Random SG Musings

I started keeping a note in my phone of random things I'm noticing/loving/hating:

• Prices.  When I first told people I was moving to SG, they had the same two morsels of "advice" for me.  "It's hot!"  "It's so expensive!"  Honestly, it hasn't felt that expensive to me.  I was really worried about it coming in, but I've been pleasantly surprised.  My rent is cheaper (although I have roommates), taxis are cheap, no car ownership, food is reasonable.  Booze IS expensive, but there's just no escaping that.  I've heard from other expats that life is much improved with the stronger dollar (thanks, Merica!)  Also have heard that apartment prices are coming down (yay!) because lots of new condos have opened.  It's also easier to negotiate and will be more likely to not have to be locked into a 2 year lease.
• Blue Sky!  I LOVE the sun.  Brandon calls me weather bi-polar (ain't he sweet?!).  If the sun is out, I'm the happiest person, but if it's cloudy, hide 'yo kids.  Having only ever been to China in Asia before, I was preparing for the worst..."sunny" days that aren't actually sunny because you're constantly shielded by smog.  But it's sunny here all the time!  And that equatorial sun is no joke, people.  I need to implement an SPF regimen.  Any gals out there have any face lotion with SPF that you love?  Send it my way, please!  SG really is beautiful.  
• Receipts.  When I am world dictator, one of the things I plan to eradicate, along with smoking, cat calls, rat-tails and homophobia, is receipts.  Whyyyyyy?  It's 2015.  I haaaaaaattteeeeeee receipts.  Well, here in SG, they double your fun and give you two receipts for every transaction.  TWO.  One itemized, one for the credit card.  Kill me. 
• Time change.  It's getting brutal.  I'm 14 hours ahead of Denver, which means all I want to do is stay up all night to talk to everyone back home.  That, and/or get up early.  This is all meaning less sleep for the gal who loves to sleep.  And then I want to spend all morning at work texting with everyone.  This is not sustainable. 
• 220 Voltage.  My phone charges so fast!  (If you know me, you know my phone is always dying)
• Safety.  I could not do this in any other place.  SG is so safe.  It's like Merica, but better I have to assume.  Safety (or my perceived safety) has made the transition so much easier.  Anywhere else in Asia, or even in Europe, you have to watch your belongings very carefully.  VERY.  Here, run around with your purse open, leave your laptop on the table while you order your Starbucks, it's cool.  
• Speaking of things that are cool, SG is not.  It really is hot.  Except for the office.  Where, just like every other place I've worked, I'm freezing at all times.  Today I snuggled against the sunny window for warmth.  Everyone thinks I'm crazy. 
• Shoes.  If y'all were feeling a Ferragamo drought in the USA, I know just where you can find them.  Every single woman is wearing Ferragamo's and I'm just over here in my Old Navy flats like, "heeeyyyy."
• Escalators.  They move super fast.  I almost fell off my first one, but now I'm an old pro.  Merica would never have fast escalators.  Someone would certainly fall off and sue.  Efficiency, I love you!