As I approached the ledge, I passed a painted wooden sign tied to a thin tree trunk. It read, “Never try, never know…Test your adrenaline!” Before I could reconsider, I began to bound forwards. The guide stopped me short. I’d have to do this as a standing jump rather than take a running leap. The…
A Rum Day
The eye patch slid down over my left eye as I focused on the orange dot. “All I need now is a parrot.” “Push your chin downwards. Tilt your forehead forwards. Stay still. Don’t blink.” I began my staring contest with the laser scanner, fighting the urge. Both eyes prickled and began to water. I…
A Wild Idea
Having recently returned from a Borneo trip, I was busy sorting through my footage. My neck still ached from scanning the trees with my head stretched backwards, but the sights were worth it. The light bursting through the canopy as a wild male orangutan spat out some unwanted food, his impressive flanges framing his kind…
5 Common Mistakes by Asian Learners
Having taught young learners in Singapore for the past year and a half, I’ve noticed the regular hurdles that trip up my students while learning English. 1. Androgynous – he or she? This is a common mistake for my Chinese students, who usually default to the gendered pronoun he in any situation. Before I recognised this,…
Antisocial
Back in January, I locked myself out of Facebook and Instagram. Here’s an honest account of the last four months sans social media following my initial ‘Life Without Likes’ post. It hasn’t all been plain sailing I recently sent my pregnant friend a TED video that gave a fascinating view into what babies learn before they…
Filling in the Gaps
I’ve never been comfortable with silence. I strike up conversations with strangers on long haul planes. I fill blank spaces with empty small talk. I condense my experiences into conversation fodder. I misquote idioms. I overshare with new acquaintances and scare off any possibility of friendship. I say things I don’t agree with, but then…
My Green Guru
It’s May the 4th which can only mean one thing… Sorry to disappoint you, fellow Star Wars fans. My new master is this little guy: Lately, I’ve broken the humdrum rhythm of my life to tackle some new challenges. I’ve taken up meditation and yoga, quit social media and I’m learning Spanish. Duolingo has been…
To the Sound of Cicadas
MacRitchie Nature Trail, Singapore A puff of mist rose from the jungle as I approached the wet boardwalk. A siren began to wail, calling the stray kayaks back to the shore as a rumble echoed across the water. I hesitated. Another loud wave crashed into the sky and rippled above me. As I counted the…
Pole dancing
This post needs no witty title. The experience of my first pole class was amusing enough. Always willing to try something new, I signed up and somehow managed to persuade one of my teacher friends to come along. I know what you’re thinking – it’s not the first thing you associate with a nursery teacher,…
Yoga Three Ways
I was running late. In flip flops, I clumsily sprinted past the Chinatown stalls and hustled my way through dawdling groups of tourists. Passing the Hindu temple, I paused to allow some worshippers to cross my path as they made their way towards echoey chanting. Sprinting across the road and ignoring the oncoming traffic, I…
Ferns and forest 