But this is normal lah...

There are lots of things here that people consider normal that are foreign to me:

1. Corn isn't a side dish...it's a dessert!

I can't tell you how many ways corn has been prepared that I have tried it recently, but in all of it's many forms, I am good with eating corn at any time of day, with any type of preparation. My favorite that I will definitely prepare in Austin is "cup corn". Steamed corn in a styrofoam cup, with butter and salt. So simple. SOOO delicious!!!

2. People older than you are called "Auntie" or "Uncle".

You say this at grocery stores, to your friend's parents, and to your waitor at dinner. It's kind of cool because it makes it feel more personal when you talk to people. I haven't personally embraced it to the fullest and used it on a waitor yet, but I might by the end of this assignment! :)

3. When you want to emphasize something, you say "Lah" at the end of it.

Ok lah...
Yes lah...
Nooo laaahhhh
Ok, I do it for you lah...
Tomorrow lah...

Ok I guess you get the point! :)

4. People here are very conscientious of the cleanliness of their utensils.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen local people taking their own tissues and napkins and wipe off the silverware before they use it. Now it makes me wonder how clean the utensils are that I have been eating off of. Oh well...haven't gotten sick yet!

5. The common belief is that the only way to be cool is to eat & drink hot things!

I guess it makes sense, because it makes you sweat. But I am not a fan of sweating every hour of my waking life. Most of the foods here are fried meats, hot rice, soups, or fried breads. I am amazed at how skinny people are here given what they eat! My only theory is that fried foods fill you up faster, and hot foods make you want to eat less because you are already hot. Doesn't sound very scientific, but that's all she wrote.

It has been very fun to learn the ways of this new culture and experience the new foods and customs in Singapore. I hope to bring back the recipes and fun exciting things I have learned here to Austin and share them with all of you!!!