After months of preparation and packing, piles of paperwork whose teetering heights rivaled the highest peeks of Kilimanjaro, a wretched handing over of our beloved dog-baby to menacing strangers at a cargo station at SFO, and bidding farewell to the people I love most in the world; I arrived. Stepping out of the airport after twenty hours of air travel, I was a little loopy and more than a lot sweaty but I gathered my overstuffed luggage and teetered out to find Christian.
I'd imagined the reunion so many times over the last month and it was every bit as as sweet as I'd hoped. I spotted him immediately (after all, we are in Asia). Giddy like school children, we zigzagged our way through the airport grounds to check on Phoebe's arrival. Holy bureaucracy! After jumping through several hoops, we arrived at the quarantine center and immediately spotted her crate. She saw me first, but the mere sound of Christian's voice sent her into the most adorably sweet fit. The meeting was bittersweet because she still has ten days of lonely quarantine to go but we left relieved that she had made it safe and the worst part was behind us. Just a few more days, little girl!
Our new digs are modern, spacious and roomy (plenty of space for visitors!) with a large deck off the living room that faces the wraparound pool. Every window in the joint has a view of the Singapore skyline. It feels particularly grand at night when we're serenaded by the piano playing at the hotel across the way. The complex is large, clean and well-kept (and yes, it's totally safe, mom). The best part is we live within walking distance of an area called Robertson Quay. It's a little community alongside a river that is overflowing with shops and restaurants for every taste and desire. My welcome dinner was a selection of cheeses and antipasti and a bottle of wine at a wine bar. I guess old habits die hard.
We're allowed to visit Phoebe from 4-6pm every day. The facility is wonderfully clean and spacious. Each dog has their own air conditioned room and when their owners get there they can be let outside to play and stretch. All the people there are friendly and they all seem eager to get to know us and Phoebe. Who can blame them? She IS pretty adorable. I think she's going to be just fine and that is just the biggest relief.
Putting their propensity towards order and cleanliness aside (which is an automatic win in my book), Singaporean people are also courteous, friendly, and welcoming. While looking a little lost in the street while we tried to figure out the MRT (subway system), a man stopped what he was doing and asked if we needed help. Taxi drivers are not only patient while we try to pronounce where it is we need to be shuttled, but they're happy to share with us a bit of Singapore history and seem genuinely interested in what brought us here, where we're from, and how we like their city so far. It's impossible to be skeptical of their generosity and kindness, even for surly old me.
My first days in Southeast Asia have been full and exciting. Being away from Christian for a whole month not only taught me that I could fix our perpetually broken dishwasher myself but most importantly, that his mere presence no matter where we are in the world plays a huge role in my happiness. It's more than terrific to be back alongside my partner-in-crime. I've never been so sure that we made the right move. Now if I can only figure out how to work this oven...
I'd imagined the reunion so many times over the last month and it was every bit as as sweet as I'd hoped. I spotted him immediately (after all, we are in Asia). Giddy like school children, we zigzagged our way through the airport grounds to check on Phoebe's arrival. Holy bureaucracy! After jumping through several hoops, we arrived at the quarantine center and immediately spotted her crate. She saw me first, but the mere sound of Christian's voice sent her into the most adorably sweet fit. The meeting was bittersweet because she still has ten days of lonely quarantine to go but we left relieved that she had made it safe and the worst part was behind us. Just a few more days, little girl!
Our new digs are modern, spacious and roomy (plenty of space for visitors!) with a large deck off the living room that faces the wraparound pool. Every window in the joint has a view of the Singapore skyline. It feels particularly grand at night when we're serenaded by the piano playing at the hotel across the way. The complex is large, clean and well-kept (and yes, it's totally safe, mom). The best part is we live within walking distance of an area called Robertson Quay. It's a little community alongside a river that is overflowing with shops and restaurants for every taste and desire. My welcome dinner was a selection of cheeses and antipasti and a bottle of wine at a wine bar. I guess old habits die hard.We're allowed to visit Phoebe from 4-6pm every day. The facility is wonderfully clean and spacious. Each dog has their own air conditioned room and when their owners get there they can be let outside to play and stretch. All the people there are friendly and they all seem eager to get to know us and Phoebe. Who can blame them? She IS pretty adorable. I think she's going to be just fine and that is just the biggest relief.
Putting their propensity towards order and cleanliness aside (which is an automatic win in my book), Singaporean people are also courteous, friendly, and welcoming. While looking a little lost in the street while we tried to figure out the MRT (subway system), a man stopped what he was doing and asked if we needed help. Taxi drivers are not only patient while we try to pronounce where it is we need to be shuttled, but they're happy to share with us a bit of Singapore history and seem genuinely interested in what brought us here, where we're from, and how we like their city so far. It's impossible to be skeptical of their generosity and kindness, even for surly old me.
My first days in Southeast Asia have been full and exciting. Being away from Christian for a whole month not only taught me that I could fix our perpetually broken dishwasher myself but most importantly, that his mere presence no matter where we are in the world plays a huge role in my happiness. It's more than terrific to be back alongside my partner-in-crime. I've never been so sure that we made the right move. Now if I can only figure out how to work this oven...