Thursday, March 17, 2011

Away from Home


It's a gloomy Thursday morning here in Singapore. We just moved from Sengkang to Bishan yesterday thank God I think we can live more comfortably here because we have our own toilet and bath. We have Pinoy housemates and they're mostly out during the day. We can cook, eat in the kitchen, do laundry and watch T.V. so it feels like home. I'm a little anti-social, to be honest and this is the first time twin sissy and I moved out of the country and lived with strangers. When we were kids we lived in a house with other families in Quiapo, Manila but during Edsa revolt, our Dad acquired a property in Antipolo so we grew up in our own home and enjoyed our personal space until we finished school and land a job. My twin moved in with our elder sister who's taking up law that time in a nearby school in Mandaluyong that was back in 2007 while I was left alone in Antipolo because my work is still there until I got bored talking to myself so the following year I moved in with them when I got a job in Mandaluyong. I didn't really abandon our studio-type room in Antipolo I still come there once in a while to check if our stuff is still there you know, Akyat Bahay gangs are everywhere we make sure the padlock to our door is still working unlike here in SG where people are very lax they let strangers in the house. 


Going back, we decided that we have to be practical and gave up our room in Antipolo and live in Mandaluyong instead so we don't have to pay too many bills. Sissy and I are here in SG to test the waters, so far so good. I've only been here for ten days but I miss home already, I miss the food. I'm not a fan of noodles so I go for "chicken rice" most of the time. They don't have combo meals so whatever we eat we pair it up with bubble tea or flavored soya drink which is very common apart from fruit juices. 



Locals can understand English but most of the time their Singlish (Singaporean English) is still difficult to understand or, they can understand you but they talk to you in their local tongue, hays. 



When it comes to accommodation it's not an easy task finding a good one especially if you're the sensitive type when it comes to sanitation and all those things. You have to be very adaptive that's why I envy those people who have their place to stay here for good. Wifi is all over the place and people here are busy all the time. They walk fast and are always glued to their mobile phones. Most of them are accommodating though, when you're lost and need directions you can just ask any local and they are very much willing to help. 



SG is a very progressive country, there's no doubt about that. But from what I observed, elderly people still work, mostly as service crews on the food court. A friend once told us that old people here live on their own because their children left them to support themselves and it's sad to know that it happens to progressive countries. In Pinoy culture, we care for our parents until they are too old to take care of themselves just like giving back the life we owe them. 



I left home because I feel that my job isn't working for me anymore, I'm so burn out. I'm gonna get the hang of life here. No turning back, I'll finish what I started.


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