The last two days in a row, I have actually accomplished a couple things. When one is dealing with life without wheels, one or two things accomplished in a day is noteworthy...
Yesterday, I went to Giant. Giant is like a Super Walmart without the Super. For the non-picky shopper, they have a 24-hour version of just about everything. 24-hour as in; 'That's about how long it lasts.' This is not your quality merchandise. They deliver non-perishables within a day or so of purchase, tho, so I made the trek. I loaded up my cart with consumable crap, separated the perishables from the non, figured out what I could carry, and went to the service counter and asked for delivery. The lady said 'Youwannafando?' Shit. I said I did. She handed me a bunch of coupons. I asked again. She rolled her eyes and handed me a couple more. Luckily a lady from my neighborhood wandered in and asked me if I wanted a ride. Yay. A success.
Today was Library Card and Post Office day. 2 things in one day is a lot, but I figured the 'youwannafando' thing had worked out so well the day before I would give it a whack. First, the Post Office. I needed to buy stamps and change our address. Stamps - easy. However...I found out that when one enters the country, one logs a permanent address when applying for a green card. Usually this is the address of his or her sponsoring corporation. This is registered with the Ministry of Manpower, or MOM. One cannot officially change this address. MOM does not take kindly to it. I needed to go everywhere I had given our address at the apartment and tell them personally that we have moved, and I guess, ask them not to tell MOM. Fun fact about the Post Office...if stuff sits in the back for too long, they open it up and give it away as prizes. I saw a computer mouse, an external hard drive, a bicycle helmet and a vacuum cleaner. I bet MOM doesn't know about that...
A woman on a mission, I headed to the bank to change our address. First question - 'Do you have your Passport?' I cannot imagine a situation except travel where I would have my passport in my purse. I asked why she couldn't just look up my account - I have my ATM card. She gave me the fish-eyed stare. She said 'Green Card ok.' I gave her the card and the address change, and said - 'Don't tell MOM.'
Next I went to the library. Another fish-eyed stare. The lady said, 'You a foreigner.' No lie. I had to admit it; apparently I look the part. She reached into her bottom drawer, pulled out a form, asked for my Green Card and charged me 50 bucks. When she asked for my address I felt myself break into a sweat. (Fun fact about the library - Singaporeans are free. We foreigners support the program.)
I decided to make a stop at the grocery store. I felt I would have the urgent need for a glass of wine come happy hour, and I am out. I ran into another lady from my neighborhood. Scored a ride home. When entering our neighborhood we saw the police, walking up the street, semi-automatics drawn. We slowed down and asked what was up...'Routine Surveillance,' they said. We stopped at her house and cracked into that wine at just a little before noon.
Don't tell MOM.
Speaking of Mom, mine is 73 today - Happy Birthday MOM!
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