It’s now back to the daily grind after a two-week break in Singapore. I was lazy when it came to blogging during my time at home (yes, Singapore is still considered home). I had a great time catching up with family and friends, spent time reading, went swimming, ate a lot (of course) and even managed some freelance work. Highlights of the trip include two weddings, homecooked food, and meeting my friends’ babies.
For some reason, I felt rather sad this time when flying out of Singapore and back to HK. After my family dropped me off at the airport and while waiting for my flight, pangs of homesickness washed over me even before I had flown off. Perhaps it was the catching up with old friends – from primary and secondary school, junior college, university, paddling pals etc – making me miss the camaraderie and collective memories we share. I miss all these friends of mine. I miss how I can speak in English and/or Singlish with them, knowing that I’ll be fully understood. I miss how I can talk about the dumbest and most intimate things with some of these friends and not be judged. Then there is also the feeling of being doted on by the parents and older relatives. Homecooked food, a rare treat for me these days, never tasted so good.
I guess being back home for a long stretch tends to bring out such feelings. It’s like having to adjust back to life in HK again. A friend whom I met up with on Saturday asked if I ever had moments where I felt so alone in this world to the extent that it gets REALLY depressing. Yes, I’ve had many of those moments – and often. It happens when I travel alone; when I’m walking along the streets of HK; when I see couples and young families; when I’m eating by myself in the park at lunch time etc. Such feelings are exacerbated when one is living alone in a foreign land. But oh well, the price to pay for a little adventure, no?