Back to the East!

With last Tuesday upon handing over my BH225 paper to the invigilator's hands, I have "unofficially" concluded my 3 years of tertiary education in Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Today, I've officially returned my hostel keys to the hostel office this afternoon. Spent two and a half years in hostel. Quite used to living on my own for a while since July 2003, away from home. But as compared to some of my brothers whose homes is 300 plus kilometres north away from Singapore, mine is really nothing in comparison. yah..

It is a mixed bag of emotions, having to bid farewell to my hostel life and uni life..

Now, I'm back home with family in the east. I have reverted to my status as an Eastern Boy.

I've been an eastern boy since birth, from Telok Kurau Lorong K to Still Road to Tampines.. I've studied in the east all my years up to Junior College, started from PAP kindegarten at Blk 261, then Yumin Primary School along the same street, then Dunman Secondary School in Tampines Street 45 to Temasek Junior College at Bedok South (still east side of Singapore) then I served my National Service at the Basic Military Training Camp (BMTC), Tekong Island (lagi eastern, offshore some more.. haha) then Camp Commandant Office, Pulau Tekong became my permanent Parent Unit until I disrupted to study in NTU.. haha.. then from July 2003 to May 2006, I became a "permanent resident" of western part of Singapore.

In between this period, I've been to Shanghai for 6 months immersion programme.

Now, it's a different set of feelings to be at home. I get to see Dad, mum, Sis, Ah Ma and all my other relatives almost everyday.. =) Because we stay very closely to each other.. All the 7 families in the same new town, with even 5 families just a stone thrown distance away! =) Yes, I will cherish and catch up the family moments I "lost" over the last 3 years since I became a Western (NTU) Boy.. hehe..

I don't have to do my own laundry, dine alone, sweep the floor (opps), buy my own dinner, so it's nice to be home because Dad and Mum would take care of these things. haha.. =)

BUT again, I've quite enjoyed those years being away from home and sometimes I do yearn for my own personal space as the current space is simply not "big" enough because Dad, Mum and Sis are just a few steps away.. I've my own room, biggest among the 3 bedrooms but alas.. never mind.. haha.. Having said all these, it's still nice to be home. Nothing beats home.

When I'm sad, I could talk to Mum, when I'm late, I could "activate" Dad to drive me around haha... Most importantly, I have more time to have dinner moments with family. A typical Singaporean family has 4 members - Father, Mother, 2 kids.. It's really quite a small family.

That day, Pastor Aaron asked me how many kids I wish to have, I told him, I wanted 5! haha Yes yes, 4 -5 kids would be a comfortable number I am looking at. Hee... Some of you might ask, who will finance the kids' daily expenses, it's really not "cheap" to finance a kid in this era, but let me tell you, God will make a way! haha.. Of course, my (future) wife and I would have to plan well with His wisdom.. Hee hee =)

Anyway, back to my hostel..

God has been really gracious.. I had the priviledge of single deluxe room to myself for my last semester in NTU. No roommate was assigned to my room. I had the whole room to myself, I had a television, a fridge, toilet attached to my room. It was indeed a wonderful provision by the Lord. Of course, there were moments of loneliness, no one to talk to.. Last time, I still got Brother Linus who could come and visit me but I sabotaged the entire thing.. Anyway, let's not rake up the past.. hehe.. =)

After returning my hostel, l decided to pay my favourite cafe - Pacific Coffee a visit! Yeah, indeed, it is a very nice place, although its floor space has reduced by 30%? Nice! But I think the price went up by more than the % of the reduced floor space!

Still feeling abit emotional over my hostel.. I will remember those moments I spent in Hall 1 and Hall 2~

There are still many many things to blog about my three years in NTU.. Stay tuned for more updates.. haha..

Thank God for the wonderful experience.