Tue Nov 25: so I got a car

Deciding on the type of car
It's not unusual to find different qualities of salespeople depending on the brand of the car. I had a decent but somewhat humble budget, and I was looking for a new SUV. Humble budget and new  don't go very well together.

I could go for a recently used car. I did start out looking for one. There are generally 2 options for a used car: get it from the dealers, or get it direct from the seller (eg. through Craigslist).

The thing about dealer prices is that they tend to be the highest among the various options available. The margin between a used and new car's MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggestion Retail Price) is about a $1000-odd, tops $2000. For say $2000 less you drive a car that's a year's old, and with warranty that runs out a year earlier. Sounds reasonable. Throw in the unknown that is the history and current condition of the car, that's when I decide to avoid the risk.

2015 model cars cross an interesting threshold: all cars are required by law to come included with a reverse camera. I drove a Hyundai Avante (Elantra) for almost 5 years without a reverse camera nor sensor, and I was fine. Since this car will be driven primarily by my wife, plus the fact that it is a bigger car I was motivated to get a reverse camera. Don't get me started on the tragedies of mothers who unknowingly reversed into children.

Conclusion: it's got to be new, it's got to have a reverse camera, and yes I'd like to own a SUV once in my life.

Coming back to the humble budget, Japanese cars like Honda and Subaru are unfortunately out of my reach. American cars are the only bunch that fit my budget (avoiding Korean for now). Among the brands Ford seems to be better rated.

Conclusion: it's got to be the Ford Escape.

The auto landscape
Hollywood and popular literature paints car salesmen as greasy people out to sell you more than what you need. It's kind of true, but in a different sense.

Car salesmen in the States are salespeople who don't really know much about cars. Really. This is witnessed in Ford, Honda, Toyota, and if I remember correctly Subaru dealers. Not all salespeople are that clueless - it's possible but not common to be met with a more experienced one.

Their job is not to help you find the right car, but to assist in finding a car. These are two different things. They can help if you know what you want specifically. If you get technical they'd be lost. If it's not in the computer or printed on a page they can't do much. So what can they do without a computer? Pull u out the car for you to test drive. Help you locate the car in the huge parking lot. In my visits to the dealers I met with more I-just-joined salespeople than any seniors in the job. Turnover sounds high. The guys are selling cars to make a quick buck with little marketable skills. Nothing wrong with that. Just makes the customer's experience a lousy one.

Pricing
Prices in the auto industry is so fluid. There are 2 kinds of salespeople: the one who starts off with the higher price (the MSRP) and throws out tidbits of 'discounts' to get you to commit on the spot. Depending on how gullible you are, once you are hooked onto the latest 'steep discount' offered by the slick salesperson the rest of the discount cards he holds back becomes his extra profit.

Then there's the no-haggle dealers who offers the discounts upfront and leaves it there. If you like the price and the service from the salesperson, you make the decision to buy. There can be more than one no-haggle dealer in the broad radius of the city you live in, but technically they are on different ends of the radius. For example in Seattle there's one in the east, one in the south, and possibly one in the north.

I cannot state enough the importance of doing homework on the cars. It's not clear what exactly to research on until one visits the dealers to discover the variables.

Cars typically come preconfigured by the manufacturer. Few cars are configured exactly the same way. The only way to know the configuration is to read off the big piece of paper on the car, where all the features are listed. Even then it's not possible to recognise the features because eg. a touch screen dashboard is displayed as Model 201A, where 201A represents a set of features that includes a touch screen.

So car configuration affects pricing. It's easy to understand why, but it's not easy to play spot-the-difference.

The other factor that's odd is the duration the car has been on the lot. A new car that sits unsold will get a bigger discount than another which just came in, even if they have the same MSRP and similar specs. Sometimes the only difference is the color. My guess that every day the car sits in the lot, the dealer is paying a loan company interest. So the sooner it's out, the sooner the interest paying stops.

The last factor is the season. Summertime sees more people relocating. People coming into the city may need a new car. So cars and accommodation goes north. Close to December sales is slower. Prices go down. Sounds logical.

One last thing to remember: cars are taxable. In Washington state it's 9.8% - compared to 9.5% on normal sales tax. Tax dollars can add some $3000 extra to the total buy/ loan price. I've been told that should I sell my car in future, I can get back some of those tax dollars. Until then, the bank gets the last laugh as they make more on the interest until the car is sold.

Sat Nov 1: guys' day out

Driving Theory Test
Drove my SG friends to the 911 Bellevue driving center for them to take their test. For the theory, walk-in is generally ok, even on a weekend. It's best to take it in the morning though.


Passing the test
Generally the theory test is almost designed to pass on first go. It consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. The state driving guide can be downloaded for free at the Department of Licensing (DOL) web site. The most important aid to passing the test is the online mock questions, which is randomly generated from a fixed pool.

A friend of mine barely read the driving guide but took the mock tests repeatedly until there are no more new questions to choose from. He passed with 100% correct answers.


Costs
The test costs slightly less than 20 USD. The person can continue to take until he passes at no extra cost.


Driving Practical Test
For the experienced driver, the practical test can be taken with or without a pre-test run. The pre-test run is about 40min, done before the actual test.

It is really not difficult to pass the test. It is advisable to take a morning test to avoid the traffic along the test route. I did not take the pre-test, and barely passed. But that's partly because my junction stops did not count without a slight jerk backwards, and I didn't signal as frequently as is required officially. Experienced drivers tend to make lazy mistakes.


Applying for the licence
There is a DOL office near the 911 test center. It's a small single-storied building. Although appointments are not possible, I have been told not to be overly worried if there's a small crowd. The stations are well manned, and the queue will clear quite efficiently.

I am surprised though at the cost of the application. It costs more to apply for the licence than to take the tests! 20 USD for a 2-minute eye test. Amazing what the government charges.

On the spot a temporary licence will be issued. The actual card will be mailed in about 2 weeks. I applied last Fri, and should expect it next week.

Sat Oct 25: short day, lazy day

Haircut
I wanted a good cut on the cheap. Yelp recommended one, which I dropped by first thing in the morning. There was a short wait, but the barber was friendly and chatty, and committed to his work. The cut was $21 + tip. A tad higher than I expected (expected $17), but still cheaper than the one Shawn went to.

In the basement
'Hiding' in the basement has its benefits. The acoustics from the radio are better. I can crank the volumes a little higher. Hmm. That's about it.

The temperature last night was about 21 celsius - 5 points lower than my comfort zone. This morning there was a 'freak' sun for about 2 hours, before the gloom and the rain came back.

If this keeps up, I'm going to regret getting those blades.

Just remembered I'm supposed to practice my driving. Oh well, too late for that. Just gotta wing it tomorrow.

Fri 24 Oct: an eventful day

Check Out, Check In
Today is when I checked out of my temporary apartment at Rivet, and checked into another temporary residence. This time it's a downgrade from occupying an apartment to just a room.

This accommodation is gotten via airbnb.com. The cheapest that I found, at little more than $1k a month. The reviews were excellent, especially the bathroom!

This is the first time I'm using airbnb to rent a room, first time spending nights in someone's basement. Though it's among the lowest, the deal is by no means a spartan deal. The room comes with a queen bed with a nice wooden frame. A wooden chest of drawers stands in the corner. The closet is not the largest but it is sufficient for a single living. The basement bedroom is accessed from a basement lounge with a TV. The lounge is the gateway to other parts of the house such as the guest bathroom, garage, and stairs to the living room. Staying in the basement I have more privacy than I expected, and certainly more comfort than other offers which are higher.

Wifi was great. I was able to stream Amazon Prime videos over to the laptop without any playback stuttering. The landlord was friendly, though the cat is still not used to me. Shall try to bridge the gap with some treats in future.

A happy end to the week days
Received positive feedback from my colleague whom I was working/ learning closely with. That came as a huge relief, as job stability is critical to life in the States for the family. Hopefully I can continue to get their support in the coming months. I am lucky to be placed in a good team.

Sun 19 Oct: a lazy day

Exhausted
I woke up many times this morning, but could never bring myself to stay up. It was only about 11am that I finally decided that I had enough rest. This may be related to the many times at work where I'd have difficulties staying awake when seated for too long, usually in the afternoon.

Hopefully this long sleep will keep me awake during the weekdays.


Burke Museum

Decided to be a tourist and visit a museum. It's not very big. There are only 3 sections. As I was there on my own I had the luxury of time to enjoy the exhibits.

It's not easy to be a museum. It's a delicate balance of exhibit space, collection range, and operating costs. The intents are definitely noble. It is however equally important to be sustainable.

The place has a small dinosaur section which may please the teenagers. The cultural section tries to include a few major ones, but with a limited space it ended up being rather superficial.

It had a good start which was to focus on the native Indians though.

Sat Oct 18: A little work, a little fun

Navigation on the road
I started the day by driving south to Fry's which is near Renton. Up to now I relied heavily on Google Maps to provide directions to the destination. Maps does a fantastic job at it. In an unfamiliar land, it's a must-have to get around. The problem is that the phone sits on my thigh while I drive. Occasionally I do sneak peeks at the screen to have a feel of the route ahead. But that's not very safe driving. Sharp turns also tend threaten to cause the phone to fall of my thigh. I need an improved solution.

I have 2 options: get a phone holder for the car and use the phone as the primary navigation, or get a GPS. Since I was already familiar with Maps' directions (which is surprisingly excellent in the US), I was going for a simple phone holder - the one that attaches to the windscreen. Doesn't cost too much: less than $20. Thing is, there's no sample so I need to know my phone's dimensions exactly.

I chanced upon a refurbished Magellen GPS on sale for $50. Good deal! Comes with lifetime map database access, and Bluetooth support too! I've recently purchased some items which were refurbished, and they came in great working order. Saved a bit along the way, and it gave me confidence in the risk.

So I bought the GPS instead.

Be it Magellan or Maps, both gave amazing details in directions, especially on highways. They know exactly how many lanes stay on the highway, which lane to use for exit (it's not always the leftmost or the right most). Using the Magellan helps to prolong my phone batt life while on the road. For slightly less than the price of the GPS I could have bought a long USB cable and the holder. Prob save a little as well.

Bed Research
After Fry's I dropped by the nearby bed stores. Be it the higher end or the basic range, I received good sales services. There are some things to look out for when buying a bed:

1. There's King, and there's California King. This link details the differences in the dimensions. Long short cut short: king is wider but shorter. California King is narrower but longer. In other words, get California King if you are a tall person.

Either way the price is the same.

2. When buying the frame, remember that the headboard is an optional item. It may not be included in the price you see. Always clarify with the salesperson.

3. Box frame may not come with the metal support below - the one with the wheels. Most times it does not.

4. Mattress warranty is subject to conditions. For example if the mattress is stained beyond the size of a dime it's void. Always get the mattress protector. It will cost slightly more than a $100 depending on the size and brand you choose. But get it anyway.

5. Ask about the mattress return policy. Every shop have different policies. Some charge for collection and exchange, some charge for admin. Then there are those who don't charge at all but has a slightly shorter exchange period.

6. A friend of mine had to set up the bed frame by himself. Check with the salesperson if the frame will come assembled. If not, clarify what tools are needed but not included.

America is a sneaky country. They like to overwhelm you with information and you'd spend so much time digesting that you may not ask the right questions. A rule of thumb is to never buy from the first shop you step into. Act blur. Be dependent on a real or fictitious person who's not in the shop so you have an excuse not to commit.

Go for this a few more times and you'd get the hang of it.

Fri Oct 17: Finding accomodation

Craigslist
My temporary accommodation is drawing to an end next week. I need to find new temporary accommodation. Cheapest option is through Craigslist. And if you are to search through the site, you would find some pretty good deals.

Thing is, good deals are snapped up pretty fast - too many people moving into the city. That's fine on its own. With a situation like this comes the dubious folks.

Sometimes you'd get a post (there's usually more than one) where the person leaves a contact number behind. If you SMS the number, you'd get a reply to register on a web site. The web site redirects you to a site called roomster.com. Smells fishy?

The other red herring is that all the SMSes give the same, exact message. Complete with the same grammar mistake. A reply back to the number will get the same push to the web site.

Craigslist isn't all that bad. I have contacted people who are genuinely offering their place for rent. You'd know because these people write proper emails.

So how does one tell the difference? Rule of thumb: skip the ones who leave a number. Send email. Wait for a reply. Remember that it's crowded in Seattle. Lots of people looking for a room here. If you're not shortlisted you won't get a reply. It's not that the people are not friendly. There's just too many to reply to. Remember my last post? Get the hint. Move on.

airbnb
This site is the answer to Craigslist. Renters are verified. People review the renter. I hear that if there's a dispute they may even intercede. I just booked my stay next month. Let's see how that goes.

Thu Oct 16: Observations

Little things I noted about the Seattlelites.

Lifts

Americans very seldom press the Door Close button. They just let the door close on its own. There's really no hurry, no even at work where people speak quickly.

Environment
The people and the city have accepted recycling as a way of life. Bring grocery bags for multiple purchases, or pay extra for paper bags. Separate recyclable trash.

Eat Fresh
These people love their greens! The longest queue in the canteen is for salads. It is possible to order them online for a quick pickup. And it's not like they stack mounds of meat. No sir. Just veg...and cheese.

Read between the lines
People don't like to say bad things, but when they have say it, it comes out in nicer words. Its important to think through what is said. Urgh. So much untangling.

Whatever it is, the people are generally very friendly folks. Many of the people you see in the city come from elsewhere: other states, or even other countries like me. I just met a travelling musician tonight, and he's generally an ok guy. Just read between the lines.

Mon 13 Oct: Columbus Day

Still working
Unless you're with the government, you're likely to be working on this day which is Columbus Day. The good news is there are online stores which dish out nice one-day-only discounts. Irene singled out such a site. Lisa picked out the items. I paid for it. It's that simple. Wish I can swap roles though.

Weather seems a bit more chilly. I could see condensation when I breathe out from my mouth. Just a tinge more chilly. It will get progressively colder, and it will get more drizzly. I have been warned.

Sun 12 Oct: apartment hunting eastside

Hunting with professional help
As part of the relocation package a local relocation specialist came to pick me up in the morning. Liz the agent picked me up and we headed east to look at more apartments.

Mercer Island
A self contained island with all the amenities you'd need, including groceries, schools, doctors, vets. Situated right between Seattle and Bellevue makes it very convenient to go either way. If you pick the right apartment you might even get a scenic sea view!

It's an affluent area, counting Paul Allen as one of its residents.

Bellevue
Bellevue's new residents serve a wide variety of employers including Amazon, Microsoft, T-Mobile, and Boeing. Its location is pretty good, and it shows by having more malls and good restaurants.

Personally I don't like it very much. It's built up, but feels kinda messy. No charm about it.

Kirkland
I love Kirkland's downtown area. It's got a nice charm about it. Otherwise Kirkland is a rather quiet place with its housing nestled between the woods. Still, it has identity.

Issaquah
Issaquah is furthest away from Seattle among the places I visited. Fortunately it is on the H90 which leads directly to Seattle.

Issaquah is an up-and-coming town. Most of the developments are no more than 4 years old. Yet already there are many companies who have set up shop together in the cluster which I think will eventually become Issaquah's downtown.

Love the mountain view. Love the air.

Sat 11 Oct: dim sum, drive to the north

Dim Sum at Chinatown
Met Michael for Dim Sum over brunch. We went to Jade Garden at Chinatown. Initially I had reservations about parking there - safety and price. Turns out Jade Gardens is a short walk from a very quaint commercial parking compound located under the flyover.

The parking compound is essentially this huge area of parking lots. At the center of the lots is this letterbox-like thing:

To make payments, slot your money into the slit that's associated with your lot number. Notice Michael using a Metal Thing to push the money deep inside so no-one steals your money. The Metal Thing itself is tied to a string.

Every x minutes or so an attendant will come and tally up parking vs payments. If you do your math you'd realise that you a little more time than you paid for, depending when the attendant comes.

Dim Sum is probably the local's best association with Chinese food. If you ask them if they had Chinese food, they'd be thinking Dim Sum. That and Ding Tai Feng if they ate there before. Ding Tai Feng is located in Bellevue, and short drive out of Seattle. I had eaten most of the food before I remembered to take pictures. This is Michael's special order of Chee Cheong Fun wrapper over fried fitters.


Apartment hunting
After brunch we set out to view some of the apartments up north. For those coming to Seattle for the first time - especially those who have never stepped foot in the US before - it's highly advisable to view the apartments in person. Most apartments will have a web site. But the pictures are usually inadequate, and does not give you an accurate picture of the actual situation. For example, you need to:

1. Check out the interior of the units. How old the appliances are, how clean, wardrobe space, storage space, heating etc.
2. Safety of the neighbourhood. Some apartments are right beside complexes designated for lower income people.
3. Neighbouring amenities. Look out for shops that can make your living a little easier

We went as far as Shoreline, which on the map feels far. Having reached there, I was excited about the possibility of living beside an (albeit small) lake. Right beside it! It's easy to please the typical Singaporean with such simple pleasures.

Fri 10 Oct: dinner with fellow Singaporeans

Home cooked food
Shawn and Irene were kind to invite TC and myself over to dinner at their apartment again. This time the dishes were more than just wanton noodles. Lots of work for the chef - a little more because she was trying to fry on a small flat pan.

Food was wonderful - the kind of quality and style that no Asian restaurant can mimic. I would have more rice, but was stopped by the mental image of Lisa with that disapproving frown. There was a fair bit of salad with Japanese sauce, which I took the responsibility of consuming it all. There was a lot of effort thrown in (thanks Irene!). One should not offend the chef with wastage!


Entertainment and distraction
I have to admit that with the Fire TV, accessing movies and series is such a painless joy. The video quality is excellent, and the show starts very quickly upon selection. Fire TV is just a means to the same end - it is possible to access the same video content on the PC via the convenient of a browser. Oh Prime, why are you such a fantastic deal?

I have been watching old Star Trek Next Generation episodes, and very recently stumbled upon Warehouse 13. Oh my. Personal productivity is down!

Thu 9 Oct: banking and cards

A trip to the bank
With the SSN in hand I went back to First Tech to enable online management on my account. After online is enabled, the mobile apps will work. I'm not sure if this needs to be in sequence, but that's what I did.

Credit card is a slower process. I filled in the application on the spot. At the end of the day I received an email stating that the credit card was approved. Card delivery will take about 2 weeks though. That's slow, comparing to how I got my Citibank card in Singapore in one hour's time - delivered to me via courier at the mall where I signed up.

Credit cards are important
It's almost critical for the working man to hold on to a credit card, and use regularly. This is the basis for establishing credit score. When you want to obtain a loan from a bank, this score will determine your interest rates.

Use the card. Pay on-time. Use it for groceries, gas, shopping. Remember to pay on time else the bank will slap late charges. Pay in full else the bank will slap interest. The card is your friend, but the card can also sink you very quickly.

Card security
Cards are very widely used in the US. You swipe a card to pay for the trolley at the airport. Only cards are accepted for parking at the airport - cash is not accepted. Food trucks accept cards. You can be a merchant by buying a card reader for transaction from Amazon for only USD 10 (http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Local-Register-Secure-Reader/dp/B009AMF5XG).

Of course by cards I mean both debit and credit cards.

The thing to know about cards is that in some places a transaction can happen with your card without requiring your PIN to confirm. I was at a fancy restaurant where I paid with my debit. All I needed to do was to sign on the receipt with the amount to pay (including the tip). I didn't have to PIN in when I used it to pull out a trolley at the airport.

As a general rule avoid using debit.

Account security

2-factor authentication (2FA) is not a mandatory standard for online and mobile account management. Took me a while to get used to having a token to log in at home. And now without one it does feel...vulnerable.

Wed 8 Oct: my SSN has arrived!

The little certificate

True to the delivery advice I received my social security certificate in the mailbox today. This certificate is rather odd requirements:

1. Thou shall not laminate it or mess with it beyond its current form

2. Thou should not carry it with you in your wallet

3. Thou shall sign on it to consider it valid

It is the gateway to be eligible for key services such as credit cards, health plans. It is not however critical to apply for a driving licence. 

Amazon's two day delivery

In a big place like the US where everything is so far away and getting around is impractical (though possible) without a car, a guaranteed two day delivery service is such heavenly convenience. This includes items that are not new, like the refurbished wireless AP I purchased. I got it at a price significantly lower than a new unit, with free shipping!

The power of super optimized logistics and retail front.

Finally, I can connect my a Squeezebox to the Internet via wifi. The Squeezebox somehow cannot connect to the room's AP. I didn't want to mess with it and face management wrath. Connecting via cable was a viable option, until the Fire TV took over the one cable I have.

Fire TV

Oh, did I mention the Fire TV? Best video on demand player experience I've seen! The remote has a powerful feature not available in competitive products. Speak into it the name of the video you wish to watch, and they will transcode and search it for you. I tried some phrases like Star Trek and Star Wars and it worked pretty good. The video starts very quickly after selection.

Impressive.

Tue 7 Oct: my first assignment

The first test 

There's only so much reading and videos to watch. Though I enjoyed introductory meetings with people, there's nothing like a real task to test my qualifications for the role. 

So exciting, yet so unnerving. There are many amazing qualifies about this company. One of which is that everyone has gone through the same sense of overwhelming information overload and disconnect, so everyone is very understanding and supportive.

Mon 6 Oct: week 2 of work

The closest thing to home food

Did I mention that an old business partner joined the same company about only a week before me? In the second night with Jason we met Shawn at the residence lobby. He was carrying his sleeping son and his wife Irene was trying to load up the trolley with the shopping bags. Turned out that we both went to the same outlet!

So tonight I was honored with the invitation to join him and his family for dinner at their apartment. Irene made a generous serving of wanton and noodles. Amazing how she very nearly made everything from scratch - save the noodles and he dumpling skin. Thanks Irene!

Asian food in Seattle is not quite the variety in Singapore. The one dish that is recognized by locals is the Dim Sum. Horrible are the roasted meat dishes. Many have found restaurants in Bellevue to be better. Perhaps hope is in the east.

Sun 5 Oct: alone again

The morning farewell

We got up early to send Jason to the airport. There was time but we thought we could get breakfast at the airport, just to be safe.

Unfortunately the airport doesn't serve gluten free food in the public access area. To allow Jason time for his breakfast we decided to bid each other farewell early.

Going back to the car, I can't help but feel alone again. Feels surreal to have familiar company in an unfamiliar place.

Foggy morning

The drive back began a little worrying, as there was a little morning fog. Fortunately it wasn't very thick, and it didn't last long.

A little driving adventure

Once back I caught up a little on my sleep, and spent the early afternoon lazying around. Come late afternoon I went on a little adventure by driving to one of the potential apartments by myself. 

Google Map was key to my navigation. The detail of the driving instructions given by Map is amazing here in the US. It can even tell you which lane to use to exit eg. Second from right! 

Bridle Trails apartment

Maps brought me safely to the one apartment I have planned. For a Singaporean the thought of being able to live in such an apartment feels like an expat living in say holland village. An apartment in the suburbs of the U.S. is usually a nice big house shared by 4 families - two on the ground floor and two one level up. There's lots of space everywhere. Feels great to live near the trees!

I'm scheduled to see other apartments this Sun. If all others are like this then it's going to be hard making a decision.

Sat 4 Oct: a great day out

Starting the day

We bought breakfast at the QFC last night. Jason fried up bacon and eggs. I contributed by toasting the waffles. It was simple but filled the stomach for the day's activities.

I believed before 11am we were out the door ready to begin our outlet adventure.

Meeting the car lot neighbor

In this apartment I was assigned to a specific lot. The residence crammed as many lots as they could. So there's not much space available for the car. The one parked to my right wS too close to me, and it was difficult to get into the car. This was very frustrating on Fri when I returned from picking up my rental. Where could I park? The building management didn't want to get involved, much less offer any help. The accommodation agency went as far as to tell me to park on the road where I'd have to pay for the parking. Though it was clearly not their fault, I do wish these people can create more value instead of running away from assistance. Not impressed.

Anyway in a twist of good luck, I met the family that owns the rental car on my way down. It was the same mainland Chinese family I saw on my first night here. I shared the problem with them. The husband wasn't pleased with the message, but the wife was quick enough to diffuse the situation by gently scolding the husband about how she reminded him earlier about it. Good move, and thanks for recognising the situation as it is, lady!

Premium Outlet

We drove up north to one of the outlet malls. On the map it looked far - it's even beyond Everett. I'd estimate it as a 30min drive. It's no problem when you have company.

The mall's layout is very similar to the one I visited in San Franciso. Two rows of shops broken with a center aisle. Each row is double sided. A total of more than 100 shops listed on the directory including some familiar brand names and other names more popular locally.

The discounts looked great. Its easy to go crazy with the purchases. We probably bought more shoes than we needed. But it was going at a discount! Ah, such are the temptations of the outlet.

Us two men spent more time than we wanted there. It's difficult to keep track of time when you're busy  checking out the exciting stuff in many of the shops. At the end it was our need to complete the rest of our day's agenda that we finally pulled ourselves away. Definitely a must-go for tourists!

Fri 3 Oct: an old friend arrives

A familiar face

Jason, a friend whom I've known since childhood was in the US on business. He was kind enough to swing by Seattle and spend Sat with me. Thanks J!

The rented car

I have use of a rental car for a month, and I picked it up today at Avis. It's a short walk from work. Driving the car out of the shop was a tense moment. I was used to driving on the left side of the road as all Singaporeans do. Turning at the junctions were most stressful.

After work I drove to the airport to pick up Jason. Driving on the expressway was equally tough. Unfortunately it's peak hour and everybody's driving faster than the limit.

Rule of the junction

Many small junctions do not have traffic lights. Remember to always stop at the junction, before crossing. Do this even when there is no other cars in sight. First car to reach and stop at the junction crosses first.

An honor system like this works because everyone plays by the rules. It's cost saving to the state, and cars cross faster. A win-win design.

Dinner by foot

We needed to pick up personal essentials, so we decided to make our way to the nearest QFC, which is conveniently located west on Mercer Street where I stay. It involved walking parallel to Lake Union (I won't go as far as to say beside the lake, which insinuates a scenic walk. We were more inland), and going under the bridge. Not something I would normally do on my own. But the night was young and we agreed it looked safe. 

With good company the walk doesn't feel like much. On my own it'd probably be a little too far. Me alone on the streets at night. I might change my mind were I a little more fit. I really don't mind the walk, but my legs were complaining about the weight it had to carry. Something needs to be done!

Obviously we didn't make reservations. We found a restaurant that looked decent but we were relegated to the bar because the tables were full up. Dinner was ok, but a trifle too expensive for what we got for the price. Still, the restaurant serves little more to fill the stomach and provide a setting for company.

Thu 2 Oct: a normal day

Banking

In the US it's common to see many small local-ish banks. Apart from the Bank of America the local ones are usually more flexible and can meet local needs, such as First Tech.

At the branch right beside my office there's only one ATM. This one machine does everything, including  both withdrawals and desposits.

Because the number of staff is also not many it's important to make reservations to engage in their non ATM services, such as account opening. It's usually not possible to be able to walk in and expect to be served at the counter.

That's just how it works.

Wed 1 Oct: getting into the routine

Jet lag status

Woke up at about 2am. Fortunately was able to fall back to sleep not too long after.

Lunch with Michael

Michael is my only in-person friendly contact outside of work. Ok, so we work for the same company, but we usually talk about other things. Without him I'd feel more alone. Still, have to go out and make more friends. One friend at a time I guess.

A small mistake

I thought I could let go and knock myself out after dinner at about 7pm. Bad move. Woke up at midnight fully awake. So here I am writing at nearly 2am. Hope I can still get in early tomorrow.

Tue 30 Sep: After the Initial Overload

No more jet lag

The good thing about work is that it keeps one awake during the right hours. Coffee and tea are always there to help. The downside to working with jet lag is that things feel surreal. That said, I had much better sleeping hours. Not fully adjusted yet, so I woke up with time enough for day 2.

Social Security Submission

It doesn't take much effort to get this out of the way. All one needs is the printed (must be printed. Don't use the phone/ tablet screen as an alternative) I-94 document, and fill up a simple one-page form in the government office. There's no cost to the application, and the submission interview process doesn't take long - about 20min. Go there early and the wait won't be long. Avoid bringing unnecessary items because you are entering a government building, and you will need to clear security.

Banking and Financing

The thing about working in the US is that it's important to set up good credit rating. Get your bank account set up, try to get s credit card so you can start logging transactions. When working on financing for stuff like car loans and mortgages they will check your credit score. I got my account at First Tech Union, which has a support package for foreign workers like me with absolutely no credit history in the US. This means I can get my credit card up as soon as I have my social security. There's also special interests rates for car loans, which will normally be high for people like me with no credit history.

Take-out Dinner

I decided to keep my dinner easy and picked up a beef teriyaki takeaway from the nearest grocery store that's at the end of my block. For small stores like this I didn't expect much. For a low low price of about $6.50 I got some veg, rice, and a fair bit of beef. Rice was a little dry and not very fragrant, and the beef was a little tough. The sweat gravy makes it all bearable. But that's to be expected of a small Asian shop in the middle of nowhere.

Mon 29 Sep: First Day at Work!

Orientation

STILL jet lagged, getting to work in time was no problem. Even leaving 30min before the event, I was able to make it with 15min to spare. It's that near! Woot!

Without going into details, I must say that American-style sessions are very different from Singapore. I would never think of executing it in the same style in a Singapore company. If it works - and it did here - the gains are great. The message gets delivered without overly investing in fancy technology or activites. Clearly this is something good.

New Job, New Team, New Everything

Working in a new job in a new country with new people can be very disorienting. I struggled to find something familiar: technology, jargons, anything. Even the toilet is designed different. Maybe that's why people seek out Coke while overseas, why I tried so hard to play Singapore's radio stations on my Squeezebox  (to no avail).

Having said that, what I see, I liked. The onus is on me to step up and earn my right of place in the company. It's going to be steep, it's going to be nerve wrecking. I take comfort that I will not be thrown in the deep end. At least that's what they said!

Sun 28 Sep: the Lonely Tourist

Jetlagged Still

Despite my best efforts, I was knocked out at about 6am, waking up at 1pm. It's lunchtime, yet I did not feel hungry. My sleep and dietary rhythms remain a mess.

Chinatown on Foot

With the businesses closed for the weekend, it's time to play tourist. Just for the challenge, I decided to walk down to Chinatown from my residence. I'm not sure about the distance, but since I managed to walk to market, then to town, why not stretch myself for the experience and see how that pans out?

Bear in mind once again, that the business/ main shopping district of Seattle is not very big. It helps a lot that the low humidity and cool temperature makes walking a very comfortable option. There are however two parameters which one needs to consider. 

One, many slopes are involved. Prepare to walk up a down slopes regardless of direction. I suspect it's slightly better closer to the coasts.

Two, tourist attractions attracts the homeless. You will see them at junctions. Some resting against the wall, others actively - but not aggressively - asking for donations. One can't help but be nervous when approaching blacks in hoodies. Too much Hollywood? Better to be paranoids than be sorry.

With my current physique I reached a new level of exhaustion. Not the one that makes you want to lie down and pant your lungs out, but one that retains your strength but none of the energy. Makes sense? With good company I wouldn't mind another go at it. Not too soon I hope!

Chinatown and International District

There's not much to say about this place. Compared to the one at San Francisco it's not exciting enough. Maybe that's why they rolled Chinatown and all other Asian stuff into one place. The main market Uwajimaya stocks Japanese and Chinese stuff (and possibly kimchi and others), but it feels more for locals than a tourist stop.

Sat 27 Sep; Visit beyond the city

The friend of a friend is my friend

Andy my brother in law knows someone working in the same company as me. I contacted him prior to my arrival, and we met up in the morning.

Michael was on time, but I wasn't. At 6am I was overcome by exhaustion from jet lag, and slept through until he called. Sorry!

We had breakfast at a Mexican place outside the city, In a town I cannot remember now. Outside Seattle the mood of the land is immediately more laid back. Time seems to slow down. You'd see older-style houses and shops. Almost a modern version of those shops you see in Wild West movies. It's probably easier to describe with a photo, but I am using an iPad to blog instead of a desktop machine. Transferring photos from my phone into iPad without iTunes is a major workaround. Why Steve Jobs, why?

Michael is a great guy. He obligingly drove me to Fry's to check out he laptops, then to Best Buy to get a better range. I'd say for laptops Best Buy gives a much wider range. We settled my laptop research quickly enough, and he decided to bring me to a scenic spot to view the city. It was a beautiful spot. With a little time left before evening sets in, we went to a nearby grocery store for my groceries. Thanks   Michael!

Residence in Seattle 

The good clean air and wonderful weather are a draw. The thought of living by the lake or with a scenic view of the land is tempting. A decent car can be had for cheap - a fraction of the price in Singapore. It's easy to be dreamy here in Seattle, especially when you're all alone with soft lights on and good music playing in the background.

Jet lagged

I continue to be drowsy by late afternoon. As much as I tried to avoid I succumbed and slept til midnight. From then on I remained awake until about 6am, where I consequently crashed until 1pm.

Meanwhile, in Singapore

Monday, 29 Sept 2014

So, the hubs has been in Seattle for about 5 days now (including travel time). Things back here have been pretty routine. Fetching the kids to their classes, going to work. We had a lazy weekend, to have more downtime, as the weeks before the hubs left were filled with activity.

 Just before he left, the hubs bought a refurbished iPad2 so that we could FaceTime across the Pacific. Worked out great so far! Previously, whenever he travelled, we would try to use Skype, but we're not always very successful - the video and audio quality were not very smooth.  As he was never away for very long, we gave up and depended on Whatsapp.  This time though, as he would be away for about 6 months, and because of the kids, we thought we would need something more reliable.  So far so good!  The first call was rather bad, because he had to find out where the sweet spot in his apartment was.  Even then, the video would be dropped now and then.  We've since discovered that the best time to FaceTime was around dinner time here, because it would be in the wee hours in the morning for him, and everyone else was still asleep.  This, of course, only works for nowhere he's still adjusting to the time difference.  We won't have this luxury anymore once he starts work.

I've been taking things easy here since he flew off, but I've got to start the ball rolling once again.  I aim to have at least one bag or box leave the place once a day, be it trash, donation, recycling or to be stored at either my Mum's or his.

Ok. The sun is up.  Got to get myself and the kids ready for the day!

Fri 26 Sep: First Impressions

Morning

Woke up to a drizzly morning. In Seattle it does not pour with lightning and thunder as it does in Singapore. Rather it's sunshine interspersed with bouts of light rain.

I did not have a good sleep the whole night. It's jet lag time! That kind of worked out ok as I spent my time Google Mapping the area for amenties like groceries, malls, and public transport. I should have done this earlier when assigned to the residence though. While the apartment is great in terms of being very walk-friendly to work, it's terrible when it comes to groceries and shops - malls are out of the question. Because it's next to the highway amenities on the eastern half are completely inaccessible by foot. North of me is Lake Union. That leaves me with western and southern areas.

Wee morning hours here equates to evenings in Singapore. It was very convenient and enjoyable to use the Apple FaceTime to set up video calls back home. To be able to see my kids - and for them to see me back - is immeasurable! There's nothing like a video call back to mom and dad to give them assurance that all is fine.

Venturing Out

By 7 I was getting impatient to get things done. With only half the research done I was out of the building with a windbreaker that has no hood (it's still drizzling), and a phone that has no local SIM card. What naive bravery!

A Transplant I met was very forthcoming with directions to downtown. I'm not sure about Americans in general, but I have found Seattlelites generally to be happy to provide public information such as directions. Singaporeans are not too far off, but they tend to be brief in delivery. 

The Streetcar

I walked downslope towards Lake Union where there's a streetcar stop. Along the way I had to stop people to confirm the location, as I was not sure what a streetcar stop looked like. Friendly directions from the people all the way. It's nice to know the people are friendly. Makes the place a little more welcome for an Asian betting his next few years in American soil.

The streetcar is a slow moving but clean electric mini train. The route is not very long: it runs from a little beyond SLU to downtown. That's it. For $2.50 you get like 2 hours to use the train. Can I board buses with this ticket? Good question. Will find out.

Later I've been told the main purpose of this train is to ferry Amazonians from downtown to the SLU campus.

Downtown

Downtown Seattle is not very big. Singapore's CBD is a lot more dense with more skyscrapers. Huge shopping malls are mixed with office buildings. One thing I find about downtown is that it's not easy to figure to where everything is. There is a visitor's center, but it's not quite smack in the center. Maybe the train stop where I alighted isn't the center (does look like one though). Bottom line: do a little homework before venturing downtown.

The best thing about getting around is that the dry, cool weather makes one very open to walking. I literally walked back to my apartment from downtown. Partly because I wanted to get some groceries, also I wanted to save on that $2.50. Until I get my first paycheck every dollar counts.

Evenings

The street lighting at least in the SLU area isn't the best. I wouldn't get out of the apartment after 8pm. 

Note to Self

Get a windbreaker with a hood, or get a cap.

Thu 25 Sep: Hello Seattle!

Flight Schedule
I could have taken the shortest flight via Delta, which would be a sweet 17-hour trip. But the departure time is early on the morning. Getting the kids up at those hour may be difficult. So I took Singapore Airlines instead. It's a 24-hour route with transits Incheon and San Francisco.

Seen Off
Sometimes the mind takes a while to accept reality. The fact that I may not be back to see family and friends for a long, long time. The fact that I'm leaving not just a country, but the life, system, and culture that I am so comfortable with.

I am touched to have my parents and siblings for taking time to see me off. All my pillars of strength are there for me on my departure. I am grateful.

The Flight
The leg to Incheon is easy. I barely slept the night before, so catching up on sleep takes much time off the flight. Throw in the meal and the videos. Done.

While there is no need to retrieve the checked-in luggage, we had to bring our carry-ons and be subjected to body and luggage scans. My guess is that since they are putting us on the standard departure lounge we are treated the same as the people who are boarding from Incheon.

The leg to SFO is a little harder. I'm too tired to watch videos, too restless to sit still. Economy seats are only that comfortable, and I had to shift often. We are issued socks but no eye cover. Infants wailed with impatience. There's one nearby who loved to scream when upset. My ears, my head.

Because there's little movement I did not hydrate myself sufficiently despite my conscious effort to do so. Long flights need good hydration! Also, bring a thin sweater. The courtesy blanket is very helpful, but can do with a little more layering.

Transiting in SFO from international to domestic involves physically moving ALL luggages by oneself - including the checked in ones. Fortunately there is a booth not far from the  luggage carousel which helps transport the weighty pieces.

Still, avoid transits as much as possible, especially with children.

Seattle!
By the time I finally arrived and exited the SeaTec airport, it's evening. Not knowing the safety of my residence, I was keen to get to my residence as comfortably and quickly as possible. There's a door-to-door shuttle service which only costs $37 before taxes. The service is made affordable because a few people will be shuttled in the same trip. I was the first to alight, so it's as good as taxi service.

Unlike SFO Seattle charges $5 for the use of trolleys at the airport. That's quite a bit! I had a huge luggage with a broken wheel, a smaller one with a  faulty handle, and a hand carry that has no sling. $5 is a good price to pay.

Residence
Rivet is located at a quiet junction near a construction site. The street lights do not adequately light up the sidewalk. An oncoming person in the distance will be just a silhouette.  I was relieved that someone in the building was on his way out while I was struggling with the luggage lock.

What a memorable trip!

The Day of Departure

If it were just Single Me taking on an overseas career, things will be straightforward - almost a no-brainer.

But it's Family Man with Kids Me. Things are complicated - and they should be. My personal considerations take a back seat. There's a lot of consideration about how the kids will cope, how their education road map will change. Then there's the Wife, extended family needs, and our local financial liabilities.

A career in an unfamiliar land with unfamiliar cultures, physical risks, and psychological hurdles subsisting the entire family. What a challenge. What a leap of faith.

But here we are on the departure date. I will take the first plunge and forge safe grounds for the rest of the family. The Wife will stay behind and wrestle with everything else that's necessary for the final transition. The tasks ahead for her will be gargantuan. It will demand everything of her: time, physical energies, emotional strength. Lisa, I'm sorry I can't bear these with you together.

In a few moments, the wife and kids will be awake and dressed, and we will make our way to the airport to share our final moments together here. There will be tears on my end, be it outward or otherwise.

This is an emotional time.