Posts Tagged USA

Integrating back to Singapore life has been almost a year’s journey. Many times I’ve wished I was back in the US, wished I was still studying, wished I wasn’t back in Singapore. Sometimes, I would even get angry at God for making me come back.

Singapore isn’t perfect and I do not agree with the path the government is leading Singapore on. I think Singapore is deteriorating socially and morally, even while we are prospering economically. I do not agree with the 2 casinos the government is building, and can already see the damage it is doing to the people and families. I do not like how the next generation has no respect and consideration for others, but has become selfish and money-minded.

However, this is my home, my country, nonetheless. And I’ve finally come to a point where I have accepted that I’m home, and actually do not want to go back to the States. That was a different part of my life, one that I’m grateful for, but one that has passed.

What made me realise this was the time I spent bringing a college friend around Singapore and Malacca, Malaysia. While this week has been fun and a good break from work, I’ve realised that I’ve changed a lot and have very little in common with my US friend. Past conversations that could go on for hours are no more interesting or of value for me. I am tired of the superficial and shallow conversations that I once enjoyed. I’ve already realised that I’ve become more of a loner, more contented to be by myself instead of needing others around. I find myself getting more and more annoyed easily towards the end of the week because of a constant presence next to me wherever I go. I find myself yearning for alone time, a space that I can just have quiet and do whatever I want.

So, I’m glad I’ve finally seen the changes and I can finally move on once and for all. Yes I’ll remember the past stage of my life fondly, but the me has changed and I am in a different part of my life, all ready to move on and let the past be fond memories.

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So, I’m alarmed. Apparently, a Singaporean landing in Houston, Texas for work gets chained, grilled for hours, starved, not allowed to make any phone calls and then gets deported… for NO REASON!

Read this: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,165225,00.html?

I ask you my dear friends, if this happened to an American in another country, there would be a huge upcry, a huge roar of human rights violations, etc. But it happens to a Singaporean who goes to the US for work (and spend $$ in the US), is treated like dirt and a common criminal and then gets no answer on why. Where was his right to a phone call, right to have a lawyer present, right to call his embassy?

Is this a case of overzealous checking by the custom officers and apparently the CIA? Or is this a case of abuse of power? Are the officers who committed this terrible thing going to be punished? Or are they going to be allowed to do this again to another innocent and unsuspecting tourist? If nothing is done, then this just proves to the world how ineffective and hypocritical Americans can be. (I know that is generalising and that many Americans are sweet, great people. Just pointing out what a lot of world citizens think.)

Edit: Apparently, this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Read: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/us/14visa.htm?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin So it’s proven that the American authorities doesn’t care about anyone else but themselves. (And note, these are not “third-world” countries citizens. These are “first-world” country citizens and allies of the US).

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15October2007

2nd-Homesickness

I’m homesick… for Holland, MI. For my house there, for the people, for my dear dear friends. Funny ah? I was looking through pictures of my housemates and just longing to be with them, back in my green room in our rented house. Just missed the laughter, the weird conversations we would have and the games we played. It is different being at home. I miss just going over to K’s room to randomly bug her. I miss going over the B’s room to have “intellectual” conversations (intellectual on his end, me just laughing and striving to follow mentally).

My family has commented that I talk about my friends a lot and that I have become very Americanized. I talk too loud, talk too much, my mannerism is too bold, I walk so much slower now, etc… So the feat that I’m coming up against is to lose a bit of the American girl in me and regain more of the Asian one. It’s in there somewhere. I know it is!! Well… at least I hope so! But I also don’t want to revert back totally to me before I went to college. I like how I’ve grown and who I’ve become. I just need to figure out how to integrate it fully. I never had to, until now. Over the last 2 years I’ve been keeping the two parts separate. I’m Asian when I come home and when I’m with my dad. I’m Americanized when I’m in school and with my friends. New challenge!

Oh, but I am enjoying all the yummmmyyyyy food I missed. In that aspect, I was always the Asian girl. Sorry guys, but I don’t really miss the food in the States. lol. :P

Well, I would love to hear from some of you, not just because I email you or stalk you in messenger! hehehe! Come come! Talk to me! Help me with my 2nd-homesickness! :)

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10October2007

Welcome Home!

I’m home! Sorry for the lack of updating about it till now. I’ve been so exhausted I didn’t even want to play games on my computer (which is rare).

I got back Tuesday midnight Singapore time (Tuesday noon MI time). My flight was good, as good as it can be. I did score empty seats next to mine from Chicago to Japan and Japan to Singapore. That is AMAZING!!! I could sprawl out and stretch. Made the flight so much easier.

We left Chicago late by 2 over hours. We were on the runway going to take off when we had to go back to the gate because of a problem in the cargo hold. That took over an hour than getting back in line to take off took another hour. So what was supposed to be a 2.5 hour layover in Japan turned into a short 30 minutes layover. I did manage to go eat my unagi sushi though. YUMMMMMYYYYYY!!!

Yesterday, I got up obscenely early (for me) at 6 am. Oh the joys of jet lag! My brother had taken leave for 2 days to spend time with me so we went out to eat lunch with my mom then we went looking for furniture for me. New wardrobe and desk. Scored them at good sale prices. My wardrobe is coming tomorrow! Yippie!! No more living out a suitcase! Then we came home and I did what I should not have done if I wanted to get over jet lag faster… sleep the entire afternoon to evening away. I was THAT exhausted!

Well, I’m off to go apply to take an exam to transfer my driver’s license. I have to apply, then STUDY (because its a tough test. No test in Singapore is ever easy) and then 2 months later go take the test.

See ya!!

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Dear beloved friends,

The long and tedious journey back home has began. Funnily enough, I don’t feel terribly sad as I thought I would. Maybe because I have reconciled the fact that it IS time to go home and start a new phase in my life. I’ve done and learnt so much here and it is time to bring it back home.

I have had such treasured friendships and memories that I will never forget. Such as:

  1. The endless and lonnnnggg nights of just “talking”.
  2. The journey of learning the very hard game of Bridge and becoming half way decent at it.
  3. Showing my American friends what almost decent yummy Asian food really is.
  4. Learning to like corn.
  5. Hanging out and bugging people at the International and OME offices.
  6. Being invited to enter into the lives and hearts of my professors and their families. (And falling in love with the most amazing orange cat, Tommy!)
  7. This amazing last summer. The highs AND the lows. The wonderful game nights and just randomly playing weird card games that make no sense.
  8. “Educating” A on the joys and loves of shopping (tee hee).

Above all, I miss the people. I’ve met soooooo many different people from all walks of life, heard their stories, laughed and cried with them and through it all learnt and grew so much in my experience and outlook. I came 2 years ago and am leaving a different people, having been enriched by the people that I have been honored to meet.

I just want to say, “Thank You” to all those who have made these last 2 years amazing and unforgettable. I hope that I have shared a little of myself with you all too. I leave you with an open invitation to come visit my beautiful homeland and let me show you around.

Till we meet again, wherever and whenever the Lord chooses,
TransitionGirl

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30September2007

Works of God Weekend

wogwsmall1a Works of God Weekend

There are tons of blessings I have to thank God for this week and even the past few weeks.

1. For making everything go so smoothly for my preparations to go home. Everything sold! Even my car sold yesterday! I was sooooo worried, but I didn’t need to be. He had it all under His control. Oh and I managed to pack my life into suitcases! Now that’s a feat that I sure needed tons of help in, especially in planning and being calm about it!

2. For being a greattt support and strength in my nervousness and the uncertainty in this new stage of my life.

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20September2007

Transiting

Going Home is making all sorts of thoughts and emotions in me. I’m excited yet scared. Happy yet nervous. It’s home, yet it wasn’t for the last 2 years. I’ve adapted, changed. Gotten used to living in the States. Adapting back to my own culture will be hard.

It’s always easier to adapt to a different culture other than your own. No one expects you to get it that fast, it’s ok to make mistakes. Going back to your culture, however, is different. You’re expected to know it so well, to be able to live in it and “perform” it well. Mistakes aren’t dismissed as lightly.

I need to be prepared and alert. I need to make a real conscience effort to reintegrate into my own culture. Above all, I need the help of the Lord to help me in this latest transition in my life. I feel as though I am always In Transit, changing from one thing to another. I’m looking forward to the day when I finally arrive at my destination and just rest.

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Its Time. Boo Hoo! I’m going back home. Permanently. My time in the States is coming to a close and the life that I’ve made for myself over here is ending. To many, this may seem like a drastic and sudden decision. But I’ve been contemplating it for a month. The process made me go crazyyyyyy (you don’t believe me? Ask my housemates Ben and James. They listened to me as I melted down. Thanks guys!) .

But now that I’ve finally made up my mind, I feel like a huge burden has lifted off my shoulder. I’m at peace. Yes, I’m very very very sad to be leaving, knowing that I might not see all the good friends I’ve made here again. I’m also very sad to not be able to play bridge or some other card games with my friends whenever I want to. (New Mission: Teach everyone back home Bridge, even if it kills me.)

I fly back home, Monday, Oct 29th. This gives me time to sell all my stuff (and I have a lot!), settle everything here and most importantly spend time with my friends. Oh, and play tons of bridge.

So to my dear friends in the US, MAKE TIME FOR ME! To my dear friends back home, Watch out! The Prodigal Singaporean is returning!!

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