Justin Teo

At last, a month in Singapore. 3 September 2009

Life’s been really great during my first month in Singapore. Meeting old friends and enjoying all the food that I’ve missed. I still remember when I first breathed Singapore’s air when I left Changi Airport… the air felt so thick. Not a very pleasant breath but everything else about Singapore just felt so good. When I was on the car leaving the airport, I remember how I felt when I saw a SBS transit bus… wow it was beautiful. Deprived.. I remembered the terrible experiences of taking the subway in the United States, and I always imagined myself taking Singapore’s MRT. So when I finally took an MRT, it felt like a dream come true.

I think many times we take things for granted. I have always been quite a patriotic Singaporean, and my one year stay at US only made me even more so. I told MAS that I am a Singaporean and that is how I will serve the society. I told my programme chair at SMA that as one of the very few Singaporeans in the course, I will do well to do the country proud.

Friends tell me that life is really tough in Singapore. Some of them grew up here, some of them came from neighbouring countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. I agree, though my life has always been very smooth. Too smooth sailing, sometimes I felt like I’m in a computer game or in a controlled greenhouse where someone has very precisely planned and paved the way for me. Might not be a good thing, many times it didn’t feel real. It’s like, how is it possible that only good things happen to me? When life has always been perfect for 30 years, it just doesn’t seem real isn’t it? I have everything I need, so there’s nothing I should ask for. For the things that I want, I have them in excess.

Or it’s a matter of perception and contentment. Though I can objectively conclude that life has been kind to me.