Day 6-7 Rain, Rain go Away!
Being the good Busia these two days and getting Sophia up, fed and out to her van pick up for school. Stayed in and wanted to share some of the home differences to our U.S. homes.
Kurt and Kim live on the 5th floor in a two-story apartment. The second story is called an attic but it houses two bedrooms, two baths, a balcony off the master bedroom and an open area that they use for an office. The elevator goes all the way up to the attic if needed for furniture deliveries. Everyone in the building has a key card which accesses only their floor so security is wonderful.
The main floor has two bedrooms, one bath, living/dining room, kitchen and laundry room. There is a bomb shelter and TINY bathroom in the laundry room area. Most households (not Kim) have a "Helper" and this bomb shelter is the Helper's room with a private bath. Kim uses it as a pantry and storage area. Her friends are amazed that she doesn't have a Helper because they don't know what they would do without theirs!
Helpers are an expense and you use an agency to get your Helper with their pay going to the agency and not directly to the person. Besides their pay and all living expenses, you are responsible for them in every way (like a child) so, if they get into trouble, you do too! It's a big responsibility!
Out my bedroom window there is subsidized housing. They have no air conditioning or clothes dryers so having an awning and extendable clothes lines are a must.
For access to the floors without a key card, you press the unit number and this phone lets you see the person and talk to them before pressing the button to give them lift (elevator) access up to your level.
Switches with and without the rotating dimmers.
Plan your showers because you need to turn on the water heater 10 minutes before showering. These are generally left off because they are small units and could overheat the system and cause an explosion. Be sure to turn it off afterwards.
Each room has its own air conditioning unit and remote for operation.
There's a whole wall of sliding door windows onto the balcony/porch.
The water heater switches for the sink and dishwasher.
Three-prong outlets with on/off switches for the outlet.
Bomb shelter. This 6' x 7' room is the bedroom for a Helper but Kim uses it for storage and as a pantry. Since 1996, Singapore's building code has required that all new apartment buildings are constructed with a personal bomb shelter. With their reinforced walls and blast-proof doors, these shelters are designed to shield occupants from shock waves and shrapnel, just in case the city ever gets bombed.
Bomb shelter notice on the door.
The tiny bathroom next to the bomb shelter is an all-in-one shower, toilet and sink with folding doors.
The chute next to the bomb shelter is for trash. Recycling materials must be carried downstairs and deposited into blue dumpsters hidden behind a wall at the building's entrance.
The green sliding glass doors are used by Helpers to block the kitchen area from the living space to eliminate noise, smells and heat while in use.
Kurt and Kim live on the 5th floor in a two-story apartment. The second story is called an attic but it houses two bedrooms, two baths, a balcony off the master bedroom and an open area that they use for an office. The elevator goes all the way up to the attic if needed for furniture deliveries. Everyone in the building has a key card which accesses only their floor so security is wonderful.
The main floor has two bedrooms, one bath, living/dining room, kitchen and laundry room. There is a bomb shelter and TINY bathroom in the laundry room area. Most households (not Kim) have a "Helper" and this bomb shelter is the Helper's room with a private bath. Kim uses it as a pantry and storage area. Her friends are amazed that she doesn't have a Helper because they don't know what they would do without theirs!
Helpers are an expense and you use an agency to get your Helper with their pay going to the agency and not directly to the person. Besides their pay and all living expenses, you are responsible for them in every way (like a child) so, if they get into trouble, you do too! It's a big responsibility!
Out my bedroom window there is subsidized housing. They have no air conditioning or clothes dryers so having an awning and extendable clothes lines are a must.
For access to the floors without a key card, you press the unit number and this phone lets you see the person and talk to them before pressing the button to give them lift (elevator) access up to your level.
Switches with and without the rotating dimmers.
Plan your showers because you need to turn on the water heater 10 minutes before showering. These are generally left off because they are small units and could overheat the system and cause an explosion. Be sure to turn it off afterwards.
Each room has its own air conditioning unit and remote for operation.
There's a whole wall of sliding door windows onto the balcony/porch.
The water heater switches for the sink and dishwasher.
Three-prong outlets with on/off switches for the outlet.
Bomb shelter. This 6' x 7' room is the bedroom for a Helper but Kim uses it for storage and as a pantry. Since 1996, Singapore's building code has required that all new apartment buildings are constructed with a personal bomb shelter. With their reinforced walls and blast-proof doors, these shelters are designed to shield occupants from shock waves and shrapnel, just in case the city ever gets bombed.
Bomb shelter notice on the door.
The tiny bathroom next to the bomb shelter is an all-in-one shower, toilet and sink with folding doors.
The chute next to the bomb shelter is for trash. Recycling materials must be carried downstairs and deposited into blue dumpsters hidden behind a wall at the building's entrance.
The green sliding glass doors are used by Helpers to block the kitchen area from the living space to eliminate noise, smells and heat while in use.
 |
| Glass doors open. |
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| Glass doors closed. |
I want a Helper!!
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