This move has been another unique experience. I'd like to think we get better at the expat life with each move. The perks have gotten a little nicer each time. We've had great locations...well... this one has been, like I said, unique.
I've shared on Facebook about some of the crazy situations I've found myself in. And I don't think that's over yet. There is more crazy yet to come. Our house is turning out nicely, the scoop on the house goes like this:
A man from Singapore and his Filippina wife built this house together. I guess it was supposed to be a second home (the first being in Singapore) or maybe they were planning to retire here. Not sure but they split up, and all work on the house stopped. It was mostly finished. Still needed a couple of air conditioners, light fixtures, appliances, window coverings, etc.
The man remains in Singapore and his spouse has returned here. 3 days before we viewed the house for the first time, she took out her frustrations by throwing landscape rock through nearly all of the 1st floor windows and several of the 2nd floor windows. I arrived with the agent (and with C) to a house totally covered in shards of glass, inside and out. A total mess. I was initially worried about our safety. I had to carry C all through the house and, of course, I'm wondering how safe the house is if someone got away with doing this? Rough neighborhood??
So I get the story about the marital issues and we are assured that all will be repaired and finished and the house is ours if we want it. Yippee!!!
But wait...
Nothing in the way of repairs and finishing goes quickly here. Nor is it simple. The owner didn't seem interested in dealing with it, the "corporation" who co-owns is represented by a woman with her own job and things to do during the day, and the guy on site giving orders doesn't seem to have any real power or knowledge regarding purchasing and schedule. We went around in circles trying to get answers.
Then, there's the issue of the items used inside the house, which were all shipped from Singapore. We cannot find light bulbs for the dining room fixture, no controls for the upstairs air conditioners, no cleaning supplies for the pool, no cables for the tv! And some things have been "misplaced" since it was all sent here how ever many months ago. It seemed all the loose ends would never be tied up!
We thought we'd never get to move in but I finally resigned myself to the idea that this may last another week or 2 and we were fine and healthy and fed and safe. I prayed a new prayer too. I didn't pray that we'd have this beautiful house ASAP. I remembered how laborers are paid such a small wage here, that they work in rags and flip-flops, that lunch is often some bread, soda and a cigarette. And I remembered that they often work in unsafe conditions without the proper tools to do a job right. So I just prayed for their care and safety and that when they go home they have enough money in their pockets to feed their families and pay their bills.
We were able to move in on February 1st, as planned. We still had workers here until Wednesday but that worked out well because they were here to rearrange furniture for me and hang artwork. Nearly all the boxes have been unpacked, pictures on the walls, cable and internet connected. We're still waiting on the AC remotes (a couple have a manual on/off button, but no temp control), and the pool will get a good cleaning on Saturday when the pool guy comes to train us on how to clean/fill/treat it, and the owner has promised to send us light bulbs from Singapore when our dining bulbs go out.
Now, we're looking ahead to entertaining by the pool and hosting playdates. NORMAL things! Love it. I love normal. :)
I've shared on Facebook about some of the crazy situations I've found myself in. And I don't think that's over yet. There is more crazy yet to come. Our house is turning out nicely, the scoop on the house goes like this:
A man from Singapore and his Filippina wife built this house together. I guess it was supposed to be a second home (the first being in Singapore) or maybe they were planning to retire here. Not sure but they split up, and all work on the house stopped. It was mostly finished. Still needed a couple of air conditioners, light fixtures, appliances, window coverings, etc.
The man remains in Singapore and his spouse has returned here. 3 days before we viewed the house for the first time, she took out her frustrations by throwing landscape rock through nearly all of the 1st floor windows and several of the 2nd floor windows. I arrived with the agent (and with C) to a house totally covered in shards of glass, inside and out. A total mess. I was initially worried about our safety. I had to carry C all through the house and, of course, I'm wondering how safe the house is if someone got away with doing this? Rough neighborhood??
So I get the story about the marital issues and we are assured that all will be repaired and finished and the house is ours if we want it. Yippee!!!
But wait...
Nothing in the way of repairs and finishing goes quickly here. Nor is it simple. The owner didn't seem interested in dealing with it, the "corporation" who co-owns is represented by a woman with her own job and things to do during the day, and the guy on site giving orders doesn't seem to have any real power or knowledge regarding purchasing and schedule. We went around in circles trying to get answers.
Then, there's the issue of the items used inside the house, which were all shipped from Singapore. We cannot find light bulbs for the dining room fixture, no controls for the upstairs air conditioners, no cleaning supplies for the pool, no cables for the tv! And some things have been "misplaced" since it was all sent here how ever many months ago. It seemed all the loose ends would never be tied up!
We thought we'd never get to move in but I finally resigned myself to the idea that this may last another week or 2 and we were fine and healthy and fed and safe. I prayed a new prayer too. I didn't pray that we'd have this beautiful house ASAP. I remembered how laborers are paid such a small wage here, that they work in rags and flip-flops, that lunch is often some bread, soda and a cigarette. And I remembered that they often work in unsafe conditions without the proper tools to do a job right. So I just prayed for their care and safety and that when they go home they have enough money in their pockets to feed their families and pay their bills.
We were able to move in on February 1st, as planned. We still had workers here until Wednesday but that worked out well because they were here to rearrange furniture for me and hang artwork. Nearly all the boxes have been unpacked, pictures on the walls, cable and internet connected. We're still waiting on the AC remotes (a couple have a manual on/off button, but no temp control), and the pool will get a good cleaning on Saturday when the pool guy comes to train us on how to clean/fill/treat it, and the owner has promised to send us light bulbs from Singapore when our dining bulbs go out.
Now, we're looking ahead to entertaining by the pool and hosting playdates. NORMAL things! Love it. I love normal. :)
