2010 April 27, Tuesday

During our orientation upon our arrival, Mr. Garry Choo told us to meet Yvonne, the one who will guide us in going to the employer – The Tangling Club. We decided to meet at 8:00. I am not sure of what to wear, so I just wear shirt and shorts even though I know that I will still change into something more formal. I was waiting in the stairs, and about a quarter before 8, one of my friends, Kit, came out of her room. She is also wearing something casual because she also did not know what to wear. The two of us don’t have a copy of the instructions that Mr. Choo gave us during the orientation.
It was 8:00 when the other three came out of their room. They were all together in one floor, how fortunate! Anyway, they were wearing formal attire, so Kit and I rushed into our rooms and changed as quickly as possible. I am just too slow that I made them wait for a few more minutes.
We went to the bus stop at Guillemard Road which is very near to our dormitory. We waited at the bus stop. I studied the map given with the route of the bus. I asked them if we were really waiting at the right stop. To confirm it, we asked one of the people waiting at the same stop. He was a Filipino guy but we never talked using tagalong in our short conversation. He told us that the bus stop at the other side is the right one. So we hurried going to the other side of the road. We used the overpass, and then spotted the Bus 7, the one which will bring us to our destination. We run towards the stop just to catch the ride. That was my first time running for a bus ride.
We got down at OPP Orchard Station, as stated in the instructions. Because we are really hungry since last night, we stopped by in a convenience store (7 Eleven) around the area. I bought bread and 600 ml bottled water. The bread costs me SGD0.50 and the water SGD1.80. Just imagine the difference in peso?! I ate my food on the way back to the meeting place, and I finished them right away. I sure am hungry. We meet Yvonne at the OPP Orchard bus station. She was a real beauty.
By reading the map, we never realized that Opp Orchard Station is the nearest one in The Tanglin Club. Well, that is, if we only took one bus ride from Guillemard Road to Orchard Boulevard. It is a very long walk. We actually thought that we will only be going around the city, like a tour. However, we actually went to The Tanglin Club and that was our first report.
We were asked to perform another medical check-up. And to think that it will be paid by the employer, what was the purpose of our medical check-up in the Philippines? Well, since that was all done, I’ll leave it as it was. Yvonne left us in the clinic and told us to just go to EWM office by ourselves. I am really thinking that that was a challenge to us to test if we can be by ourselves in Singapore. Fortunately, we were able to find our way to the office.
Before we report to Yvonne, we first ate our lunch though it was already 15:00. That was our first meal since last night. I am very full. I don’t know if the food is cheap. The cost was SGD2.30 and if converted to peso it was around Php60. The meal includes one cup of rice, 1 meat, and 1 vegetable (mine was omelette).
When we enter the EWM office, Yvonne welcomed us and gave each of us a folder. We need to read that rules which is about three pages. She said that she will ask us about that. Quiz on the first day in Singapore?! Spare us some time to rest, please!
Actually, she just asked a few questions for everyone. Then, she let us go. The sky was still clear even though it is already 17:00. The sun sets late in Singapore.
The day has not yet ended, we went to Fair Price to buy a few necessities. I bought lots of bottled water, laundry soap, and snacks. Then, we eat at some food store in Geylang Road together with other classmates that came in Singapore earlier than us.
We washed our long sleeves because we still need to use that for tomorrow’s orientation in The Tanglin Club. We hand-washed our uniform and did the machine drying in the third floor, where I am staying. Then, we ended the day.