Unfortunately I don't have any new pictures this week, but I would like to share some stories that have made my new life here even more exciting!

The Jewish World is a small world!!
I generally really enjoy being different from all of those around me here, as it is always a learning experience, but last week I desperately needed to experience something relatively familiar. So, I went to Maghain Aboth Synagogue, the only active synagogue in Singapore. As I traveled to the synagogue, I wondered what the Jewish population was like around here- would it be full of expats? would it be a congregation of Asian Jews? I entered the gate into the synagogue, and I was quickly directed to the Ladies section. That's when it hit me that I was jumping into an Orthodox service! I decided to check it out anyway. Inside was absolutely beautiful. I sat next to a large group of ladies (who ended up being all from the US), and by the way they chatted in whispers throughout the service, I could tell that I wasn't the only person there who was not an Orthodox Jew. I got to talking to the girl next to me, and I told her that I was a new student here from the Philadelphia area, and it turns out that her father is from the Philly area too, and knew of Lower Merion High School, and Har Zion Temple!! Their family lived in DC before coming to Singapore in 2003, and we knew a surprising amount of people in common, including the Szulanski family, whom my mom and I taught the youngest daughter violin and piano before they moved to Singapore in 2002 I believe. While we chatted during the service, I could hardly believe I was playing "Jewish Geography" thousands of miles from home with a girl that I just met! The clincher is that her name is Ashira Greene- not a far cry from my sister, Shira Greenfield!!
So I went to the Kiddush lunch afterwards and learned more about the Jewish population in Singapore. It was mainly Sephardic businessmen and their families, including the family that brought Banana Republic and GAP to Singapore, and the creator of Coffee Bean in Singapore. So a lot of important people in one room! There were some NUS students there as well, mainly very religious and from Israel and/or France. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, I felt like I had a new family in Singapore! I can't wait to go back again :).

Music Opportunities
I am playing in the orchestra for the opera Turandot, which is a very high-profile event in Singapore right now. I'm really excited to be part of it!! We have a lot of rehearsals, but we're paid so it's okay.
I am also gonna start teaching privately, so I'm really excited about that!
The level of violin playing here really is phenomenal- my teacher and her other students never cease to amaze me. It's at a much higher level than any studio I've seen before. So I'm constantly inspired to work really hard!

That's about it for now! tomorrow I am going to check out Sentosa!