Ode to Temporary Housing

As we settle into our new home, I don’t want to overlook our previous home, Shangri-La Serviced Apartment.

Since neither of us are poets, it won’t be pretty but here is our “Ode to Temporary Housing.”

- Ode to all 635 sq. ft. of our own wonderful serviced apartment with your glorious urban camouflage-like rugs.  

  
- Your tiny little kitchen where we made our first homemade Singapore meal and created a mess during a first baking experience.

- With your pint size bathroom that is the size of Raegen’s gun safe in Phoenix.

- While we (and by we, we mean Amy) loves the Golden Girls on TV, we do not like their style in our décor.

- Oh Shangri-La, you had a grand buffet and giant hotel gym. The wine glasses on the other hand, were not that lucky.

- To the bougainvillea outside our window, McSqeaky Squeakerton , whose thorns drag across the window making noises that resemble nails on a chalkboard at all hours of the day.

- Your daily maid service is something that we will miss.

While you were small, you were reliable and helped us through our first month in a new land; and for that you will never be forgotten. 

Happy Trails, 

Amy & Raegen

PS- For more on the Shangri-La Serviced Apartments, read First week in Singapore or The Kitchen Experiment

First Week in Singapore

Nothing like hitting the ground running. A week ago Friday we landed at 3 am local time and after grabbing the breakfast of champions at the airport (McDonald’s!) we checked into the Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre took a two hour nap and began our adventure in our new city. The first week in Singapore has been full of sightseeing, new experiences and both new and familiar faces. With such a busy week there is so much to tell you about but in an effort to not bore you, here are the highlights!

First weekend sightseeing

As you can see we saw a lot during our weekend, moved into our new place and enjoyed a little time poolside to get over jet lag before Raegen’s first day. We also enjoyed some of the vast cuisine Singapore offers including Mexican & Indian food and of course dumplings from the household favorite Din Tai Fung.

House Hunting

We moved into our temporary home at the Shangri-La serviced apartments on Sunday. The apartments are in a great area at the west end of Orchard Road and we have access to the Shangri-La La gym, breakfast and pool. While the 635 sq. ft. apartment is small and not quite our style, it’ll work until we find a home; which we hope happens quickly!

Amy spent two days this week looking at houses. Housing prices are very high here. Three months’ rent is more than Amy made in her first job in a year.

 After looking at 20+ apartments the slate has been narrowed down to three finalists. Here are some photos and details on the three finalists. Raegen hasn't seen any of them but we have an appointment Saturday morning to view the three and make a decision on our home for the next two years. Stay tuned!

The 2014 Singapore Airshow

Nothing like attending your first major airshow as a member of the sales team in a new country but that’s just what Raegen did. He spent Tues-Fri out at Changi Expo. Amy joined him on Thursday. It was an exhausting and long week but such a great experience with companies, planes (the new Airbus A350!) and people from all over the world.

It was also great to have a group from the corporate office in town for the show. The team hosted a wonderful reception at the Fullerton Hotel in two of the suites. (A little trivia for you- the Fullerton Hotel used to be the old post office.) The reception was described by an attendee as “the classiest and the best reception he had been to all week." As you can see the reception venue boasted great views of Marina Bay and the Marina Bay Sands as well as Boat Quay (pronounced key.)

We wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day from Singapore. We’re off to watch the Olympics!

Happy Trails,

Amy & Raegen