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It was a very sunny but surprisingly balmy afternoon. My parents had just left for IKEA to do some last minute shopping for lanterns, my sister decided to tag along and I was at home waiting it out until it was time to set off for the reunion dinner.
Was wandering around the house figuring out to do when a notification popped up on Facebook. To my surprise, it was from my classmate in junior college. We had not been in contact since graduation/prom and she had posted a message in the class group wishing everyone well. She was one of those Chinese scholars in class, working and studying on her own at her own pace most of the time, used to keeping her feet out of class affairs but was highly active in the Chinese language co-curricular activities, especially the school's well-established Chinese drama troupe Huang-cheng.
She was one of those better looking scholars and had a rather interesting-looking eye shape I could remember. At the start I did not really like her because I felt that she was quite cold and aloof, always minding her own affairs and approaching people only when help was needed. It did not help when we were still recovering from the highs of high school orientation, still feeling upset about not being in the same class with our pals from the same OG, and then having to bond with new people again. Some might end up sticking to our familiar groups we've known from secondary school at the start of the school year for comfort's sake.
It changed when we were in the same PW group. There always comes this time in your life when you learn to put your judgements and prejudices aside and know a person better by actually interacting and speaking to the person. This was it. I soon learnt through the conversations we had that she was just like any other foreign scholar, given this rare opportunity leave their country's insane education system and study overseas, seeking to do well, succeed and thus do something their peers would never be able to do. I also saw her as a very analytical and motivated individual with her own views and opinions and I really respected her for that. I could remember her telling me off for fretting over what I should do in an upcoming interview, pointing out that the one and only important thing I have to do is to just be myself. She also pretty much respected my opinions, asking me for my takes on various things, literally various things. I can remember her asking me once to brainstorm with her a Western name that will best represent her personality (She had conditions like: cannot be too girly, preferred starting letters will be 'N', 'V' etc. which I found pretty amusing).
Oh yes, and I made it on that interview. However, that didn't matter more than the lesson I learnt from that experience, that in this crazy world, you will be okay if you stay true to yourself.
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Chinese New Year carries a lot of meaning to me, and its significance gets stronger year by year. It is the time for family and friends to come together in reunion, catch up and then make a toast to the new year with well wishes and hopes in tow. I am getting older by any rate and many of my old friends are now walking down different paths into their future. Most are in university; some are still in army, the rest having found work or doing something they've been passionate about after ORD; and many others have gone overseas, some leaving soon, myself included. This diaspora hurts me considering how we have to say goodbye to each other after all those years we have spent knowing each other, being with each other and growing up with each other. Its a bond made and one you fear will be lost or forgotten through time. CNY is thus the chance for all to, at least, get in touch and know that, despite all of us having changed somewhat in the past year, all is well.And I thought this CNY is pretty interesting. Apart from the usual family gatherings, I've got so many friends asking each other out to meet up or visit each others' houses. I'm so looking forward to everything that is going to happen! Can't wait to catch up, have fun and maybe take some photos to keep some memories!
I get daunted whenever I think about how I would be faring in Glasgow this coming September. It is going to be the first time I'm looking after myself overseas for such an extended period of time. I will be back but only temporarily, considering my studies will take 6 years to complete. This means I will essentially be plucking my roots here in Singapore and settling in the UK for a really extended period of time ie. I will have to adapt to the new city, new environment, new school, new people as well. That is one big challenge.... that I am facing bravely and will love to take on.
A few things for sure: That I will cry big time at Changi Airport, I will feel lost for the first few days like what happened in Tekong, but that I will start enjoying my time there despite the stress of studies. This Chinese New Year has just reminded me that we all might be far apart from each other, but the ties we've made with each other will not be forgotten. I will have to treasure them even more once I leave this place. And still continue making new friends and gaining new experiences of course! The world is like a gigantic pie out there for you to grab it, its just whether you want to grab it hot or watch the opportunity get taken away!
For all that is, I know deep in my heart that I will not be lonely in this big big world out there:)
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