"With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose." -Wayne Dyer
The hardest thing about making friends when you are living overseas is knowing that the friends you make may not be with you for a long period of time.
They may move on to another city, they may get bored and want to go back to their home country, but whatever the reason, people seem to move along faster than back home.
Back in early May, I had to say goodbye to a friend I've made back in November 2013. Elena went back to Russia to pursue her dreams and had to say goodbye to the city of Bangkok. It was a sad period for me because I was losing a friend in Bangkok! (Or gaining one in Russia, depending on how you look at it!) But as they say, all good things must come to an end, or as the Chinese would say,"天下无不散之筵席" (literally translated to mean that there is no never ending banquet under the sun).
This month, I say goodbye to another friend whose going back to Singapore for a really good job opportunity. If I'm still in this city in the next 2-3 years, we may live in the same city again. But in the meantime, he'll be back in Singapore enjoying all the yummy roti prata, nasi lemak, laksa, cai dao kuey that I miss so much. :'( (Damn you Singapore food, I'm feeling hungry just reminiscing about you!)
It's hard to say goodbye, but I'll always treasure these friendships because I've learnt so much more about another culture, another perspective, another country, and that is an experience I'm unlikely to have if I were still living in my own little bubble back in Singapore. So thank you, friends and people I've met (and will meet) in my time here. May our paths cross again in the (near) future. :) xoxo
Us at the only mall we're familiar with. :P
Not breaking traditions: Japanese Curry Rice for her farewell
This month, I say goodbye to another friend whose going back to Singapore for a really good job opportunity. If I'm still in this city in the next 2-3 years, we may live in the same city again. But in the meantime, he'll be back in Singapore enjoying all the yummy roti prata, nasi lemak, laksa, cai dao kuey that I miss so much. :'( (Damn you Singapore food, I'm feeling hungry just reminiscing about you!)
It's hard to say goodbye, but I'll always treasure these friendships because I've learnt so much more about another culture, another perspective, another country, and that is an experience I'm unlikely to have if I were still living in my own little bubble back in Singapore. So thank you, friends and people I've met (and will meet) in my time here. May our paths cross again in the (near) future. :) xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment