tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598914828317445912024-03-12T18:42:35.996-04:00Going to America? Get INSIDE InformationLydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-19830914644830945342015-07-01T18:34:00.005-04:002015-07-02T15:37:32.752-04:00Happy Summer in the Nation's Capital<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The relaxing days
of summer have begun in the Washington, D.C. area, which is abuzz with many
activities. There will be a grand celebration this long weekend for the July
4th Independence Day. Americans will be watching parades, going to BBQs
(usually called cookouts here), enjoying fireworks and having parties with
the red, white and blue themes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I have watched the
main parade in the Capital several times and it is a stupendous experience.
However, I will not braving the crowds this time around. Sometimes I sniff out
smaller town parades where I can find a comfortable place to perch and enjoy
the parade. One of my favorite parades is in the Palisades neighborhood in the
D.C. area. This year, I am planning to head out to Frederick, a charming and
historic town in Maryland where I will watch a bathtub race among other
celebrations, it will be first for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Americans love
parties and we just went through a season of graduation with some grand
celebration parties. Colleges scramble for famous persons to make commencement
speeches at graduation. In this area, Vice-President Joe Biden has been in the
news and made a notable commencement speech at Yale University. His speech was
touching and personal, and the public later found that he was weathering yet
another family tragedy as his son Beau was seriously ill then and passed away
from brain cancer shortly after his speech. It was fitting that he spoke much
about Beau and also about compassion: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> "It’s
not that all that difficult, folks, to be compassionate when you’ve been the
beneficiary of compassion in your lowest moments not only from your family, but
from your friends and total strangers.
Because when you know how much it meant to you, you know how much it
mattered. It’s not hard to be
compassionate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I
was raised by a tough, compassionate Irish lady named Catherine Eugenia
Finnegan Biden. And she taught all of
her children that, but for the grace of God, there go you — but for the grace
of God, there go you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Graduation from
high school and from college is a huge milestone, and parents go through a
massive effort to plan parties or even sponsor graduation trips as rewards.
These include cruises and beach trips. For many new college graduates, after
the euphoria of graduation, they now face the arduous task of job applications.
Job prospects has been tough for Millennials as some studies show that more
than half of college grads are unemployed or underemployed six months after
graduation. However the class of 2015 is more fortunate than many other
graduating classes as employers are apparently hiring more than they did last
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Lydia Sin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Author of “Going
to America? Get INSIDE Information”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Ebook and
paperback available at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-Inside-Information/dp/B003VKGTEW">http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-Inside-Information/dp/B003VKGTEW</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lydia-sin">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lydia-sin</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-33251805769986384202015-04-18T21:15:00.001-04:002015-04-18T21:58:25.780-04:00SPRINGING UP<div class="MsoNormal">
Many in the Washington, D.C. area are waiting with abated
breath! The barren winter landscape is being transformed as spring blossoms are
emerging everywhere. The most prized blossoms are cherry blossoms that are
coming to full bloom over the next few days.
Way back in 1912, Japan gave more than 3,000 cherry trees to the USA as
a gesture of friendship and these were planted at the Tidal Basin. This event
is still being celebrated with the Cherry Blossom festival. About one million tourists and locals will be
swarming the D.C. area to peek at this spectacular scene. Being an avid photographer, my daughter is
planning to brave the crowds to soak in the sights and sounds of the festival.
Public transportation is the way to go – take the metro or the new express bus
that plies between places of attraction such as Union Station and the
memorials. On previous years, we have driven downtown and managed to find a
parking lot at Hains Point which is also lined with the magical blossoms. Other
fun stuff to do is to watch the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and browse
around the Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street festival.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This year, I am planning to take a water taxi from Washington
Harbor in Georgetown to the Tidal basin and view the blossoms from the water
along the trip. Besides the Washington Mall area, many neighborhoods will morph
into magical places as, over the years, thousands of trees have been planted
over the entire metropolitan area. My favorite suburb is Kenwood in Bethesda where
I can enjoy a long walk, and picnic under the delicate blossoms. I am also
heading out to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna to enjoy the spring
scene.</div>
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Besides the Cherry Blossom Festival, spring heralds the
start of outdoor activities. There are spring flings such as outdoor picnics
and cookouts in backyards – I am planning to go to one next Saturday. Some good
friends of mine are preparing for spring marathons, and the Boston marathon is
probably the most famous of them all. The wedding season begins and my son will
be flying in from San Francisco for a friend’s wedding. Baseball season has
started and many will head for the ballparks to route for their favorite teams.
The Potomac River will be dotted with kayaks and regattas and a big event is
the annual Dragon Boat Festival that promotes Chinese culture in the D.C. area
through the sport of dragon boat racing. It is quite a sight!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Washington, D.C.!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lydia Sin<br />
Author of “Going to America? Get INSIDE Information”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Ebook and paperback
available at:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-Inside-Information/dp/B003VKGTEW">http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-Inside-Information/dp/B003VKGTEW</a></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lydia-sin">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lydia-sin</a></span></div>
Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-28789106744068526452015-01-31T14:11:00.002-05:002015-02-08T22:34:57.699-05:00Heart of Winter
We are in the heart of winter here in the Washington, D.C. area. We have had several snow days and that has delighted the school kids with school closings and delays. My kids used to wear their pajamas inside out as they were told that will bring on snow! Somehow, winter seems to prod along slowly unlike spring, summer and fall. I have this unexplainable feeling of wanting to hibernate till the weather turns sunny and pleasant. But life goes on with all its schedules and responsibilities.
Winter is a season for indoor activities. Recently, I attended a Games Night hosted by my friend in Virginia. It was a casual evening that started with a simple dinner of chili served in crockpots. Typical American desserts were served namely cookies, brownies and gingerbread. In the U.S., chili has no resemblance to our chilli -- right now, I am dreaming of sambal chilli and especially miss stingray with sambal chilli wrapped in banana leaf, that would really be a great winter warm-up! The American chili dish is tomato-based and usually made with minced beef or turkey. I made a turkey chili for this function and it was well-received. Actually I had won first prize in a chili competition with this particular recipe. Check out my earlier blog post for the recipe and try it!
I learnt to play Pounce and Apples to Apples at the party. My husband and I started at the Apples to Apples game table. It is an award-winning game that is family friendly, hilarious and allows one to be frivolous and imaginative. You match cards and make comparisons and explain the reasons behind your choices. It is a nice ice-breaker as you get an idea of the thought patterns and preferences of the respective players. We went on to the Pounce table which is a challenging fast-paced card game that requires great hand-eye coordination as several things are happening all at once and you need to move quickly. You get to see the competitive edge of your friends. However, I found that too challenging and stressful for a relaxed evening that ended at 9 pm. I like it that American parties usually start and end on time unlike Singapore get-togethers. It was altogether an enjoyable evening with a great balance of stimulating conversations and fun games. This wonderful group of American friends included mainly Caucasian Americans, as well as some who were originally from the UK, Korea, Mexico, China and Taiwan. That is the charm of the Washington, D.C. area!<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-Inside-Information/dp/B003VKGTEW"></a>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qEcRebPx2wU/VM0o7BZoRjI/AAAAAAAAAE0/c1qEvhwLeLc/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qEcRebPx2wU/VM0o7BZoRjI/AAAAAAAAAE0/c1qEvhwLeLc/s320/IMG_2209.JPG" /></a>Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-51700862819558009622014-08-21T16:29:00.000-04:002014-08-21T16:29:32.974-04:00Goodbye Summer, Hello School and FallRight now in America, many are lamenting the end of summer and preparing for a new school year. For Montgomery County in Maryland, school starts next Monday on August 24. There are probably mixed feelings for both parents and kids as summer in America can be both exciting and boring. There is great enthusiasm in the planning of summer trips and then exploring new and wonderful places but boredom also sets in for many kids when they are done with adventurous trips and summer camps. Summer days are long here in the USA, stretching for about 3 months. Sometimes kids long for the routine of school and being surrounded by friends.
Probably the beginning of the school year is good time to reflect on the role of school in the lives of kids, highlighting the positives and being aware of the possible negatives. Recently I came across an email from my daughter’s high school about a film ‘Race to Nowhere.’ It resonates with me and I suspect it probably will strike a chord with many Asian parents as well. The film highlights over-stressed and depressed kids who feel that they are defined by grades and academic success. In Chapter 4 of my book, I talked about Creative Education in America. I think this still holds true compared to the stifling, rote-learning culture of many Asian societies. However I also highlighted that it gets tougher in America as you move up the grades, especially during the high school years. The pressure mounts to build a resume that will get you into choice colleges. High school kids try to balance it all – good grades, high SAT scores, community hours, sports, social life, popularity, looks and a myriad of other issues that contribute to teenage angst.
This thought-provoking documentary tries to open channels of communication between parents and kids, and also educators and policy-makers about the prevailing school culture and the impact on the lives of kids. All parents would embrace the idea of having kids who are thriving and developing holistically instead of kids who are just academically successful. While kids need to work diligently in school, they also need time for family and friends and some unscheduled down time to smell the roses and enjoy the crisp autumn air that is just around the corner.
Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-90313033674947371402014-08-21T16:19:00.000-04:002014-08-24T17:56:03.781-04:00Now available as ebook on Amazon Kindle <b>Big milestone for my book! I recently converted my book into an ebook and it is available on kindle for Amazon, search for Lydia Sin
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-INSIDE-Information-ebook/dp/B00LEX9BMA"></a>
Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-35144587551387597552011-06-07T10:01:00.001-04:002011-06-07T10:03:05.853-04:00Going to the doctor in AmericaI read in The Washington Post today that the US is No. 1 in healthcare, not in a good way but in terms of leading the world in healthcare expenditure.<br />An American friend asked me about how advanced is the medical care in Singapore. Being partial to Singapore’s healthcare, I highlighted what I wrote in my book “Going to America? Get Inside Information” that I get to see a doctor in Singapore for a common ailment for just US$15 and that would include the medicine as well. Over here in the US, I would probably pay about US$100 to see a doctor and then pay extra to get medication from the pharmacy. Once, when my daughter (then 6 years old) was down with flu, I brought her to a pediatric clinic and was surprised that she was given a urine test and strep throat test. The bill came up to US$120. There are some flaws in the US medical system. There is a litigation system in place to protect patients from medical malpractice; however this system is now working against patients. Doctors fear being sued for negligence and hence they practice defensive medicine. This translates to unnecessary medical tests for patients and higher health costs. The litigation system that allows for doctors to be sued and for patients to be given huge compensation for malpractice has the unintended effect of benefiting lawyers who reap the biggest share of jury awards for medical incompetence. Both the doctors and their patients suffer from this.Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-38946644986370366342010-11-04T11:19:00.001-04:002010-11-04T11:19:59.774-04:00Driving in the USARecently I had a fender bender accident (meaning a minor accident). Another driver hit my car when I had stopped at a traffic light junction. We came out of our cars to survey the damage and there were minor dents on my car. I took the opportunity to take photos of my car and also his car. When I tried to exchange insurance information with this man, he flatly refused, alleging that some of the dents were not made by his car. In response, I dialed 911 and to my surprise, the man jumped into his car and drove off at full speed. Thankfully I had a photo of his license plate and the police managed to track him down. He was reprimanded by a big burly police officer who told him that he should not leave the scene of an accident and that he could have been charged for “hit and run.”<br />When driving in the US, it is wise to report any accident (including minor ones) to your insurance company. Be sure to exchange information with the other driver, namely, details of his driver’s license and his car insurance. If possible, get names of witnesses at the scene. If you do not take these steps, you may find that the other driver will report the incident and submit a story that may cost you a lot in claims or even result in a lawsuit. My takeaway from this incident is that it is extremely important to take photos when you are involved in any car accident. <br />Remember the number 911 as it is the emergency number to call whether you need the police or the ambulance.Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-86283522154247506582010-10-03T21:43:00.004-04:002010-10-29T15:38:47.186-04:00Chili RecipeChili is a spicy stew believed to have its origins in San Antonio, Texas. Apparently though it is influenced by Mexican cuisine, it is not commonly found in Mexico. Maybe this dish is like the Singapore Noodles found in Chinese restaurants in the USA -- it is nothing like the Fried Beehoon Singaporeans are used to and it is simply rice noodles or egg noodles fried with curry powder and some meat/vegetables. I am sharing this recipe as I just won 1st prize in a Chili cooking contest with this recipe, hope you enjoy this too!<br /><strong>CHILI – SPICE UP YOUR LIFE</strong><br /><br /><br />5 lb minced turkey<br />8 spicy chicken andouille sausages (chopped)<br />2 medium onions (chopped)<br />1 red pepper (chopped)<br /><br />Seasoning<br />30 oz can sloppy joes <br />15 oz can tomato sauce <br />3 oz can roasted green chile <br />3 tbsp chilli powder <br />3 tbsp cumin<br />3 tsp coriander powder<br />2 tsp oregano<br />1 tsp salt<br />2 jalapeno chiles (chopped)<br />1 cup water<br /><br />1 Saute onions, add minced turkey and brown it.<br />2 Add all seasoning and red pepper<br />3 Cook for 1 hour.<br />.<br /><br />Serve and eat, enjoy!Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-87238957948523766902010-09-01T10:04:00.003-04:002010-09-03T12:28:56.871-04:00Back to School for the USA<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bwB_25OfhVw/TH5eNBsJeKI/AAAAAAAAADE/jxjbIMZ3Mms/s1600/IMG_4019.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bwB_25OfhVw/TH5eNBsJeKI/AAAAAAAAADE/jxjbIMZ3Mms/s320/IMG_4019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511946571832981666" /></a><br />America is bustling with preparation for children going back to school and students going to colleges. For the USA, the August/September period marks a new school year after a 3-month long summer. For me, August 27 was a milestone in my life just as it was for many American families – my daughter headed off to college and I became an empty-nester. The empty nest may seem like a foreign concept to many Singaporeans as Singaporean college students continue to stay at home with their parents usually till they get married. Even after marriage, these grown up kids come home often and are just a short drive away from their maternal home. For American empty-nesters, their kids may well be a plane ride away. They may or may not come back to the nest. As for me, I am anticipating mixed feelings of new-found freedom and also a certain emptiness without all the bustle of having a teenager in the house.Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-42233831417682013822010-08-03T12:04:00.003-04:002010-08-05T11:53:50.116-04:00American PatriotismWhen I was at Dulles Airport recently, I heard the sound of clapping. Went to check it out, Americans were applauding as U.S. soldiers in their military fatigues were boarding their aircraft. I stood and applauded too – I admire these patriots who stand in harm’s way so that their country and families can be secure. Isn’t this the pinnacle of love – to be willing to lay down their lives for their loved ones? Edwin tells me it is common in all the airports he traveled to – Americans honor their soldiers by standing up and clapping as the soldiers are either heading out to a posting or returning from an assignment, possibly in a war zone.<br /><br />This may sound strange but I feel more for Singapore having been away for 10 years. Being in the U.S. makes me nostalgic about Singapore and all its quirks. Told my 22 year old son (serving NS now) and he agrees -- spending time abroad makes him feel more patriotic.Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-24394593555950992892010-07-09T20:28:00.000-04:002010-07-09T20:35:23.028-04:00American Lexicon<strong>Americanism “I don’t care”</strong><br /><br />“Do you prefer me in the white or black dress?”<br />“I don’t care.”<br />Sounds offensive to Singaporeans who think it means you couldn’t care less and are callous/disinterested but in actual fact it is a neutral and friendly expression meaning “I don’t mind, either option is fine with me.”<br /><br /><strong>Don’t say toilet, lorry or boot</strong><br />If you need to answer nature’s call, ask for the “restroom” or “bathroom” not “toilet” (it sounds crude to Americans as it denotes the toilet bowl)<br /><br />In the U.S., say “truck” not “lorry” and use “trunk” to refer to the “boot” of the car. Then you will be understood and not have an American staring blank at you.Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-3311577175303598072010-06-22T17:19:00.000-04:002010-06-22T17:20:47.291-04:00Mega Garage sale in Aug 2010It is summer time in the U.S. and it is the time for garage sales. I heard about the mega garage sale, Highway 127 Yard Sale that stretches from Gadsden, Alabama to West Unity, Ohio. It spans 654 miles and across 5 states. Am thinking of making a trip there – the dates are Aug 5-8 this year. Read about the wonderful bargains and the lovely scenery in the heartland of rural America. For ebay sellers, this could be a buying trip to look for treasures – someone bought a set of Wedgwood for $50, sold it for $600 and also a set of Spode Iris for $200 and sold for $1200. Wow!Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-60919291104516608722010-06-18T15:12:00.002-04:002010-06-18T15:18:08.248-04:00Survival SkillsFREE STUFF & CHEAP STUFF<br />I looked at craigslist.org today and checked for free stuff. Lots of stuff available, including household items, mini fridge, TV, etc. If you are new to the U.S. and on a shoestring budget, craigslist is a good place to start to set up house. As I mentioned in my book, do look up the Dollar Shops and the Five Below stores as well. Ikea is another great store. When I first arrived in the U.S., I did not know this information and ended up paying a lot for things like clothes hangers, laundry baskets, etc. I also go to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get household items but don't ever purchase anything without the 20% off coupons -- they also take competitor's coupons (unexpired) and their own store coupons (even expired ones).Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-10345481017116410072010-06-14T11:18:00.004-04:002010-06-19T22:59:41.723-04:00Why you should read my bookI have lived in the U.S. for 10 years and am still living in the States. If you are heading this way, get the information you need before you take that big step. Get INSIDE information so that you will have a shorter and smoother route to adjusting well in this vast country. You would probably have some of the questions I had as I prepared for this big move:<br /><br />What are Americans like and how do I relate to them?<br />What is the work culture like?<br />How do I survive and even thrive in this foreign land?<br />Maybe you have kids and have some burning questions about the education system.<br />You may have questions about applying to study in a U.S. university.<br />You would definitely have an interest in food, shopping bargains, and vacations.<br /><br />Read the chapter on Survival Skills and you will save a bundle as you try to buy the stuff you need to settle in.Lydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059891482831744591.post-22232749247702059592010-05-24T12:39:00.001-04:002010-06-14T11:34:16.604-04:00Book Launch in July 2010Please check back for the publication of our book in Jun or Jul 2010:<strong>Going to America? Get Inside Information </strong> U.S education, work culture, survival skills, vacation, shoppingLydia in USAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797336623779323883noreply@blogger.com0