Home…

Home…
There’s always a saying that home is where the heart is.

It’s been a year, and by chance, by fate, or by luck, the day which marks the year, was also the day I actually headed back…

Some things have changed a fair bit…

Scene 1
Me: Ooooo…is that Paradigm Mall? It’s completed~!
Mom: Open for a while dy laaaa…
Me: (*.*) Wow….
Mom: I’ll bring you there one day…
Me:…aiseh..you mean, I drive YOU there

Scene 2
Me: Eh…how come like that one?? I wanna go left~! Why it’s blocked?
Friend: Err….it’s been a while since they changed the road…
Me: (o.O) *Horror face* Nooooooooooo….
Friend: Told ya to turn left earlier you didn’t wanna listen..
Me: ….boooo~! So how now, brown cow?

Scene 3
Friend: Are you here yet? Where would you like to meet up?
Me: Yeah..here…but… *looks left, looks right*…I dunno where am I…
Friend: (-.-)” Aiseh…you so jakun~! hehehe..I come over. Let me know what shops you can see around you..
Me: (o.O)….(T.T)…okok…

Some things, unfortunately, never change…

Heading off to Aunt’s
Me: Wah sai..why so jam one~! It’s not even peak hours leh…
Dad: Here 24/7 also jam one la…
Me:…it wasn’t this bad when I left ma…. (~.~)

Chinese New Year eve at Aunt’s place
Aunt: Eh..all of you..be careful when you get up/down the car yeah…the neighbour next door was robbed yesterday, afternoon, right in front of the house.. Just outside *points out*
Me: Eeeeekkksssss…isn’t this place gated and guarded??
Aunt: *shrugs* That one for show only…
Me: (=.=)”

During dinner with friends..
Friend: !#$@% la. Look at this *Shows scratch*..
Everyone: What happened??
Friend: Was heading home one day, when some fella on motorcycle came smashing my car window at the traffic lights..

A nation that once had so much to offer, so much opportunities..
A country that has so much natural resources…
A nationality, which I have no qualms telling others, and no shame admitting…
A culture, which I generally consider unique, from the food, to the “modified” spoken English language..
A place I once called home…

It’s scary, yet, more importantly, it’s sad. It’s really, really sad.
Sad at how things have turned out, for the worse, over the years..
Sad that such beautiful place, such nice country, is now marred by all these…
Sad that I couldn’t even feel safe at my own home..
Sad, that every night that I drove alone, I was really scared, for my belongings, for my safety, for my life..

As I departed for “home”, I was excited.
Excited to be seeing the family.
Excited to be seeing my friends..
Happy that I could celebrate CNY with the people dearest to me, meeting old friends, and eat good, cheap, yummy food..

2 weeks later, as I got ready to leave, I asked myself a question…
A question, that I don’t seem to have an answer to..
…I wasn’t as sure if I’m leaving home, or I’m leaving for home…