Shopping and a GIFT

I was in need of staying awake and finding food so I asked at the front desk where to find a grocery store. She directed me a few blocks to the infamous Orchard Road. Oh my....there is more shopping here than I saw in New York last month. There are more people on the sidewalk than I saw in New York last month. I wandered around and found a KFC and sat down and had lunch. It was just like we have in the U.S. -- YUM-O!!! Then I took off trying to find the "cold storage" (that's what they call a grocery store here). I could see a sign for it, but couldn't figure out how to get across the street due to construction. Then I remembered someone telling me there was underground walkways, so I took off to find one. I went to TANGS, a huge department store, and found the underground walkway. I got to the other side, but couldn't find the cold storage. Eventually, I found it. I was overwhelmed trying to figure out what to buy, especially since I had no idea how far I was from the apartment and I was walking...and oh, did I mention, it is more humid here than in Iowa in the summer!!!! I walked through the cold storage (very small store, so hopefully there are some other spots to shop) and picked up eight items and spent only $15.80 Singapore Dollar...that's about $11 USD. Anyway, it's enough for now as I have a continental breakfast at the apartment building and tomorrow I'll be having supper with Bobby (from the Principal office) and his wife. The only bad thing...I got home and realized I forgot to buy CHOCOLATE!!!! Oh well, tomorrow!

And just as I was completing this entry my doorbell rang and it was a gift of a "moon cake".

The moon cake was in an awesome box (I'm sure I'll keep it and bring it home, it's that cool). It came from the apartment manager and had a letter that said:

The mid Autumn Festival (Zhong Qui Jie) is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. The moon is at its brightest, being nearest to earth on this date. The festival also coincides with the end of the autumn harvest.

Traditionally, on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together -- an auspicious token of abundance, harmony and good luck. also accompanying the celebration is the tradition of carrying brightly lit lanterns by the children.

We at Somerset Grand Cairnhill are delighted to provide you with moon cakes to enjoy with your family members and friends during this Mid Autumn Festival.

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So I guess I have a little dessert for later, and also a lot to learn about the culture and activities going on around here. As I understand it, we are heading into the next three months of festival after festival and activities galore....so I'll be seeing lots of cool things here!