It's interesting that right after my whiny blog about the growing population in my homeland, is a posting about me leaving Singapore. No, it isn't planned that way - just in case you are wondering......
Hubby has left Singapore weeks ago. Credit and glory to God, he has found a job at Dubai, UAE. In a sense, it is a wish fulfilled for him, since he has always wanted to experience life outside of Singapore.
For me, it was not as straightfoward... though I am also curious to experience living outside of Singapore for a season. Why am I not as dying to go like hubby? Well, reason being I have to give up enjoying something that I have taken 6 years to prepare......
It has been slightly over a year, since I started doing direct work, in terms of working with people in society who needs help. By God's grace, I was given the 'best deal' after 1 year of service. I was blessed! Am still blessed! ;) Have actually decided to tender my resignation. I was not expecting that I could get unpaid leave since I was just recently converted to permanent staff status. However, all the seniors I have spoken with encouraged me to try. Try, I did. And successful indeed! Such don't you count as blessings? There may be naysayers at work but who cares, right? I am just happy to be given the privilege to do the kind of work for the past year, which not many can come into this position to do. And of course reap the harvest of having clients who remembered and took time to call me to say thanks. How heartening... And how can I forget to also appreciate the people and colleagues who have showered me with care, concern, support and love all this while! You know who you are! ;)
Now, I am just looking forward to another week of work, before I start to clear my leave. After that, my no-paid leave will commence. That's when the move begins...... I hope to catch up with some friends before flying off in May.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
4 million to 6 million
Met some old friends today and 1 of them commented that i have not been updating my blog... Yea, it's been a while... Blame it on typical too-busy-life of a Singaporean... alright, maybe I'm finding excuses. Anyway, there was an entry i wanted to write abt mths ago...
You might be wondering abt the title... Nay, it's not $, in case any typical Singaproean out there thought so... ;) It's the projected population growth for Singapore that I was writing abt.
I recalled our MM LKY had commented that 6 million may be quite a huge population to count for tiny Singapore ('tiny' being my word). I agreed that 6 million is definitely not for comfort. Already, I am feeling that Singapore is getting pretty (or rather, "unpretty-ly") crowded :(
Let me quote 1 recent incident to illustrate: I'm usually blessed to enjoy free rides from hubby who drives. On rare occasions, I take public transport. There was this Friday evening that I needed to transit at the MRT interchange, City Hall. I expected that it would be crowded as it was peak period i.e. 5.30pm to 6-nish. However, I wasn't prepared for what was to happen......
Ok, it wasn't as dramatic as you might have imagined. I guess i was pretty amazed by how crowded conditions led already kia-su Singaporeans to be more kia-su... and perhaps ugly... While waiting for the arrival of the trian, I saw this Pink-Kong standing beside me. (it's a term i have unfortunately learnt from a prejudiced male colleague, who used it to describe fat ladies). When the train door opened, boy, she was fast to dash in, notwithstanding her size and the crowd inside the train. Naturally, I quickly walked in. However, I was shocked that people (i think, men!) were pushing me forward from behind, as they tried to get into the train without being caught by the closing doors. So, you guess it... My front body was squeezed into the back of that lady - no thanks to the help of the communters from behind! At this point, i just wish to clarify that I am not against fat ladies; it's just that in space-constrained situations like this, i have some impure thoughts wishing that she would not take up too much space...
I am one who detest other bodies touching me in buses or trains, even if it's incidental. Guess I guard my space quite tightly. Nevertheless, during that agonizing journey (thankfully only 2 stops!), there were 4 or 5 other men whose shoulders were almost in contact with my back. I felt like exploding! Anyway, I tried to understand lar... Hmm... should they try to be funny, "there will be blood"! Ok, I'm exaggerating, but point is, I will be ready to make a scene should wolves-like behaviour manifest.
That's for trains ride. Am sure most pple already knew that going to the ladies at shopping malls are equally trying. That trend of long queue had been around for some time, though it seemed longer now... or was it just me? Heard of some pple who said that Singaporeans like to queue? Not me though.
*Sigh* 4 million... counting on to 6 million. I'm just thankful that I live in 1 corner of quiet Singapore for now. Peace. Precious peace and space!
You might be wondering abt the title... Nay, it's not $, in case any typical Singaproean out there thought so... ;) It's the projected population growth for Singapore that I was writing abt.
I recalled our MM LKY had commented that 6 million may be quite a huge population to count for tiny Singapore ('tiny' being my word). I agreed that 6 million is definitely not for comfort. Already, I am feeling that Singapore is getting pretty (or rather, "unpretty-ly") crowded :(
Let me quote 1 recent incident to illustrate: I'm usually blessed to enjoy free rides from hubby who drives. On rare occasions, I take public transport. There was this Friday evening that I needed to transit at the MRT interchange, City Hall. I expected that it would be crowded as it was peak period i.e. 5.30pm to 6-nish. However, I wasn't prepared for what was to happen......
Ok, it wasn't as dramatic as you might have imagined. I guess i was pretty amazed by how crowded conditions led already kia-su Singaporeans to be more kia-su... and perhaps ugly... While waiting for the arrival of the trian, I saw this Pink-Kong standing beside me. (it's a term i have unfortunately learnt from a prejudiced male colleague, who used it to describe fat ladies). When the train door opened, boy, she was fast to dash in, notwithstanding her size and the crowd inside the train. Naturally, I quickly walked in. However, I was shocked that people (i think, men!) were pushing me forward from behind, as they tried to get into the train without being caught by the closing doors. So, you guess it... My front body was squeezed into the back of that lady - no thanks to the help of the communters from behind! At this point, i just wish to clarify that I am not against fat ladies; it's just that in space-constrained situations like this, i have some impure thoughts wishing that she would not take up too much space...
I am one who detest other bodies touching me in buses or trains, even if it's incidental. Guess I guard my space quite tightly. Nevertheless, during that agonizing journey (thankfully only 2 stops!), there were 4 or 5 other men whose shoulders were almost in contact with my back. I felt like exploding! Anyway, I tried to understand lar... Hmm... should they try to be funny, "there will be blood"! Ok, I'm exaggerating, but point is, I will be ready to make a scene should wolves-like behaviour manifest.
That's for trains ride. Am sure most pple already knew that going to the ladies at shopping malls are equally trying. That trend of long queue had been around for some time, though it seemed longer now... or was it just me? Heard of some pple who said that Singaporeans like to queue? Not me though.
*Sigh* 4 million... counting on to 6 million. I'm just thankful that I live in 1 corner of quiet Singapore for now. Peace. Precious peace and space!
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