Anaheim, May 5, 2011
That day in Anaheim, I learned something important about the USA: EVERYTHING there is big. Yes, everything.
All this while, I never really understood the degree of US’s adoration for all things plus-size. I know their burgers are bigger than what we have in Singapore, but hey, they are the burger experts, so who are we to say that our burgers are more reasonably sized, right? I also know that they have snacks and milks in bigger bags and cartons; no big deal. Maybe American families are generally bigger (in terms of the numbers of family members) than Singapore families. The same goes for clothing size. While I have to wear M, or maybe L, for Singapore brands, I could easily squeeze myself into Banana Republic’s S or even XS. No complaints; it’s instant flattery. But came dinner time, my perspective was about to change.
Cisca and I went to a sushi bar. It was a nice little place, very Japanese in its looks and name. We sat down facing the conveyor belt. I saw a plate of sushi passed by… Something was odd. I pondered a little, and finally I knew what it was. Those are the BIGGEST pieces of sushi I’ve ever seen in my life! Isn’t it fascinating? Everything in the US is made big, even for things that are “imported” from other places. I also found myself asking why. Why? Why this when obesity is a major health issue there?
After dinner, we went to a big *sigh* mall because I need to buy some things which I might want to bring to Mexico. The most pressing one: undergarment. No, no… Not that I didn’t bring enough for my trip. But because it’s damn hard to find good bras in Singapore. Let me define what I mean by “good”. Beside proper support and comfort, what constitutes a good bra to me is something that can give an honest portrayal of how big those things under it are. In other words, I HATE PUSH UP BRAS, hahaha! I think it’s one of the biggest scams people ever invented. (I may write another entry altogether to explain this 
) And believe me, it’s really not easy to find non-push up bras in Singapore. Those that suit my needs, at least. Most of my best bras are actually from Victoria’s Secret, a brand that is hard to find here. Even if I’m not too lazy to find a store, the prices are outrageously marked up. So… whenever I have a chance to be in the US, I try to purchase as many as I need.
When we came back from bra (plus plus plus) shopping, it was already late. After repacking and more girl talk, there were only a couple of hours before the shuttle bus I booked to send me to LAX was supposed to arrive. It was scheduled to pick me up at 2:45 AM for my 7:20 AM flight.
It was 1:30 AM and Cisca decided to sleep. I, on the other hand, decided to write instead. There were some issues I really wanted to post in my blog, and time was crucial. Well, of course, it’s about Singapore General Election (held on May 7). But alas, just when I began to type a few sentences, Cisca’s phone rang. It was the shuttle bus driver. He said he’s already nearby and asked me to get ready. I tried to explain to him that I was supposed to be picked up at 2:45, not 1:45 or 2:00. But he uttered some useless explanation, and it seemed that I had no choice but to oblige to his indecent schedule. Fortunately, Cisca was kind enough to wake up from her short-lived slumber to walk me to the meeting point.
The bus journey was kinda uneventful, but I managed to learn another important lesson: I learned that flashlight is important. Especially for someone as clumsy as me. It was certainly useful when I dropped my passport on the dark bus floor. (D’uh!)
I reached LAX before 4:00 AM. The airport was empty. The only people awake were a Spanish speaking family who occupied a corner. I was so tired and they didn’t look friendly, so I gave up the idea of talking to them. I tried to explore the terminal before eventually deciding to find an empty bench instead.
After that was settled, the problem was finding things to do. I didn’t want to sleep for I was afraid to be late. Besides, I was so determined to publish that article about Singapore General Election. Thank God for wireless technology, T-Mobile has Internet Day Pass that I could purchase for $7.99. It was only for 3 hours but who cares. It was money well spent. I could finish my post in time, chatted with my loved one, and shared some pictures.
………
7:20 AM. Aeromexico Flight #18 to Mexico City took off.
I totally agree with you on the lack of good (support) bra in SG. This has been one of my headaches for years… I’ve been buying bras from Marks & Spencers all this while. No other brands can fit my requirements. Perhaps I should try Victoria Secret now.
And yes, I HATE push-up bras!!!