fixed test date where a big group of people will be taking the test together and monitored by a member of the staff.
NZ Theory test can be taken anytime during their office hours, taken alone in a cubical and is monitored by a security camera. (And if we fail that, we can retake it again immediately after)

In SG, upon passing the theory test, a person is only allowed to drive during driving lessons with their restricted license.
In NZ, upon passing the theory test, a restricted license allows them to drive on their own during certain hours in a day or with supervision after those hours. (yes, I mean on the main road, not in a training circuit)

In SG, driving lessons can only be given by professional trained instructors.
In NZ, anyone with a driving license can teach a new leaner how to drive.

In SG, the driving license card is valid for life (with no expiry date).
In NZ, the driving license card is only valid for 5 years and require renewal.

In SG, the minimum age to drive is 18 years old.
In NZ, the minimum age to drive is 15 years old! (Gasp!)

with love from NZ,
j