Will I?
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 @ 12:54 AM
Just read a few articles about life in Singapore. We all know it's
almost impossible to lead a life of luxury here. The chances are really low, and not because one refuses to work hard, simply because of the system. Not going into details but just car and housing is enough to financially set one back, for life. Of course, unless you are very lucky with opportunities all knocking at the right time.
It's simply not enough to just work hard here. You have got to be smart. You have to have luck (IMO). The odds are against you. It's like the Hunger Games.
Will I? Will I what?
Leave.
Yes. If given the chance, I will. I won't leave my family behind. But that aside, I will.
After a whole lifetime of listening to my parents argue about politics, especially during election season, I finally start seeing things from my dad's point of view. It's hard not to. Everything is expensive. Everything gets more expensive, and it is true that your income does not increase in proportion to the rising cost of living. At least not for people in lower - middle income levels.
I love my country - don't get me wrong here. No matter how I complain about it (silently), I'm very grateful for the security. For the transport efficiencies (as compared to). Even for our foreign workers (not to be confused with foreign talents). But at the rate everything is changing, I would barely be able to support myself, let alone support a child. No wonder our birthrates are so worrying.
From my point of view, it works like this: everyone is more or less educated, educated person marry educated person, educated couple know it is hard to survive, educated couple does not want to have children before they are sure they can provide child with everything they can. But, how much is enough?
I worry. I worry for my future.
This is why I'm travelling. I want to see the world. I want to know what is out there. I want to experience life elsewhere. I want choices. I want to relax, enjoy, and know that I have seen what I can before I throw myself into the workforce, where one is guaranteed to become almost a zombie.
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Today someone told me I looked really fatigued. The reaction was a "wahlao eh! what happen?!" kind. I don't disagree. I have been so tired both physically and mentally since I came back from Taiwan 3 weeks back. I have to work because I'm travelling Australia in the summer. Just commuting to and fro during peak hours is enough to stress me out for the day. Instead of dreading having to work, I actually look forward to getting there, so that I am out of the crazy crowd in the trains and buses.
On the bright side, my workplace's area has pretty good eye candies.
I appreciate my Mum so much more each day. She's like superwoman. If you ever want to see magic happen, look at your mother. Or mine. Surviving on about 6 hours of sleep each day, she wakes up every morning to do house chores and sometimes prepare our breakfasts. Then she heads to work for a full day, come back to cook us dinner, do more house chores, take a shower and go to sleep. Every weekday. Only during weekends does she ever get to rest but most Saturdays she does more house chores and Sundays she still has to ferry le sister around both weekend days.