Category Archives: headdesk moments

In which I share questions I’m asked every time I go back to the US

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Expat Bostonians

***I’m going through my draft posts and finishing them/adding to them to get them out into the world*** My friends and family are well educated about Singapore by this point (some were more educated about Singapore than I was … Continue reading →

Her mother tongue isn’t Tamil

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Expat Bostonians

***A quick note of explanation before I get into the post. English is the language of instruction in Singapore. However, all students must take a second language–called a Mother Tongue (henceforce I’ll refer to it as MT) language.*** I recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Assimilation, Culture Shock, customs, Education, headdesk moments, Identity, Primary 1 registration, Singapore, Third Culture Kids, Uniquely Singapore, With Kids | Tagged biracial children, expat bostonians, gujarati, language learning, mandarin, mother tongue, race based assumptions, Tamil | 4 Comments

New Zealand-A Comedy of Errors

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Expat Bostonians

I may not have boarded a plane before my twentieth summer, but I’ve more than made up for it since. In just the (almost) five years since we had Elanor, we’ve visited four continents, eleven countries, and somewhere between fifteen … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Supreme Clumsiness, airports, Auckland, driving around, Flying, headdesk moments, hotels/serviced apartments/resorts, New Zealand, Random Stuff, Rotorua, Taupo, Travel, Travel by Continent, Country, Wellington | 4 Comments

Recovering

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Expat Bostonians

I ended up in the hospital again. While my review of Mt. Elizabeth Novena does paint a fairly appealing hospital experience (as hospital experiences go), I wasn’t terribly thrilled to land back there eight days after being released. I even … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Supreme Clumsiness, headdesk moments, medical, Singapore | 10 Comments

Mommy Wars, Singapore Style

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Expat Bostonians

In the US, there has been long-standing tension between Stay at Home Moms and “Working” Moms (The airquotes are because that’s usually the first thing that gets tempers flaring–yes, ALL moms are working moms). The book above, if you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Education, headdesk moments, money, Singapore, Uniquely Singapore, With Kids | 4 Comments

What do they look like?

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

“What does she look like?” The police officer meant my daughter’s race. She looked up at me, exasperated by my lack of response to her question. I hadn’t responded as I hadn’t been blindsided by this sort of casual racism … Continue reading →

Posted in headdesk moments, Identity, Las Vegas, North America, Travel by Continent, Country | 17 Comments

Reverse Culture Shock

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

After driving on the left side of the road for the past seven or so months, I have had to focus and think hard about being on the right side of the road again. I found myself wailing to anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, cars/driving, Culture Shock, customs, Expat to Expat Advice, headdesk moments, Identity, money, North America, Pictures, Random Stuff, Singapore, Third Culture Kids, Travel by Continent, Country, US | 21 Comments

House of Plague

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

I have to say that the last 10 days were not the most fun days. I woke up the Wednesday before last with a sore throat and a headache. I took some aspirin and moved on. I woke up Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in headdesk moments | 2 Comments

My first Singaporean parking ticket

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

Dear Universe– I realize that I was struggling to find a blog post topic, but it was a bit cruel to drop one into my lap in the form of a parking ticket. Please do not be so literal in … Continue reading →

Posted in cars/driving, headdesk moments, money, Singapore | 5 Comments

Then there are days like today….

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Expat Bostonians

My friend Jessica was somewhat prophetic during a conversation we had within the past six months. We were discussing expat life, and she turned to me and said “the third year is the hardest.” I wasn’t so sure, but I … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, customs, Expat to Expat Advice, general places, headdesk moments, Housing, Shopping, Singapore | 17 Comments