Once upon a time, there was a boy who strived to be popular among girls by studying harder, and he got a scholarship instead. (kindly refer to the post, Uno Amor, for more details)
It was a premium ticket to the Merlion-donning island nation, Singapore, for four years of free studying and boarding.
I still faintly recall the words written in the cover page of a scholar's handbook given to us during secondary 3, which read: "I am not telling you that it is going to be easy, but I am telling you that it is going to be worth it."
As I went for a seven day trip to Singapore to face her one more time before I study even further overseas, indeed, the words deeply buried in my thoughts years ago rang truer than ever. I can still vividly recall the day my mother informed me of my younger brother's success in getting the same award, the first thing that popped up into my mind was: "Yay, someone to accompany me in this hellhole."
Perhaps it was the difficult curriculum, the rather tense and hostile atmosphere, or even the fierce competition that made the air in Singapore rather heavy. We were scholars, and we had to at least pretend to act proper, guarding our image and behaving in the most appropriate manners as whenever any miniscule wrongdoings are judged, the word 'scholar' would be the first used to mince us. Interestingly, I also learned how to juggle when to mix with the locals thereby getting my identity diffused and when to take a step back to preserve what is left.
Nonetheless, despite the pressurizing studies, less-than-friendly gestures, and crippling homesickness (especially if you are feeling lonely), I have made irreplaceable friends and memories along the way. I am also grateful for the fact that I have guardian angels protecting me throughout, taking forms of a concerned classmate, a warm teacher, a caring canteen stall auntie, or even a friendly bus driver. They made living in Singapore so much easier, and leaving Singapore so much harder.
Thus I loaded my trip with meetings with friends, which involved a sleep-over and a HTHT until 3am in one of my best friend's dorm room at PGP ;) thanks for having me there bro. My trip's highlight can be summarized by three words: Friends, Food, and Travel. Thus, whenever I am not talking to a friend over a scrumptious dish or a cup of coffee, I would either be lying on my bed sleeping, or taking the SBS or SMRT travelling.
I always had this affection to SBS buses. They offer fantastic sceneries (especially the double-decker ones) together with the comfortableness of air-conditioning. Moreover, the fare comes quite cheap. Lastly, when coupled with MRTs, travelling from any point 'A' to another point 'B' in Singapore will be very likely to take less than an hour, which is an amazing feat unparalleled by other metropolitan cities in the world. This is definitely one side of Singapore that I'll miss.
I would also miss the morning runs in Mc Ritchie Reservoir, taking random SBS double decker buses with no definite destination in mind, the evening runs around Raffles Institution, strolling in Botanical Gardens, roaming around at Pulau Ubin, and cycling at East Coast Park. To be very honest, I spent very little of my time in these places; ironically the impact they imparted on me was huge.
However, Singapore changes very rapidly, as with other developed metropolitan cities. Parting is such a sweet sorrow, and I spent my seven days there in a mixture of melancholy and gratefulness. I fear, what if there will come a day when I go back to Singapore only to find that I can no longer recognize her?
So I calmed down and told myself: "It's fine. Just as what (I) am doing now, recollecting the old times while making new memories synchronously. That way, saying goodbye will be less painful and more joyful, for in the future, when we meet again, the farewell back then becomes a part of the hello."
I shall.
Thank you Singapore. It has been a worthwhile four year journey with you. I'll be back.
-Truly Indonesia's Finest
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