living abroad

People assume studying abroad is prestigious and glorious. To me, it has always been an immense privilege to have my uni education paid for and to have the chance to experience something different. Those who came back from abroad are seen as successful, and they tell others of the good times. Few mention the problems adjusting to life alone overseas. You are forced to grow up, very fast, maybe even instantly. If you have any problems, parents are too far away to help you. They can help you think of ideas, talk to you to make you feel better. But in the end, the problems are yours and no one else's. There is no point in getting them worried, but somehow they are the best people to talk things out.

The good:
- I went to Warwick castle, Coventry and Stratford-upon-Avon
- I like the company of fellow Singaporeans at Warwick. A plane ride away, strangers become family. Really loved yesterday's dinner when we all stayed to sing songs, with nicfoo and shuks on the guitar. Some songs everyone know, some only a few can sing. It is only then that we realise we are quite international in musical tastes. And of course, please don't even try singing "Country Road", cos we all know it won't "take us home".
- The ecstasy when you see Chinese food. Normally, the Chinese food served would have been substandard to me. But in another place, rice fried with egg is a delicacy.
- The feeling of independence, that you have the room to plan your life as you see fit. And no one says a thing about the mess in your room. Currently, I have clothes drying all over my room, socks, t-shirts and everything.
- Friends who, though physically distant, do their best to make me feel loved and in touch. (Anthony, Lucas, Mich, Wenxian)

The bad:
- English weather is freakish, and you start missing Singapore weather, which makes you feel v. upset everytime a cold blast of wind hits you.
- Cold weather
- Doing all your groceries by yourself. Didn't know how much food i am capable of eating, until i got to buy breakfast, lunch and dinner by myself, and cook the stuff.
- Having to deal with domestic crises. My crock pot cracked after i tried cooking stuff with it on the induction heater. (don't ask me why.) And just before that, my flatmates shortcircuited the common kettle and there's no electricity in the kitchen. (so no microwave, as well.)
- nowhere to hide and have some private space without seeming anti-social, cos you are in school 24/7.
- making decisions by yourself, such as comparing prices of things to buy.

This basically sums up the past 5 days of my life in UK. Although the grass is often greener on the other side, it is not a bed of roses. But on the flip side of it, the strongest people have gone through the most hardships, places with the most history were the most ravished and the most beautiful places have gone through the worst force of nature.
The overseas experience: Don't think it's a holiday. We go through all of it only so as to become stronger. I am not enjoying the mess that is my life now, but it is part of the journey and I know I grow the most when thrown into the deep end of the pool. Ask me about it one year later, and I hope I will be able to recount these days as memories, not nightmares.

Note: happy pics in flickr!