Well I can’t believe it but it’s been one year for me now in Singapore! I feel incredibly lucky for this opportunity to live and work in a foreign country.Time flies but I feel like I’ve accomplished so much and yet am very excited for the rest of my stay here. It’s a great sense of accomplishment doing and figuring things out on your own.

I was reading the first few posts I made when I came here and got to thinking how far I’ve come. From finding and moving to my own apartment, setting up all my electric, gas, phone bill and bank accounts to actually starting to use my gas stove (my gas bill was a steady $0 for the first 6 months) to riding the subway everyday/getting used to not having the convenience of a car. I remember how unbearable the heat was and so would take taxis to work because I couldn’t stand the thought of walking to the MRT. Or how I didn’t realize you could take the shopping cart with you from the grocery store to the taxi stand instead of carrying all the bags in your hand. Definitely know how to do things better here now.

Work has also been really great too. The team here has welcomed me with open arms and I feel like I’ve known these people for a long time. It’s also great to learn and experience how business is conducted in various Asian countries. Especially the small things they don’t teach you in books 🙂 Travel wise the goal is to go to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and perhaps Korea and/or Japan next year! AirAsia’s starting a Singapore-Japan service next year… whoo hoo!

There are still a lot of things I miss about home – family, friends and weather being the top 3. My wise friend Laura once said that the first year – everything is new and exciting, the second year – you are more familiar with your surroundings and enjoy the place more and by the third year you feel like a true local. I love being in Asia and Singapore is such an easy place to live… I’m excited for the year ahead!