You go to the hardware store to buy paint that is advertised and they tell you they only sell white paint. They send you across town to the store that mixes colored paint.
You go to the store that mixes paint and place your order. You don’t get a complimentary paint stir or opener. When you ask for the paint stir they give you an old one with dozens dried paint on it. You forget about asking for an opener!
When you start painting you realize they didn’t mix up the correct shade! You give up and use it anyway……
Using public ladies rooms you have to make sure you go into a “sit down” stall and not a “stand up” stall.
You have to carry your own “tissue” to use as toilet paper because not all public toilets supply paper.
You know your toilet is clogged because water starts coming out of the drain in the floor of the bathroom.
The fruit flies flying around the bathroom are NOT fruit flies they are “Shit Flies” because your toilet has a clog in the line.
The plumbers use a mop handle to “clear” a clog and not a drain snake. They look at you like you are crazy when you suggest they put a drain camera down the drain and make sure the clog is gone! They also act like they don’t understand English you when you ask why they aren’t using a drain snake.
If your shower has only cold water then you probably forgot to turn on the single hot water heater connected to your bathroom upon entering.
Calling Dell to order printer ink, the one and only ONE person in all of Singapore cannot be found to take your order. They must phone you back when it’s convenient for them. Sometimes you the customer must supply Dell with the product code! They then hand deliver your order to your home in 2 days!
You hobble out of bed each morning because your heels are so bruised from walking on hard marble floors.
You can’t shop for anything in the morning because the mall stores don’t open until 11:00 p.m. Forget about getting errands done in the morning!
You can go to 3 different locations of the same grocery store chain and find all different items in each store. The items either rotate or are hit or miss………..so it’s a mystery which store you might find a block of cream cheese or lump of cracker barrel cheese any given week.
Some taxi drivers refuse to take you where you want to go. You then have to find another taxi.
You can only cash a local check at the bank in which it was issued. Forget about cashing or depositing a U.S. check.
Each room has its own air conditioning unit with a separate control. There is no such thing as central air. These units must be cleaned by a “professional” every 3 months!
There are at least 3 types of electrical plugs but only one type of wall plug. You have to buy a ton of adaptors just to plug appliances in.
Your condo number is 29-10 meaning tower 10, 29th floor and lobby 7???? WTF? The problem is the 29th floor is all your bedrooms and the 30th floor is your living area, people don’t want to come to the front door on the 30th floor because your address says 29!!
Dry cleaning takes a week. I’m thinking they send it to Malaysia & back?
When it’s hazy outside it means the farmers in Indonesia are burning their fields. It will be hazy for days……before it clears.
Being an expat can be a daily challenge!
