Chopsticks, storms and how many hands for money?

The children have both been very adventurous with the food and as a result, have enjoyed all sorts of new things and are willing to give virtually anything a try. However, chopsticks have provided a bigger challenge.

As adults, we've all used chopsticks many times, but for the children they are a newer experience. David's no. 2 in the office, Siew Mei, kindly bought the children chopstick sets where the sticks are shorter and held together by a sort of sprung hinge near the top, making them far more stable and easier to use.

These have been a great hit and for several days, if I asked Hannah what she wanted to eat, she'd say, "something I can eat with chopsticks". As a result, she has eaten pasta, chips, noodles, rice, chicken, fish and even scrambled egg on toast with them. I consider the last quite an achievement and like to think that it says more about her chopstick skills than the way I cook scambled egg.

We're starting to understand the weather here. The verdict is, it's always hot exccept when it's hotter. It rains suddenly and suprisingly unexpectedly and we have rarely had a day without a thunder storm. Some storms have been very dramatic and we've had two HUGE ones which passed right overhead. The biggest and closest lightening feels as if it's going to strike the building and the thunder, which is virtually simultaneous and incredibly loud, can be so continuous as to render any attempts to listen to music, watch TV or make a phone call completely useless. When I concluded that storms were usually an afternoon event, we prompty had two morning ones, no doubt just to keep my on my toes. Apparently Singaporeans rarely leave home without an umbrella.

I got caught out shopping the other day (with the kids). When we arrived, it was slightly cloudy but on leaving the shopping centre with a trolley containing 8 bags of shopping, it was pouring in true monsoon style. I spent about 30 seconds not under cover or under an umbrella whilst I loaded the bags into a taxi and was wetter than if I'd got in the shower fully clothed.

It's quite extraodinary how hard it can rain and our panoramic view of several miles has been reduced to as little as a couple of hundred metres at times.

Something else I'm getting used to - handing something to another person. When money, credit cards and business cards are passed to another person, the process is taken seriously. They are usually offered with two hands and should equally be received with two. I haven't yet remembered to do this even once and keep getting caught out when given change in shops etc.

The giving of business cards (and everyone here seems to have some to give out) can be verging on ceremonial and not only should one be received graciously with two hands but it should also be studied before being put away. I usually remember the last bit and make a point of studying them to help make up for the fact that I hadn't received it properly! David wishes it to be known that this does not apply to him, having had more practice but he still gets it wrong when handing over money. I've seen him!

There are so many small things and we're learning, bit by bit, but there is so far to go! I'm sure half the time we have no idea that we're doing anything wrong and one day in the future we'll look back and start to appreciate the social gaffs we're undoubtedly making!