Jobsearch 2.0

Miss T is indeed having a v glamorous international student type lifestyle. Peppered with cocktails and dinner parties and such. Meanwhile I got caught in the monsoon rains on the way back from lunch and spent a soggy while outside BK with some other random people watching the ones with umbrellas rush past. Hoorah!

On matters less damp and more heavy, had conversation with self re: SF move. And noticed I was in desperate want of a plan. Now, the last time I just upped and left, I admit I didn't too bad a job of it. But, my priorities being different I realise it's not going to cut it just showing up and seeing what I can get.

Same like shopping with nothing in mind. Odd moments of serendipity aside, you may get something in the end but it doesn't quite go with as many things as you'd like back home and you spend the next three months trying to get some use out of those turquoise flats.

Except ofcourse jobs take up a bit more space than the bottom drawer, third from left. They inevitably expand and rise and eventually are taking up a space more like a sofa. And if it's not quite the best choice you're screwed for awhile until you go through the whole rigmarole again. So, in a blinding flash of the obvious, I realise my plan. Make out a company wishlist and create an opening from there. I have the time to do that starting now. Employers get someone proactive from the beginning and I get somewhere to go that sets me alight. I can't believe it hasn't occurred to me before to do this!

I should sit soggy outside BK more often.

Cultural Learnings of America to Make Benefit of International Student

Danke for good wishes to make happiness for Givethankings! This weekend it has been hard to get down to work. Instead of working:

Got new haircut (new bangs always look very tut for the first 2 weeks)
Walked my friends' dog twice so far, worried that he is not pooping
Watched Pride and Prejudice twice in a single evening (curled up on sofa)
Threw a dinner party in which laksa, lychees and Drambuie were involved
Went to a Thanksgiving dinner last night - good things to eat
Made mashed potatoes with sinful wine-and-shallot butter (helloo? do I rock or what!!!)
Played Scrabble
Biked around
Going to hang out with new/old friend this weekend (will let you know if food-sharing was involved)
Got the gist of Michael Goldman's book in which he talked a lot about Laos (ok, semi-work. I had to feel better about myself)

Now must get down to real work. Boo hoo.

Happy American Holiday

That we don't celebrate, to our stateside sista :)

Favorite blog

mimi smartypants. go check her out on diaryland! http://smartypants.diaryland.com/

Cute idea

We all are used to a fair bit of travel, but Luke the Runner's doing it the cheap, 3rd millenium way: issuing an invite to all and sundry via a wiki to help him get across america and back this winter.

Promises of beds/rides so far

via my favourite vlog in the world, the show with ze frank

Passed, long years have....

I can't believe how many years it's been since Coconut Tree #5. Look at where we all are now!

Perth, Melbourne, Columbus (aka *icktown albeit with really good dancers- boo for beating Michigan!), California (soon!), and possibly even India?

I will still be here on this little ol' island for the next 5 years at least, and H might come down to join me here.

Well, this just means more people to crash with! muhahahahahhaha.....

Lunchtime conundrum

Was having lunch with a new friend today. Second time meeting for eats. Wasn't moments after the steaming bowls hit the table that I got offered some to try. Which, if I'm honest I was a bit weirded out about. I know as asians we're used to offering food amongst family or close friends. but... I just met you! Is it just me? or is that a bit too soon to be swapping food? I did, in the end try some, but my mental jury is still out on that. They've been discussing the matter in a cramped little room for awhile now and no resolution seems to be near. Would love to hear if you have wisdom on this.

Let's get this started (again)

Miss T asked what I thought about doing a blog (because there's a shortage of these things). I said yes (because there's no shortage to my ill-informed comments and flippant opinions). What would we call it? "Slut Hut" was trashed as deemed to invite sleezebag weirdoes (ha! sorry mate, quota's full here). So, we named it after our favourite place in memory, coconut tree #5, where much misguided ramblings were had on a Sentosan beach, at a dance camp many a year ago.

Thus we have traversed the straits of half-arsedness and the mounts of inertia to bring you this: At coconut tree #5 you have swing music in the background, sand between your toes and a cocktail with paper umbrella in your hand. Discuss.

Stranger than Fiction

Ajantis and I had a Sloot's Convention over the last weekend in Cowtown-Columbus OH (with H., bless his heart, who is too nice to be ever called a sloot). I was honoured to have my first ever visitors, since Sloot Conventions typically took place in good ol' S'pore. It was a fun weekend (more reports on da way) filled with eating....drinking...and more eating. We did take a break from stuffing our faces to watch Stranger than Fiction, the new film starring Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and the 'luminous' (to quote ajantis) Maggie Gyllenhaal (even I cannot keep my eyes off her). As we left the theatre this Sloot Hut-worthy conversation transpired between us:

A: What did you think of the movie?
T: I thought there was something for everyone.
A: How so?
T: There was baking...and then there was the whole academic professor thing.
A: And the IRS man.
T: Now that's something for everyone.

Under the coconut tree

Welcome to Coconut Tree #5, a blog by original Sloots of the Coconut Tree at Hut #5. Lots of in-jokes and sloot talk by people whose lives and loves are scattered far and wide.