Random Thoughts

To be honest, i don’t know how to begin with this one so let’s just get on with the title.  Let me start by saying that it’s a lot more easy to say something and not mean it than to mean something and not say it. 

Its my first time to travel out of the country alone and i would like to mention some of the best and worst memories i had during my April 7-14 Singapore trip. 

First, nobody knew that I was detained in a police station for an hour. This really sounds funny now that i’m writing it but during that time, it was a bit shocking and unforgetable.  For the story, Pam and I were planning to go on swimming in Sentosa when we decided that its better to drop by Bishan first so we could ask some directions to his guy friend. Guess what, we got lost. And during the time that we were looking for that damn apartment, we passed by the police station.  Out of sheer ignorance coupled with naivity and curiousity, i attempted to take a picture of the building.  Guess what, it was prohibited.  *Chuckles* Of course, you already know what happended next.  The police officers were far from furious but they were suspicious as expected.  By detained, i mean just an interrogation.  They just looked at the camera’s content, inquired about my identification (thank God i brought my passport with me that time or it would be a grave offense for a tourist) and just made some phone calls to verify that we were not terrorist or something. Harhar, this was lesson number one. Read the signs to avoid something stupid.  When we went home in Yishun, it became a common joke for us. I only fully absorbed what had happened when we were allowed to go.  Its good that people Pam’s boyfriend did not overreacted, in fact he made some plans for us to forgot the incident by inviting to play tennis and letting me wander or play around like a child using his newly bought bicycle.

Second, i love how Pam and I catched up with our life stories and recalling how people change or how time and distance can separate or join friends.  I love the honest comments that I got from her, the confrontation, the frankness, the naughty,silly topics that we brused aside. I love hearing updates from her about  common friends, enemies, acquaintances, other-friend’s-boyfriends and more. In short, i missed the long talks and not to mention the buzz.  I do know that when it comes to personal matters of the heart, there are things that are better left unsaid.  

Third, i want to give credit for Pam’s thoughfulness in involving the household and shelling out money for my despedida party.  Her seafood fettuccini was sumptuous and delighting.  I knew how much effort was made to cook that especially because we were really tired that night and she sacrificed an hour or two of her very valued 10-hour-sleep. Hehe!    

Aside from the new places that we visited, new food that i wonderfully consumed and new culture that I learned along the tour, i am more astounded by how the said countries’ system and progress is a reflection of good governance and effective fiscal management.    Boy, how i yearned to witness and apply the same cutting-edge technology and discipline among our people and in our native land. The people have equal access to good public transporation, high job employment rating, 80% of the people own an HDB (Housing Dev’t Board), insurance and health care…its so ideal and livable!

Lastly, i think that its a great learning experience to work there. I actually would like to convince Pam to return and reconsider her decision to be an expat. Honestly, right now i just plan to fulfill the scholarly obligation to serve by penetrating into the grassroot level of society but i am considering to come back.   

And I will.

I will come back and be healed.  I will come back to be gone a little longer. But not now, not now.