Before I left Singapore some four months ago, I remember telling my Mom that students who embark on overseas studies often return changed. Whether it be their perspectives, their goals or the way they do things, there’s bound to be a difference upon returning. Whether these changes turn out for the better or worse is really for the student to decide for him or herself.
I haven’t yet decided if the changes I experienced in myself – in terms of my perspectives, goals or actions – are necessarily better or worse than before, but one thing is for sure: I can now see my future clearer than before. I find that I understand myself much better now, and I know where this is heading. Of course I do not want to set limits or conclusions for my future, but I feel like I am more certain of situations once I get into them, or I am better able to eliminate the unwanted or unnecessary from my life.
I guess this is what growing up is all about. Knowing that you aren’t young anymore, and though your parents will always welcome you into the shelter of their wings, without trying it on your own, you’ll never leave the comfort zone and experience the success that awaits you in the unknown. Failure may not be a step forward, but overcoming a past failure presents a bigger step forward than if you were to take an easy way out.
The future seems clearer now than before.
On my way to Central Park for the Singapore Day event, I walked along Fifth Ave, which is home to the biggest fashion brands in the world. (think Orchard Paragon, almost the same stores and many others, but twice as big). I didn’t go to Oxford Street when I was in London, but Fifth Ave is more impressive than Champs Elysées (to me, at least). New York City is made up of five boroughs – Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. I’ve only been to Manhattan, and Brooklyn on the subway, but I can tell you Manhattan is the most diverse place you can ever be in. All kinds of people, from the very richest to the homeless, different languages at every street corner. “New York is truly amazing” – there’s no other way I can describe being here.
Approaching the Wollman Rink where the event was held, a live band’s music was ringing through the Park and it was the first time in a long time that I saw many fellow Singaporeans at a single place, queuing up to get into the area. It was a mix of emotions I guess – amusing to be hearing Singlish in Central Park thousands of miles away from home. The moment I walked through the registration area, I was handed a goodie bag and a few steps later, I looked up and right in front of me was Joshua – an ex-Central Band NSF whom I had met when I was still in the army. He was a percussionist and had moved on to playing the guitar professionally. It was quite a surprise meeting him there, once again because you never know who you might run into thousands of miles from home. Last time I met him was late last year at Little Shop of Horrors at Victoria Theatre (he was playing in the band). Small world indeed. I also met a senior from NJC Band who plays the trumpet. She didn’t remember me until I reminded her I was the oboist, Wanru’s junior – which is a good thing because I forgot her name.
I found Rishi queuing up at the sambal seafood queue, where the cook was whipping up barbecued sambal stingray, sotong and prawns. To my surprise, Jane was there queuing with him and I had no idea she was going to be there! By the way, Jane is also from NTU and is an exchange student at the University of Maryland. We were in the same group for the orientation camp, so it was a very nice surprise indeed. We queued for the sambal seafood for two whole hours before we actually got any food.
The uncle hard at work cooking fried hokkien mee. We also queued up for chicken rice, but before we reached the front, they ran out of chicken, so we had to settle for rice and dark soy sauce. Well, four months without hawker food – we would have been satisfied with chicken rice without the chicken. While queuing up for the various food, it was so interesting to observe other Singaporeans gathered here in NY to remember local food and meet up with fellow countrymen. Some people I observed can be categorized and they are definitely worth remembering: American-born/raised people with Singaporean roots/parentage; Singaporean people with Caucasian boyfriends/girlfriends, Singaporeans studying or working abroad. Each specimen had traits that amused me so much. But one thing connected them – they were all trying in their own ways to find the Singaporean in them (to varying degrees of success, but who am I to judge anyway.)
Of course they rolled out their most prized possession – Kit Chan. She looked ridiculous in her green suit. But then again, after watching Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress last year, I am still very much impressed by her so she has earned my respect. Definitely Singapore’s best export in the entertainment industry.
I decided to grab my camera and snap photos because I knew this was the last of the snow I would see in Ithaca and spring or summer (whichever you prefer it to be) was coming and here to stay. It is beyond description to be waking up in the morning to see everywhere bathed in pure whiteness. Overnight snow does tend to totally transform the landscape. Wait for a while to see my photos of Ithaca in spring and you will understand how different the same places can look in different seasons.
