On Friday night the SAS Booster Club hosted "A Night at the Races" at the Singapore Turf Club.
We had a great time even though we couldn't pick a winning horse !
Jody, Maureen, Shelley, Dianne, Susan
Sunday, November 22, 2009
A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT THE RAFFLES
On Monday night I met my bible study girls at the Raffles Hotel, Jubilee Hall, for a production of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol". It was put on by a British theatre company, and it was the funniest version of A Christmas Carol that I have ever seen! 
Thursday, November 19, 2009
FENG SHUI TOUR
My friend Debbi and I signed up for a local tour this week to learn about the ancient art of Feng Shui. Feng Shui is the study of harmony with nature, and is all about the balance of negative and positive forces - "yin" and "yang". I was just hoping to learn how to pronounce it! Our tour guide was a local Singaporean who pronounces it "fung shwee". Now you are in the know!
Evidently the Chinese people who believe in Feng Shui are concerned with their well-being and good health. Some people consult Feng Shui masters, who are educated and trained and will come out to your house or place of business to do an analysis and try to help you harness your "Chi"-which is energy. The object is to have the good chi flow in and the bad chi flow out! I learned that the five elements in a productive cycle are wood, water, fire, earth, and metal. It is important to have each of these elements represented in your life/home/business. The Feng Shui masters come to your home, draw up a blueprint, and plan renovations to your house according to your needs. Some of these guys even specialize in certain areas; for example, helping you to choose an auspicious wedding date, which is vital for a successful marriage. Some experts in name analysis help you to select a name for your baby, a name for your business, or even to change your own name! They say "Do not fear a bad life; be afraid of having a bad name!" If things often go wrong in your life, it may be due to the curse of your name. We visited several buildings and hotels in Singapore and learned why they were built or positioned the way they are. For example, there are two clock towers outside of the Shaw Centre that chime every 15 minutes to break the negative energy that is coming from the Borders bookstore across the street! (because it has a lot of sharp angles in its design) It was suggested never to buy a house on a corner because there is too much rushing energy that cannot be collected. Also said you are not to buy a clock as a gift for a person, because a clock has the same meaning as a funeral, marking the end of your days. And not to hang a clock in the kitchen! (which of course I do!) There are numerology experts who really believe in lucky numbers. We were told to add up the digits in our phone numbers and then consult a chart. The numbers are either in red which is good, or black meaning change your phone number, it is a bad number! It appears as if I may need to change my phone number....... Also if you have water at your home, like a fountain, it needs to be bubbly - no stagnant water! That's why they love koi ponds because even if the pump breaks there is always the motion of the fish. No wonder there are so many fountains and koi ponds in Singapore! We visited the Fountain of Wealth, which is supposed to bring you luck if you put your right hand in the water and circle around it three times, making a wish. But don't dry off your hand or the wish won't come true! You have to let it air-dry....
It was a really interesting tour, and I'm glad I went - but I can't believe so many people believe in this! I suppose I should change my phone number and see if my chi improves before I go calling it hokey. :)
Evidently the Chinese people who believe in Feng Shui are concerned with their well-being and good health. Some people consult Feng Shui masters, who are educated and trained and will come out to your house or place of business to do an analysis and try to help you harness your "Chi"-which is energy. The object is to have the good chi flow in and the bad chi flow out! I learned that the five elements in a productive cycle are wood, water, fire, earth, and metal. It is important to have each of these elements represented in your life/home/business. The Feng Shui masters come to your home, draw up a blueprint, and plan renovations to your house according to your needs. Some of these guys even specialize in certain areas; for example, helping you to choose an auspicious wedding date, which is vital for a successful marriage. Some experts in name analysis help you to select a name for your baby, a name for your business, or even to change your own name! They say "Do not fear a bad life; be afraid of having a bad name!" If things often go wrong in your life, it may be due to the curse of your name. We visited several buildings and hotels in Singapore and learned why they were built or positioned the way they are. For example, there are two clock towers outside of the Shaw Centre that chime every 15 minutes to break the negative energy that is coming from the Borders bookstore across the street! (because it has a lot of sharp angles in its design) It was suggested never to buy a house on a corner because there is too much rushing energy that cannot be collected. Also said you are not to buy a clock as a gift for a person, because a clock has the same meaning as a funeral, marking the end of your days. And not to hang a clock in the kitchen! (which of course I do!) There are numerology experts who really believe in lucky numbers. We were told to add up the digits in our phone numbers and then consult a chart. The numbers are either in red which is good, or black meaning change your phone number, it is a bad number! It appears as if I may need to change my phone number....... Also if you have water at your home, like a fountain, it needs to be bubbly - no stagnant water! That's why they love koi ponds because even if the pump breaks there is always the motion of the fish. No wonder there are so many fountains and koi ponds in Singapore! We visited the Fountain of Wealth, which is supposed to bring you luck if you put your right hand in the water and circle around it three times, making a wish. But don't dry off your hand or the wish won't come true! You have to let it air-dry....
It was a really interesting tour, and I'm glad I went - but I can't believe so many people believe in this! I suppose I should change my phone number and see if my chi improves before I go calling it hokey. :)
CHICKEN FEET!
We invited our neighbors over for a barbecue Sunday night and just for fun, Shelby grilled some Chicken Feet! hahaha were they ever surprised. I am told they are crunchy but of course did not try them. Double click on the photo and you can even see the chicken's toenails! How appetizing! People here eat chicken feet all the time!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
RUGBY AND BASEBALL
It was a busy Saturday at the ballfields for our family, with Wes playing baseball and Kasey playing rugby. We were outside from 9:00am to 5:30pm, and what a beautiful day! It was probably in the 70's, overcast, with a breeze, which is highly unusual for Singapore!
Wesley looks just like Shelby at age 16
He pitched, played shortstop and centerfield
Going for the pop fly!
Kasey decided to try out for the rugby team this year instead of basketball for a change.She is really enjoying it and we are all learning a new sport! :)
Love those striped socks!
This weekend Singapore American School hosted an exchange with several international schools. We housed two girls from the Manila team, and it was fun having them stay with us!
Love those striped socks!
This weekend Singapore American School hosted an exchange with several international schools. We housed two girls from the Manila team, and it was fun having them stay with us!
GUESS WHO'S IN TOWN?
U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Singapore at 8:00pm last night, in town with other world leaders for the APEC Summit. Here he is with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The taxi drivers have been talking about this event for weeks now! Lanes of traffic have been closed to allow passage only for the transport of the leaders and their entourage. It is rumored that Michelle Obama may make an appearance at the Singapore American School, but the president is not expected. Security has been tight in our neighborhood surrounding the school for several weeks, with armed policemen canvassing the streets as part of a routine exercise.
Monday, November 09, 2009
HALLOWEEN '09 SINGAPORE STYLE
Halloween is a big event in Singapore, as we learned last year. We passed out 2,100 pieces of candy in under two hours! People come to the American neighborhood from all over the island to trick-or-treat. We had lots of locals, adults as well as children! I discovered they did not like to say "trick or treat" (afraid we're going to trick them maybe?) but instead said "Happy Halloween!"
This is my friend Moriluz and her son Jerome
My neighbor Donna with two of her students
Isn't she a cutie?
Kasey and her friend Megan decided to trick-or-treat at the last minute
Wes and his group of pirate friends plus Bethany!
Shelby manned the gate all night and never once took his rubber mask off! It was so hot and humid, I don't know how he can stand it!
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