patrioticism

yesterday was national day and while i'm far from hyper-patriotic, most times, i'm proud to be singaporean. there are times, however, when hearing 'waaaahhhhhhh!!! so cheeeeeeeep!!! better hurry buy!!!' sends shivers down my spine and make me wish i wasn't associated with the country.

but yesterday, there was atypical graciousness in the air and despite being caught in a traffic standstill, there was no horning at all! even when some impatient drivers exacerbated the situation by making illegal u-turns, none of the inconvenienced motorists beeped their displeasure! it's sad that i'm unaccustomed to gracious behaviour on the road but better annually than never. caught a little of the parade at home and felt an upsurge of pride as i watched the nation flex her considerable muscle.

more than fleeting emotion, however, i was reminded of how it's a place i'm very blessed to be in. i've benefited from the stability our island's enjoyed and am cat-content with what i have. with my impending departure on the back of my mind, it was an apt reminder of how rooted i am to my home and how i look forward to returning in half a year. when i return, the ever-changing landscape would have sprouted more buildings, there will be new malls and old haunts might have vanished but that's part of the beauty of being on the cutting edge of everything. plus the food's amazing and where else does one find the very best of each cuisine?

have spent the past few days eating my way to remembrance and have very safely eaten enough local food to satisfy me till january :) photos of that to come!