Ok stop thinking dirty! I’m sorry to disappoint you, if you’ve clicked on the post thinking you’re in for some juicy gossip. This one is a neat and clean affair, one I have started with the city which I’ve made home currently.
Master A was born in India in Aamchi Mumbai. I said goodbye to London after six years and took a flight out on the very last day. As in, a day more, and the airlines would’ve offloaded me. That’s a tip for my preggy friends and their hubbys, after a certain day in the 3rd trimester, no airlines take you on board! Can’t blame them really, what if you create a filmy scene; the plane is 30k feet above sea level and you stretch your vocal chords, scaring the hell out of your fellow passengers! There ain't gonna be any Aamir Khan with a vaccum cleaner on board. And even if there is, a friendly advice – STAY AWAY!
Okay, so it was the transition period for the family, the move was happening. Me and Master A were therefore stationed in India for then. We finally set foot on the Singaporean turf once everything was set. The house and furniture mainly. Darling hubby managed everything on his own. And we moved to The Garden City early last year.
For the first few months I was nothing but a Bai (that’s the Mumbai equivalent of a maid my friends). We hadn’t hired one for some time, cos the head and the heart were having a long argument (spanning over months), trying to decide between a part-timer and a 24*7 one. Thankfully, the head won and I started living THE life! But but but, before I head any further, here lies another tip, one for my friends who’ve just delivered! If you want to lose all that baby fat, pack off your maid on a holiday and mop your way to a leaner you!
So where were we? (I do that quite often, please bear with me). Hmm, THE life. One of the biggest advantages of the Singaporean life, somebody who you can’t live without, the one who’s arrival in your home is like a Godsent gift, the one who gives a whole new meaning to your existence, the full-time helper! Helper/ maid, whatever you may choose to call her, whats in a name! The point is, you can easily afford one in this city. Something that you can only dream of in a city like London!
A Singaporean Condo (or a society/colony) is the next best thing to chocolate cake. I know that’s a little far-fetched, but you get the sentiment right? London can boast of a Regents Park but its not as if there are no good parks here either. And this advantage of having a play area (incl a pool) for chidren right at your doorstep is to die for. Who needs a park or a garden? Not to forget the fab friends I’ve made in this very playarea. Stop wondering, I’m referring to other mommies!
That brings me to my next point. Friends. Social Circles. Now, a girl needs her regular dose of chaitime gossip and bitching. However chic she may appear externally, trust me, we are all the same ;-). It goes without saying that this requirement can be fulfilled only and only with the presence of another likeminded gal. And this city has given me some absolutely amazing buddies. Touchwood.
When on the English soil, I would feel that there couldn’t possibly be a more comfortable city for somebody living outside their own country. London is so cosmopolitan, that finding an English soul is like finding a needle from a haystack. And yet, Singapore couldn’t be any more friendlier. It takes the idea of diversity to another level altogether. Tamil, my friends, is one of the national languages here, apart from English, Malay and Mandarin. Can you beat that! Just to give you an idea of how welcoming and open this place is.
Mr A is totally head over
heels in love with London, has always been. And I have to admit that there
couldn’t possibly be a more charming city. Its absolutely gorgeous. But for
reasons of my own, some of which you would’ve gathered from my writeup, I
totally love Singapore. And if there’s a place I would have to choose, as home,
(other than Mumbai of course), it would have to be this. Never mind the lack of some quality Indian food ingredients, never mind the non-natural beauty, and yeah the unbearable humid weather! From what it looks like today, my affair shall go on!
PS. A very Happy Birthday to the warm city, its turning 50 next week!
PS. A very Happy Birthday to the warm city, its turning 50 next week!
18 comments:
I absolutely agree!!!
You may hate it at first but moving to a foreign soil though sounds exciting, is always a bag of mixed emotions. Leaving your people, your home, your very own city behind and adapting to a new place is difficult but manageable. And as you said di, it's all about how early and how well you gel with it. And then your mind takes over your heart, you start realizing and accepting the change in your life and in the place and become a part of it.
Well written Leena. Well, there are few things one must keep in mind when one shifts from India to any of the dveloped countries or cities particulalry for studies or earning livlihood. The biggest difference is the quality of life. What I mean by quality of life is the value a personal requirements have in a given city. We Indians and particulalry Mumbaiwalas do not even know that if we have not travelled abroad. Hence if one cares for it or has even looked out for it ever, in one's life in Mumbai, one will always find it a bit easier to adjust in a new country or city and to call it one's home. (I am watching Yes Minister now a days and I see the reflection of that in the last sentence :)). What helps further is language. It will always be nicer for Indians again to be in English speaking country or city than some non English one and if non English then atleast having enough desi support. English speaking with ample desi junta is like 'sone pe suhaga'. In any way I feel both London and Singapore will qualify over these criteria. Next comes weather which I guess London would score. Well all these points are critically dependent on the personal state of mind during one's stay abroad. That is the most important ingredient that decides the taste of living abroad. But with my experince and based on individual's taste mixing with the local culture is something that makes one's life way different than what it would be if one seeks only Indian budies for company. We Indians are not very good in that art is what I have seen abroad. And frankly with age it gets difficult too :) Leena and Sumeet I am sure you guys have not encountered these problems knowing your excellent social skills :) . Living in a new culture, environment and most importnatly on one's own has its own charm. And one more thing that over a period of time abroad one experinces in the developed world is racism which makes us miss our home the most (ofcourse it depends on our own social state in our hometown, otherwise Indians belong to one of the most recist societies). But that I may touch in some other comment on some other relevant blog. This interesting blog is not the forum for that for sure. Well written Leena. Just thought of sharing a bit of my views.
Absolutely Sumeet!
Well said Vaibhav! Your in-depth insights are always enriching! Thanks for sharing them :-)
Wonderful journey of life.
Yep! Thanks for stopping by :)
Heres wishing you a roaring affair with your new love!!
Cheers!! :)
Ha ha good read. :)
There is plus and minus in every lifestyle. Have fun and keep blogging. :)
Hehe, thanks for the wishes Deepak :)
Absolutely Indrani! Every lifestyle every country has both positives and negatives. This one too. Thanks for your sweet words :)
It is a great city to visit
Hope you have a thrilling affair with your newly found love :)
Yep it sure is Srinidhi. Thanks for stopping by :)
Thanks Maitreni!
If you love what you do .. a city .. well most of them grow on us
We have been modern day gypsies for the past two decades
I hear you girl, we mommies REALLY need some mommy-frens after a certain point (read babies).
Such a fun read. Enjoy Singapore. Let this be a nice long affair.
Hehe, thanks Divya. It takes one to know another :)
Post a Comment