June
28, 2008. Exactly 5 years ago when I first set foot in Singapore.
With just one luggage and a backpack, 2 week’s worth of office clothes
and few sets of casual apparels, I faced the greatest challenge of my
life then: live and work in a foreign country far away from
my family. Though it wasn’t easy, it wasn’t difficult neither.
I
didn’t imagine that, that one big decision of mine would give me and my
loved ones the best things of our lives. What all I wanted then was
to try to live independently and it turned out I achieved more than
that. I became stronger, smarter and a better individual. I learned to
deal with different types of peoples from different nations, cultures,
religions, ages and orientations. And from there, I learned to respect everyone’s
opinions, preferences and differences and in the process, I gained
wonderful friends and remain in touch with the good old ones.
Not
only I did improve myself, I also got the chance to fulfil a life-long
dream: owning a house and lot. Though I’m still 26 months away to officially claim that I am a certified house owner, I could almost taste it (fingers-crossed).
And
in those 5 years, I managed to visit other wonderful places and what
makes it sweeter is I was able to give my parents out-of-the-country
trips which my mother described as something “we only thought would happen in our dreams”. Sweet.
June 26, 2013. 2 days before I mark my 5th year in Singapore, I’m already home.... for good and hopefully for the better. It was a decision that came too soon.
