My column in this month’s issue of Her World is out!
Ladies, Do the Cheque Dance! Should men pay on the first date? Should women offer to pay their share? LAREMY LEE offers a suggestion to this age-old conundrum.
I started dating again after ending a long-term relationship last year. After five months out of the game, I quickly found I had to relearn many of its rules. The first – who pays on the first date?
On hindsight, I should’ve asked around first. Unfortunately, I’m prone to adopting a ‘just do, don’t think so much’ mentality, which often leaves me in situations where I have to learn from experience.
First Date #01: Dinner with M.
The conversation flowed smoothly; M and I had quite a bit in common in terms of career decisions and personal interests.
Going well, I thought. Definitely want to see her again.
When the bill arrived, I was all set to pay. But M threw a spanner in the works, saying, “Hey, I don’t have cash – let me pay by card.”
Before my brain could process what was happening, my mouth blurted out, “Er, OK?” M gave me a squinty, sideways glance and primly placed her piece of plastic in the bill folder.
Five seconds later, it hit me like a Ferrari running a red light at Rochor Road: Oh my gosh! I wasn’t supposed to let her pay!
To read the rest of the article, get a copy of the May 2013 issue of Her World from newsstands today!
So I left on a jet plane to Korea on Sun night/Mon morning.
This trip has been in the works for the last three months, so I’ve spent that time prepping for it – buying clothes, handling administrative matters, having a Laremy Lee Farewell Tour, etc.
Which was all fun but super tiring, considering the other two big things I had to juggle consecutively/concurrently: relief teaching and an In-Camp Training.
Spending my 30th birthday the same way I spent my 19th: bearing arms while bedecked in green; serving the nation at the rifle range.
I also spent the last three months informing people that I was making this trip, usually in response to having to politely decline meet-ups, wedding invitations, work, etc.
Most times, I managed to stun the people I was talking to into silence by telling them that I was going to Korea for plastic surgery.
I got the plastic surgery idea from my friend Yanhe, who – unbeknownst to me and his fiancee – told his fiancee I was going to Korea for an operation to improve my face.
When the three of us met for dinner, I spent a large part of the conversation trying to figure out why Yanhe’s fiancee was trying to avoid talking about Korea – until Yanhe revealed to us his deviousness.
Does not trust him… anymore.
Anyway, I’m finally in Korea.
So far I’ve been updating friends/family about how life is like, recovering from jet lag (and possible Laremy Lee Farewell Tour fatigue) and settling into the routine of breakfast before 10am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 6pm.
Bee Bee is one of the many who has either encouraged me to bring home a Korean girlfriend (why, Singaporean girls not good enough, is it?) or shag as many Korean girls as possible (why, Singaporean girls not – OK, let’s not go there).
You can see where Singaporeans have their priorities – between making love and making art, they choose making love. Very pragmatic.
Although a friend did point out to me that making love to some people is akin to making art.
For the record, in any case:
Bee Bee falls into the former category i.e. she wants me to bring home a Korean girlfriend;
Some pictures of how Toji Cultural Centre looks like:
The courtyard outside the dining hall.Inside the Cultural Centre.The other housing block of residences, where the Korean writers are housed.The block which I’m housed in, along with some of the other “foreign” writers.View of the Centre from my block.A writing bench outside my room (look at the mountains in the background).The door to my room (No. 505)My somewhat spartan cupboard.The attached bathroom.I have a mini-bar fridge as well (nothing in it yet, though).My bed and my writing table.
Playwriting to Directing
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2013
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Venue: Imagination Room, Level 5, National Library, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064
Join Chong Tze Chien and Zizi Azah, who have both served as playwright and director in their turn, as they discuss the nuts and bolts of the details involved in the production of a play. How much of a say do actors get? How strong is the influence of lighting and sound direction? Where does the playwright’s voice end and where does the director’s vision begin? These burning questions and more will be answered during this session.
