Another week in Sing

I spent last week in Singapore working with the team and their accounts. It was quite productive, and as usual, I enjoyed spending my time with these very nice people. In addition to meeting with the team, I met with four major clients. As I mentioned in my last blog post, Chris ventured home a week ago. He enjoyed his time here. Besides the relaxing weekend we had together, I think it was important for him to see where I had been "living."

After a busy work week, I let my hair down a little over the weekend. I went out with Lynnette (one of the mentees in the program) on Friday night.
She took me to a part of Singapore I hadn't yet seen. We had a lovely dinner and then went to a new part of Singapore called Keppel Island. There is another American serving IBM in this program here; his name is Eric, and he is from Florida. He later joined us, that is after his taxi driver could find this new part of the city. On Saturday, I did some shopping and planned to hit the Singapore Art Museum... which didn't happen. Instead I joined in with a local tribute to Michael Jackson - it was pretty cool. I had some very nice dinner plans with my ASEAN host, Irene and her family at their home. We had an amazing dinner on their patio with some of their close friends. Irene, Wei Hong, and their children recently returned from Greece, so we were privileged to see the photos of their vacation. Lovely evening (thanks again Irene and Wei Hong).

I had a nice Sunday after talking to Chris and the kids. I went to an amazing brunch with Eric at the Fullerton Hotel... WOW. The food was out of this world, and the champagne was flowing! We took a rickshaw back to the part of the city close to our hotels. Cool way to see the city, but I felt terrible because the driver was 65! I asked him a couple of times if I could take a turn on the bike. He shook his head and said that I couldn't because I wasn't licensed!

After an early engagement with a client on Monday morning, I flew into Manila and will be here until Friday morning, at which point I will fly into Jakarta. I am sooooo sad that I will miss my first 4th of July at my parents' place in as many years as I can remember. My brothers and their families will be there. Chris is taking the kids (and the dogs) there for most of the week, and they will not miss out on their beloved "Candy Parade." They've never missed one in their lives. I am also missing my 20 year High School Class reunion. I'm sad about that as well. I have reconnected with many classmates on Facebook in the last year. I have to say that it is going to be lonely being an American who is not in America for July 4th :-( I am told there are local American celebrations that I can attend.








So for tonight and the week, I am in Manila. I will complete the assignment two weeks from tomorrow! I fly back to Portland on July 14. Of course before then, I'll visit Jakarta, K L, and then a couple last days in Sing.

I miss my family.