one month to go

(Week 11)

I have yet to feel homesick for Seattle. Of course, I miss my family and friends from back home. However, previous solo travels experiences taught me that strong friendships don’t change regardless of time or distance. I do want to emphasize how thankful I am to be here. How appreciative I am to have opportunities to go abroad with the support of family and friends. I honestly can't wait for the moment when I have kids so I can share crazy stories of my 20's while encouraging them to explore the world as well.

The last three months in Singapore have reminded me that I can feel at home in any place in the world as long as I feel connected with new friends. As cliche as it sounds, the best part of traveling is the opportunity to meet new people who inspire you. With that, I have been so darn happy in SG* because I have befriended people from all over the world, who each have their unique stories and perspectives.

*Note: except for this past weekend. For the first time in three months, I sulked in my self-pity due to some unexpected events. Life happens and you live and you learn. After talking it out with friends and families, I was reminded how I have so much to be thankful for and that I should invest my energy into what matters the most. With that, I was inspired to write this reflection of memorable moments within the last week that made me feel happy.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27

It was a stressful day running errands all over town, and I was in the worst mood. To unwind, I went for a 10 km run to release the endorphins. That evening, I then grabbed dinner with Amy and her friends Ryu and Saswata at Fine Foods. I'm a sucker for lighthearted laughter and good conversations, and I fondly remember how I joyful I felt afterward.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

With t-minus one month left in SG, I have been trying to get off campus as much as I can. I made a trip to Chinatown to grab Mala Hot Pot (my absolute favorite meal), visited Little India, and then worked at Old Hen Coffee Bar for a couple of hours. That evening, I went to Gardens By the Bay to see the light show, where I met up with Eva and Max. We went about with Eva’s typical routine at MBS: grabbed drinks at 7-11, sat by the bay, and talked into the late evening. Afterward, we went to Makansutra to grab a late dinner of murtabak and satay. yum.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

After class, I bopped around town and made the long commute to Plain Vanilla (the best bakery in SG) to grab an Earl Grey Lavender cupcake for Eva’s birthday. I went to the gym and met up with my dear friend Pablo to work on our papers. Our work session transformed into an hour and a half long conversation, where we just self-reflected. Essentially, it was a verbal diary entry. We talked about our personal growth, identities, challenges we have faced, etc. It was a really great conversation and a highlight of abROad (future blog post coming soon). I can't be more thankful of wonderful friends, who constantly inspire me. That evening, I also learned new New Zealand slang and ran into lovely friends at the 24 hours Starbucks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31

On Thursday’s, I look forward to my Public Health Econ class because that means grabbing lunch and seeing Amy, Ros, and Robert. For the past three weeks, we each had our fair share of showing up to class feeling sick or hungover. Robert showed up to class with sunglasses and a hoarse voice (his neck in absolute pain as well) and Amy feeling sick. I was amused by how the end of the semester is finally getting to everyone. We have come so far from the enthusiastic exchange students at the start of the semester.

I was pleased to hear that the deadline for my paper was extended. As a result, I took a quick nap before heading out to Jumbo Seafood for chile crab with Noah, Kende, Eva, and Max. A must-try dish in Singapore. Afterward, I was one with the boys as per usual and we grabbed beers in Robertson Quay before heading to HeadQuarter. It’s crazy to think of how quickly the semester flew by, and it was nice to be reunited with a few of my first friends at NUS. We reflected on our semester abroad and our thoughts of heading home. It felt like we were coming full circle. In short, we are all fatigue from constantly being on the go, yet stuck in this mentality to make the most of our time in Asia.

As much as the nightlife in Singapore is mediocre, I also realized that I need to savor in the techno music because this is something I don’t have much of in Seattle. It was a night full of dancing + a McSpicy to end the evening.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1

It’s officially November. I spent the day doing chores I have put off and worked with Kevin at the UTR lounge. I dreaded the idea of going out, but I couldn’t help pass up the opportunity with Jeremy.

Context: Jeremy is a close friend of mine at NUS. He’s from Paris, one of the best dancers I know, and I would describe him to be very charismatic, outgoing, and connects with everyone he encounters. Next year, he plans to move to Singapore to open up his art gallery business. With that, he has developed this network in Singapore, full of high position business people, and that comes with a lot of perks.

That evening, he invited me out to the opening night of an art exhibition at the Mills. The artwork was done by Cyril Kongo, a French painter and graffiti artist. The art was beautiful and I loved the ambiance of the exhibit. I couldn't help and feel like a "Crazy Rich Asian". I was served multiple rounds of $300 champagne and the art itself was priced over $100k, which was absolute wild for me. Afterward, we all headed to Mandarin Oriental for free lychee cocktails with a beautiful view of the city (due to another of Jeremy’s connections). To end the night, we went to 1-Altitude, one of my favorite bars in SG, where we danced the night away. Overall, it was a wholesome night.

This past semester, I have been awful at journaling. I think it comes with a mixture of being busy from “living in the moment” and feeling lazy. I will say that recording this last week has made me acknowledge that I have made the most of my time in Asia. To say the least, I am thankful. Cheers.