Tropical Nights

“The air was thick with humidity, but instead of feeling damp, it seemed lush. Like the whole city had just stepped out of the tub, and hadn’t quite gotten its robe on.”

― M.L.N. Hanover, Darker Angels

Shakespeare & Company

When I lived in Paris right after college, this bookshop was one of my favorite haunts and the very first book I bought here was Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage." Always top on any book recommendation list I give. If you had told me then that I would be coming back one day with my own kids, I wouldn't have believed it.

Last summer in Paris.

November in the Tropics

November is so dreary...

When my daughter woke up on the day of her 12th birthday party sick, my first thought was: "I am not rescheduling this party." When it became clear that I would indeed have to locate the numbers of 15 disparate parents of classmates and call them exactly one hour before they were due, I did what any caring parent would do: I tried to evaluate just how sick my daughter was. Would nausea and stomach spasms really be that bad? When propping her up on a pillow no longer seemed like a feasible option, I made the call(s) and cancelled the party. I was feeling pretty good about my sense of calm and alacrity dealing with the situation until the phone rang: "Hello, I'm H's dad..." With a bit of dread, I looked outside the balcony and saw a man with a present and a girl next to him. Oh no, someone had slipped through the cracks. Turns out, the mom was preoccupied with a sick baby and hadn't seen her phone.

Once the party was cancelled, I was secretly thinking: "Oh well, better luck next year." But no, turns out cancelling to Eliot just meant by one week, not a year. So I baked another chocolate cake, called the pizza guy, contacted all the parents (again), and hoped that there would not be a thunder storm on the day (there was, but then luckily the sun came out).
And it was all worth it. Well at least until bedtime, when after thanking me with  big hug, she smiled and said: "I think this year we should have a Christmas party." 

Once Upon a Time, My Mom

Being faraway from loved ones is hard but it helps when my brothers and I receive an email that says: "I wish I could gather you all up in one big hug." One thing that doesn't change with time or distance is my Mom's way with words.

The Silver Lining

Last night, I was having a hard time helping my daughter come up with a silver lining for the last minute cancellation of her birthday party due to being sick the other day. This morning, looking for something to eat with my coffee, I may have found it after all. 

LIfe in the Tropics

When you spot a leaf on the ground and remember it's autumn. #lifeinthetropics

Photo by Eliot

Life in the Heartland

Life in the Singapore heartland plays out in its ubiquitous HDB flats managed by the House and Development Board. The breakaway drama Ilo Ilo which I finally managed to see also takes place in an HDB. The old people gather to play cards and drink coffee in the open area on the ground floor. Not unlike the open air cafés in Italian piazzas.

Block 742 Tampines Street 72

Post Training Snack

Best part of accompanying my kids to camp during school break is that my son finishes his training before my daughter, so I can go with him to the nearby food court where he has a light morning snack of Char Siew Rice with duck. Not very Italian but perfectly Singaporean. Swimmers sure are hungry after training.

Tampines Street 72 Hawker Center

Sydney Days

Sydney, 10 years later. I was last here for my PhD ceremony at the University of Sydney and before that 14 years ago,  when we lived on lovely Elizabeth Street with a two year old in tow. This past weekend, I got to walk down memory lane... And because it was beautiful and breezy, in a sweater no less.

Bondi to Bronte walk (photo creds Eliot)

Humidity Doesn't Travel

Hair that stays straight for more than a few minutes is disconcerting. Until you remember that you are not in Singapore.

Bondi Icebergs Club, Sydney

Goodbye Verona, Until Next Time

When Traveling with a Gymnast pt 2

When you travel with a gymnast...

And guess who has to do the ticking??  

It's The Little Things

I was made a member of a new expat group and scrolling down it, hit upon this!
Nice to know, Diary of An Expat in Singapore is alive and well in Kuala Lumpur...

Swimmers in Singapore

That wouldn't make me nervous or anything... Alexander swimming 50 mt Butterfly and, more importantly, vindicating his mom who was always picked last on school sports teams!
Yes, I made it about me.
Well done, Alexander!!

What Swimmers Do On Their Day Off

Ominous Skies Over Singapore

Another week begins...

Hello Stranger

It has taken me "only" seven months to sit down and update this blog. The last post written in October 'When I Come Back to Singapore One Day' (here on the right), received such an incredible response that frankly everything I thought of writing afterwards seemed banal in comparison. A photo of a perfect avocado? No thanks. A sunrise? Been there, done that. Then I remembered that the reason why I started a blog in the first place was to have a place to record the banal and everyday stuff. Also, I submitted all my final grades so I have way more time.
Here are some snapshots from the last few months.

Laksa Master at the Yale-NUS end of year dinner. Best food at a work place ever.

After ten years of summer, winter. Christmas trip home to Verona.

Close friends and family equally happy that I am speaking about author Elena Ferrante to someone else.

Alexander competing in the Singapore Nationals.

A light breakfast of Char Kway Teow after 5:00 am swim training.

Diary of An Expat in Singapore makes it to the Ivy League (Yale-NUS library).