AWA Magazine - March/April 2021

SINGAPORE

MAR · APR

A WA Magazine All women, All walks of life,

All Nationalities

Tempted to try a

CRUISE TO NOWHERE? Find Singapore

Women + Fashion = SHOPPING! Plus a look back at AWA

in plain sight

through the years

We compare TWO options

STREET ART hiding

FASHION SHOWS

2021

Contents

AWA Singapore's Membership Magazine

MAR APR 2021 02 04

President's Message AWA's Board Update

AWA Group Scoop 06 Listen Ladies 07 International Choir 08 Tennis 10 Running 11 Walking with Women 16 Writers' Block 29 Group Activities

Bits & Bites of Expat Life 12 14 17 18 19 20 22 24 26 28

Local Tours Let's Go - Shopping Member Spotlight Watering Holes Fork & Chopstick Family Fun Adventures Singapore Snippets Hidden in Plain Sight Spring Cleaning You're Not Alone

Cover photo by Christi Elflein, featuring AWA members Kristen Mooney, Peng Pavie, Nilam Mehta, Noelle Spears, and Peggy Kershaw, shot along Haji Lane

Editor-in-Chief Tori Nelson editor@awasingapore.org Staff Managing Editor - Emily Oberton Graphic Designer - Gina Vono Technical Director - Celine Suiter Copy Editors - Helena A. Cochrane - Amanda Jaffe

Advertising Katherine McCall advertising@awasingapore.org

www.awasingapore.org

24

11

Visit us on the internet: www.awasingapore.org Facebook: American Women’s Association of Singapore - AWA Instagram: awaofsingapore Questions, comments and administrative issues, please email us: office@awasingapore.org

20

Please be advised that any names listed in this publication, the AWA directory or any other material published by AWA are for the exclusive use of AWA members only. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited. The AWA Magazine is published 6 times per year. The American Women’s Association and the AWA Magazine neither endorse nor take responsibility for the opinions expressed herein. Please address all comments and queries to the AWA Magazine Editor. AWA does not endorse or promote any product or service offered through any advertisement that may appear in the AWA Magazine.

-- 1 --

President's Message

American Women's Association Of Singapore

Moving Forward into 2021 Dear AWA Members, I hope you have been enjoying the year 2021 and have been continuing to explore and enjoy Singapore! This March and April will bring the themes of Women Supporting Women and International Women’s Day plus ‘Fashion with a COVID Twist’ to the AWA! The AWA will be offering many events to Deb Minnock celebrate women in March, President and events to celebrate Fashion in April. Who doesn’t love these topics?!

Honoring and remembering women in general is always great. And I love all the beautiful masks and coordinating face coverings with fabulous fashion in our current lives. In fact, I always love a bit of stylish flair.

March and April will also feature the Nominating Committee working hard to fulfill the slate of officers for the AWA for 2021-2022. Typhaine Zagoreos de Bure is leading the Nominating Committee this year, and while some Board members will be able to stay on the Board, some are moving away from Singapore or their two-year service in their position has ended. If you have been wondering how to get

more involved with the AWA, or if you would like to be of good service to your AWA Community, please let us know. We want you! Watch the AWA calendar and the bi-weekly “Blast” email for further details.

There also will be a Leadership Coffee on March 15 at 10:30am and March 17 at 1pm to find out more about positions available.

As always, the list of thank you's is long, but I’d like to emphasize a big thank you to Typhaine de Bure for all of her help and guidance in chairing the Nominating Committee. Thank you to Venta Norvilas, Major Events Chair, and to Kristen Mooney, VP/Membership, for all your fantastic efforts for the AWA. And finally, thank you to all the chairs and volunteers who help to make our organization so welcoming and fun each and every day, week, and month.

Kind regards to everyone,

Deb (Editors Note: some photos in this issue were taken before masks were required in Singapore)

American Women’s Association of Singapore

FAQ’s/Important Information

15 Scotts Road #03-01 Singapore 228218

• The AWA welcomes all nationalities, not just Americans.

General Manager: Sarah Cockerill Main: 6734-4895 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 4:00 pm www.awasingapore.org

• AWA guest fees apply to Singapore residents. Out of town guests and family members pay the AWA member price.

• Guests are entitled to attend 2 events (in total, not per year) before we ask them to join the AWA to continue participating.

• You can register for membership and events any time on our website: www.awasingapore.org

AWA Misson Statement The American Women's Association is a sisterhood of women from around the world, who come together to enhance their Singapore experience through fulfilling volunteer run events and activities.

-- 2 --

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

www.awasingapore.org

-- 3 5 --

Bulletin Board

an update from the awa board of directors

Where Does Our Money Come From and How Is It Used?

The AWA Board is pleased to share an overview of our Fiscal Year 2019-20. The association ended the year with a small positive balance, despite Singapore’s Circuit Breaker impacting the last third of the fiscal year and halting all of our in-person events.

The Board works hard to run a lean organization, and as you’ll see in the chart below, our largest revenue stream is the dues we collect. Our largest expenses are salary and government levies (32%), rent and depreciation (30%) and the magazine (12%.) We thank you for your support of the AWA by paying your dues, as you can see how critical it is to the organization.

I'll do it!

Our complete and audited financial statement is available for review in the AWA office on request.

-- 4 6 --

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

A WA Board 2022 If you have the time and ability to help steer this fantastic group from July 2021 to June 2022, we would love to hear from you!

Join us for a no-strings leadership coffee

Monday, March 15th 10:30am until 12 noon -orWednesday, March 17th 1pm until 2:30pm Please go to the AWA website for details & registration information

www.awasingapore.org

-- 7 5 --

Listen Ladies ALL moods welcome

Two groups of the Listen Ladies met for a special Christmas lunch with Gourmet Bornean Chef Wee. We had fellowship, fun and local delights dressed up in holiday style, such as poulet, nut sauce, sugo,

jack fruit and ice ferns. The Listen Ladies will continue to meet on Zoom this year.

Check the Listen Ladies page at AWASingapore.org to register for FREE!

Listen Ladies special lunch gathering

Bornean Chef Wee

-- 6 --

Gourmet poulet dish

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

International Choir

keeping the spirit of togetherness alive AWA’s International Choir is still glowing from the love we received in response to the series of Christmas virtual choir videos released on our Facebook page in December. We were finally able to see one another in person after nine months of video-only contact. We could meet our two new members whom we’d never seen in person before, at lunch

in two separate restaurants on January 20. We are planning our next video release for Chinese New Year, as we look for a location to sing together and comply with MOH masking and distancing rules.

Please email intlchoir@awasingapore.org if you would also like to sing with us.

Haley Powell, Nicole Gooding, Carole Lam, Tomoko Ichimaru, Yukiko Kobayashi, Caroline Beaumont

Linda Auyong, Lynda Thia, Masami Watanabe, Helena A Cochrane, Michiko Quinn, Shelley Billicke

www.awasingapore.org

-- 7 --

Tennis

Fun, Friendship and Fair Play

AWA Tennis Updates If it seems to you that sports in Singapore have been on an upward trend recently, we can tell you that it sure seems that way to AWA Tennis. We’ve been busy on the courts since the calendar turned to 2021, and there is much more to come. Why not grab a racket and come join us?

WHAT’S COMING UP? The AWA Burch Memorial Tournament for intermediate players will be held March 29-31.

Players must be current members of AWA and have obtained an AWA assessment of 3.0-3.5 within the last two years.* The tournament will be held on the Tanglin Academy courts at Turf City. Grab a tennis partner and come join us on the courts! Sign-ups are open now; registration closes on March 19. The registration fee includes court time, balls, and prizes for the top three teams. *Tennis Assessments are back. To participate in AWA tennis activities and events, you are required to have an up-to-date assessment (within the past two years). Never assessed or it’s been a while? Make sure you sign up for an assessment today!

Marangeli Wouda, Rowena Helgesen, Mary Stone and Reiko Hasselstroem

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO? Instead of the usual seasonal pause at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, AWA Tennis was busier than ever. The first Holiday Doubles Match Play competition provided tennis fun through the holiday season for beginners, intermediates and advanced players. Congratulations to the winners: Beginner winner/runner up: Holli Rainier / Asli Genc Intermediate winner/runner up: Ewa Lancefield / Colleen Foy Advanced winner/runner up: Salme Ostlund / Mayumi Limozin If you’ve seen any ladies around with tennis ball green masks, you know they played in the Team Tennis competition this year. Six intermediate teams competed over six weeks, while the advanced group clearly had a very auspicious season - eight teams of eight players competing over eight weeks!

Congratulations to the winners: Intermediate Team Tennis

Ashley Hamlin, Anna Hultmann, Angela Mulaney and Becca Meurer

-- 8 --

“Sets in the City” -- Alfa Singkoh, Jeanne Staley, Alice Clark-Platts, Seema Farswani, Tania LindsayJean and Neha Yadav AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

Mel Rice, Tara Jackson, Liza Rowan and Shirley Hodge

Advanced Team Tennis “Hit and Run” — Melanie Maier, Louise Barclay, Vandana Saxena, Amanda Allan, Rebecca Byrne, Suzanne Bishop, Emma Pickering and Michelle Dawson The Discover Tennis Clinics run by our partner Savitar Tennis Centre on their courts at the Fairmont Hotel continue to be a very popular AWA tennis activity.

The consistently sold-out Beginners level shows us just how many people are picking up new hobbies. And many of the ladies who started as Beginners are now moving up to the Intermediate clinics. It’s great to see so many tennis players out working on their skills.

We also added a Doubles Challenge into the program in February, just in case anyone felt there were not enough tennis play opportunities out there.

Players signed up in pairs and competed against different pairs each week — a great way to get some pre-season practice before the various Singapore leagues start up their spring seasons.

Interested in keeping up to date with all the tennis programming, photos and news? Subscribe to the AWA Tennis Newsletter and our closed Facebook group AWA Tennis.

Doubles Match Play season finale for Angela Pera, Salme Ostlund, Lara Boyd and Liza Rowan

www.awasingapore.org

-- 9 --

Running

Running Around SIngapore... And Beyond Following the Chinese New Year celebrations, the AWA Running Group is feeling bullish on the group’s future. With renewed vigor, the group is offering two new events that are now part of our regularly scheduled running activities: 1) Saturday Morning Runs: These are perfect for our members who work and can’t meet us on a weekday.

They are also great for members who want to run 10k or more. The location changes every Saturday, for a change of scenery and an opportunity to get to know Singapore better.

2) Iron Strength Training: We are currently offering two locations to meet the demands of this runnerspecific, strength-training routine. This 40-minute workout is free to all of our members who currently attend any of our weekly runs. An optional run follows the strength training.

The group continues to hold its Botanic Gardens 5k run every Tuesday and its 10K run on Thursdays.

The latest additions to the Running Group are: Dora Aris, Ana Brugh and Nikki Elliott. Welcome!

Does this sound like a group you would like to join?

Please send a Facebook request to the AWA Running Group for more information.

Qian Marquard, Dafne Wesenaar, Youmi Lee, Beth Reintjes, Dora Aris

AWA runners attending Iron Strength Training class at University Road Park

-- 10 --

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

Walking with Women Walk your way around singapore

AWA’s Walking With Women group is so excited to be able to walk with more than five people! Join us on our Facebook page and then meet us for walks on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Would you like to lead a walk? Email walking@awasingapore.org

Walkers along the Alexandra Canal

Yunnan Gardens at Nanyang Tech University

Goddess and lions protecting a temple

Chinese Heritage Center at Nanyang Tech University

www.awasingapore.org

-- 11 13 --

Local Tours

getting to know SIngapore in small groups

Joo Chiat and Perankans

MAR

11 Thu

TIME: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PLACE: 2 Joo Chiat Road

taxi stand COST: $75 Member $90 Guest

LIMIT: 15

Nothing beats getting up close and personal with the sights and flavors of Joo Chiat, one of Singapore’s most eclectic and interesting neighborhoods.

The Peranakans are undoubtedly one of Southeast Asia’s most distinctive communities.

In Singapore, the Peranakan culture is a mix of rich traditions resulting from the marriage of early Chinese traders and indigenous women from the Malay Archipelago.

Set on former coconut plantations where atap-roofed kampongs once thrived near seaside bungalows and mansions for the wealthy, Joo Chiat is an exciting mélange of culture, flavors and architecture.

Explore the Peranakan legacy and meet some of the local characters.

Learn about the lovely pre-war architecture demonstrated in row upon row of colorful two-story shop and terrace houses adorned with ornate façades, intricate motifs and ceramic tile.

-- 12 14 --

Meet You in Rochor

MAR

18 Thu

TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PLACE: Bras Basah MRT

(street level) COST: $55 Member $68 Guest

LIMIT: 14

The Rochor District stretches from Bras Basah, Bugis (BBB) and Waterloo to the Rochor Canal. This area is well-loved for the colorful lives of its former kampongs (villages), the European section of the city and its schools.

Urban planners designed this area to be a vibrant showcase of arts, education and heritage. Due to its heritage status, you will find an eclectic mix of uses and types of buildings such as shop houses, standalone religious buildings and schools, as well as commercial buildings and social welfare housing.

Discover this picturesque and lively area of Singapore as you visit one of the most religious streets of the city with its temples, church and synagogue. The tour ends at Parkview Square, where you may drop in for a drink at one of the 10 best bars in the world.

Local Designers

MAR

25 Thu

TIME: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm PLACE: Junction of Arab

St & Beach Rd COST: $48 Member $60 Guest

LIMIT: 11

Don’t you wish there were more interesting and authentic souvenirs from Singapore besides the usual ‘I Love SG’ t-shirts and Merlion keychains?

Well, look no further! Join this tour to meet three of Singapore’s most popular designers for lifestyle products, hear about their design journey and take the opportunity to do some shopping at the same time.

Ranging from beautiful to quirky and definitely original, their products represent Singapore’s multiracial culture and history in fun, wacky and colorful ways.

After meeting the first designer, we will have a short refreshment stop at a café (at own cost) before continuing to the other two. Please note: As this is a walking tour and we will be boarding a bus, please wear comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella, water, cash and your EZ Link card.

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

Kampong Glam Art & Colonial Quarters & Architecture Evening Walk Singapore River Cruise

APR

14

Wed

TIME: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm PLACE: Sultan Mosque, Main Gate, 3 Muscat St. COST: $60 Member $75 Guest

LIMIT: 15

Kampong Glam’s history can be traced back to the 1820s, when it was a fishing village due to its location on the Rochor River. This area has a long history as a place to live and worship, with the Sultan Mosque as its main attraction.

Beyond its history and heritage, Kampong Glam also teems with artistic and design treasures. Explore the neighborhood’s colorful street murals on this evening walk. Dig a little deeper into the country’s young graffiti movement by meeting a graffiti artist. Visit the studio of a multi-talented potter who draws and explores music, in addition to firing clay.

All tours are non-refundable.

Complete detailed tour descriptions are found at www. awasingapore.org.

For more information on individual tours, please email localtours@ awasingapore.org

www.awasingapore.org

APR

23 Fri

TIME: 9:00 am – 12:45 pm PLACE: City Hall MRT

(street level) COST: $70 Member $90 Guest

LIMIT: 14

This walk in the heart of Colonial Singapore will introduce you to the history of Singapore through the art and cultural heritage of a district particularly rich in colonial history.

Our guide will take us back in time with the arrival of Raffles in 1819.

We will admire the beauty of the architecture: the Old Parliament, the former Supreme Court and Victoria Theatre, as well as war memorials located around the famous Padang (historical field).

We will visit important landmarks on Singapore's historic waterfront where the first British settlers arrived: St Andrew's Cathedral, the former General Post Office, and the Waterboat House. The tour will end with a boat ride on the Singapore River.

Dress code: please dress accordingly as we will enter religious sites. Wear appropriate walking shoes. Bring umbrella, money, camera, water.

There will be a refreshment stop

Crafts & Birdsong in the Heartlands

APR

29

Thur

TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PLACE: Newton Food

Centre COST: $85 Member $105 Guest

LIMIT: 14

Come on this tour to visit the last remaining businesses that still fashion their wares by hand, a rarity in Singapore indeed!

Your first stop is a business that stocks an amazing array of paper offerings that are burnt for the Gods, Ancestors and Ghosts. Have you heard of the interesting hobby of Bird Singing? Come and see for yourself and be serenaded by these wonderful “Song Birds,” right in the HDB heartland of Ang Mo Kio, one of the largest Bird Singing corners in Singapore.

Have you watched lion dances and marveled at the colorful lion heads?

You will meet the last remaining craftsman who makes the lion heads from his HDB home. You can even order one of his beautifully crafted lion heads as a collector’s item.

Finally, you will learn about those giant incense sticks with their colorful decorations seen at the temples.

--- 15 13 ---

Let's Go.... Shopping!

Fashion never goes out of style

Written by Meg Sine

AWA Fashion Show, Past and Present

Every year, the top design labels of the global fashion industry and the haute couture crowd gather in New York, London, Milan and Paris for the world’s four top Fashion Weeks. In Singapore, the world’s fifth top fashion event has been the designer catwalk at the AWA Fashion Show!

All LOL emojis aside, AWA’s annual fashion gala is typically a “beast of an event,” according to

2012

-- 14 --

2018

Kristen Graff, a longtime event volunteer. The show’s planning committee works for an entire year to select the venue, menu, runway designers, photographer and vendors for this largest of AWA’s major events.

The volunteers include some twenty models, ten backstage helpers and ten additional organizers to handle publicity, ticket sales, decorations, musical backdrop and Lucky Draw prizes.

CHIJMES 2013

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

AWA encourages members of all levels of experience, age and size to volunteer as models.

Prior to the show, the models attend catwalk training and fittings with designers. The day of the show, they have their hair and makeup professionally done.

Each year’s show highlights a theme used to select participating designers. The theme is influenced

multinational corporations. The AWA Fashion Show reflected the makeup of the membership.

In 2008, for example, the venue was the Ritz-Carlton ballroom, and the event featured free-flowing champagne and a decadent chocolate fountain.

That year, the American Association Singapore co-hosted the AWA Fashion Show as a prelude to the 75thannual George Washington Ball. Fourteen volunteers modeled a collection of elegant evening gowns, while a few lucky guys in tuxedos with matching bow ties and cummerbunds escorted the lovely ladies down the runway.

These days, our membership demographics include career women, young mothers and women who frequently travel abroad. Athletic and leisure wear is

2008

2019

standard wardrobe. Professional women need office chic. And comfortable clothes for the hot climate and travel are always in demand.

2008

by both the inspirations and the desires of the American expat community, as well as current trends, innovations and creative explorations in the wider world of fashion.

Not that long ago, AWA’s membership was comprised primarily of women whose husbands were diplomats or senior managers employed by www.awasingapore.org

While we won’t be gathering in person for this year’s Fashion Show, the show will go on, in a slightly different format. Co-chairs Erika Mesiero and Sabrina Dommenge, together with Designer Liaisons Sabrina Sikora and Yamile Sain, have selected eight designers whose businesses will be featured during AWA Fashion Month this April. Keep an eye out for details on the AWA website, in email blasts and on social media.

Meg lived and traveled all over Asia for almost 25 years before moving to Singapore with her husband in 2018.

She enjoys biking, walking and quilting with AWA Creative Hands.

-- 15 --

Writers' Block

a contribution from our AWA Writers' Group members Written by Amanda Jaffe

Zen and the Art of Making Yogurt My Instant Pot was stressing me out. In the course of a month, I’d left Singapore and landed, hard, back in the United States. Like the clothes I’d left behind when we first headed to Southeast Asia, my life in America wasn’t fitting quite like it used to. So, in a moment of weakness, I’d succumbed to the promise of the Instant Pot, a life-changing pressure cooker.

Surely, the power to produce miraculous soups and stupendous stews in minutes would help.

2018

It wasn’t helping. After a week, I’d managed to make rice. The Instant Pot sat recriminatingly on my kitchen counter, embodying everything that felt wrong The Instant Pot is all about pressure, an awesome force. The Earth’s pressure literally turns carbon into diamonds. Of course, that requires 725,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, while the Instant Pot operates at fifteen. But even at a pathetic fifteen psi, the Instant Pot can make literally almost anything other than diamonds. I’d approached its force with the coequal force of my determination -- devouring recipes, Googling pressure-cooking theory, studying conventional-to-pressure-cooking conversion charts. All that force had yielded was rice.

But now, I’ve discovered the “yogurt” setting, that corner of the Instant Pot universe where the brute force of pressure yields to the lifegiving force of nurturing warmth. If pressure cooking captures the zeitgeist of my current life, then yogurt making represents the promise of a more zen existence. Like yin balances yang.

The secret to meditation is carrying the lessons of one meditation to the next. Likewise, the key to turning milk into yogurt is yogurt. Specifically, yogurt containing active cultures. My husband fails to appreciate the simple beauty in this: “Honey, can you put yogurt with active cultures on the shopping list? I want to make yogurt.”

“If you want to make yogurt, why do we need yogurt?”

-- 16 18 --

“To make yogurt.”

Snort.

Making yogurt begins with boiling milk, then cooling it to just above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It turns out cooling milk to a specific temperature is an excellent lesson in learning to do something right by doing it wrong – like focusing on your breathing. My process (become distracted and allow milk to get too cool; reheat milk; repeat) enlightens me. Eventually, I manage to break the cycle, add my starter yogurt, and set the Instant Pot to “Ferment.”

To become yogurt, the milk-and-yogurt combination must sit quietly for eight hours at a constant temperature. It’s the meditative heart of the process, and I approach it with the wrong attitude. I feel empowered by the fact that I can say multitask-y things like, “I’m going for a walk, and I’m making yogurt.” Or, “I’m doing laundry, and I’m making yogurt.” Or even, “I’m writing about making yogurt, and I’m making yogurt.”

As in a good meditation, my mind returns to the yogurt throughout the day. A new thought emerges.

My sense of empowerment is unearned. I’m not “making yogurt.” The yogurt is making itself. What I have done is create a non-pressurized, nurturing environment where active yogurt cultures can live their best yogurt-making lives. Later, as eight hours draw to a close, I wonder whether this, too, is false enlightenment. What have I done beyond flipping a switch and allowing time to pass?

But sometimes a switch-flip and time is all we need.

I open my Instant Pot with humility to find a calm, beautiful pot of yogurt. And, as I set some yogurt aside for next time, I realize I feel better than I have in days.

The AWA Writers’ Group meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month. For more information, send an email to writers@ awasingapore.org AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

Member Spotlight

getting to know our members beyond the usual chitchat Written by Helena A. Cochrane Singapore culture that is not often seen. At times it can be emotionally exhausting, but I have grown so much from the experience.

Have you adopted a habit in Singapore that you hope to take with you to your next home?

It feels so strange to wear shoes in the house now that I am sure that’s a habit we will adopt wherever we go.

If you could ask a Singaporean any question, what would it be?

Laurie with her dog Johnny

Where is your favorite place for roti prata and which prata is your favorite? (FYI, I like plain or cheese prata.)

Laurie Day came to Singapore in 2010, to accompany her husband Jim on a two-month assignment for his company based in San Jose, California. Two months turned into four, which have now become ten years.

Laurie’s two adult children live in the United States, and she welcomed a grandson 18 months ago.

What about Singapore culture has surprised you the most?

I am still amazed at how many complaints or problems the Singapore government will take care of for their residents. You can report so many things and actually expect a response. Spot someone smoking where they shouldn’t be? Don’t like where your neighbors are parking? There is litter left in your void deck? See a wild animal wandering around?

There’s an app to report all of these and more!

What has been your funniest or worst mishap while living in Singapore?

My husband, Jim, and I found a man unconscious in his car at a traffic light. I got out to check on him, and Jim pulled our car in front of his so he wouldn’t block traffic. When I finally shook him into consciousness, the man took his foot off the brake and drove right into the rear end of our car!

What hobby or activity have you been able to pursue in Singapore that you didn’t previously? How has it influenced your time as an expat in Singapore?

For the past two years, I have been a Wildlife Rescue Volunteer at ACRES two to three days per week. I drive all over the island, responding to calls about wild animals in trouble. The job ranges from exciting to frustrating, heartbreaking to heartwarming. It has completely changed my life.

I also volunteer for an organization that provides counseling services. I work a couple of shifts per month on their chat hotline. It lets me see a part of www.awasingapore.org

Laurie and Jim Day

What life lesson have you learned during your time as an expat in Singapore?

I’ve learned that in any relationship, be it with friends, family, or a partner, it’s not about choosing the right person. It’s really more important to BE the right person and create the conditions that will allow a relationship to flourish. I try to remind myself of just how fortunate I am to be experiencing another culture and that, because of my experiences, my children and grandchildren will learn about and be more tolerant of other cultures How do you treat yourself in Singapore? What is your luxury? Was your luxury the same in the US? I treat myself in Singapore with a long massage or tasting a couple of new whiskies at my favorite whisky bar. I never had a massage nor tasted Scotch whisky while living in the US, but they are another thing I will take with me when I leave.

Since moving from Philadelphia in 2018, Helena has been active with AWA's Walking with Women, Writers' Group and International Choir as well as with Urban Sketchers of Singapore.

-- 17 --

Watering Holes

The best places in singapore to find coffee & cocktails Written by Silvia Fernandez photography by Christi Elflein

Dapper Coffee/ Spiffy Dapper 73 Amoy Street, Singapore 069892 You’ve probably walked by this venue many times without knowing. It is hard to find, but at the same time it isn’t. Like Clark Kent/Superman, from the early hours until just before sundown, it’s known as Dapper Coffee.

Outside, there’s only an unassuming door at 73 Amoy Street and, just like Clark, it is rather troublesome to find initially. Once located, take the dimly-lit stairs up to the second floor and a pair of doors will open up to a friendly place. Also like Clark, the room is medium-sized, with a discreet and reliable décor.

The menu is small but interesting, and the cakes are a rollercoaster of flavors! The coffee beans are from Papua New Guinea, and they use metal straws and cloth coasters to give you a sense of engagement with bettering the planet. Try the cold press juices and their famous “Unicorn Tears” to energize the rest of your day. They offer super-fast Wi-Fi, so you can pretend to work on your laptop as you indulge in one of the delicacies prepared on-site.

Dried fruit display

Fresh granola and fruit

Just like the comics, when you need a superhero, this place transforms into a bar at sundown! Low key décor continues into the evening, but what matters is the ambience and your experience while there.

The helpful folks behind the bar know their business and without hesitation will engage in a conversation to suggest the best option for you. Follow their lead or read through the extensive cocktail menu, which is a bit like the Encyclopedia Britannica. If your first choice turns out not to be the super-duper mega drink of your dreams, you can always indulge in a second one.

-- 18 --

Bartender makes a fresh juice drink

Artfully poured latte

I like to sip my concoction and take in the scene while everyone is entering the bar, but what I keep wondering is, “How did I miss this for so long?” Like Superman, this bar will always be there when you need it.

Silvia is an eternal expat and global traveller. She's enjoyed exploring Singapore's hidden gems since 2017. Her husband, Mark Dixon, is her enthustiastic collaborator.

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

The Fork and Chopstick

highlighting the off the beaten path, heritage, or just plain fun chomping grounds Written by and Photography by Jenni & Eric Lee

Maxwell Food Centre 1 Kadayanallur Street, S. 069184

Nearby was Zhong Guo Jie Peanuts Soup 75, one of the third generation stalls (#01-57) specializing in peanut soup. Four hours of boiling and constant stirring produce a sweet dish of warm peanuts in broth. We asked for rice dumplings (filled with sweetened sesame or lotus paste) to be added to it.

Chicken Rice Of Course: There is no denying that Tian Tian (#01-10) was given foodie rockstar status by Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey - the stall attracts people all around the world for its chicken rice. Of course try Tian Tian, but if the line is too long and you don’t have the patience also try Heng Heng (#01-84), which is the other original chicken rice stall at Maxwell. There is also Ah Thai (#01-07), an offshoot of Tian Tian due to a falling out.

And What - Ramen?

Not just traditional food is for sale here. Satisfying the global ramen craze is Taisho Ramen (#01-32). Nestled between stalls selling roast pork or local coffee, the ramen base consisted of a rich pork broth and thin chewy noodles, which is the style usually seen in southern Japan.

Rickshaw noodles with yam and fish cake

Singapore hawker food culture was awarded UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage status in December of 2020; hence, we went to Maxwell Food Centre to explore its food and heritage.

Maxwell FC plays an important part in preserving Singapore’s heritage, through generational stalls continuing to cook as their parents and/or grandparents did, and specializing in dishes not commonly found elsewhere. Happy Chomping!

Generational Stalls: The two-story building near the Tanjong Pagar Road entrance was the central depot for rickshaws in Singapore, introduced in 1880. Thus, our first stop had to be Rickshaw Noodles (#01-87), started in 1943 and now run by the founder’s daughter. What makes rickshaw noodles different? Noodles were snipped short like the olden days, designed to be a cheap meal eaten quickly without utensils. Imagine a rickshaw puller running in, plopping down a few coins, getting a bowlful and slurping it quickly before being on his way. Fortunately, chopsticks and spoons are available today. (All the signs are in Mandarin so just point!)

Also in the category of generational stalls, Fuzhou Oyster Cake (#01-05) was founded in 1962 by the current owner’s father. Oyster fritters are a specialty of Fuzhou, China ($2 each). This was a savory, crispy deep fried oyster snack, mentioned in an Anthony Bourdain book (although some prefer Fuzhou Poh Hwa at Berseh FC.) www.awasingapore.org

Pre/Post Meal:

Fuzhou Oyster cake stall

Linger with a coffee and browse through books at Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop, located at URA Centre, across Maxwell Road entrance.

Take a quick walk to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown Heritage Centre (but closed during COVID), and Sri Mariamman Temple.

Jenni & Eric Lee live to eat and explore local eateries and bars. Originally from New York, they have lived in Singapore since 2012.

-- 19 --

Family Fun Adventures

finding Cool things to do in and around singapore Written by Christi Elflein

A Cruise to Nowhere

Nico, Nylan and Aurelia Shoemaker on Genting's World Dream

Need to scratch the travel itch? The hottest and ONLY guaranteed tickets out of town are a cruise to nowhere. Two cruise lines are offering three- and four-night trips out to sea for Singapore residents -- Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas and Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream.

AWA members Alfa Singkoh-Bald and Julie Shoemaker each took their families on one of the cruises. If you’re considering booking, check out the comparison notes from their trips. Both families

loved their cruise and emphasized how much they enjoyed family time together.

“It felt like a real vacation,” Julie said. “We liked it so much, we booked again. This time with Royal Caribbean.”

Alfa said, “We loved it!” She recalled her husband saying as they were leaving the ship, “I wish we had two more nights.” Alfa added, “We were so happy to be able to have had a three-night getaway outside the city, even though to nowhere.”

Avery Bald tries iFly skydiving on Quantum of the Seas Christi is an urban planner for an architecture firm in Florida. She moved to Singapore and joined AWA in 2019 and loves exploring her new city with her husband and two kids.

Alila Bald enjoys FlowRider surfing on Quantum of the Seas

-- 20 --

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

Cruise Comparison Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas

Genting Cruise Line's World Dream

The Singkohs (Kids 13 & 14)

The Singkoh-Bald Family (Kids 13 & 14)

TheShoemakers Shoemaker (Kids Family 7, 9 & 10) The 7, (Kids 9 & 10)

COVID Testing

Included in cost. Nasal swab test two to four days before boarding. Slightly uncomfortable. Easier on the kids. Rapid test before disembarking.

Included in cost. Rapid non-invasive test at port before boarding. Second test before disembarking. Easy.

COVID Rules

Trace Together token or app required.

Also given a tracking bracelet. Masks mandatory unless eating, drinking or swimming.

Room key used to check into locations on the ship. Also given a tracking token.

Masks mandatory unless eating, drinking or swimming.

Rooms

Stayed in a suite. Comfortable.

Stayed adjoining balcony Stayed ininadjoining balcony rooms.rooms.

Spatious, beds.

Spacious, comfortable comfortable beds.

Food

Many restaurant options included.

Favorite was Coastal Kitchen (reservation). Great ice cream, dim sum and snacks by the pool.

Banquet food was decent. Long lines for seating. Lido Deck buffet had few options for kids. Other restaurant options available at additional cost.

Pool

No reservations needed. Always got a lounger and a good view.

Reservations needed. Limited to one hour per day. Small pool.

Family Highlights

Arcade, rock wall (minimal queueing), FlowRider surfing (long queue), iFly skydiving (reservation), basketball, running on the deck

Four waterslides (no signups, could slide all day), the "insane" VR arcade, magic show, arts & crafts.

Shows, spa, casino, bumper trapeze school, roller skating

Shows, spa, casino, rock climbing, mini golf, basketball, ropes course, zipline

Other Activities Overall

cars,

Service was excellent. Expect queueing.

"Just to be on a balcony overlooking the ocean was absolutely lovely."

Based on promotions in January for a March date, threenight cruise, balcony room, for a family of 4 (incl tax & fees)

S$950 www.awasingapore.org

S$760 -- 21 --

Singapore Snippets

Discovering Items of interest on the red dot Written by Marta Lubeck

Estuarine Crocodile near the trail

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve I love spending time outdoors, and since moving to Singapore last summer, I have enjoyed going to many gardens, parks and nature reserves. One of my favorites so far is Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Located in northwest Singapore, Sungei Buloh has one of the island’s few remaining mangrove forests and is home to rich biodiversity.

tree roots of the mangroves come into full view.

Trails Each trail at Sungei Buloh is quite different, and it is worth exploring them all if time permits. A good starting point is the Migratory Bird Trail, which is 1.9 km long and loops around the Buloh Tidal Ponds.

A few hides and an observation tower along the

Sungei Buloh is home to a wide range of wildlife, including predators like the Malaysian water monitor lizard and the mangrove pit viper, and less intimidating animals like the smooth-coated otter.

However, many visitors are particularly interested in sighting the estuarine crocodiles. These crocodiles

Buloh Tidal Ponds

Pneumatophores and knee & prop roots

trail are good vantage points from which to take pictures or observe the wetlands. This is a worthy trail to explore for a good chance of seeing crocodiles in their natural habitat.

are large creatures, but they are masters of disguise.

It is easy to miss them, because they blend into their environment well, whether they are in the water or on the shore. Numerous signs on the paths warn visitors to stay away from the water’s edge, as crocodiles sometimes make their way onto the trails.

The Mangrove Boardwalk is a shorter trail encircling the mangrove forest. During low tide, the intricate -- 22 --

The Coastal Trail offers nice views of the Straits of Johor and Johor Bahru in Malaysia. A few pods located along the trail provide good resting points and photo opportunities.

Wildlife

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

AWA member Marta Rabins remembers one of her visits to Sungei Buloh. “I was excited to have ‘discovered’ a croc laying quietly in wait about 10 feet off the raised gravel path where I was walking.

This after seeing an even larger croc cruising along the water’s edge from a viewing platform where all the serious photographers were stationed.”

trees. They enable the mangrove forest to adapt to the changing tides and to efficiently take in oxygen during low tide. Many of these fascinating tree roots become submerged in high tide.

Outdoor Classroom Sungei Buloh is as fun and educational for children as it is for adults. My friend and neighbor Maja had some advice for parents visiting Sungei Buloh (or any other natural habitat) with small children. “It helps to have a goal with kids. I created a nature treasure hunt and asked them to write down the first 10 animals they discovered on the trails.”

A Delicate Ecosystem As magnificent as Sungei Buloh is, neither high tide nor low tide conceal the staggering amount of trash that builds up on its shores. This is particularly obvious along the Coastal Trail. The refuse ranges from plastic bottles to cans and Styrofoam containers, posing a real threat to Sungei Buloh’s ecosystem. According to statistics provided at the Visitor’s Centre, some 20,000 kilograms of trash were collected from the

Mudskipper Pod

When asked about her experience at Sungei Buloh, AWA member Helena Antonin Cochrane recalls, “I saw the biggest spiders I’ve ever seen, and wild storks flew just a few feet over my head. On my visit there it was very sunny as I arrived, but a storm blew in while I was hiking the loop. I climbed a tower with a roof on it to protect myself from the storm, and watched as storks, pelicans and ducks huddled in the wind and rain on the edge of the swamp.”

Migratory Birds Amateur and professional photographers alike come to Sungei Buloh hoping to get great shots of migratory birds making a pitstop at the wetland reserve. Singapore is a favored stopover for birds traveling on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

The migratory bird season runs from October to March, when thousands of birds travel as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Australia and New Zealand. According to a study published in December 2020, researchers from the National Parks Board also were able to identify birds traveling on the Central Asian-Indian Flyway, which crosses the Himalayas, thus placing Singapore at the intersection of two migratory bird flyways.

Tides Due to the wetland reserve’s location in an intertidal area, low tide exposes parts of the tidal ponds and mangrove forest that cannot be seen during high tide. Arguably the most fun creatures at Sungei Buloh are the mudskippers. These agile amphibian fish can be observed skipping around the muddy waters at low tide and are quite a sight to see.

Plank, stilt, prop, knee and pneumatophores.…

These are types of roots particular to mangrove www.awasingapore.org

Trash build-up in Sungei Buloh

reserve’s beaches and mangroves during an annual one-day cleanup several years ago. The annual coastal cleanup activity was suspended last year due to COVID-19.

Getting There The closest MRT station is Kranji on the Red Line, where you can connect to Bus 925 going to Kranji Way/Kranji Reservoir Park B. The bus stop is a short walk from the entrance.

As the seasoned trekker knows, it is important to bring drinking water and to wear proper walking shoes and insect repellent. There are a couple of vending machines at the Wetland Centre selling snacks and drinks.

Marta moved to Singapore with her husband and two children in July 2020. She loves to explore Singapore with the AWA walking, hiking and photography groups.

-- 23 --

Hidden in Plain Sight

Discovering singapore's vibrant street art scene Written by Jennifer Baignet and Isabelle Tadmoury

Street Art in Tiong Bahru Singapore is a treasure trove of public art; you just need to know where to look for it. Living on this island during the pandemic has meant that we’ve had time to discover the many significant works of art scattered across the city.

We start this new article series in Tiong Bahru, a neighborhood known for its cafés, boutiques and 1930s architecture. It is also the site of many of our favorite murals painted by Singaporean artist Yew Chong. His paintings transport us to another time in Singaporean history, showing us a simpler side of life here -- one that is sometimes hard to imagine among the skyscrapers and huge HDB blocks that dominate the city today. His heritage murals tell his childhood stories and capture a bygone era. He has four murals in Tiong Bahru, but you’ll need to wander the area to see them. Click on this link for a map. https://yipyc.com/maps/

Bird Singing Corner Mural

Home Mural

Home

Yew Chong goes down memory lane to his childhood home in Sago Lane, Chinatown for this piece. The scene is set in 1977 and the family has just purchased their first sofa and telephone. Wangsa Yefung, a popular comedian, is on the TV and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew is on the cover of the newspaper promoting the Speak Mandarin Campaign.

Pasar & The Fortune Teller Mural

Bird Singing Corner

Pasar & The Fortune Teller

The bird singing corner was once emblematic of Tiong Bahru. Situated beside the now demolished Ting Heng Kopitiam, the birds sang overhead from their cages while their owner uncles sipped kopi. Today, the hooks are still dangling at the corner of the street and waiting for the birds to return, to no avail.

Pasar (Malay for market) is where Yew Chong used to enjoy his Laksa and Zui Kueh. He named the stall “Seng Kee” in memory of his dad, who loved the yellow Malay sponge cake also depicted in the mural. The painting of a fortune teller who used to sit outside the Pasar in real life was based on a small black and white photograph.

-- 24 26 --

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

NOTE: Make sure you also see the other side of the building, which depicts a single peacock feather.

Tuan Yuan Bak Kut Teh Mural

Tuan Yuan Bak Kut Teh Nestled beside an operating restaurant is Yew Chong’s depiction of Teochew Bak Kut Teh, the staple diet of the coolies (laborers) who needed it to restore their energy after a hard day’s work at Clarke Quay. In this mural, you will find olden day techniques and crockeries used to prepare this now famous Singaporean meal. Pull up a stool and sit with them.

Dancing Girl Statue

The Dancing Girl Murals are not the only public art in Tiong Bahru.

Hidden behind the greenery of Seng Poh Garden, you’ll also find a statue by Lim Nang Seng. Lim was commissioned to create the statue in 1972 as the first piece of public art in Tiong Bahru. His inspiration for the abstract statue was a girl in a joyful harvest dance. It may come as a surprise that Lim’s bestknown work is Singapore’s iconic Merlion at the Esplanade, which he unveiled the same year. Along with creating sculptures, he designed Singapore’s first one-cent coin.

We’re leaving the last piece of street art for you to find on your own. Look out for the goat mural!

The Peacock Mural

The Peacock Inside the Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre, you can’t miss the three-story mural that is often associated with Chinese culture representing dignity and power.

The Peacock was created by Australian artist Mike Makatron as part of Australian High Commission’s gift to Singapore for its 50th anniversary (along with 49 other murals by Australian street artists). www.awasingapore.org

NOTE: Yew Chong has two exhibits to check out in March. The first runs until March 14 at Art Porters Gallery. The second (Stories from Yesteryear) runs until March 31 at Sofitel Singapore City Centre.

Isabelle and Jennifer share a love of art, good coffee and exploring Singapore. Both came here in 2019 and are always on the lookout for the next great statue or mural that is just around the corner.

-- 25 -

Spring Cleaning in Singapore

Where to donate all your old stuff

Written by Helena A. Cochrane

Chinese New Year and Clean-up As I write this, Chinese New Year fervor is building here in Singapore, and this year, the period between January first and the Lunar New Year is a hefty six weeks. After carving all our resolutions for 2021 in stone, we have a long stretch to commit to making the world a better place and making room for the prosperity, health and longevity that the Year of the Ox can bring us.

In 2021 in particular, since we spent so much of the last ten months indoors, and many of us have dim hopes of traveling anywhere any time soon, we can turn inward and make our homes the bright clean havens that they need to be now more than ever.

We have clothing, furniture, books and electronics that don’t serve us any longer, and we want them out of the house.

But perhaps they can help someone else. We would not have to look far to find people in need of the things that we’ve stopped wanting. And even more, we can form part of the closed recycling loop by donating goods instead of tossing them.

In Singapore, many organizations, and some businesses, accept donations of items in good condition. Do note though, that the items you donate must be clean, free of mold, and properly bagged or boxed in order for you to be able to donate.

According to the HoneyKids Web platform, it’s important to think before you donate: Donate meaningfully. Learn the mission of an organization, and tailor your donations to it.

Donate appropriately. Before you give your things away, consider whether you would purchase them at a second-hand store. The donation center may have to throw away items that are torn, stained or unrepairable. The cost of disposing masses of unusable donated goods is a serious financial burden for these centers.

-- 26 --

Donate efficiently. Help make the volunteers’ jobs easier by taking a few extra minutes to organize and pack things in groups that go together.

The following is a quick reference to help get your organizing under way.

Greensquare Co. provides a free textile collection service.

Consult their Website www. greensquare. com.sg to make arrangements.

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

H & M Group Sustainability Effort accepts donations of clean, unwanted clothing of any brand at any H & M store in Singapore. They partner with I:CO to process items that are wearable, and to create new textiles from those that are not. www.hmgroup.com

NEA E-Waste Management explains “Most electronic or electrical items, including PCs, laptops, mobile phones, electric desk fans, radios, kettles, electric irons, etc.” can be disposed of at several sites listed on the NEA Website.

Uniqlo stores in Singapore accept donations of clean, used Uniqlo clothing to be processed or repurposed. www.uniqlo.com/en/re-uniqlo

Salvation Army is a robust organization here in Singapore. You may drop off clothing, furniture, electronics, and books, at their Donate-in-Kind centers located around the island, or arrange for a pickup. www.salvationarmy.org

Junk To Clear is a company that takes your goods off your hands for a fee, in case you need a hand to dispatch quickly with the contents of your home.

6749 2306 junktoclear.com.sg

Dignity Mama Stall operates from four hospitals in Singapore. They have been overwhelmed since

COVID-19 hit, with donations of books, though they expect to resume collection of books in March of 2021. dignitymama.sg | 8189 7678 Be sure to follow up with your chosen foundation or company, to make sure they are able to accept your donation. Ministry of Health Singapore Phase 3 reopening guidelines may be updated to reflect a dynamic situation.

Since moving from Philadelphia in 2018, Helena has been active with AWA's Walking with Women, Writers' Group and International Choir as well as with Urban Sketchers of Singapore.

www.awasingapore.org

-- 27 --

You're Not Alone... Really

coping wtih the ups and downs of being an expat Written by Andrea McKenna Brankin

Designing My Life One Tile/ Note at a Time Fashion is the theme of this month’s magazine, in which we look back at some of the designs used in AWA Fashion Show in years past. But what about designing your life? Can you make your life as happy as your shopping trips?

Here’s an apropos motivational quote from American entrepreneur Jim Rohn: “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” I like this because it feeds my desire to “buy the dress,” so as not to postpone my happiness. But beyond clothes, I think we all can take steps to create happiness in our life “by design.” And why wait?

This year, I decided that I needed to design a few new things for my life. (Maybe these sound like resolutions, but when we say “design,” it a clear effort to make a plan to create something new.)

I’m turning 50 in April, so I decided that I needed to do some brain development/anti-aging stuff. Enter Mahjong and piano instruction. I’m really enjoying my first few weeks of these lessons! I won a few hands of Mahjong and I can now play the chords to “Drops of Jupiter” by Train on my daughter’s electric piano.

As far as long-term goals go, I won’t be showing off in any “Crazy Rich Asians” movie scenes, but I’m hoping to put my Mahjong set to use and maybe restring an old Mahjong tile bracelet I found at Urban Outfitters in 1997. (Because, design.) Similarly, on the keyboard, I won’t be tearing it up like Elton John. I’m just hoping to bang out some singalong songs as a party trick. (Also not planning to wear Elton’s famed crazy designer costumes, though that’s been known to happen...)

One way you can start to design your life is to sit down and think about what you truly want. Sounds so cliché! Mea culpa. But try this: Ask yourself what you truly want and write down the FIRST things that come to mind. Maybe it’s to lose weight, make more money, or keep in touch with family and friends more. Well, there are your answers. Get the nutritionist, personal trainer or exercise classes in order. Start working smarter by taking marketing classes to boost your reach and income. If you don’t work, start an online trading account and learn how to use it. To keep in touch with friends and family whom we know we can’t visit due to COVID-19, get a Zoom account and set a schedule of calls.

There are infinite possibilities for how you can design your life, but as I always say, you do have to put in the work. You have to decide what’s worth the effort. With Mahjong and piano, I have to study hands and read music, as well as practice and play. But it’s worth it because it makes me happy. I’ve got my designer life in place right now. And so far, it looks great on me!

Andrea runs the AWA Listen Ladies Group, providing confidential support for members at regular meetings. listenladies@awasingapore.org -- 28 --

AWA Magazine - Mar/Apr 2021

A WA Group Activities BE in the know

Social & Special Interest Groups

After Ni Hao – Mandarin conversation every Thursday at 10am. Hyesung Laffey & Manju Banka, afternihao@awasingapore.org Adventurers – Axe throwing, archery and other unusual activities. We're in need of a chair. Please contact vicepresident@awasingapore.org Arts & Culture – Monthly talks focusing on Asian arts & culture.

Rosalie Kwok artsandculture@awasingapore.org Bar Night – Ladies’ nights, couples’ nights each month.

Kristin Bemowski, barnight@awasingapore.org Beauty & Fashion – From fashion talks to workshops, there’s no age limit to brilliant beauty & unlimited style.

Florence Sorgini, beautyfashion@awasingapore.org Book Groups – Morning, afternoon & evening books groups, held monthly. Neha Yadav, bookgroups@awasingapore.org Bunco – Play this simple dice game once a month in the evening at Boomerang Bar, Robertson Quay. Suspended due to COVID. Anne Roberts, bunco@awasingapore.org Cancer Support Group – Meets the third week of the month, with a focus on mutual support and information sharing.

Rosa Liu, cancersupport@awasingapore.org Christian Connection – Provides information and resources to help you connect with local Christian community groups.

Barbara Winkler, christianconnect@awasingapore.org Coffee & Friends – Meets at various cafes around town. Join us on Fridays from 10:30 am -12:30 pm. Sign up required.

Peggy Kershaw, coffee@awasingapore.org Couples’ Bridge – Meets monthly on a Saturday evening.

Spouses are welcome. Currently suspended. Amy Starling, couplesbridge@awasingapore.org Creative Hands – Bring your handiwork project to work on and share with other creative women every 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursday. Charisse Litteken, crafters@awasingapore.org Cultural Cooking – Ready to learn your way around the international kitchen? Monthly cooking classes are for you!

Donna Bose & Sarah Beutelschies, cooking@awasingapore.org DISH – Monthly lunches at a variety of interesting venues.

Caitlin McNeal & Kate Mitchell, dish@awasingapore.org Duplicate Bridge (at home) – American Standard five-card major rules every Monday. You don’t need a partner to join.

Amy Starling and Sock-Yan Sim, duplicatebridge@awasingapore.org High Tea – Enjoy monthly teas at Singapore’s top hotels and interesting venues. Debra Minnock, hightea@awasingapore.org International Choir – Rehearses every Wednesday. Zoom performances periodically. Helena Antolin Cochrane, intlchoir@awasingapore.org Java Junkies – Join the search for the perfect cup of java on 2nd and 4th Thursdays 2pm. Liza Rowan, javajunkies@awasingapore.org Listen Ladies – A compassionate group of ladies who support one another. Andrea McKenna Brankin, listenladies@awasingapore.org Local Tours –Professionally guided tours of Singapore.

Terry Young & Cathy Barshop localtours@awasingapore.org Mahjong - International style in a low stress friendly atmosphere. Monday and Thursday afternoons at AWA Office Function Room. mahjong@awasingapore.org

www.awasingapore.org

Movie Lunch – Monthly lunch followed by a movie in Orchard Road area. Michelle Reeb, movielunch@awasingapore.org New & Expecting Mamas – Currently enjoying coffee meetups. Kristin Bemowski, social@awasingapore.org No Exit Strategy – For women who have lived in Singapore eight years or more. Caitlin Fry and Paige Okun, noexit@awasingapore.org Photography – Meets once a month to have fun practicing and improving our photography. All levels are welcome.

Carol Hamcke-Onstwedder and Londa Matthieu, photography@awasingapore.org Playgroup – For moms with kids under age three. Meets every Friday morning at a member's home plus a monthly "Moms Night Out". Ashley Hamlin and Morgan Steinman, playgroups@awasingapore.org Trivia Night – Trivia Night is a fun way to make new friends while testing your trivia knowledge! Meets monthly on a Monday night. Karla Popper, trivia@awasingapore.org Workshops – Expand your mind and learn something new about yourself, about Singapore or about the world.

Leezibet Heinzraiden, workshops@awasingapore.org Writers’ Group – Beginner and published writers discuss their work the 2nd & 4th Thursday of every month. Mandakini Arora & Elissa Viornery, writers@awasingapore.org

Sports

Golf – The 18-hole group plays on Wednesday. 9-hole golf on hold indefinitelty. Lily Giddens & Peng Pavie, 18holegolf@awasingapore.org Health and Fitness – A variety of health and fitness activities & informative seminars to help everyone stay fit.

Stacey Raza, fitness@awasingapore.org Hiking – Meets at MacRitchie Reservoir every 1st & 3rd Thursday morning. Marlene Han & Leanne Porter, hiking@awasingapore.org Running – Group runs for all levels on Tuesday & Thursday mornings at locations around Singapore. Suzanne Murphy and Eleanor Doyle, running@awasingapore.org Tennis – A variety of singles and doubles play including tournaments, and team tennis for players of all levels. Paige Okun & Rebecca Meuer, tennischair@awasingapore.org Walking – Walk all over this amazing island. Mondays are 10K, Wednesdays are 5K. Andrea McKenna Brankin & Mercedes Bainbridge, walking@awasingapore.org

Community Service

Community Service – Connecting AWA members to volunteer opportunities with AWA’s featured organizations and more. Ashley Fagan, commservice@awasingapore.org Ronald McDonald House Charities – Support the families of children at Singapore’s National University Hospital. On hold due to COVID. Qian Marquard, rmhc@awasingapore.org Food From The Heart – Help pack and/or distribute food bags to families in Singapore who cannot afford to feed themselves. Janet Stride, ffth@awasingapore.org Willing Hearts – Monthly shifts to prepare food for the less fortunate. Spring Sun, willinghearts@awasingapore.org kidsREAD – Help local children develop a love of reading.

Currently suspended due to COVID. Rekha Kumar, kidsread@awa.singapore.org

-- 29--