Our Car - It is a '99 VW JET

Finally, after days and days of going through Craig's List and Edmunds, we got our car. It is a '99 VW Jet. Never heard of Jet, before, don't worry. We haven't too. Hee hee, I am sure some of you already know what car it really is.
I think pics are better than words, so here it is





Yup, the TA fell out.

Why Getting My Driving License is a must?

Well, everyone knows that not having a car in United States, especially in California is almost like not having a pair of legs. One gets really restricted to where one can go. Before I discover that there is a ferry between Coronado and San Diego Downtown, the only way I knew one could get there is via the Coronado Bay Bridge. And only motor vehicles can travel on it. Arrr.....actually that is not true. Either that, or people who want to commit suicide. I am serious. According to a friend, who wiki everything, it is the 3rd deadliest suicide bridge in USA. Don't believe me, check it out with the website below. You can also find the more professional shoot of the bridge there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado_Bay_Bridge

So you would think well no wonder I like to get my license....Errr, if you tink so you think wrong. I am more lame than that. Hahaha. I am more enthusiastic about getting my driving license because I don't want to miss out.... See when we get around these days, we only have two identities, 1) our pass to the Naval Base & 2) our passport. Hahaha, so for 5days, when I was waiting for my appointment to make my pass, I am really without identity. I can't even buy things in the base myself because only military personnel and family members who have their passes can shop there.

Okay, but that is not the point. WEP and I didn't experience it ourselves but heard from his guys that they tried to go clubbing a few times and often got rejected at the door because the bouncers believe them to be too young and not the age that they claim. And it is a ruling here than even if you clearly looked like you make the age requirement (eg a 50yr old man), they will still need to see your identity.

Singapore driving license or NRIC won't do, because they never see them before and can't tell if it is fake. Then the guys were told even if you bring your passport, you might be denied entry (apparently one tourist experienced just that) because they cannot determine genuinity as well. So how? CA driving license lor, which everyone will definitely get, since they all have been driving and will easily pass the practical except me lor. And I so long didn't drive already (as in as a student), I think I also rusty liao.

Sigh, must try, must try, but the slopes here very scary lor. Slopes here are like real slopes lor, some of them just like those in SF.

Anyway, I think although the system seem to make it very restrictive, I think it is quite good. At least I know they are really doing their job and keeping up with security.

In fact, when one uses a credit card, they will ask for identity as well and you know how in Singapore, you can have your card in a name different from your actual NRIC name. My cards are all like that lor, so alot of explaining to do at stores. So, when I want to use credit, I always make sure WEP is ard, in case I need to fall back on his credit. Which turns out to be a good thing anyway, since it means I can only spend cash and that really restrict unnec shopping.

Walmart...I luv it...I hate it

So on my second day here, we made my first trip to Walmart. WEP already did his "maiden" trip to get the essentials like bedsheet so I have a bed to sleep on when I arrive.

This is the truck which we saw while driving to Walmart, near its entrance.


And there it is, Walmart, as most of us (even if we have not been to US before would know) from our marketing textbooks...


Look at the damage, mind you, this is only first round...We have to go back for a second because we had no more space for the things we had to buy.


And if you think that was it, you were wrong again, we been back I think twice in the week that follows and each time, the bill was never two digit figure. That's why I hated it. Makes one spend.

But what I love about it are these...my 5 dollars buy!!!


You know the same dinnerware in another color will set one back by $19.95. But the blue one (most probably because it is less attractive color) is only $5. But it does come with a catch, we got to check each piece caused there were broken ones in each box, and we have make sure every piece is intact before we pay. But well, it is worth the effort.

Aiyo, I caused traffic!

I guess you can say we are living in the suburbs, not much traffic all day round. Perhaps only early in the morning where all the navy people head into the island to report to work and about 3 to 4 plus, where people are heading home. Else, there isn't much traffic. People are very polite, nothing like Singapore. Better give disclaimer at this point, such is the case in Coronado as we have come to understand.

So how on earth I can cause traffic in such a place. Well, see I am yet tuned to the rhymes of Coronado, so when I cross the road, my mind is still set at crossing road in Raffles Place. Check and check some more, then cross. If not, later get flattened by speedy car coming from nowhere.

So of course, I check and check some more here also lor. Too used to the vehicle wins, unless you think you are made stronger than steel mentality. So what happened, in doing so, I got one SUV, one public bus, behind the latter, some more cars, all stopped waiting for me to cross the road. And me, still blur blur, standing there, waiting for the bus to make its turn. So I waited for them, they waited for me, until I think the driver in the SUV realised I am not understanding, and waved for me to cross lor.

Then I looked back and realised, oh oh, I just caused a built up just outside the junction where our estate is and there never is traffic there, ever, at all. (Thought I could find a photo of the junction, don't have...when I get one, I will post it)

Hahaha.

Nice to know that when I step my foot onto the road, I will not get killed, that I take priority even over public traffic.

The Verdict is OUT

After sniffing and sneezing since I arrived and having all these on and off fever, today I think I know why. A friend who is a native California has told me that it ought to be allergy, perhaps due to the weather changes in Oct which is very common. But I wasn't too sure.

Haven't been sniffing for two days in a row which has been great. But while having a short run just now, I started having this runny nose and when I looked around, there are flowers everywhere. Ha, never knew I am allergic to flowers, must be the pollen. And guess what we got flowers at home.

Look, aren't they lovely? It is worth the sniffing... Hee Hee. I didn't buy them, WEP did. Ha Ha, passing the blame. He actually bought them to cheer me up for not feeling well...Ironic, isn't it?

Our Studio Apartment

As most of you know, I don't like small spaces and I do quite poorly in them. So maybe you be wondering what on earth I am doing in a studio apartment. Well, when you are in a country whose currency is 1.5 of yours and that you are depending on one's person income, one learn to adapt. HAHAHA.

Anyway, after being a homemaker for the past 1 and half months, I had wished that our 5 room flat will shrink by itself so it is easier for someone small like me to upkeep. So the studio apartment is a good change for me. Anyway, I am so good to fill the house with things, the smaller the place, the better for our pocket I guess.

So here it is. Our humble studio apartment in Coronado. It come pretty much unfurnished, but it looks quite alright. We bought, TV, DVD player, TV console, Microwave, pots, pans, dinnerware, two foldable metal chairs (you know those used in WWF), two coffeetables, one wooden one and one metal one. That it is.

(Oh yes, Hide in case you are wondering, yes there are candles (3 of them, 2 bought by WEP), this is our house, what do you expect, candles are a must. (hee hee hee) And flowers too (bought by WEP too, not me)

Now I shall let the photos do the talking...then you tell me what you think....









This is our Balcony from ground floor view (we are on the third and uppermost floor), must be one of the barest balcony with 1 lone metal chair and coffeetable. Look pretty cold. Still comtemplating on plants....


These are the views from our Balcony




For pictures of our neighbourhood and the estate which we are staying, please refer to www.coronadobayclub.com. Think I shall not attempt to compete with more professional shots and spoil the actual beauty of this estate. It really is a lovely place to live in.

to be continued (View around our estate)

A Father's Love

Over the past 2 weeks before my big day (departing to US), I come to realize just how much is in a father's love. My dad will be turning 69yrs old come 3Nov. He has worked hard to provide for us all his life, have gone through so much in his life, it is really amazing to see how he continues to choose to believe there is hope for the better in everything.

Till recently, he has never operated a computer, doesn't own a mobile phone, doesn't believe much in today's tech which we all rely on so much. But because of me, he learnt to use SKYPE. I know SKYPE is not difficult to use, but learning SKYPE for him, includes learning how to use a computer. As I was passing my parents my laptop, he had to learnt to set it up (the video cam etc) , log in etc.

It was a very very touching experience for me. As I was going through with him, he was taking notes, asking questions, and his eyesight isn't very great, but he managed. He practised and practised, not just on the computer when I was there. Because a week when I returned, I could see he had actually reviewed his notes, improved it, internalized them, coz he could then after a week of not trying out, completely did it on his own from setting up the laptop to shutting down without referring back to his notes. This is a 69 year old man learning. And if we could sometimes complain about not learning as quickly now that we are older, then what my father is able to do must be amplified many times over.

And such is my father's love for me. To do something which he otherwise would not have done, but because of his love for me, did so anyway. How much more is our Father in Heaven's love for us.

Here is my dad on his 68th birthday. Look at his hair, all his, no dye involved.

4 Oct (Second time over)

This is the early morning of 04 Oct (Los Angeles time) still on my journey of the a 9 and half hour flight from Narita to LAX.




The sights and scenery of the drive from LA to Coronado, off San Diego. So actually, I am not in San Diego but in Coronado.












And this is my beloved driver who has driven 2 and half hours on his own from Coronado to LAX to get me and now on his next 2 and half hour back. If you look closely, you may observe some signs of what one week of American food can do to you... ... (I think he might kill me for hinting it). You shall know if I do not blog again...heeheehee

The journey begins....4 Oct (1st Leg)

So here the journey begins for me. We are going on an adventure... in which we have no idea what awaits us. Actually not true. WEP knows what awaits him, his training. I am the one who is stepping into the world of unknown. For both of us, it is our first time in United States. Though having worked in US companies all my life and interacting with Americans on a regular basis, guess going to the country would still be a relative new thing.

Here are my parents with me at the airport at the ridiculous hour of 4:45am. We planned to be there at 5am but got in early. Special thanks to my uncle (TCC) for coming to drive us to the airport.



The flight to Narita was great. The service on the plane was fantastic despite all that I have heard about the airline. Which airline? The one starting with Uxxxxd. Why not fly SQ? The govt didn't pay for me leh and it is $700 difference!!! The seat is quite roomy (I know what do I know about space constraint). But I felt it was more comfortable than my flight to Sydney on SQ. Of course entertainment wasn't great, but since my intent was to sleep, having stayed up whole of friday night, it didn't bother me much.

What bother me most is I actually forgot to keep my camera with me and missed the best sunrise on the plane ever! Almost shot myself. First time ever I did not take the clouds on the plane. Every trip except this!!! Why didn't just go and get it? First, the lady besides me is Japanese and she was sleeping. Even if she wasn't sleeping, the only way I could get to the overhead compartment is by climbing the seat! I don't think that was nice. Why does she being Japanese got to do with anything? I don't know, because they are polite and hygiene is very important to them??!!?!?!?!?!?! I don't know, just don't think it is nice la.

You know what I love about the Narita airport (BTW also my first time at the airport)

THIS!!!!





I think I caused a queue because of it. I shan't indulge in details, just use your own imagination la.

There you have it, my first 9 and half hours of the 04 Oct 2008

I DO NOT like red

I have never liked the color red or pink. And I had a very strong opinion about that, very strong opinion.

But does this look to you that I really have no liking for the color????



I am so surprised to find out how many things I own are in red. They seem to all have quietly crept into my life...Okay, not so quietly...Most of them are gifts and of course you can't not use them if they are from your boss rite?

Sigh...Where did my principles go? I can just imagine how some people will be so happy with this point? The one who broke her leg in India...