I'm seeing that I'm not the only one in the neighbourhood going through change. The next door neighbour's moved out after living in the estate for years, and renting the apartment out; the coffee shop across the road is undergoing major renovation; the little provision shop next to it is changing over tenants; and some of the apartments in the block across the way have new tenants (good riddance to the freaky weirdo who did nothing much all day but sit at the window in his boxer shorts WITH binocs AND a telescope and perve at everything. He had a really gross-looking body as well :s The audacity.).
Despite the almost daily sightings of aforesaid freaky weirdo, we've loved living in this little apartment of ours for the last 2 1/2 years. It's been a sanctuary from the vicissitudes of life and work swirling around us, and it's going to be hard to say goodbye to it for we don't exactly how long. I know when we do come back to live here, the whole area will probably be undergoing major change, given the Jurong Lake District (somehow that moniker sits uncomfortably with me) development plans for this area.
Of course this is a good thing for property values etc, but this is the thing that has bugged me for the longest time living in Singapore: very little stays the same. It's the main reason why I've found it difficult to really feel at home here, because so much of what I remember from the earlier part of my life here is gone. Obliterated. Bulldozed over. OK there are those of you who will pontificate at me about this being necessary for economic progress, national development etc, but with all due respect - you can keep those opinions to yourself - we've heard about them all our lives. It's cold comfort for one who feels like she can't completely sink roots down in this country when key aspects of her personal history are gone forever. So please spare me all that.
"All I want to do is trade this life for something new, holding onto what I haven't got."
A lot of people have commented that Steve and I have a nomadic life, moving from country to country, setting up home where opportunities and new experiences await us, and yes - as much as it is a hassle transitioning - I feel right now that as long as we can keep doing this, we will be very fortunate. My dear friend D was saying the other day that I need to start thinking of myself as "an international person who happens to be Singaporean" and realising that my achievements and experiences have the potential to take me well outside the country and into other opportunities in the wider world. Steve and I never imagined that we'd have the chance to live and work in Europe, so we're really going to make a go of this. So as they say, "Onz!" :)
OK enough early morning rumination. Need to haul ass and deal with visa issues (which will be the subject of a future post. Which will be funny, I promise - D, thanks for giving me the idea for it after I told you about my US visa experience!).
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