T minus 4 weeks
Tomorrow, Saturday, marks the 4 weeks I have left before I go home. Perhaps the reality hasn't fully sunk in yet, but I'm actually quite looking forward to being back in Singapore. I have been continuing with my work for the Asia business unit during my time here in Europe, so I know what's going on. And it helps that I start with a promotion :D
But in many ways, Europe has been the land of milk and honey... the money was fantastic, I get an apartment and a nice car, and I don't really have to worry about taxes next year since those for my time in Europe have been covered by the company. Before this year, the only places in Europe I've ever set foot were London and Paris, and yet in my 8 months here, I've been seeing various parts of Europe pretty much 80% of the weekends. Too bad there's the Schengen agreement, otherwise my passport would likely have been 90% full by now... heh....
It's funny that Oslo felt somewhat like home after some time, but Geneva never really gave that feeling. Funny, because I had a stream of visitors in Geneva, or maybe that's actually the reason - that I was surviving on my own in Oslo and therefore had to root myself... In Oslo, I knew what my favourite part of the city was (Frognersteren), but I can't quite say the same for Geneva.
Apart from these 2 home bases, the 2 cities I thought were the nicest to visit were Berlin and Barcelona.
I'm thankful for the friends and family who visited, and will be visiting. It was a really nice feeling when my brother and I travelled together, and stayed with me in Oslo. I remember the Jap curry rice and spaghetti I cooked those evenings, which he gave the thumbs up to. K was the first friend to visit, back in the end of Sept, followed by YB in November. After living alone for months, it was nice to have laughter in the middle of the night, having someone to warm my feet again my pressing against her, etc :D
Come 15 Dec, there will be 7 people staying in my apt at the same time! And 6 girls at that! Imagine how we'll have to fight for the use of 1 bathroom... heh...
I let a young Singaporean whom I got to know here stay over at my place this past week so that she does not have to pay for a whole month's rental at her place, given that she's going to be travelling for the next 3 weeks. It scares to think that living alone has made me grouchy in the sense that I want things done my way and am un-accomodative, etc.
I go back to staying with my parents in January... quite a few people have asked if this is possible, but to me, there was no realistic alternative... it's nice having other people around, even if I don't talk to my parents that much... plus someone to do the laundry, and saving at the very least $2000+ in rent a month...
I've kinda decided to buy a car... am eyeing the 1.8l civic so as not to be extravagant, since I hope to buy another apartment sometime after end 2009, and hope to get another expat contract at some point in the not too distant future... it was a little disappointing to see the list price shift from $72k in the last round to $75 this week... but I guess generally speaking the price can only move down, given that we haven't seen 20% of the bad times yet...
Guess that's it for now... have decided to go to Milan tomorrow, notwithstanding the fractured foot.... let's see how far I get!
But in many ways, Europe has been the land of milk and honey... the money was fantastic, I get an apartment and a nice car, and I don't really have to worry about taxes next year since those for my time in Europe have been covered by the company. Before this year, the only places in Europe I've ever set foot were London and Paris, and yet in my 8 months here, I've been seeing various parts of Europe pretty much 80% of the weekends. Too bad there's the Schengen agreement, otherwise my passport would likely have been 90% full by now... heh....
It's funny that Oslo felt somewhat like home after some time, but Geneva never really gave that feeling. Funny, because I had a stream of visitors in Geneva, or maybe that's actually the reason - that I was surviving on my own in Oslo and therefore had to root myself... In Oslo, I knew what my favourite part of the city was (Frognersteren), but I can't quite say the same for Geneva.
Apart from these 2 home bases, the 2 cities I thought were the nicest to visit were Berlin and Barcelona.
I'm thankful for the friends and family who visited, and will be visiting. It was a really nice feeling when my brother and I travelled together, and stayed with me in Oslo. I remember the Jap curry rice and spaghetti I cooked those evenings, which he gave the thumbs up to. K was the first friend to visit, back in the end of Sept, followed by YB in November. After living alone for months, it was nice to have laughter in the middle of the night, having someone to warm my feet again my pressing against her, etc :D
Come 15 Dec, there will be 7 people staying in my apt at the same time! And 6 girls at that! Imagine how we'll have to fight for the use of 1 bathroom... heh...
I let a young Singaporean whom I got to know here stay over at my place this past week so that she does not have to pay for a whole month's rental at her place, given that she's going to be travelling for the next 3 weeks. It scares to think that living alone has made me grouchy in the sense that I want things done my way and am un-accomodative, etc.
I go back to staying with my parents in January... quite a few people have asked if this is possible, but to me, there was no realistic alternative... it's nice having other people around, even if I don't talk to my parents that much... plus someone to do the laundry, and saving at the very least $2000+ in rent a month...
I've kinda decided to buy a car... am eyeing the 1.8l civic so as not to be extravagant, since I hope to buy another apartment sometime after end 2009, and hope to get another expat contract at some point in the not too distant future... it was a little disappointing to see the list price shift from $72k in the last round to $75 this week... but I guess generally speaking the price can only move down, given that we haven't seen 20% of the bad times yet...
Guess that's it for now... have decided to go to Milan tomorrow, notwithstanding the fractured foot.... let's see how far I get!
posted by Woof! at 3:56 AM
3 Comments:
don't waste time lah. just go for the 2.0 litre one. COE same price anyway.
or even better get a FD2r aka civic type r!
promotion!! treat lunch!
anyway, i am abit confused. Is your first bought apartment in Singapore (the one that you are enjoying a "princely" interest rate for the house loan on)? Am considering buying one next year too.
N: heh... not the Type R for me..
R: basket... I was just told what the starting salary of you kids are!! You have no right to ask for a treat :D
Re house: yah, I bought my place around Sept last year, and started off with a fixed 2.9% no lock-in, and switched to a 3-month SIBOR + 0.7% this year in march. I hear the spreads are now more like 0.9% at least, as compared to 0.7%.
Words of advise from the old: don't rush to buy! And do proper research first.. if you can help it, don't spend too much on a first home, cos you will learn lessons along the way.
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