Friday Social and Bumboat Ride

Today (July 29) there was a happy hour for the entire new faculty, their families and the administrators at a bar called Red Dot on the Singapore River in the Boat Quay area.  It was a lovely venue with beer, wine and appetizers.  There are 57 new faculty members this year.  That is correct 57! 

The largest portion of us “newbies” are hired for the TK campus which is located on the Southeast side of the city/island/country.  Apparently there has been a positive growth to this campus.  I have met so many wonderful people so far.  I find that most people who are in my age range are working at this TK campus and are married, and many of them with small children.  It is said that unfortunately since those who work at TK live near TK and we who work/live on the other side of the city/island/country hardly ever see these folks!

The next largest population of “newbies” will be working at my campus TT (Toh Tuck).  And the smallest amount of new hires will be working at JE (Jarong East); though the TT and JE campuses will be coming together at the end of October as we move onto our brand new campus called Lakeside (LS).  Are you following with all my acronyms?

I basically had met all the new teachers ai will be working with at TT while we were at the hotel together, so this evening I met the principal Rob Kiddell (who is also new) and the new vice-principal Mario G  (who is ALSO new!).  Everyone was so down-to-earth and nice with great senses of humor.  Neither of these two men were pretentious nor displayed superiority.  It was quite pleasant!  (Aside note:  Rob’s wife Melissa graduated from LPCI!!!!)

Merlion

bumboat

After some great mingling we all boarded a bumboat for a river cruise.  It was a beautiful way to see the city.  We passed under many bridges, saw the Lotus and other famous buildings, the Merlion – the famous symbol of Singapore spraying water out of its mouth, the Sands Marina Hotel, many other high rises, and other well-populated areas.

I will always look glossy as it is so humid here!

After the bumboat ride, Bruce, Dorthe and I headed to the Carrefour so I could pick up some breakfast groceries for my new apartment and took the ever-so-crowded bus back to the suburbs!