The Opera Populaire

Raine asked me for my blog address last week. Which reminded me that I haven't been updating it for a long time. Not that anybody will be following it. But blogging is still therapeutic as a form of journaling one's life. Not that I write down every detail of my life on it. Perhaps I am just the sort who likes to have the best of both worlds: to be in tune with modern technology and way of life yet still maintain the privacy and accompanying peace that comes from not putting up your whole life online.

Life is hectic for no rhyme or reason. Okay, there has been one main reason, which I am not discussing online. But another is that I am flying away (yet again!!!) to New Zealand on Friday. My last trip to Washington DC was great, but shameful in the sense that I couldn't be present for two of my dearest friends' birthdays. For one, I was too stingy to even message a happy birthday, thinking that I can do it when I touch down. Well, as you can guess, it never did materialise as I became too caught up with doing up reports and trying to regain rest. Some friend, you think. Yes, I fully admit to being a crummy one.

And guess what! It is going to happen again, except that it will be on my birthday. Hahaha. I have already postponed one invitation and I doubt the kind peeps will remember to make up for it when I return. Anyhow, retribution for the lousy friend (me).

Anyway, just a little bit about my Washington DC and post trip. Traveling abroad does broaden one's horizon and perspectives, especially when it comes to work. I did not truly deserve it, but my boss is a kindly old fellow who believes in grooming his subordinates. It felt a bit strange at first to be spending some time overseas with a superior, but soon, the ice broke. I guess I also learnt that I really ought to open my mouth more and make small talk as well as big.

DC as a city is lovely. But my first day there was miserable. Felt lonely, frightened and cold. Contrary to my fears, I did not actually suffer from jet lag in the sense of confusing day and night. But my appetite did. I couldn't eat anything other than soupy stuff, which didn't help considering that it was minus one degree celcius. After a futile half an hour of trying to feed myself beef pho in a Viet restaurant at M Street, I left behind most of the pho and only barely managed to finish the beef and most of the soup. And I resorted to buying Campbell's soup for dinner. Actually it was pretty therapeutic for the condition: Campbell's Chicken Soup with Rice. I loved the fact that my hotel room was equipped with a large refrigerator and stove, with pots, pans and cutlery. It even had a dishwashing machine and microwave oven! It was in fact the most comfortable room I've ever had, with two TVs, a lounge sofa, iron and board. The single beds were huge, almost the size of a queen-size. I still dream of sleeping there...uber comfy! If there had been one more person staying with me, it would have been ideal.

I spent the 1st day buying Kate Spade wallet, as ordered by a relative, after which I was too incapacitated against the wind and cold to move. After putting on a thicker coat and another set of wool sweater, I felt strong enough to walk to the neighboring street to buy a local phone. The shop was located underground. I felt a bit disturbed when I realised that I was the only girl in the shop and most of them were of ...uh...different ethnicities, to put it in the Singaporean way. I even got teased a bit, but I figured that those were harmless and it was still in the day. Anyway the local line was well-utilised and saved me a great deal of money, as I found out later.

But I must have been quite a sight, in my specs and borrowed Russian military-like overcoat. The next morning, I made my way to the National Mall like that. Perhaps some members of the CIA did found me a little suspicious, for all I knew. The DC Metro was very user-friendly. I quickly figured out the way to buy tickets and go to my destinations. The only issue I had with the Dupont Circle Metro was that it was very deep in, thus making the elevator ride in rather precarious. Not the best thing for someone with fear of heights.

The first view of the US Capitol was WOW!!! "I am in the United States of America!!!!!!!!!" That was how I felt. Although the Smithsonian Institute was tantalisingly close to the Metro exit, I decided to plough my way to the Capitol. It was a Sunday morning with slight drizzle and strong wind. And it was a long walk to the Capitol building. I did not realise the extent of the size of the National Mall until I walked around it. To cut the long story short, I reached the Capitol, stared at it for all it was worth, and went to the Air and Space Museum. If you haven't been there, you should!!! The Museum was a great mixture of interactive and informative exhibits. I also had my first solid food for the day: McDonald's cinnamon melts and hot cocoa, which was quickly digested in the cold weather. My appetite was slowly recovering, but not quite fast enough.

I ploughed on to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial before heading back via the Metro to meet my friend. We went to Krammers Book store, which is one of the more popular book stores in DC. DC has many, many book stores due to its intellectual atmosphere. Sadly, the ongoing economic crisis had apparently forced some old ones to close down. In the course of my visit, I was also to visit the Barnes and Noble at M Street and Books-a-Million.

I have also grown to love DC's pharmacies such as CVS, as they sell practically everything you need to survive. Their over-the-counter drug section were pretty amazing...vast and some of the things you wouldn't easily obtain here. I was very happy with the Carmex for Cold Sores lip balm I bought. Celebrities in magazines have raved about it for many years, but it was only then I realised how good it was. Very moisturising, yet not too rich, with a nice smell. I regretted not buying more while I was there.

I liked the American people, despite having a less-than-wonderful impression about them previously. They loved communicating and I could then understand why Asians could have been viewed with some suspicion due to our reserved nature. I always try to shake out of my quiet nature to return their greetings and try to find things to say. This applied not only to the official people we met, but also shopkeepers, waitresses etc. Perhaps I really should have studied there.

I would certainly have loved to study in Georgetown University. The whole area was lined with charming old houses, many renovated and re-painted. Perhaps for my Phd?? Oh well.

I found the quality of American-made apparel very different from what you get in this part of the world. The clothes I bought there are made with thicker and higher grade material. As a confession, I declare that I am now an Urban Outfitters addict. Loved its many labels and indie tinge! I actually spent close to 3 hours trying to decide what to buy *lol*. Way better than buying Coach bags, which designs I find rather generic.

With regards to the Chinese restaurants, yes, like what they wrote in story books, they give out fortune cookies!! My first one wrote: "You are about to inherit a large fortune." I laughed out so loudly that my boss was rather alarmed. There were not many Chinese in DC in general, save for a Mee Wah restaurant, where all the waiters appeared to be first-generation immigrants from Taiwan. I found the tipping system rather confusing, not to mention a hassle at times. But I guess it does improve service, to some extent.

I hope that this would not be the last time I visit the States as I guess I am beginning to buy into the American Dream hahha.

Labels: Saya Affairs, Travel Diary