Dear Readers,
I am writing on my 2nd anniversary of leaving Singapore. I can’t believe that it has taken me 2 years to set aside time to finish my blog posts on my life in Singapore. Maybe I should call this entry “closure” or “Proof of Stacy’s freakishly amazing memory”
I spent my last dollars buying groceries for the small house party gathering I was holding to say one last goodbye to all my friends. And it was a total cry fest for me. Complete! I think it started when Xinhui, Arthur, Mark, KL, Cat, Charles, Chris and Eileen left. I was doing alright, tearing a bit, and then KL says, “Don’t worry Stacy, don’t cry…”
Word from the wise: When you see someone with teary-eyes, do NOT say, “Don’t cry” because that quite simply is the key to the flood gates.
I don’t remember the sequence of people leaving, but when Yeen and Ginnah were leaving, they wanted to take photos, where I looked absolutely red swollen eyed, and I was crying as they went into the elevator, waving goodbye as the elevator door shut.
When Richard and Sooleng said goodbye to me, they both hugged me. And Richard said, “Stacy, you’ll do great in Bangkok, whatever you touch turns to Gold.” Those words haunted my first year in Bangkok, because I wasn’t turning things to gold. And it built unreal expectations. Richard meant it with the deepest sincerity, but I have slowly and painfully learnt that contrary to not-so-popular belief, I am not Midas.
Rachel pulled me into my room to chat for a bit, and gave me goodbye presents. Got teary again... I am just so appreciative to this day.... how fast we became friends, and still chat on a regular basis. Chris was a darling, he is quite shy but stayed until very late, meeting all my friends and was very :( that I was leaving, So much so that we also met the following day for lunch (August 28th)
When Marsha, Pam and Paul said goodbye to me, I was so touched. Firstly, Pam made me a card, with our photo together – Pam looking fabulous, me looking extremely washed out with my horrid bleach blonde streaks. She is such a loving caring friend! Marsha gave me a book, “The Little Prince.” It is my favourite book!!! We never spoke about it, but it turns out to be her favourite book too! And when I exclaimed, “It’s my favourite book!” she looked at me, as if to say, “I knew it.”, in a way that we are kindred spirits. Which I could really see, I only started to really talk to Marsha maybe in May? But somehow we understand each other really well, like old friends, old souls. The inscription in the book writes, “Simple as life should be.”
Kym, her boyfriend Jaeson, and Maurice came. They stayed the latest, helped me clean up the apartment, dishes and all. I have to say, I was a bit anxious more like nervous when it came to saying goodbye to Maurice. What to say, what to do, and Kathy was telling me go go go! It was a good thing I didn’t say anything at all, because it would had been completely foolish. But he gave me the warmest hug, our first hug on my last night in Singapore.
I don’t think I slept a wink, maybe just a quick nap, and last minute packing. Believe it or not, I had close to 5 extra bags of clothes or luggages that I asked Kathy to bring over to Bangkok. My roommates came to visit me in October 2007, all 6 of them. Marcus asked Kathy, “wow Stacy has so many things, how long has she been in Singapore for? 5 years?” Kathy replied, “no, just 2.” Haha. What can I say, the Stacy-of-2005-to-2007 was a clothes shopaholic.
On August 28th, I woke up early, met Liangyi close to her workplace, and then met Chris for lunch. I miss being his fag-hag! (Hey, he named me that himself, I don’t mean to disrespect). Chris had to hurry back to work, and I met Kathy in Paragon and we walked back home. It was gloomy weather, the pavement was wet from the rain. And as we were walking pass Mount Elizabeth hospital, we saw a random Japanese stuff animal lying on the street, sad, drenched and abandoned. Kathy pointed at it, took a photo of it, and tied it to some symbolic significance of my leaving.
At home, Kathy gave me a present, which was a very cute blue zipper bag. Literally a bag made from zippers, she had one too, so we were bag-sisters. Then she took me downstairs and we waited for the cab. She quickly hurried me into the cab because we both were getting teary.
The drive to the airport was quite reflective. I arrived in Singapore by myself (with Mommy of course), and I left by myself. I had zero friends when I arrived in Singapore, and I left Singapore with so many new and lasting friendships. I reflected on so many things: How I changed and matured. The life lessons I gained....
On a more comical note, I left Singapore with 5$ in my OCBC account, I wanted to pay my Singtel bill, but was shocked to find out that I had insufficient balance. When I called Kathy to tell her, we had such a roaring laugh about it. Ghetto!! Just 5$$!
I was dressed in jeans, a dress, a shirt, and necklaces all over me. I carried my guitar, my laptop and another carry on. I looked like a gypsy. The immigration official asked me, “oh so you are coming back to Singapore?” and I lied, and said “Yes.”
Not necessarily lying persay, more that I was hopeful, hopeful that hey maybe I’ll somehow move back to work in Singapore…despite the fact that I was due to work September 3rd at our company in Bangkok.
Or maybe not hopeful, but complete and utter denial.
Or just maybe, I wanted to keep the student pass card as a souvenir.
Regardless, I had the most fabulous 2 years in Singapore. I enjoyed my studies. I am very appreciative of the chance to work with AWARE, and loved volunteering with them. And I am so grateful for all the friends I made.
Most thankful that I still speak to most of them on a regular basis.
So this post is my memory log of my last 2 days in Singapore. What a powerfully emotional Goodbye.
Singapore, I Love You!
Stacy
