When (5) stars collide
The obligatory National Day Post
I'm making myself comfortable, ready to watch the Parade starting in about an hour. Earlier today, I went to the supermarket and bought back lunch and snacks to see me through the afternoon.
But it's not so easy. I can't press a button and get Channel 5's live broadcast on 42 inches of plasma on my living room wall. I can't run to the balcony to watch the F16s scream past or the fireworks.
Going to the balcony immediately reminds you that you are not in Singapore. The hot shamal wind is blowing sand into your eyes, which are already melting from the 42 degree heat. The muezzin is calling the faithful to afternoon prayers.
And 2 days ago, I turned down a request to be interviewed by the local newspaper. Mostly because I'm media shy, but mostly because I had this vision of being asked 'how are you planning to celebrate it?' and I didn't think it would be very impressive if I told them the truth and said 'well, i'll be hopefully be watching the live webcast on my laptop at home alone after making sure I've downloaded the required ActiveXFlashPlugInPlayer5.4.3.2...'
Here's some interesting numbers - I've lived 100% of my adult life outside Singapore. 30% of my entire life. 20% of SINGAPORE'S entire life.
I just read Adrian Tan's speech at NTU's convocation and although it smacked of Steve Jobs' , I was proud that such a strong, insightful, anti-establishment and humorous message could come from the mouth of a Singaporean (In case anyone hasn't read it, drop me a note and I'll forward it to you).
"Don't aim to be average" is something that gave me some consolation. Singaporean life is pretty predictable. You go to a good school, do your national service, graduate, propose, buy a flat (or propose BY buying a flat), get married, pro-create and the cycle starts again.
The first half of my life was pretty 'average' but then it kinda got derailed when I decided to live on a farm which subsequently led me to the desert. But when I eventually go back, wife-less, property-less, I'll be armed with life-changing experiences...but mostly useless information - how to pick up a hedgehog safely, the Shariah-compliant way to beat one's wife, the type of sand to avoid driving into, etc. I'll find it hard to fit in but I know, as Kit Chan tells me, that Singapore is home, truly.
Right now, I have about 5 minutes left to try and figure out why the audio and video of the webcast are streaming at different speeds.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
I'm making myself comfortable, ready to watch the Parade starting in about an hour. Earlier today, I went to the supermarket and bought back lunch and snacks to see me through the afternoon.
But it's not so easy. I can't press a button and get Channel 5's live broadcast on 42 inches of plasma on my living room wall. I can't run to the balcony to watch the F16s scream past or the fireworks.
Going to the balcony immediately reminds you that you are not in Singapore. The hot shamal wind is blowing sand into your eyes, which are already melting from the 42 degree heat. The muezzin is calling the faithful to afternoon prayers.
And 2 days ago, I turned down a request to be interviewed by the local newspaper. Mostly because I'm media shy, but mostly because I had this vision of being asked 'how are you planning to celebrate it?' and I didn't think it would be very impressive if I told them the truth and said 'well, i'll be hopefully be watching the live webcast on my laptop at home alone after making sure I've downloaded the required ActiveXFlashPlugInPlayer5.4.3.2...'
Here's some interesting numbers - I've lived 100% of my adult life outside Singapore. 30% of my entire life. 20% of SINGAPORE'S entire life.
I just read Adrian Tan's speech at NTU's convocation and although it smacked of Steve Jobs' , I was proud that such a strong, insightful, anti-establishment and humorous message could come from the mouth of a Singaporean (In case anyone hasn't read it, drop me a note and I'll forward it to you).
"Don't aim to be average" is something that gave me some consolation. Singaporean life is pretty predictable. You go to a good school, do your national service, graduate, propose, buy a flat (or propose BY buying a flat), get married, pro-create and the cycle starts again.
The first half of my life was pretty 'average' but then it kinda got derailed when I decided to live on a farm which subsequently led me to the desert. But when I eventually go back, wife-less, property-less, I'll be armed with life-changing experiences...but mostly useless information - how to pick up a hedgehog safely, the Shariah-compliant way to beat one's wife, the type of sand to avoid driving into, etc. I'll find it hard to fit in but I know, as Kit Chan tells me, that Singapore is home, truly.
Right now, I have about 5 minutes left to try and figure out why the audio and video of the webcast are streaming at different speeds.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!