I guess you can call S'pore a happening place. During my absence, a NUS lecturer was interrogated and "escaped" back to the States. The government raised the salary for the ministerial staff to match the private sector (I guess they had to justify the exorbitant price of the COEs. I am still waiting for the day that the S'pore government incorporate itself.) And there is a rumor that a new election could happen at any time... Yes, the haze has finally cleared and I am back in S'pore. After period of no SDU activities and no satay for dinner, I am beginning to miss this little island city. It is probably the only country in the world where chewing gum and bubble gum make a wonderful gift (I also brought enough for my own personal consumption for the next few months.)
Went back home to New Jersey for a visit. It's amazing how quickly I return to my old routine again. Went to Blockbuster and rented several tapes of uncensored movies (Can't get enough of those western ideas.) Stay home and channel-surfed through 50 channels of nothingness on cable TV. Enjoying the nice Autumn weather and watching the leaves fall. Homecoming wasn't exactly what I expected. It's funny to feel "normal" again. The most amazing part is that the past 9 months at S'pore felt like a dream. Other than a little emptiness inside, there is nothing really reminds me of S'pore (I guess I couldn't say the same for Fay.) Wasn't able to demonstrate to my friends what Singlish is like. Showed off a few things in my wallet - S'pore currency, Translink card and Telecom phone card. In some way, this trip is more of a reality check for me. And you know what, reality bites. It's like taking a break from vacation to get back to work (yuck!) If I had stayed in the States, I would have to take care of the house and cars. Doing chores like mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, shoveling the snow and changing engine oil. At this stage in my life, the idea of staying put in one place is really revolting.
One thing I regret was forgetting to bring the international license along with my S'pore license. I wasn't able to speed from New Jersey to Boston in record time. But I had enough clam chowder and buffalo wings to last an entire year. The best thing about the trip was to see old friends again. I didn't realize how important friends are until I left the States. Made the effort to travel 500 miles in two days to visit old buddies. Good friends are hard to come by and enermies are easily made. Hoping to go back during Xmas to spend some more time with them.
Once I have lived in S'pore, I have been looking at the states from a different perspective. As an American living in S'pore, I am no longer as arrogant and as hypocritical as I used to. I actually get to see the world from a different point of view. I feel that Americans cannot force their policy to the world. Same as Confucianism cannot be apply to the other countries in the world. It would be really nice to learn about all the other cultures in the world. Ironically, S'pore and the States are probably the only two countries in the world that CNN International is not available. Go figure.
Need to move out of my place before Xmas. The landlord has just sold the place for S$500K. I kind of like the place. It's located near Outram Park MRT station and convenient to both food and transportation. It's going to be tough to look for a new place. Anyone got a room available out there? Reality bites.
16/11/94
