GOODBYE TO MY "HOME AWAY FROM HOME"

It's so bitter sweet to say good bye to somewhere that has been "home away from home" for almost seven months. When I got to Singapore I made a list of things I wanted to see and do, and I struck out and did them. I knew that I didn't want to get to my final days there and be trying to jam a lot of things into a short time, so I was glad that I had kept going on that list. The last few days I went back to some of my favorite places...some to buy things at, and some to just take in the area again. It's really strange to think I may never be there again.

I'm so thrilled that my brother, Doug, and my son, Zac, were able to come and experience some of Singapore with me. It not only made my time there easier, it is great to be able to talk to them about certain places and know they know what I am talking about.

I learned so much for work during this time. I got to see another side of the business and that was awesome. I got to understand our global offices and how important it is to have them. I got to understand another work culture. I got to meet great people!

I never went "away from home" after high school like many people did, so I consider this my "college adventure". I was able to learn a whole lot about myself. I learned I'm stronger than I thought I was, and I'm not talking about physical strength. Going to the other side of the world, leaving family and friends, and making the best of it takes a lot....and I did it.

I learned so much about my priorities while I was there. When you are thousands and thousands of miles away from family and friends you start to realize which relationships mean more the most. This too was somewhat surprising. There were people that reached out that really encouraged me that I would never had expected to do that. I was truly blessed.

On the last few days as I went past things I knew I wouldn't see again, I found myself whispering "Goodbye Chinatown" and "Goodbye Orchad Road" etc. I know that sounds dorky, but it was odd to think I would only have pictures of these things. I have tears in my eyes right now just thinking about these places!

Thursday morning arrived and I was off in a taxi to the airport to head "home", but I was so conflicted because Singapore was "home" and now I was going to Iowa to be "home". I guess "home" truly is where you make it.

I am so glad I took this assignment for work and didn't let my fears get a hold of me and keep me in Iowa. There were days when it was the hardest thing in the world to be gone from Iowa, but I made it through them. I feel so blessed to have spent time in a foreign country and to have that experience that no one can ever take away! I can't wait to make my photo albums...yes, that's plural since I took over 7,000 pictures while I was gone!!!!

Thanks for coming along with me by reading my blog. I enjoyed making it so much and hope you enjoyed the journey.

Until the next "experience"....

THE END OF MY STAY IN SINGAPORE

On my last night in Singapore some of the ladies from the office took me out to eat. We went to Tony Romas and I had a...steak...of course! It was so sweet to spend my last evening visiting with them and just having a good time! I felt blessed that they did this for me.
Sandy, Doreen, Lynn, me, Kai, and Cherie

My entire time I had a maid that came in daily and changed my bedding and towels, as well as cleaned the floor and did my dishes! She was the sweetest thing. Her English was so very broken that I barely ever knew what she was telling me, but I could tell if she was excited by how high her voice got. Like when I had a vase with artificial flowers in my bedroom and she moved them to the dining table and put a live plant from her home in my bedroom...she knocked on my door and apologized for moving the flowers but she said the Chinese believe you do not have artificial flowers in the bedroom or your man will be dead! She was so cute!

I will miss all the signs in Singapore in many languages!

Or the funny signs at the MRT station....NO DURIANS...never see that one in Iowa!

I'll miss the ERP sign...kinda like a toll road.

This sign was at a bus station...I have no idea what this was telling me, but I thought it was cute.

Goodbye Ronald!

This mailbox was at a vacant lot. Now, I had to ponder, does someone really get mail at a vacant lot? Why? Wouldn't a mail person think this was odd? Only in Singapore!

I finally found the Salvation Army store. It is just like in the U.S. where one man's junk is another man's treasure!

These were just a few of the things I saw on my last few days in Singapore that were NEW to me....I think I could be there a long time before I'd quit seeing new things!

SYDNEY, AHHHHHH-STRALIA!

Oh, how I loved Australia. It was beautiful. Four quick days is much too short so I must start saving again for a longer trip!

There is an area called Darling Harbour that wasn't far from my hotel. I took a walk there. To get to the actual area they had a walking bridge to go over. It was quite busy and the view was very nice. Below is a picture of what I was seeing as I walked over the bridge. There is a shopping and eating area. There was a Greek festival going on and so there were many booths set up...it felt like a miniature Iowa State Fair! They had booths, singers, magicians, street acts and food.

Here is almost the very same view of Darling Harbour at night. It was beautiful in the daytime, but amazing at night. I sat by the water and just watched people for a while. There were families, singles, couples, young and old...it was such a peaceful place.

This was a building top I saw while out walking...I just thought it was fun!

I took a ferry ride to Manly Beach. This is a picture of the ferry. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The sun was shining, the water was beautiful, the breeze was amazing...and the sights on the water were grand!

When I got off the ferry and looked backwards I saw this sign for the Manly Wharf. It's all part of Sydney, Australia, just a "suburb", so to speak...one that you need to take a ferry to get to from the area I was staying.

The beach was beautiful...the water superb....ahhhhhh.....I wish I had realized how grand it was going to be and brought my suit. It was fun watching people surf! I've rarely seen surfing, so this was cool!


The palm trees were so tall! And, again....look at those clouds!

I saw this group of ladies walking along the street and they had pictures ironed on their pink shirts. However, one of them had a different picture, but I had no idea why. On my ferry ride back to the main land I met them....I had a pink shirt on also and one of them tapped me on the arm and pointed at something for me to look at. She wasn't looking at me at all. When I said "oh, that's pretty", she realized I wasn't anyone in her group, but we started talking. They were five sisters and an aunt on holiday to celebrate one of the sister's 60th birthday. The pictures of their shirts were from 22 years previous when they had a family picture taken. The one picture that was different was on the aunt's shirt and it was a picture of her siblings. They also had their name on the front of the shirt and a number on the arm. I asked about the number on the arm and they said their mother had had six children in seven or so years and she couldn't keep the names straight, so she numbered them! What a hoot!!!!!

At Manley this building and tree was just beautiful.

There was seating all over this area of town. I loved this park bench that was silver and wasn't in a straight line.

Isn't this tree interesting...smooth trunk and limbs and then finally the green! I thought how it split at the trunk in many directions was quite interesting also.

The flowers were beautiful in Manly also.

Check this out...a stop sign with three black circles down the middle. I guess this takes the place of ever having to go out and put a stop sign out when a traffic sign goes out. Odd that.

I have no memory of where this picture was taken...other than I thought the shadow on the sidewalk was cool.

This was a fountain that you could walk in. You followed the path and ended up at the middle...kind of light "follow the yellow brick road". It was fun watching kids and adults play in the water!

I took a bus tour around the city on my last morning in Sydney. Now most people take these at the beginning of their trip, but not me. I took it at the end and it was fun! I realized how much of the city I had seen in four days as there was only one area the bus tour took me that I had not been to...yet....got off the bus and went to discover that area! This is the bus. No one wanted to sit inside as you couldn't see as much, so you headed up to the top where you were outside and seeing so much more.

This is a funny poster that was in the bus. The website on the poster took you to a city site where they were asking you to turn in pictures of things you took while sightseeing in Sydney.

I went to an area called "The Rocks" to an art festival. It was amazing and fun! I was walking along and started seeing people with corn on the cob on a stick...I thought I was at the Iowa State Fair, but wait, they don't do that at the ISF!!!! Of course I had to try it! For $5 AUD I got a HUGE ear of corn and a bottle of water. It was good, but not as good as IOWA grown corn!

I had seen an advertisement for a 70's competition on Sunday at The Rocks and so I wanted to go to that. They had costume and dancing competitions. I made it in time for the costume competition. Here's a bunch of people, some in 70's attire, and some not, sitting waiting for the contest to begin.

These two were the emcee's for the show. I gathered that they were radio personalities. It was a hoot. The winners of the competition won 70's cd's and PET ROCKS!!! What a fun idea!!!

Really how did I find yet another strange bathroom? This is on a street corner and is about the size of a toilet stall at Hilton Coliseum. I did NOT use this, but I found it interesting.

Here's the front view....apparently you pay 50 cents to use it.

Some interesting signs....

Seriously, I stood here and no one kissed me!!! :)

I thought of my friends when I saw this...no idea why the steps were named!

Look at this funny sign....4 things....

top: pedestrian crossing

second: speed bump ahead

third: speed limit because of the speed bump

fourth: I did not find out what this one was

I guess this was telling you you could get on the bus here????

Loved this cross!

This church window was absolutely gorgeous!

I walked through Hyde Park. It was lunchtime and there were people sitting around on the benches eating lunch. It was a cool 75 and a light breeze. So beautiful!

This was a bench area in Hyde Park also.

The flowers were in bloom and quite nice.

I was amazed every time I saw phone booths along the street. In the US everyone has cell phones, but apparently not here.

Again..the buildings and clouds...ahhhh!

Some of the best things in life are unplanned surprises. On Sunday night I was walking around and literally ended up at this convention center and had no idea where I was or what was happening there. I love this Christian band called Hillsong and actually had them on on my I-pod while I was walking. There were thousands of people standing around outside the convention center and I asked someone what was going on. She told me that Hillsong was doing a live recording of their next cd. NO WAY!!!!! I asked how to get a ticket and she told me they were sold out. I wasn't taking that as an answer so I went and found someone "official" to ask about tickets. The lady told me the tickets were sold out but some were being turned back in and there was a "public queue" (line for those without tickets) on the other side of the building and possibly they would let some of us in. Off I went immediately.

I was at the back of the queue as I didn't know but it was only about 10 or 15 minutes until they opened the doors. I learned from the lady standing beside me that 1) they let people in with tickets first, 2) if there are still seats empty then they let people from the public queue in so all seats are filled, 3) tickets only cost $5 because Hillsong wants the place filled and if you pay something then you are more likely to show up and 4) if you bought a ticket you could get your $5 back at the end of the concert!

So, I'm standing there hoping I'll get in and a nice young man (probably in high school) walks by the back of the public queue line and says "Does anyone need just one ticket?" I started jumping up and down and said "oh, I do!". He handed me the ticket and I tried to pay him and he said "No way, you enjoy it!". I was so excited!!!!!!! I got to get out of line and go right in. It was general seating so I headed to the top. I ended up sitting beside a nice lady and her family. This lady actually goes to the Hillsong Church and I had so much fun chatting with her.

The concert was absolutely wonderful. I felt like I was on Cloud 9 the entire time! It was the most amazing surprise of my entire trip! I will never forget it!

Here's some pictures from the concert...

I still can't believe I went to Australia! I loved it. I want to go back. I want to see more of Australia!

I wrote this when I was at the beach. I was thinking about how awesome this trip had been....