heading out of the office at 7 pm on a friday night, i run into a coworker who invited me out for some drinks and dinner with her friends. sure, why not, i only had old rice waiting for me at home anyway. what i didn't anticipate was the all european audience. before long, i was sitting at a long table with a bunch of rather attractive europeans: 1 scotish, 1 german/scot (who looked like a younger version of pierce brosnan), 2 french/english, 1 english, 1 belgian and 5 aussies. all "locals" living and working in singapore. oh, then there was me and another american who empahically says, i'm not american, i'm a new yorker. enuf said. the thing about the europeans i find is that they are incredibly interesting and social, but can be incredibly arrogant. the german can come off a bit pompous and self rightious, while the french... well, are very french. the belgian was a bit aloof but i have to say, all in all, i found the evening delightful. at the end of the day or i should say at the end of a very long evening, despite the cultural idiosyncracies, i had a great time! it didn't hurt that the food and wine were equally interesting and enjoyable.
the shared cab ride home was a bit of an experience as well. there were three of us, the new yorker, scot, and me. the new yorker immediately started bossing the cabbie around - "left here, no, right there" - frustrated at his lack of efficiency to which she says "do you want me to drive???" also asking if he has been smoking a joint and that's why he is not paying attention, threatening to report him. this of course is all half serious and jest. after she is dropped off, the scot as if on queue, takes the baton and starts telling the cabbie what to do.
i am wiped by the time i hit the bed, but glad i said yes to my coworkers invitation to what has been the most interesting night in singapore thus far.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Just goes to show that californians really are cool and laid back. i think you need to fully embrace the task of representing the left coast during your tenure in SPore.
the only famous belgium i know if jean claude van damme. i don't know what statement that makes, but perhaps the facts speak for themselves.
As I was reading your first late-nighter I was expecting an ending like "I went home completely trashed and passed out on a park bench somewhere..." I'm glad you didn't make the day's headlines.
A great recipe for an evening is spending it with a hodge podge of guests like a bunch of europeans.
sorry, I'm the anonymous. accidently hit the wrong button!
Tell me more about the Pierce Brosnan man. If a guy looks like that, I can forgive a lot of character flaws! :-)
Wow, sounds like a fun night. Not as crazy as London and Geneva, but that's probably a good thing. I'm glad that you're getting out and meeting interesting people.
Post a Comment