Home away from home

Pic from FB

For over fifty years, home was always Malaysia.

When I moved to Singapore last year in March, I wondered if I would ever feel at home here.  These thoughts were guarded in my heart and not spoken out loud. I never gave them much place in my head although they came to disturb me every now and again.

People always asked if I love it here and my answer is always, "yes, I love it very much".  I don't know if I wanted to convince them or myself.

Being a believer in the power of the spoken word, I always say positive things for the benefit of others as well as for myself.

I don't know exactly when I began to feel that Singapore felt like home to me.  Maybe it was when I returned to KL and saw all the familiar roads, faces and places and yet I was a little detached from it all.  

There probably wasn't any particular moment when Singapore began to feel like home. It just happened bit by bit and then a simple remark made it all come together.

Let me explain that.  

A few days ago, Stephen went to get curry laksa from the hawker centre for me.  The lady who took his order was going to put a dollop of sambal into the packet when Stephen motioned her not to. She looked at him and said, "If this is for your wife, she likes it".  

When he came home and told me about it, I was amused.  She was right because I do like that extra kick to the laksa.  

It's like in the sitcom "Cheers" where everybody knows your name. 

In my case, it's not my name but it dawned on me that when the neighbourhood hawker lady knows how I take my curry laksa, Singapore is home.

I gave up a lot when I left Malaysia to be with Stephen but what I have here with him is invaluable.