It has been exactly one week since my arrival in Singapore. This has not been the easiest time for me. Firstly I found out that I needed a lot of paperwork for the application to the Singapore Pharmacy Council. Then I kept being told that I needed a proper employment before I can get any mobile phone or broadband contract or set up a bank account. These were the things I was planning to do as soon as I flew in. It has been really frustrating and depressing. On top of that I had to go apartment hunting and get used to everything from food and transportation to the language
So far I have not seen much in the city that has wowed me yet. Everything seems to fall between the standards of Hong Kong and Brisbane. I guess it will take a while before I can say I like living here.
Last Saturday I decided I would go and be a total tourist and actually had a good day. I was out in the city, and I was exhausted by the end of the day, and I felt more energetic. I ended up in the Little India district in the morning and visited the Masjid Abdul Gafoor. A volunteer gave us a group tour of the mosque and did a good job explaining. It was interesting and bizarre at the same time that the mosque has incorporated designs from the famous Roman churches. Then I went to the Bugis Street market, which totally reminded me of 旺中, only a little less chaotic and crowded. After that I managed to find two churches in the city area, St. Joseph's Church and the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Both were built in the second half of the 19th centuary and are really pretty architecturally. The Church of Sts Peter and Paul was the only one open at the time so I got to go inside and prayed for a bit. The inside however was lacking maintenance and could use some renovation.
My next stop, also the last one of the day, was the National Museum of Singapore, where a random guy asked whether he could join me for the visit. He was originally from 廣洲 in China and was stopping in Singapore for a few days before flying to Australia. After getting the tickets, we started from the history gallery. Instead of the traditional information board, they give you a portable device that show or read out information when you put in the corresponding number. We split up as soon as we entered the gallery and I began from the very beginning. After about 15 minutes the guy came back and was surprised to find me still in the initial section, whereas he has already finished the entire floor. He was hoping to see the more modern history of Singapore so I suggested him to go to the other parts of the museum first while I continue in the history gallery. After about an hour, he came to look for me again when I was in the Second World War session (still have another 30-40 years to cover!). He did not find what he wanted in the other galleries either and wanted to go out to the shops. And he actually wanted me to go with him!? I, however, wanted to see the rest of the museum so ended up staying. It was probably a good thing that he did not wait for me because I did not finish until 7pm~ I did not expect to enjoy the museum this much but I'm glad that I went. It gave me a better idea of the history and the background of Singapore. The life galleries for food and fashion were especially interesting.
Yesterday was a huge day. I moved into this apartment in Simei that is across the road from the hospital. The owners are a couple in early 30's who also live with the wife's mother. So far they seem nice and my room is nice and spacious. It is quite well furnished and also air-conditioned. I hope it will be a nice home. I went found the church last evening. Of course I had to go off to the wrong direction and an 10-min walk turned into 45-min!!! The Church of Holy Trinity in Tampines is quite a big church, much like St Andrew's Parish at church. It seems quite new and modern. They have a good group of altar servers and a decent choir. It felt nice to attend mass again. It felt normal. And I felt that I belonged there, even though I did not know any of the songs.
There are still a lot of things I need to get used to and a lot more problems to encounter. I hope I can stay strong and take one step at a time.
