{"id":308,"date":"2011-10-11T11:47:50","date_gmt":"2011-10-11T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/?p=308"},"modified":"2012-08-07T08:32:28","modified_gmt":"2012-08-07T00:32:28","slug":"my-morning-commute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/2011\/10\/11\/my-morning-commute\/","title":{"rendered":"My Morning Commute"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For a few reasons, I thought I&#8217;d jump into the meme that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kimcofino.com\/blog\">Kim Cofino<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blog.misterhamada.com\">Clint Hamada<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kerileebeasley.com\/\">Keri-Lee Beasley<\/a> and others got into. Firstly, I haven&#8217;t blogged since WayTooLong. Secondly, I did a similar commute-in-pictures thing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/media\/set\/?set=a.153079273667.116070.517633667&amp;l=edf183e2f4&amp;type=1\">when I moved to New York two years ago<\/a>, inspired by <a href=\"http:\/\/howtolivecompassionately.com\/\">Brighde Reed<\/a>. Thirdly, I do like to compare my commutes not only with the people listed above (and others), but also with myself &#8212; compared to other places I&#8217;ve lived.<\/p>\n<p>So here is Singapore!<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll start by saying that I rarely leave my apartment at the same time from day to day.\u00a0Some mornings I am out the door at 7am, other mornings 7:15 and some (really rough) mornings, even as late as 8:00.\u00a0I&#8217;m not good with mornings, or routines, so morning routines are really tough for me! It was for this reason that I struggled to keep the same taxi driver when I lived in Vietnam &#8212; I was never consistent (ehrm, reliable). Ooops. Anyway, On this particular Monday in Singapore &#8212; just yesterday &#8212; it was<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>pouring rain<\/li>\n<li>the first day back for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ais.com.sg\">our school<\/a> after a two week term break<\/li>\n<li>the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/stories\/singaporelocalnews\/view\/1158006\/1\/.html\">first working day for the newest extension<\/a> of Singapore&#8217;s Circle MRT Line &#8212; the line I ride to school!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I always leave the house with my travel mug full o&#8217; coffee and part of my breakfast (the other part is usually in my bag, to be eaten after I finish the first part or when I get to school). I also have gotten into the habit of picking up the local <em>my paper<\/em>, which is a free morning daily here and it mysteriously appears outside my door without fail every morning! It&#8217;s been several years since I&#8217;ve had the opportunity to read an actual newspaper in English, so I think this is kinda fun.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6104\/6230039115_8b27e7c983_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As I got to the bottom of the building, I realized it was raining harder than it had been earlier and that I would need to dig this out of my bag:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6111\/6230044269_7b8b7bf3c2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Juggling my iPhone, coffee, breakfast, and now umbrella, I walk out the front gates of my building, and take a right. Directly across the street from my apartment building is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ri.edu.sg\/\">Raffles Institution<\/a> (RI), one of Singapore&#8217;s &#8220;premier&#8221; private secondary schools &#8212; many of Singapore&#8217;s presidents, prime ministers, writers, and most successful CEOs have graduated from here. It&#8217;s also Singapore&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Raffles_Institution_(Secondary)\">oldest<\/a> school, starting up in 1823. And, as you might imagine, it&#8217;s a ginormous sprawling campus that takes up several street blocks. It&#8217;s a new, modern, attractive campus and is hard to miss!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6035\/6230573798_34ed0d9c76_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s about a 7-minute walk to the Marymount MRT station, and those RI students are usually streaming out of the mouth of the station (easily identifiable here&#8211; the girls are actually students of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Raffles_Institution_(Junior_College)\">Raffles Junior College<\/a>, affiliated with RI).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6234\/6230578804_5a742c6977_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If I leave the house earlier there are normally more students, but on this particular day (did I mention it was a Monday?) I left at 7:40 which is a little late for RI and Raffles JC. Just before I enter the MRT station, I stash my coffee mug into my bag because NO food or drink are allowed on the MRT. (I&#8217;ve usually finished the first half of my breakfast by this point!)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"mug in bag - no food or drink!\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6222\/6234745798_e56924d2f6_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"589\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Down the escalator stairs, through the fancy MRT gates with my FlashPay card, and it&#8217;s never too long to wait for a train. On this particular day things were a bit chaotic on the platforms because it was the first day that the Circle Line was going in &#8220;the other&#8221; direction, so there were some confused people milling about. Those of you who are familiar with other subway systems &#8211; note the glass doors on the platform. I like that Singapore&#8217;s MRT really works hard to minimize safety hazards.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"gate, flashpay, waiting\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6100\/6234230777_0359ab4956_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"393\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Typically when I get on the train, it&#8217;s not too busy. This is one of the reasons I get on at Marymount, to be honest. My apartment is actually the same walking distance to Bishan MRT in the other direction &#8212; a station that&#8217;s only one stop away from school. However, I opt to get on at Marymount instead most days &#8212; two stations away &#8212; because the crowds are really crazy at Bishan (I mentioned I&#8217;m not good with mornings, right?). \ud83d\ude42 It&#8217;s totally worth the extra 10 cents in fare.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6222\/6230679892_74c7f8340f_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But by the time the train gets to Bishan, the next stop, the crowds pile on and pretty soon we&#8217;re all squashed in.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6110\/6230161951_a7c67f8dc0_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The next stop is Lorong Chuan and that&#8217;s where I get out. Out the station and up the escalator this time&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6048\/6230170819_7a7f1d7887_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<p>From here is my biggest &#8220;hike&#8221; &#8212; a 10 minute walk from the station to school. It&#8217;s an easy walk along a semi-busy road &#8212; not too bad at all. And I pull my coffee out of my bag, too! If I&#8217;m lucky I run into my colleagues on the way and so we chat and catch up. Today I didn&#8217;t see anyone I knew, though. Adjacent to the station is this big building: the New Tech Park. Most of the young working professionals who get off the train with me end up walking towards here.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"untitled\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6222\/6230692356_aa13d792a5_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I pass several residential buildings, including one under major construction, and another school. At one point I cross over one of Singapore&#8217;s (in)famous <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pub.gov.sg\/about\/historyfuture\/Pages\/Drainage.aspx\">canals<\/a>: (keep in mind it&#8217;s still pouring rain!)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"image\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6041\/6230697374_5113887d4d_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At the corner I wait with a pile of our students and parents for the light to turn so we can cross the road.\u00a0Normally the bus bay Gate isn&#8217;t open for us to enter &#8212; the pedestrian gate is another 200 metres ahead &#8212; but on Monday I think the guards felt sorry for us because it was such a downpour! We ran in &#8212; I tried to take a photo but it was raining so hard and I couldn&#8217;t stay still!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"at the corner\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6039\/6234776456_45979e15d8_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Under cover, I walk towards the school block where I work. Above me is the Senior School, for Years 10-12. The glass building is where I&#8217;m headed &#8212; that&#8217;s the Middle School block!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"at school\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6231\/6234781746_8af78ab4db_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Through the doors&#8230; and up more stairs!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"through the doors, up the stairs\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6050\/6234787432_8f7f6fbdbf_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"589\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Third floor, where I round a corner and walk through the Year 8 pod area.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"third floor\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6119\/6234269345_ef1c2b5b79_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ah, here we go &#8212; the Year 8 staff work room, where I currently have a desk. Here are two of my lovely and friendly year 8 colleagues to greet me on the first day back! Hi to Andrew and Bernadette! (Sorry about the photo, Andrew!)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"A3\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6171\/6234800656_82de73a4bf_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s my desk. Wow, still POURING out there &#8212; that&#8217;s the view from my desk. I got a bit wet. But despite that, am very ready to start the day!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"desk and view\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6212\/6234808548_3f1dba2270_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hmm, so who should I tag? I think <a href=\"http:\/\/howtolivecompassionately.com\">Brighde Reed<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/edu-mashup.blogspot.com\/\">Jessica Allen<\/a>, and a new Twitterfriend, <a href=\"http:\/\/melbettyboop.blogspot.com\/\">Melanie Shurtz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>**<em>all photos are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/canadianaeh\/sets\/72157627860823208\/\">mine<\/a>, unedited! be kind!<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class='related_post_title'>Like this? You might also enjoy these:<\/h3><ul class='related_post'><li><a href=\"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/2009\/10\/07\/design-fuelled-learning\/\" title=\"Design-Fuelled Learning\">Design-Fuelled Learning<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For a few reasons, I thought I&#8217;d jump into the meme that Kim Cofino, Clint Hamada, Keri-Lee Beasley and others got into. Firstly, I haven&#8217;t blogged since WayTooLong. Secondly, I did a similar commute-in-pictures thing when I moved to New York two years ago, inspired by Brighde Reed. Thirdly, I do like to compare my <a href='https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/2011\/10\/11\/my-morning-commute\/' class='excerpt-more'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[205,201,203,207,208,206,133,204,202],"class_list":["post-308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-on-the-personal-side","tag-aiss","tag-commute","tag-mrt","tag-raffles-institution","tag-rain","tag-route","tag-school","tag-singapore","tag-transport","category-10-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-line-bottom","fix"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3serH-4Y","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=308"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":346,"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308\/revisions\/346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adriennemichetti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}