Conflict:
The Sunday Times came and went, and I was silent. Voluntarily of course, although I was itching to be heard. I itch a lot - my primary school teacher says its to compensate for the fact that I'm small. Some things don't change.
I had to decline the offer, but accepted the compliment while peppering my response with honest niceties of my own. I have found an odd conviction in approaching my relationship with home. I am Singaporean in and out, but I have accepted that since 2006, I no longer have a right to speak of such national matters, despite the fact that I've been there.
But speaking of home, I can't quite say that I'm home here because I lack purpose. Vancouver is exciting because I see direction and development. Oh well, I'm only right here right now.
My authority:
Me (at coffee shop toilet): uh... 我没有新加坡钱，你会接受加拿大钱吗？ 。。。 对不起我昨晚从加拿大回来，所以没有新加坡钱。
Old Toilet Lady： 你是加拿大人还是新加坡人？
Me: 我是加拿大民人，但是我在新加坡长大。
Old Toilet Lady: 哎呀，新加坡人 lah！
She has vindicated me, and seen beyond passports and papers. As LKY once said,"Kinship and feelings for one another cannot be legislated out by a political decision".
The Sunday Times came and went, and I was silent. Voluntarily of course, although I was itching to be heard. I itch a lot - my primary school teacher says its to compensate for the fact that I'm small. Some things don't change.
I had to decline the offer, but accepted the compliment while peppering my response with honest niceties of my own. I have found an odd conviction in approaching my relationship with home. I am Singaporean in and out, but I have accepted that since 2006, I no longer have a right to speak of such national matters, despite the fact that I've been there.
But speaking of home, I can't quite say that I'm home here because I lack purpose. Vancouver is exciting because I see direction and development. Oh well, I'm only right here right now.
My authority:
Me (at coffee shop toilet): uh... 我没有新加坡钱，你会接受加拿大钱吗？ 。。。 对不起我昨晚从加拿大回来，所以没有新加坡钱。
Old Toilet Lady： 你是加拿大人还是新加坡人？
Me: 我是加拿大民人，但是我在新加坡长大。
Old Toilet Lady: 哎呀，新加坡人 lah！
She has vindicated me, and seen beyond passports and papers. As LKY once said,"Kinship and feelings for one another cannot be legislated out by a political decision".
2 comments:
oh hannah, i think you're the only one i know who would offer a canadian quarter to a kopitiam aunty to use the bathroom. how desperately did you need to pee?
very desperate!
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