My First Week in Texas
A week in Texas and A week I’ve acquired a slang that I don’t remember I have. It’s hilarious and amusing when I hear the Texan slang and vice versa when I speak Singlish accidentally. They don’t understand the lingo and they looked at you funny. But they are indeed friendly everywhere. People greet each other just walking by and they stopped to ask me where I am from…. and they give me their numbers. They think Singapore is in Thailand or in China or somewhere in the continent in Asia.
My first week here and I’m already enthralled with how enormous this place is. Everything is huge, with the never ending space and land that spans across north and south, east and west. The buildings are enormous with huge car parks that are perpetually free. The only way to get around here is by car. The buildings here are only 2-3 storeys high and you realised that you could actually see the sky and the clouds clearly with no obstruction of concrete trees and jungle.
There are only 2% of Asians in Texas so you have curious stares wherever you go. The Hispanics make up a large number of Texans here and they look at you funny like there’s no food in Asia. It’s rather hilarious but most of them greet you because that’s a way of life here. The cashier asks you how’s your day and whether everything’s okay. When your shopping cart crosses another one they would excuse themselves. In Singapore you get cold hard stares.
I’m just taking it all slowly in not expecting much really. It’s only my first week in this city and so far so good. Somehow in this continent on the other side of Singapore, you know what you really miss back home. Family, Friends and the Food. That’s all there is there to miss.
Uncategorized | Comment (1)San Antonio Texas
I left Singapore with tears and goodbyes and arrived in San Antonio Texas lost in transition. There are Asians at the airport but I really feel like I’m the only Asian there. Suddenly I stood out from the crowd. I’m on the other side of the continent, the other side of the world. Really strange feeling here. I have arrived before but as a tourist not as a US Permanent Resident. I even have the privilege to queue up in the US CItizens/ Permanent Resident Lane in San Francisco. Really wierd as I haven’t even connected yet.
Everything is huge here. Even the trucks are massive. I have trouble getting into a truck. Too big. Glad for my Beetle. Just nice for me. Roads are huge here.
Saw my apartment. Lovely cozy place but very bare. Time for me to build it up. What to do with a fireplace. I don’t even know how to use it. Gonna paint the walls soon. So still in lost in transition. Bought some water and bread from the gas station. My first meal in San Antonio Texas.
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Leaving Singapore
I’m leaving for San Antonio Texas tomorrow. The past week has been filled with tears and goodbyes. Suddenly everyone knew, everyone realised that I’m really going to the States and not hearsay anymore. Suddenly I too, realised that as well.
Strange how it all began. A simple application process three years ago because I really wanted to run away then. Now it’s a reality. A definite reality. I’m really going. I’m really leaving. Leaving everyone, everything and Singapore behind.
So I’m glad somehow it’s finally realised itself. But I’m leaving with a heavy heart, a heavy soul, a heavy mind and not the least bit excited. The irony is everyone around me is excited for me except me. I think I know why. Because I realised I’m leaving my heart behind. For him. Again. Silly me. I’ll let it all pass I hope. But that again I hope not. And my family, my friends. The memories and more memories. The comfort zone, the familiarity, the accessibility and the convenience. My Sunny Sheltered Singapore.
That’s all that it is. I move on. With a heavy heart I shall go to Texas. I hope to breathe easier there. Hope to live a relatively positive life there. And find love to love again? I’m jaded. Really jaded. Till I still believe that love does exist in a non-existent nonchalant world, I will still hold on to that virtual truth.
Quietly grateful.
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Mixed Emotions
I’m leaving next week and I’m really having mixed emotions here. I can’t believe I’m that emotional and sentimental. So I’m leaving all my friends and family behind and leaving him behind. I’m really lost in transition. For someone like me who can’t take change very well, I’m surprised by my persistence and perseverance to journey this change. I can’t look back anymore and walk that way of life again. I have to move on and walked another way of life.
To all my my dearest friends out there:
To Kiren who has been my best friend since we’re student nurses, always a shoulder to cry on and bitch on. Always there for me through everything. I’m gonna miss you. We’ll meet again in Vancouver together with Tanya.
To Rochelle who has stood by me through all emotional toil, we had laughed and cried together and gone through so much ups and downs together all these years. I’m gonna miss you. We’ll definitely meet again in Ontario.
To Cindy and Jasmine whom I have worked with over the years. The amazing chemistry makes working together more worthwhile and fulfilling. Laughter and cheer fills the ward amidst a morbid sordid environment when these girls are around. I will miss this Sunshine Nurse and Miss Ho.
To all the Girls of Ward 21 SICU, the amazing chemistry is indescribable, unexplainable and genuine. We had toiled and slogged every working day in this harsh, cold and biased environment and yet at the end of the shift we could hear laughter from different corners of the ward. I will miss you all.
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