Sara in Singapore: Day 1, June 16

A couple of blocks from Auntie Linda's house is a place where locals come and sit to eat, drink tea, smoke, read the newspaper, etc. The tea is so amazing. Its like this semi-sweet tea that they add coconut milk, or condensed sweet milk to. I'm not exactly sure what's in it, but it's delicious.

There are families sitting here, old men, groups of covered women, chinese men—all kinds of people in here. They all sit at these concrete tables like I am right now, with red chairs. I've seen one American man so far. It intimidates me a bit to be sitting her alone eating Roti Prata (local dish which is like naan bread, but oilier with this curry sauce on the side---so popular here and so amazing). Everyone is sipping on this tea and smoking cigarette after cigarette. It seems to be a local hang out. Singaporeans are usually very trendy and classy, but here it's casual and laid back (just how i like it). God this tea is great!

I'm going to come back here every morning and hate this tea before work. It's humid today. But, here, in the shade, it's quite nice. I'm hoping to get to know the two older women who serve the tea here, or at least get to the point where they recognize me after a few days. I really need to make a friend here, or at least learn some local terms. The women, let me tell you, are so grogeous here. Like flawless. Not gorgeous in the way we Americans think. These are really naturally beautiful women. Everyday kind of woman.

On every table, there is tea. I'm looking around and everyone drinks it. They come in these small glass mugs. I think I'm obsessed. There are these two tourists wearing crocks—haha–that just walked passed me. They're taking pictures of eachother. This little place that serves the food and tea has little Indian and Malaysian shops surrounded it. It's really cute.

Today, I want to find an outfit that will help me blend in a little bit. I hate being the tourist with a camera. I don't look that way, but I want to find an outfit that keeps my tattoos covered, yet keeps me cool from this humidity. I really need to learn some Malay.

People in the U.S. never do this; sit and relax and enjoy the morning. We're always in such a rush. I mean I try to relax and enjoy, but we don't ever think we have the time for it. AHHH!! I hear English! Definitely tourists or people like me here for work. By looking around it seems that this is a local railway canteen. That must mean there's a train here somewhere. Like maybe this is a train stop. I'm going to need to take a look around. I cannot believe I'm actually here. The feeling is unreal. Also the fact that I'm not just here for a couple days hasn't sunk in yet. I'm here all summer. This is my world for three months.

I've been thinking I should move here and continue school here. But I haven't even been here a full day yet- I shouldn't get ahead of myself. An old Muslim man just came up to me. He asked where I was from, and said "You look Muslim."

I proceeded to tell him that I was born here in Singapore and that my dad is actually Muslim. He  says, "Ahh, that explains it. People in Chicago are sleeping right now right?" I chuckled cause that was cute. He turns and walks away from me but then turns to me and says, "Welcome home. Have a wonderful day."

He's now sitting at a near by table drinking....the tea of course... and reading the paper. I feel at home. What a wonderful way to start my summer. I've been welcomed home. It smells like ginger, cigarettes and tea. I'm truly blessed. Time goes so slowly here. Its only 10 a.m. i've been up since 6 a.m. (because of jet lag) and I feel like it should be at least 1 p.m. Two teas later, I just switched tables to see what its like closer to the rail tracks. No train yet but I'm sure I'll see one sooner or later. I ended up sitting next to a group of four people speaking English. Only one of the four is American. Its getting really hot. I'm sweating. Like a lot. I gotta get this under control!

The young men here are like... really attractive. Maybe I need to find myself a little local summer lovin while I'm here.