Tammy Chislett

Hey there dear friends,

Just thought I'd write a quick note to you guys to let you know that I
arrived here in Singapore last Tuesday (the 12th). It has been a crazy week
- soooooo much to adjust to - there really are so many differences within
our cultures!!

SO many apartment buildings - even way out in the outa suburbs. Just mind
blowing to look out the window and look at another million windows. I kinda
feel like I'm living in a ghetto! :) But it's kinda fun at the same time...
mind you if this was for life, I would feel a little 'trapped' or cramped!

All the floors are totally tile and we mostly just have cold showers. Two a
day. The food... lets just say I still have a LOT of adjusting to! My
problem is that I don't like seafood or hot food. SO that leaves me eating
chicken and rice for every meal...I'm guessing I could start getting tired
of that any day, so I hope to find another delicious dish soon...! I just
so long for a big plate of veges again! And some dessert! I've been eating
a LOT of Aussie chocolate since I've arrived strangely enough - they have
some in the supermarkets - it has been my 'lifesaver' many times so far.

The heat I'm starting to get a little used to, although I hear that right
now it's a little cooler that what it's normally like - esp. towards the
middle of the year... But I think what helped, was having people back home
tell me that it's a super hot place, so I adjusted to that idea early. The
other thing that helps is that they have very strong air conditioning in the
buildings (although not in our apartment), but we sleep with fans going all
night. (Just like you said Loretta!)

I share a room with a Philipino girl who is also on the performing arts
team. We just have two mattresses in the room - with pillows, not even any
sheets. I felt a little 'bare' the first night and the fans made me chilly
every now and then, so they found a little blanket for me! :) There is
nothing else in the room - apart from my luggage. I had a lot of luggage...

I feel a little dumb at times when we're in a team meeting or gathering
because for so much of the time, I can't understand the accents. It's often
hard to tell which language they're speaking in - so my brain has been
working way over-time to hear what I'm meant to hear. I'm the only one
around here that only speaks one language so that makes me feel a little
less smarter than the others at times too...

Yesterday we had some team-building exercises together which were quite fun
and funny but the instructor was always looking at me when he was talking as
he figured that I didn't understand a word he said and had to keep asking
the other team members. So it got to the point where he would just keep
watching my face expressions to work out if I understood - it really felt
very weird to have such a 'handicap'!!

The days are very packed full...from 9 - 6pm often and then they all work on
Saturdays also...!! We don't get home usually till after 7.30 or sometimes
8pm and hardly feel like making a meal so it's not really a nutricious way
of living right now... I endeavour to force myself to cook some veges etc,
as I get used to this schedule.

This morning we had a photo shoot for publicity. It went for 6 hours - 4
different outfits and 5 or 6 different settings. We haven't even begun any
rehearsals together yet (and won't till about mid March!), so it was very
weird having these photos! Felt a little premature! But at least it was
kinda whacky! Maybe I could send one or two via email sometime.

Well I better leave it here - have to go out to a Chinese NEw Year Dinner!
Will explain that later - lots to share about that too.

Well I miss you guys and send lots of love!

Tam