Rain

It's raining now for the first time in a couple of weeks, and I am thoroughly appreciating it. It makes the air cooler and less humid and cleans the green of the campus. There are covered walkways everywhere so I only get wet if I want to. And the rain reminds me of home.

Two months in Singapore has dulled the exoticism (and there wasn't much to start with). I don't feel like a visitor, I feel like a long-term foreigner. I am more sensitive now to the little bits of life that are different and create discomfort, but also to the differences that I enjoy as an improvement on life in Oregon. Food-related items falls in both of those categories.

One thing I don't like: the lack of vegetables. The only vegetables available in most dishes are some sort of kale, spinach, or cabbage that is overcooked, then seasoned with salt and oil. Really no good at all.

The enjoyable counterpart: the fresh fruit everywhere. At any food court, there is a stall selling fresh cut fruit: papaya, mango, cantaloupe, pear, pineapple, watermelon, orange, honey dew melon, apple, banana, coconut, dragon fruit, star fruit, and kiwis are the basic selection. Nothing costs more than a dollar, and most cost much less. They'll also make fruit smoothies out of nothing but fruit and ice. Delicious!

Can you tell I'm hungry? I'm going to lunch now.


The crocuses here put the ones in my front yard to shame.