Love it! It is those small activities that can define one’s experience in a foreign place, and they are usually hard to identify! You did a great job doing so!
You made me do a nostalgic trip to the *kopitiams* I loved to stop by every time I would go to Singapore for work! Glad you found your way through the perfect cup of coffee, and perfect mix of languages!
You made this coffee sound so appealing, and I don't even drink coffee (it may have been the mention of roasting the beans in butter that got me, I'll be honest, I can't resist butter!) Well done on being brave enough to ask, I think I would have had the same anxiety!
Wonderful as always. Amanda's essays lift me up out of the overwhelm of the day. She helps me imagine I go wherever she goes. Looking forward to the next essay.
Loved this! I also try to ‘master’ a language before visiting… Japan recently was a particular low for me where I couldn’t even get the place names straight. Thanks Amanda for making me feel better about it!
LOL, Tessa! Thanks so much for reading! We "language optimists" are a special lot. Never give up! (Japanese is supposed to be the hardest language to learn, by the way.)
This was such a fun read, Amanda. I drooled on my iPad when I got to coffee beans roasted in butter and sugar. My immediate thought was, why isn’t this standard operating procedure everywhere???
Thanks for sharing! I love coffee experiences. I used to own a coffee shop.💕
So glad you enjoyed it, Andrea! Thank you for reading!
1. Would love to hear about the insights you gained from living in another culture/country.
2. What were the hardest adjustments you had to make after being immersed in the American culture / country again.
Love it! It is those small activities that can define one’s experience in a foreign place, and they are usually hard to identify! You did a great job doing so!
Thank you, Kirsten! Miss you!
You made me do a nostalgic trip to the *kopitiams* I loved to stop by every time I would go to Singapore for work! Glad you found your way through the perfect cup of coffee, and perfect mix of languages!
Thank you! And I'm glad you enjoyed it! Did you have a "go-to" kopi order?
You made this coffee sound so appealing, and I don't even drink coffee (it may have been the mention of roasting the beans in butter that got me, I'll be honest, I can't resist butter!) Well done on being brave enough to ask, I think I would have had the same anxiety!
Everything's better with butter, Charlotte! And I'll let you in on a secret...much of the ordering applies to tea also. Not the butter, though.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and "like" and comment -- it really means a lot to me!
You never forget that first time. And probably not the second! Thank you fir taking the time to read and comment, Dina! I appreciate it!
Ever wondered how the way coffee is made and consumed either affects or is affected by societal behavior?
Spoiler alert: It's more influential than your morning horoscope.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-147344389
Interesting piece. Thank you for sharing!
Love it Amanda! Right on the button of how complicated it is to get one's coffee order right in Singapore :)
Enjoying your work, thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to read, Joy! I appreciate it!
Terrific essay! Brought back wonderful memories of Singapore.
Thanks so much, Oanh!
So relatable! I was so proud of myself when I learned to order Kopi peng gau siew dai. 😂
I'm proud of you too, Lauren! It's a real accomplishment! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment!
A complicated cup of coffee that you handled with such aplomb.
I did my best, Dana! It was easier the second time! Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
Wonderful as always. Amanda's essays lift me up out of the overwhelm of the day. She helps me imagine I go wherever she goes. Looking forward to the next essay.
Thank you, Edna! You're so kind!
This was such a delightful read and made me long for Singapore coffee again! You ordered much more efficiently than I ever did.
On a side note, I hope you encountered this wonderful coffee mural while you were out there. So stunning! https://yipyc.com/blog/2016/11/11/coffee-story-mural-art/
I definitely did, Joey! Almost included it in the piece as an illustration....Isn't it great?
Loved this! I also try to ‘master’ a language before visiting… Japan recently was a particular low for me where I couldn’t even get the place names straight. Thanks Amanda for making me feel better about it!
LOL, Tessa! Thanks so much for reading! We "language optimists" are a special lot. Never give up! (Japanese is supposed to be the hardest language to learn, by the way.)
This was such a fun read, Amanda. I drooled on my iPad when I got to coffee beans roasted in butter and sugar. My immediate thought was, why isn’t this standard operating procedure everywhere???
LOL Chris, I'm so sorry (or so happy?) about the iPad. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I always appreciate it!