{"id":12172,"date":"2022-08-25T10:47:23","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T10:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/?p=12172"},"modified":"2022-08-25T10:47:28","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T10:47:28","slug":"dawn-of-a-new-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/dawn-of-a-new-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Dawn of a new era"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

That\u2019s it, the kids have been back to school since Monday. You can check the last few visits we did here<\/a> and here<\/a>. I also managed to snap the kids in their new uniforms on Sunday, looking smart!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c7a y est, les enfants ont repris l’\u00e9cole lundi. Vous pouvez voir les derni\u00e8res visites des vacances ici<\/a> et ici<\/a>. J’ai r\u00e9ussi \u00e0 photographier les loulous dans leurs nouveaux uniformes dimanche, la classe !<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was reflecting on what Jane was saying in her comment and why it is easier this time round. Well, like with everything, the second time you do something, you generally do it better. That\u2019s what\u2019s called experience! Yes, I have set my objectives more realistically this time and it has been easier. Mind you, I had my moments when I felt so much frustration that I could have screamed (and I may have screamed\u2026) But, all in all, so far, so good. I also think that so many things are different from last time we moved. First time round, my life changed completely (think \u201crug pulled off from under your feet\u201d kind of change). This time, though, it\u2019s only the place that is different. Culturally there are some differences between HK and Singapore but not that much. Besides, I already know a few people here as well. This is also making things easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Je r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissais au commentaire de Jane et pourquoi l\u2019adaptation est plus facile cette fois-ci. C\u2019est s\u00fbr, comme pour tout, la deuxi\u00e8me fois que vous faites quelque chose, vous le faites g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement mieux. C’est ce qu’on appelle l’exp\u00e9rience ! Oui, je me suis fix\u00e9 des objectifs plus r\u00e9alistes et du coup, c\u2019\u00e9tait plus facile de les r\u00e9aliser. Mais bon, \u00e7a ne m\u2019a pas emp\u00each\u00e9 d\u2019avoir des moments de grosse frustration o\u00f9 j’aurais pu hurler (et j’ai peut-\u00eatre un peu hurl\u00e9 aussi\u2026) Mais, dans l’ensemble, jusqu’ici, tout va bien. Je pense aussi que beaucoup de choses sont diff\u00e9rentes par rapport \u00e0 notre d\u00e9m\u00e9nagement \u00e0 Hong Kong. La derni\u00e8re fois, ma vie avait compl\u00e8tement chang\u00e9 (un changement du genre “une trappe s\u2019ouvre sous vos pieds”). Cette fois, c’est seulement le lieu qui est diff\u00e9rent. Culturellement, il y a quelques diff\u00e9rences entre HK et Singapour, mais pas tant que \u00e7a finalement. Et puis, je connais d\u00e9<\/em>j\u00e0<\/em> des gens ici. Tout \u00e7a rend aussi les choses plus faciles.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been around a bit and I am a bit puzzled about this town. It looks like an endless commercial centre. A few museums and historic monuments, but there is no real city centre, if you see what I mean. I have not seen small streets lined with small shops and cafes. I wonder where they are. I have never seen so many commercial centres, though! Man, do the Singaporeans do other things than buy things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Je me suis un peu balad\u00e9e et je suis toujours un peu perplexe vis-\u00e0-vis de cette ville. On dirait un gigantesque centre commercial. Il y a bien quelques mus\u00e9es et monuments historiques, mais il n’y a pas de v\u00e9ritable centre-ville. Je n’ai toujours pas vu de petites rues bord\u00e9es de petites boutiques, de caf\u00e9s, etc. Je me demande o\u00f9 sont ces endroits. Par contre, je n\u2019ai jamais vu autant de centres commerciaux ! Mon Dieu, est-ce que les Singapouriens font autre chose que faire du shopping ?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, I found Ikea (you can\u2019t miss the blue and yellow store!!!), Marks & Spencer (a life saver for uniforms!!!), Mac Donald\u2019s (of course, they\u2019re everywhere!), Starbucks (ditto), Sephora and Decathlon (cocorico!). There are also, H&M, Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Victoria\u2019s Secrets and so many well-known brands. For the French, I also found Batta, you remember, the shoe shop? I don\u2019t think they are in France anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jusqu’\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent, j’ai trouv\u00e9 Ikea (impossible de rater le magasin bleu et jaune !!!), Marks & Spencer (super pour les uniformes !!!), Mac Donald’s (bien s\u00fbr, il y en a partout !), Starbucks (idem), Sephora et D\u00e9cathlon (cocorico !). Il y a aussi H&M, Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Victoria’s Secrets et beaucoup de marques bien connues. Pour les Fran\u00e7ais, j’ai aussi trouv\u00e9 Batta, le magasin de chaussures ! Je ne sais m\u00eame pas s\u2019il y a toujours des magasins en France.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Something I am in awe about is the tolerance and respect between people. There\u2019s no aggressivity. I didn\u2019t see racial discriminations yet, particularly between helpers and other people. People are calm. That\u2019s really surprising, even compared to Hong Kong. I also admire the way religions cohabit here. It was similar in Hong Kong. Why is it such an issue in France and UK and not one at all here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ce qui m’impressionne surtout ici, c’est la tol\u00e9rance et le respect entre les gens. Il n’y a pas de chauffe. Je n’ai pas encore vu de discriminations raciales, en particulier entre les aides m\u00e9nag\u00e8res et les autres. Les gens sont calmes. C’est vraiment surprenant, m\u00eame compar\u00e9 \u00e0 Hong Kong. J’admire aussi la fa\u00e7on dont les religions cohabitent ici. C’\u00e9tait pareil \u00e0 Hong Kong. Pourquoi est-ce un tel probl\u00e8me en France et au Royaume-Uni et pas du tout ici ?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to know something funny about Singapore? There is no hot water in the kitchen sink. Apparently, you\u2019re supposed to do the dishes with cold water. Well, the water is never really cold here, but still, it\u2019s a bit too cold for the dishes\u2026 Something else that seems to be the norm is having a bomb shelter in your flat. It\u2019s a room without window that is commonly used as the maid bedroom. You could argue, that sleeping in a bomb shelter is better than sleeping on top of the washing machine, but that still makes me uneasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vous voulez savoir quelque chose d’amusant sur Singapour ? Il n’y a pas d’eau chaude dans l’\u00e9vier. Apparemment, vous \u00eates cens\u00e9 faire la vaisselle \u00e0 l’eau froide. OK, l’eau n’est jamais vraiment froide ici, mais quand m\u00eame, c’est un peu trop froid pour bien d\u00e9graisser la vaisselle\u2026 Une autre chose qui semble \u00eatre la norme c\u2019est d’avoir un abri anti-bombes dans l\u2019appartement. C’est une pi\u00e8ce sans fen\u00eatre qui est couramment utilis\u00e9e comme chambre de bonne. On pourrait dire que dormir dans un abri anti-bombe vaut mieux que de dormir au-dessus de la machine \u00e0 laver, mais cela me met quand m\u00eame mal \u00e0 l’aise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picture at the top is a beautiful sunset from our flat. The picture doesn\u2019t give it justice, unfortunately. I wanted a sunrise to illustrate my new beginning, but there\u2019s no way I\u2019ll be up that early!!!<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

L’image en haut est un magnifique coucher de soleil depuis notre appartement. La photo ne lui rend pas justice, malheureusement. Je voulais un lever de soleil pour illustrer mon nouveau d\u00e9part, je ne me l\u00e8verai jamais aussi t\u00f4t !!!<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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