You do look familiar...

As you may have seen on Elena’s post, last Saturday was pretty busy. Time is marching towards the big day, and there are loads of loose ends to tie up. Why am I writing about this? Good point – I just wanted to talk about something, and make my blog look as interesting as Elenas (is Banality a legitimate Technorati tag?)

The day started with a trip to the Driving Centre to convert my driving license – you will remember that I passed my theory test some time ago, it had just taken quite a while to get round to it. The process is quite simple: 1) turn up, 2) take passport photos 3) fill in form, 4) argue with lady about having not worked in Singapore before, and 5) pay $50.

Step 4 was fun:

Auntie*: When did you come back to Singapore?
Me: Err, August (come back? How did she know I had been here before?)
Auntie: Have you worked in Singapore before?
Me: No.
Auntie: Are you sure?
Me: Yes.
Auntie: Are you sure? (Becoming frustrated)
Me: Yes. (Becoming even more frustrated)
Auntie: Perhaps you were here as a child, and a dependant of your parents?
Me: No.
Auntie: Are you sure?
Me. Yes.
Auntie: It’s just that your FIN number (i.e. my employment pass number) looks like you have been here before.
Me: Oh.
Auntie: Oh.

After that, it was a simple case of giving over the moolah, and getting my temporary license. The full license will be mailed to me soon, I think.

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Wikidavidia

*Auntie is a term of respect to older ladies in Singapore, a form of address for any woman of its mother’s generation, and/or a polite term of address for) a middle-aged or elderly woman who may or may not be a relative. It does not mean that you are related to her. Let’s try it out (at a food court):

Auntie: Yes?
Me: 1 bottle of Tiger Beer please Auntie
Auntie: Okay, $5 please
Me: Thank you, Auntie.

There, wasn’t that easy. You can all try that out when you get here. It’s a great Lesson One, with a real bonus that you get beer at the end of class (although you do have to pay for it). Lesson Two involves ordering food, and a gender change (not literally), from Auntie to Uncle.

Uncle: Yes?
Me: One bowl of Bak Chor Mee please, Uncle
Uncle: You want Chilli?
Me: Yup
Uncle: What noodles?
Me: Mee pok.
Uncle: $3 please
Me: Thank you, Uncle.

Be wary though. It is for people of an older generation. If I called someone my own age Uncle or Auntie, they might be a little upset.

You have been warned.