More on Reverse Culture Shock & Restarting life part 2

I've been feeling lethargic lately and the days are slowly blending together. I have projects, a performance, and a new very part time teaching dance job but I can't seem to muster the energy to hustle for more jobs. I think I'm still feeling woozy from being here.

Living at home with my parents. Again.

I think any normal person who has moved out of your parents' watchful eyes will feel an overwhelming sense of feeling incapable of doing anything independently as an adult. In their eyes, you are still a child (it doesn't matter what age you are). *sigh*

How is it that I have to restart my life but yet also revert back to feeling like a child again.

On the other hand, I feel a responsibility to make sure that I can be available to help my family at any given moment. While I was half a world away, I hated getting the phone calls from my parents about their health checkups or how my baby sister is acting strangely and going through adolescence. (The generation gap is astounding!) My first thought was "What am I supposed to do from halfway across the world? There's not much I can do from here." Now that I'm here, all I can think of is a sense of nostalgia for being able to come home and take time to unwind: take a hot bath before bedtime, watch a guilty pleasure tv show, sip my tea, call delivery, etc.

I'm in a sense, missing my home. The home where I can just be myself.

Now onto more funnier tidbits I've observed or noticed since being in Singapore...

Singapore is so expensive!
I can't believe how much things cost here. Parking, ERP (at different times of the day the rate goes up or down), Gas, Grocery, Wine/Beer/Liquor, etc. The cost of living has definitely increased since I last lived here 11 years ago. Goods have always been more expensive due to everything being imported but I also think inflation has caused the prices to look unbelievable!

Obsession with physical appearance.
In the States, I can usually get away with no make up on a daily basis and comfortable clothing that can also be dressed up or down. I also wear flat walking shoes, orthopedic shoes, or sneakers and will rarely wear shoes with any kind of heel. Before I came back here, I purchased two pairs of cute platform sandals that are also good for walking. These same shoes are being worn almost daily now. My mother has me dressing up so I look "decent" and I am wearing at least a bit of make up if I leave the house. This is not so much as a cultural shock as I already knew this but after a while I'm getting tired of having to do this.

MRT - Why are people walking so slow even during rush hour?!?!
They walk in a much slower pace than folks in New York. I already walk like a Grandma's pace but the people walking in the train stations or malls or sidewalks are generally at a slow stroll! I'm constantly dodging and weaving in/out of people. I couldn't believe that my speed of walking is much faster than most (with some exceptions of course). Back in New York my friends will joke and make fun of how slow I'm walking.


More on my observations in a later post...