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Making Yourself Feel Better: A Tutorial

Friday, December 07, 2007



If ever you should find yourself about to move approximately 10,000 miles away – a unique situation that will undoubtedly involve a lot of tears, cursing, sitting on overstuffed suitcases trying to get them to close and a frantic attempt to drink that last bottle of Veuve in the fridge before the airport car arrives at 4am – take heart: it will get better. You'll cry a bit as you turn off the lights to your empty apartment, and as you speed past the rows of palm trees en route to the airport, and when you step onto the plane. You'll still feel a little sad when the plane touches down in your new home, but the first snowfall of the year will help perk things up a bit. And then you'll sleeeeep for a long time. And then you'll wake up and start taking advantage of America. And that is where things get much, much better.

May I recommend the following?

--A lengthy visit to Barnes & Noble, to visit all the pretty magazines that cost like a third of what they charge for them in Asia. Plus, they have all the obscure ones, like New York Look and Adorn, along with the very very latest US Weekly.

--Copious amounts of MTV. Even without Denise Keller, American MTV is way better than MTV Asia.

--Anthropologie!

--Layering. So much layering. Jeans tucked in boots, chunky sweaters over thin sweaters, huge knitted scarves, elbow-length gloves, lots of belting to reign it all in. Plus: Coats!

{An aside: Did you know that rubber bands (or in our case, Goody elastic hairbands, wrapped around twice) around your ankles will help keep those jeans nicely pulled down and tucked into your boots? Thank you, Google! Now if only the internet could help me with solving severe winter hat head.}

--The aforementioned Sephora. A new bottle of Benetint – so much cheaper than in Singapore – will help take the red from your eyes and put it back in your cheeks.

--Urban Outfitters, where you will get the cutest cap ever for $5.

--CVS, with more shampoo than you can ever imagine.

--Anthropologie!

--The cheese section of Whole Foods. Ommmm… cheese...

--Sticking your face into a big pine tree at the local Christmas tree outlet, a smell even better than coconuts.

--A visit to the Corcoran Gallery, where they are holding an Ansel Adams retrospective and an Annie Leibovitz retrospective and a holiday shopping bazaar of homemade artsy things. It was pure museum heaven, I tell you. (The Leibovitz portrait of Leo at his best/cutest, above, reminds us of a time in our life where we saw Titanic in the movie theatre five times including once in Paris, dubbed in French. We suspect this is why we've scored horribly against everyone else in the Facebook movie compatibility test.)

--Diner food. 'Nuff said.

Next stop: The thrift store. And Target. It is time to start bringing the fash back around here.

10 comments :

The Tilted Tulip said...

My husband and I just moved back to the USA after living in Hong Kong for awhile and have gone/are still going through many of the things you just described. I have a totally new appreciation for all things American after my time abroad. Thrift stores and Target are a major BONUS--I didn't know it was possible to miss them that much.

You've left a piece of your heart in Singapore and there's nothing you can ever do to get it back (not that you would want to)! Isn't Asia amazing?!

Sorry I'm rambling. I love your blog and I'll still read it even though you're state-side now. Good luck with the transition!

Sam I Am said...

I've just move back home after a year of exchange in the USA and I am seriously missing everything that you have listed there. Especially Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Whole Food, and thrifts stores!

Good luck settling back in and have fun reacquainting with all those places again.

Cheers

Anonymous said...

I'm terribly excited that you're back states-side! Please do post on all the wondrous finds you dig up there, I'm so looking forward to your take on things! And east coast winters, as frigid as they are, do have their charms - and allow for much layering which is always a plus. All the best with settling back in!

Gala Darling said...

It's amazing that you've moved! I'm guessing the reasons why are a bit hush-hush, since you haven't mentioned it, but I hope it's for a fabulous new career opportunity! I love love love how the internet keeps us all connected -- I can still read your blog from anywhere, & you can write from anywhere you please. How great is that?! Anyway, congratulations. I hope the States treat you well, darling. xxx

Unknown said...

This will happen to me in approximately 6 months. I'm afraid. But reading your list has made me slightly less afraid of missing dim sum, the fabric market, my tailor, food, other food, more food, and my friends. I won't miss fishnets as pants, hocking and spitting, and the fact that my insurance does not cover me in case of war or civil unrest.

I hope you make the adjustment well. It's so hard!

catherine said...

welcome to DC! have loved your blog for a long time, so i'm glad it seems you're in our city.

zoe said...

Very nicely said. I'll be making the move in about a year, and unfortunately wish it were sooner, but am sure will feel differently when it's time to go back to the states. It's very inspiring to read how much you experienced while you were in Singapore. You're going to have a new exciting adventure in DC! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back to the US. Philadelphia loves you!...or at least I do!

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