Hi my friends,
Miss me???? I miss you very much!
I've more or less settled down in my new home and finally overcame jetlag when I did not fall asleep on my couch at 4 o'clock, woke up for dinner when Edmund came home, then fell asleep again at 10 and woke up at 4.30 in the morning. I went through this routine until yesterday when my internet was up and running, then I just sat in front of the computer for the whole afternoon searching for online majong games.
The third day I arrived in Copenhagen, I started missing the warm weather in Singapore already. Now I finally understand why the Ang Mos in Singapore are so fond of basking under the sun. I think I would probably do the same thing when I'm back in Singapore. Until yesterday, the sky in Copenhagen was perpetually gloomy as it was snowing and raining the whole of last week. Hence, before you have at least four layers of clothes/jackets (best if they are fleece) and thick boots, please do not even think of stepping out of the house because you will soon hate yourself for being so garang (In English, this means tough).
Other than the not so pleasant weather, coming to terms with the cost of living is also quite a challenge. Just to give you an idea and I'm not even going to compare to our wet markets, a piece of ginger (the size of say my palm) costs about SGD 4 in the supermarket; 10 eggs cost about SGD 8; a pack of sausages (10 in a pack) cost about SGD 7. Besides, most of the labels are in Dansk, therefore I think I'm soon to be banned by the supermarkets for being the crazy woman always harrassing their customers, because I often try to get hold of people to ask about things. Fortunately, the danes are generally friendly people even though they may look aloof. They won't avoid you like the Japanese do when you approach them asking for directions in English. The danes would tell me what I needed to know and sometimes even helped me search for the correct item if the one that I was holding happened to be something else. This is the problem, because they are so nice, it makes me want to ask them more! :-> To give the danes more credit, they are really eye candies, both men and women.
Food - Other than cheese and bread, it's still cheese and bread. I have cheese and bread for breakfast, I have cheese and bread for lunch. I've probably eaten as much bread for the past 1 week as I had eaten for the past 3 months in Singapore. I'm not exaggerating. This city is full of bakeries and thank God, their bread is actually quite nice....... Here, you don't see luncheon meat or omelette wrapped in buns, they are really freshly baked foccasia/bagels/ciabatta with densely packed dough in the middle. Oh, and there is the famous danish meatloaves (similar to the swedish meatballs that you can find in Ikea). This is a gigantic ball of minced pork and/or beef. So if you eat one plus a few slices of potatotes, it is equivalent to one full meal of "Chai Pun".
Dansk - This is the local language. I must say the country is not very tourist friendly because most signboards are in Dansk. Remember I mentioned earlier the labels on the packages and signs in supermarkets are also in Dansk? Well, to make my experience with Dansk even more "exciting", I had some problems with my internet connection yesterday, so I had to call the telecom to check my phoneline. In Singapore, most companies have an electronic answering system which let you choose a language before you proceed. In Denmark, there is no such luxury. I spent about half and hour straining my ears to catch what the operator said and then deciphering which number I should press. Luckily, I managed to speak to a HUMAN after maybe the 10th attempt and he helped me solved the problem. Otherwise, I would not be able to post this diary today.
So, the above are just my opinions about Denmark. I guess I have a lot more to learn before I can adapt to the new lifestyle. It looks rather sunny today, and hopefully it is as warm outside as it looks. Maybe it's a good chance to check out my neighbourhood later and feast on the eye candies in the street.
Take care, talk to you later.
Miss me???? I miss you very much!
I've more or less settled down in my new home and finally overcame jetlag when I did not fall asleep on my couch at 4 o'clock, woke up for dinner when Edmund came home, then fell asleep again at 10 and woke up at 4.30 in the morning. I went through this routine until yesterday when my internet was up and running, then I just sat in front of the computer for the whole afternoon searching for online majong games.
The third day I arrived in Copenhagen, I started missing the warm weather in Singapore already. Now I finally understand why the Ang Mos in Singapore are so fond of basking under the sun. I think I would probably do the same thing when I'm back in Singapore. Until yesterday, the sky in Copenhagen was perpetually gloomy as it was snowing and raining the whole of last week. Hence, before you have at least four layers of clothes/jackets (best if they are fleece) and thick boots, please do not even think of stepping out of the house because you will soon hate yourself for being so garang (In English, this means tough).
Other than the not so pleasant weather, coming to terms with the cost of living is also quite a challenge. Just to give you an idea and I'm not even going to compare to our wet markets, a piece of ginger (the size of say my palm) costs about SGD 4 in the supermarket; 10 eggs cost about SGD 8; a pack of sausages (10 in a pack) cost about SGD 7. Besides, most of the labels are in Dansk, therefore I think I'm soon to be banned by the supermarkets for being the crazy woman always harrassing their customers, because I often try to get hold of people to ask about things. Fortunately, the danes are generally friendly people even though they may look aloof. They won't avoid you like the Japanese do when you approach them asking for directions in English. The danes would tell me what I needed to know and sometimes even helped me search for the correct item if the one that I was holding happened to be something else. This is the problem, because they are so nice, it makes me want to ask them more! :-> To give the danes more credit, they are really eye candies, both men and women.
Food - Other than cheese and bread, it's still cheese and bread. I have cheese and bread for breakfast, I have cheese and bread for lunch. I've probably eaten as much bread for the past 1 week as I had eaten for the past 3 months in Singapore. I'm not exaggerating. This city is full of bakeries and thank God, their bread is actually quite nice....... Here, you don't see luncheon meat or omelette wrapped in buns, they are really freshly baked foccasia/bagels/ciabatta with densely packed dough in the middle. Oh, and there is the famous danish meatloaves (similar to the swedish meatballs that you can find in Ikea). This is a gigantic ball of minced pork and/or beef. So if you eat one plus a few slices of potatotes, it is equivalent to one full meal of "Chai Pun".
Dansk - This is the local language. I must say the country is not very tourist friendly because most signboards are in Dansk. Remember I mentioned earlier the labels on the packages and signs in supermarkets are also in Dansk? Well, to make my experience with Dansk even more "exciting", I had some problems with my internet connection yesterday, so I had to call the telecom to check my phoneline. In Singapore, most companies have an electronic answering system which let you choose a language before you proceed. In Denmark, there is no such luxury. I spent about half and hour straining my ears to catch what the operator said and then deciphering which number I should press. Luckily, I managed to speak to a HUMAN after maybe the 10th attempt and he helped me solved the problem. Otherwise, I would not be able to post this diary today.
So, the above are just my opinions about Denmark. I guess I have a lot more to learn before I can adapt to the new lifestyle. It looks rather sunny today, and hopefully it is as warm outside as it looks. Maybe it's a good chance to check out my neighbourhood later and feast on the eye candies in the street.
Take care, talk to you later.
17 comments:
Testing :
May I noe which bridal shop did you used for ur wedding? - dfong
Anyway the words in ur diary are getting smaller and smaller as we moved down the page. Those pple like me who are still doing OT really can't read ur diary even though we wld love to. But am happy for u knowing u r doing well over there. - dfong
well, cant complain - loads of danish pastries to feast on ;)
just met up with pat and family and sim and family - she's so hot now!!!! har, har
mei
wah, envy envy green with envy... yeah, pple like us working OT, but still make it a point to read. dfong is right. your font is getting smaller in the next few paragraphs very diffcult to read. dont worry u will slowly get used to it. when u are back, u would have learnt a third language! heeee. hey, btw, i deleted yr that sms (with the tel. no) accidentally. nvm, will call only if neccessary. *jchia*
Finally get to hear from you! Should have at least given us your email address mah!
Anyway, I think it'll be fun to learn Dansk. Make sure you become better than Edmund!
Remember, anything you want us to send, just name it. (of course i mean domestic stuff and DVDs lah!)
- rac
Yo Van, great to hear fr u! Leave ur email address leh and sign up for gtalk or msn messenger.. so can chat with u in real time. n put some pics babe! - xinyi
hello hello! so cool... you get to travel around with your hubby... i wouldnt mind the cold weather really... must watch your diet.. least you balloon from eating all that cheese and bread! kekekeke
Hi My friend,
It is really good that you are the "guinea pig" for living in Denmark...a very remote place for the HK people. I am sure that you can get used to this new place soon. Don't worry! :)
BTW, I feel really jealous as you can have so many eye candies around you...send me some photos of these candies...please... :P
Take care and I will keep on visiting this blog!
Glad to hear that you hv more or less settle down in a new place. Although with the language and weather barriers, I am sure you will enjoy the "challenges" in Denmark, don't forget to share with us your "sotong" stories ya!!! Oh yes, we will be having the dept. "Loi Hee" dinner at InterContinental Hotel tonight.
chao liao..............
sorry didn't put my name, it is carin here.
we are going to ho chih min city for co trip from 13/4 to 17/4
Chin Kwang
I can't believe this. I always miss the opportunity to go to better places like Vietnam and Bangkok!!!
Carin, I'm so jealous because I really miss Singapore food. :-(
Audrey, I almost fulfilled your wish because I was very attempted to take a picture of a guy who held the door open for me this morning and when I said "taK" (it means thank you in danish), he gave me a very very charming smile.... My courage to ask him if I could take a picture of him melted away simultaneously.........
there is an earthquake in central sumatra ard 11.50am singapore time n we can feel it here. helen n i look up and stared at each other for 2 seconds b4 we confirm that it is indeed an earthquake. we were told to evacuate from the building....
then afternoon comes back we can still feel some movement also....
chin kwang
Vanessa
Buddhism says "birth, aged, sickness and death" is a cycle that we cannot avoid. If u all have treated your aunt well when she is around, then don't be too sad about it because you all have done your part. Death is a route that all of us will go through, regardless who we are. Lets take death like when we have fallen into a deep sleep, at peace and feels nothing. Your aunt is now relieved from all the pain. You should feel relieve as well that she no longer suffers.
Take Care and stay cheerful, as you always are.
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