Memorial Day Holiday!!!

Oh Yeah!!! Its holiday today! That means no work, no sweat, no greasy hands...just plain old lazy man, slacking and resting his tired body. Just went for a shopping spree yesterday (IT WAS MEMORIAL DAY SALES) and I gonna let my tired body take a break today from those travelling and shoppings walking.

Manage to hook up to the internet at the local Starbucks thus giving me the great oppurtunity and time to update you guys on my life in the WEST althought I got to drive for 5 mins to reach Starbucks. No free internet access here at starbucks but I manage to get a free 24hrs "Day Pass" account from the counter so I could surf for free at the moment. Its a real handicap without internet access.

Mmm....1 coffee, 1 lap top and free wireless access for the first 24hrs.....

GETTING AROUND IN TEXAS Dallas

Life in Texas, or Dallas county to be exact or Coppell City to be accurate have so far been an eye opener for a first timer like me. This place is huge! In fact places are so much of a distance apart that everyone really got to have a car for mobility to work, supermarket, makan and chiong. Without a car is like without a leg or should I put it this way, “Without Car is like without your “Kar” (Leg in Hokkien).” Even the staffs at the 7-Eleven store near my workplace drive something with four wheels. So cars are essential here but with the rising petrol price now at US$3.03 per gallon (S$1.32 per litre) driving have make people slightly poorer.

Getting a driving license here is a joke for Singaporean. For just US$26, you can have 3 tries on your theory test and 3 tries on the practical test. You could literally get you pass your license within a day or the worst in two weeks depend on how free you are. I got my US driving license within the a day. Last time I spend close to S$2000 and many failures to get that prestigious Singapore license, imagine that.

The guy at the bottom obviously look happier with his US$26 Drivers license compare to the depressed looking and "Blue" guy at the top who spend S$2000

SHOPPING!!! Cause theres nothing else to do..

So what is the favorites weekend past times we guys have here? Weekend bargain hunting. Every weekend the 3 major electronic mall, Circuit City, Fry’s Electronic and COMP USA always advertise on the newspaper all the stuff they have for discount which range from 20% to FOC (Free of Charge)! Yes you heard it right, FOC! Just last week I got my powerful lap top at US$1199 a discount from US$1499 and a Microsoft Wireless Laser mouse+Keyboard at US$19 down from US$49.90.

Bargain hunters from Singapore

Close up shot of the workhard in the weekdays and shop-hard in the weekend creatures

Fantastic discount but with a catch. Every discounted stuff here are all about Mail-In rebates. Which means I am actually buying the laptop at US$1449 and the store will give me a rebate receipt to mail in to the manufacturer or distributor to claim for my US$200 discount which will be mail back to me in 1 or 2 months time provided,
I follow the rebate application instruction strictly. No missing details and supporting documents
The mail is not lost enroute to destination
The guy on the other side processing my application did not lost my mail
Mail is not accidentally thrown away by the rebate center staff.
I e-mail and call to pester them for the money if it was not send back to me in time.

Some colleague I knew actually have send in the application and have not get anything at all. Thus its take a lot of effort from the customer’s side to get that deserved discount as advertised on paper. I am currently waiting for US$150+US$15+US$5 rebates to be processed. That’s a lot of money isn’t it? And a lot of homework to prepare the application and follow up work to track those individual rebates. In any case,, even without the rebate the price of electronics’ are cheaper here compare to Singapore. So another saying goes, “Anything running on Electricity is cheap in US”.

Gonna go now. Update you guys again next time. Finish off here with a very nice picture taken at Tokyo Narita International Airport taken during my transit flight to US....

Finally got my car and a dent

I spend almost S$2000 and close to 2 years to get my Singapore drivers License in the past. Yesterday I spend US$26 plus 3 hours to obtain my Texas drivers license by passing both the theory and practical test at one shot. What a BIG difference.

My intention is to get a Honda Accord or Civic costing US$5000 to 8000 as my mode of transport for the next 2 years but unfortunately my vitamin "M" is pretty low. Thus I decided to take over a 13 years old Ford Tarus 3.0L car from one of my colleagues here. The car only cost me US$800 plus a hefty 6 months insurance cost that set me back US$530.50. The insurance is astronomical for new US drivers. In total, I spend US$1330.50 which is only S$2088!!! What a BIG difference again! That kind of pathetic money might only give me a small cc motorbike in Singapore.



Right over here, without a car is like without a leg. Everywhere people go require some form of motorized mobility. Public transport? It virtually non-existence right here, with the occasional sight of a 30min interval buses in certain region. Even so, most bus stop looks abandon. Btw, there is no taxi here... probably have to hitchhike if one become stranded out of nowhere.

BLOODY HELL. Just the second day of driving, my precious car suffer a dent on the rear bumper, on the lower right side. Quality of the road here varies according to how poor the neighbourhood is. I was entering the 7-Eleven near my workplace to "Ta Bao" dinner, as I was leaving I did not notice a high kerb on my right side and BOOM!!!... when negotiating a right turn, I hear a cracking sound follow by snap... BLOODY STUPID F***ing kerb... painted in black color, camoflaging with the surface road. Lesson learn, the hazard on the road here is no always apparent better be careful else next time landed into a deep ditch (or shit?)

While on my way home from work at 3am this morning, I almost hit a armadillo. Cute little critter taking his own sweet time to walk across the road. Strangely I was more alert now compare to the 7 Eleven episode to spare this animal a messy death from a 70km/hr crushing death.

Home cooking hazard

Tried home cooking for the first time yesterday morning. I have been boosting about my cooking skill to my room mates for the pass few days to his delight. Now its the time to walk the walk instead of talk to talk. Cooking is routine for me cause I have done much cooking, mostly western style breakfast, back in Singapore. Got a couple of garlic bread, sausauges and mixed vegetable pack the day before so I do not have to wake up early to the supermarket. By the way, we got a big fridge here that is only at 30% capacity!

Thanks to those guys who are leaving U.S, I took over some pots and pans from them, otherwise I am sure we both will still be eating out for breakfast. Breakfast prepared within 20mins. Italian Sausages with eggs and garlic bread+ veges. Oh boy, I sure make a good house husband in the future...I thought...

Than it was the taste test. We took one bite of the italian sausage and whatever that was in the sausage buffled us. This is the first time I cook and ate american sausage (previously was mostly Germans) and it look pretty raw in there although it have been cook over infernos for more than 10mins. Ricky (my room mate) ask me if anything was wrong, I took another bite, it still taste a bit wierd... unlike german sausage which taste really solid, this one taste like grounded meat.

To ensure that Ricky will not loss faith in my cooking and to prevent a total prohibition to any of my future cooking for the next 713 days in U.S, I kept my finger cross, gave him a really assuring look and said "ITS WELL COOKED!!!". It have been 2 days, so far nothing have happen to him or me. Phew...

Sausage= Pork
Hotdog= Beef
Bacon= Comfirm is pork...

Tommorrow I gonna make Bacon breakfast...

An E-mail to my sis

Hi Sis,

The weather is pretty weird right here. The first few days was freaking cold than 2 days ago it was hot and humid. Than there was hailstones and destructive thunder storm 80miles north of our area yesterday, causing tons of destruction but gladly no civilian casualties. Don't worry, the weather might be extreme but your brother is still save and sound. Good food, nice apartment, nice bed and great colleagues to work with. Will send you some pictures when I get my lap top and internet connection up.

I can't comment much about the working style right here but from what I look, everyone seems to be quite relax at work right here. Maybe is the weather or maybe it just a U.S culture we guys got into after 10 years of US overseas detachment experience. I have not officially started work yet and is still currently undergoing orientation program.

Yup. Felt pretty pressured to always have my colleague/senior LEO to "tompang" me to and fro work. Fortunately I have will be getting a cheap car for transport really soon. Just test drove my section-mate, Leng Chuan's Ford Taurus yesterday and I am sure I will be buying over his car (he is switching to Integra). It only cost S$1200+ for a 1995 V6 3.2L sedan. I am sure there is no such deals in Singapore. The car might be a bit old but it will serve as a good point A to B vehicle untill November when I will be taking over anothers colleague Acura Integra. This will alsohelp me save up on the cash and avoid taking Financing for a much more expensive cars. What do you think of mine plan? In any case, will need to get a Texas driving license before I start driving around here.

Work gonna start now....its 11am right here....take care. Gonna go!!! Bye!!! Take care of Mum and Dad and of course Mian Mian and Da Mian!

Sincere,
Bro.

Don't eat "Xian Cai" (Pickles).

The first day I got to my workplace, I have takeaway for lunch. It was porkchop rice with stew veggies and "Xian Cai". One chap dare me to eat the "Xian cai" and for once I thought maybe the "Xian Cai" here taste horrible. Well, gonna try it to know it, right? So there goes a scoop of it down my throat and there was a sudden up-roar from everyone taking lunch. "Hey it taste good!" I said. One senior guy replid "Over here eating Xian Cai is a taboo, its prohibited and its a sin." I thought they couldn't be too serious...

2 days later, we got a serious problem happening to our aircraft which never happen before. A screw stud that is near to impossible to be remove got dislodged. New problem, new chaos and suddenly all our guys got really busy like bees.

Yikes... maybe its an coincidence but there have been many cases in the past when some one ate "Xian Cai" at our workplace, serious stuff will happen... Must be careful next time. What you eat is what you get...

U.S People don't like chicken drum stick

One new thing I learn about the culture here is U.S are that the people love chicken breast meat (white meat) and relegate Chicken thigh/drum stick meats (red meat). Exactly opposite of what we Singaporean like. Thus the restauraunts and eateries out here are glad when you ask for thigh meats and gave you plenty of it at the same price.

http://www.wingstop.com/menu.asp

Click on the above link. Our dinner at WingStop was fantastic yesterday, if not overwhelming... 5 of us ordered 50 pcs of chicken wing and drum stick for dinner. 50pcs+ tons of fries and salad for just US$29.90 (S$35.00). Wah lau, eat till cannot stand up... but its really good food I can't find in Singapore. Beats KFC in every aspect.

Still don't have a Laptop and internet connection at my home yet but at less now I have a new avenue to internet. Just the first day of work , we got Internet equppied PCs set up in my workplace. Great.... In the mean time, every blog and e-mail will still be rush rush....

Welcome to the US

18Hrs fligh, many time zones away, 3 connecting flight and I am finally in Texas, Dallas. I am pretty lucky. After a 6 hours flight from Singapore to tokyo for transit, I got back to my same window seats and found that the two other seats beside me was empty. That was improvise into a "business class" bed where I could sleep for the next 10 hours of my journey to L.A. Great, Economy class airfares with business class comfort. The domestic flight connecting L.A to Dallas was worst than SIA economy class. The galley was narrow, my lugguage compartment was hijacked by some inconsiderate passengers and the female flight attendants looks like she needs to retire. It was not even a Boeing 7oo series but a DC-80 (if I don't remember wrongly). Little do I realise that those creature comfort I have been experience if all my previous international flight are a rarity on domestic flights and U.S couldn't be the worst. No passport identification is required for domestic flight in U.S thats why almost everyone treat it like a taxi. The only saving grace was the very friendly and humourous flight attendant who never fail to both promote and inflict sarcasm on American Airlines, much to the pleasure of the passengers in the business class section who think he is a clown.

Yesterday was totally hectic, the moment we landed at Dallas, Fort Worth Airport we were immediately greeted by our counterparts from the Peace Prairie Detachment in what was considered to be a "VIP" treatment. Hua Chuan and Leng Chuan (not natural brothers in relationship) assisted me with both my heavy luggages to the awaiting Base Military vehicle which turn out to be a Honda Oydessy 6 seaters! Wow, RSAF is pretty advance right here in U.S... able to afford driving such official vehicles. Back in our home base, we have to settle for lorries and 2 tonners.

Long trip to our Apartment located near the beltline. Me and my room mate were staying on the second floor of the apartment, if not for the physical help from our comrades, I doubt my jet-lagged body could drag those luggages up the steps. Doors open and I am pleasently surprise to find the apartment was very well furnished! We are only short of the TVs and Telephone but the apartment is equipped with Microwave oven, Dishwasher, Washing Machine, Dryer, Electric Stove, Fridge, Oven, queen sized bed plus a fur carpeted flooring... etc etc. I was expecting an empty house but this was better than HDB! Best of all,

Next stop, Walmart, the popular supermarket chain to get anything you need under the sun. Someone got me takeaway dinner from Mac Donald, the popular fastfood brand originating from US become my first U.S Meal. The rest of the night was all on shopping for essential items and unpacking my luggage. Grocery are pretty cheap right here but eating out will be pocket crunching. My MacDonald chicken sandwich meal cause me US$6.

Today is the second day of my stay... nothing exciting happening. Its just another day of shopping and long distance driving to supermarket distances apart. Just took my lunch at a Chinese Tim Sum restaraunt in Richardson county, 30mins drive away, where most of the local Chinese population reside in.

I hope I could write more at this times but I currently do not have Internet access in my apartment, yet. There is one friendly Afro-American waiting in the Q right now to use this PC, its pretty "paiseh" to let him wait since this is a public computer terminal. Americans are really friendly especially those staff working at the Supermarket. Other than the language accent barrier I encounter, its not difficult to strike a conversation with them or vice versa... thus Supermarket Q usually move very slowly as a single "How do you do" greeting could lead to a1 or 2 mins of babbling. Will update more on my stay here in U.S in my next blog along with Pics... bye...

I'm leaving on a Jet plane

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
John Denver -Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co., Inc. -ASCAP

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waiting, he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry.

Chorus:
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go.
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go.

Nice song from John Denver and also sung by some Ang Mo female singer. It pretty sums up of my feeling right now. "All my bags are pack, I am ready to go..." in less than 9 hrs time I will be on board SIA SQ12 heading to Tokyo Narita International Airport where the plane will refill before embarking on the long haul journey to US L.A. From L.A., I will be switching to American Airline for a 3hrs domestic flight to my ultimate destination, Texas, Dallas, home to our RSAF Peace Prairie Chinook Detachment. It will probably be the longest flight of life approx 19Hrs and I am sure the two years in U.S could be my longest oversea stay. The last time was 4 months in Hong Kong. Its 0020Hrs Singapore time and I keeping myself awake, writing blog, chatting with friends online and also do some data backup to DVD-Rs. I just want to keep myself awake so I could fall asleep easily on the plane later on, else I'm sure to be jet lagged and too tired to do all the admin stuff when I reach the States. Eager to go now but sure have mix feelings especially with what I will be leaving behind for the next 2 years.

"I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go."

In fact I will be back on the 4th of May 2008, 5th of May to be exact if you factor in the long flight times and the occasional glitches in our modern day passenger flights. I hate to leave Singapore for only 4 reasons,

1- Family. Been together for the last 25 years creates the kind of bonding that take a million pounding to break. Gonna miss my "Lo So" mum, my "Resourceful but Anti-PAP" dad and my "Crazy and Cute" Sis. Luckily with Modern technology, keeping in touch is no problem. Long distance call are very affortable so calling back home while I am in US will be a 3 times a week ritual if not daily.

2-Friends. Drinkings kakis, Karaoke kakis, Talk cock sing song Kakis,political kakis, my ex, my ex ex and my ex ex ex....without you all, my life will be lacking of that wonderful palettes of color and that fine touches. Yes, I will be making new friends in a new land but nothing beat the taste of age old wines, if you get what I mean.

3- Food. Probably won't survive beyond 1 month by feeding on Ang Mo food. Although there is numerous Asian restaurant and eateries in the U.S town I stayed in, it can never beat the authentic Singapore taste of Roti Prata, Minced Pork Mee, Wanton Mee. My usual weekend ritual of Roti Prata will cease to exist for the next two year and in it place, Pizza. Maybe someone could mail me those "Instant" Roti Prata sold in NTUC supermarket?

4- Election 06. Just when I thought I could vote... sian.... have to wait another 5 years. Go Sylvia Lim! Go Glenda! Go Low Thia Kiang! Go Worker's Party!

Dear friends, Riccardo off to his new adventure in USA and without fail will continue to keep this blog alive with pictures and happenings of his exploration of the New World. He can be reached by E-mail and MSN at majmoron@yahoo.com or throught Snail Mail to,

1717 East Beltline #2021 Coppell, Texas 75019 U.S.A

Riccardo hereby sincerely thanks all the wonderful friends who took the effort, sacrifice their time and gained extra pounds for the numerous farewell dinner...