Nanyang Tech

NTU isn't called Pulau NTU for no reason.  It's location is on the far West of Singapore and its brimming with overachieving Singaporean kids who are always in a rush running after the bus or busy cutting me in line at every food establishment.  Pulau means island in Malay and it description of NTU is dead on.  I  had  a cab driver get mad late at night because NTU was so far that we were his only fare that night.  Needless to say, i kept him entertained/irritated with my usual stream of questions.

"So how much does this car cost?"

"Man, this is a Mercedes! At least 100K here in Singapore."

"Why are you so proud of it? Isn't this your company car?"

"It's nice car."

"Yeah yeah.  Well let's see how fast it goes.  Take that shit up to 200Kph."

"Yeah right man.  Lose my license."

"Fine. Let me drive."

"You crazy man?  I still lose my license."

".......well at least cut off someone on the freeway or something.  Slam on your brakes in front of someone."

(the cabbie just shakes his head and turns up the radio.)

As i'm getting out of the car in front of our building i poke my head in his window and say, "Hey! How much can we pay you that you burn out after you drop us off in front of the security guard?"

Singapore is a funny type of place because the locals usually don't too much about their own island.  Ask about things to do at night and the only answer you get is Ministry of Sound, Zouk or just go to Clarke Quay.  Everyone goes out on Wednesday because it's ladies night and they drink free.  It's nice because girls can sneak you drinks and you can actually get away with it.  Last Wednesday was a complete blur.  I rounded up some friends and we cabbed out to Clarke Quay and alighted in front of Dbl-O.  Four Changs deep and i hand the doorman $25 and mutter, "Gimme my drink ticket."  It's Alisa's birthday and she's excited to see me.  Her boyfriend Joe shows up and we all drink a round.  There's an extra glass and Alisa hands it to me.  I head to the bar and show my drink ticket.  Right away i turn around and start chatting with some girl about nothing.  I slyly turn and grab my drink without surrendering my drink ticket.  Sneaky Bastard.  Minutes later, i head to the other bar to actually use my drink ticket and i meet some cute girl and we get to talking with the usual first words.  She decides that she likes me and hands me a drink that she got for free.  I hand her my drink ticket and she gets me a beer.  I love this girl. 

Meanwhile Alisa calls me and tells me to get back to the table for another round.  Slam it down and i started to chat with one of her guy friends.  He tells me that he's leaving and he hands me his drink ticket for the upstairs bar.  I ascend the stairs and hear the bass shaking in my chest.  The dance floor is full of sweaty asian guys

 rubbing their bodies on the 10 helpless girls on the dance floor.  The rest of the night gets blurry from there but......

I did manage to meet up with Synthia and toilet paper Big Sal in his sleep!

I didn't remember doing this but Big Sal does.

One of the worst things about NTU is the canteens.  Don't get me wrong, i love cheap food.  I also think that i have a crush on the Indian food lady. But every time that i spend even 5 minutes in the canteen, i end up smelling like i made McDonald's fries for an 8 hour shift.  My clothes don't stink a little, the smell holds on and lasts all day.  I eventually started to have a "canteen shirt" that i wear whenever i can.  

School here is too intense for one American to handle on his own.  I go to SDSU.  I'm used to easier stuff like online quizes that tell the answers and professors being really lenient about everything.  Here, everyone has multiple group projects running along with presentations due every week.   I don't know how some of these kids have jobs and do this shit.