Ok...I havent got photos cos have been quite busy...but will post some soon!!!

12th July 2007.

After enduring a 7 hour flight from Singapore to Japan, a 45 min transit time where we only managed to see the banner that says "Yokoso Japan", a 17 hour flight from Japan to Washington DC and an approximately 2 hour car right from Washington dulles airport, we finally reach Quantico.
You can only imagine our energy level by the time we entered our temporary accomodation. But it was only 6.30pm, the sky was bright like its mid afternoon, plus we were hungry. So we took up LTC Chan's offer for dinner with Sihou and his wife.
Our first meal in America turns out to be Vietnamese Pho. Which I must admit wasnt that bad a thing cos after the loooong flight, all i wanted was a hot bowl of soup (typical for all chinese).
Coversations remained superficial and I could sense my husband was either very tired or rather nervous but I reckon he was both cos he just wasnt in his usual self.

Once dinner was done, we headed back to our room, marvelled by how its was already 9pm and the sky was just starting to turn dark. A second good shower and we slept by 10pm!
The last time I slept at 10pm was in primary school I think!

First impression: Feeling a little like a mountain tortoise not having been to USA before, I really didn;t get the feeling that I actually was in USA.
It just really looks very different to what I watched in the movies. Was I disappointed with what I saw? Not really. Maybe because I was too tired to notice anything as well.
But one thing's for sure, I wish the world leaders come together some day to unify certain things. Firstly, standard measurement;either feet/yards or meters/centimeters, lbs/kg. Its very difficult for people to keep converting everything! Especially temperature!
Secondly, driving on 1 agreed side of the road. While Americans (when you watch movies) always say right hand driving is like driving on the wrong side of the road. Well, I feel that left hand driving seems to BE DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. I keep turning my left head only to realise my rearview mirror is on my right and so is everything else.
But it was a good sight to see ALL THE UNIFORMED MEN, their clean shaven sides with that strong angular jaw...soooo cute.

13th July 2007

Again, i think the last time I woke up at 6am was in primary school. We had to wake up early to get out paperwork done. Ltc Chan really did us a HUGE FAVOUR by driving us all around and showing us what was to be done.
We first when to 'check-in', by seeing a lady called Tommie Hart. A very nice senior lady whom I can only assumed that she has been working for the military for the most part of her life, judging by the amount of international ornaments on the shelves around her and the clutter on her table.
She then sent us to get our IDs done which we were told by Ltc Chan that it would be a long wait. The ID Center is packed almost everyday and if you are a walk-in/late for your appointment, get ready to wait for up to 7 hours and run into the risk of not getting to get it done still!
Luckily, he has already made an appointment for us and we were glad we weren't late. At the counter, we met a lady called Jacqui who said she will attend to us immediately. We din even have to wait at all!!! Amazing.
Though there were a few screw ups that happened; name mispelt, date of birth wrong (still wrong for mine), we were glad to be in and out of the ID center in apparently record time of 1 hour!
Plus, having the honour to participate in Jacqui's survey of 'Would you get a stranger to pee on your foot if you ever stepped on a sea urchin'.
And no, it din end there. We next went to the Naval Medical Center to 'check-in' once more and make sure our names were in the database for free medical.
Medical here is like australia, its by appointment only. So what do you do if you are running high fever and coughing out your lungs? Wait?
It's times like this that really make me appreciate Singapore.

Oh, finally done with all the administrative paperwork. Now to pick up our rental car for the week.

We stopped by the MCX (Marine Corps Exchange) which is like a mini so-called shopping center. Well, I have never really gone into a military base before so it was a bit weird to see sooo many men in uniform walking around.
I also managed to find all the marine corps tee-shirts that chin would like very much.

We rented a compact car, Kia. And Blacks walked to the wrong side of the car wanted to get into the driver's seat. Booboo 1. Blacks then drove out, almost turning into the lane of on-coming traffic. Booboo 2.
I wonder if Ltc Chan feared for his life sitting next to Blacks. It was an driving instructor teach a new learner driver all over again.

What I didn't understand was, how does quantico expect anyone to get anywhere on time when the bloody speed limit averages at around 30mph (55kph)?!?!?!
The driving is relatively easy to accustom to. Its the speed limit that was frustrating!

Blacks and I spend the after flat hunting. Saw 3 apartment estates which i presume is equivalent to our condominiums. But its a FAAARRRR CRYYYY from ours.
Sure it has a pool and a smmall gym in each of the estate. But my god, the apartment blocks are no taller than 3 storeys and it looks like a big bunglow with bigg rooms...posing as apartments.
And they don't come cheap to. So we will need to see a few more to decide what exactly we want.

WALLLLL MARRRTTTT. Now, for those who has never been to the states and to Wal mart like me. You will probably go in and rename Wal Mart to WOW MART!
It is really quite amazing. The floor space of WOW MART is probably equivalent to 10 or more 5 room flats. Aisle after aisle of American Size shopping
Everything is BIGGER. Especially the trolleys you push around. Its like the size of a Cherry Q car. WWWOOOWWWW MART.