Tuesday, August 14, 2007

It's 9.50pm local time and i am sitting in the living room, sipping beer(what else!) while doing this entry.

I know, i seriously know that many many people would love to be in my shoes. Getting paid to come to Europe, ok a less developed part of Europe. To work in a hedge fund, which many many people find it exciting and glamorous. To live in an apartment in the heart of the capital all by myself for at least 3 days a week.(Yes, i am living just like in our Singapore's River Valley or Paterson area.) Just walk 20m to reach the center of the Old Town.

Well, it is very true that i am fortunate to land myself in this situation. Doesn;t matter if my boss decides not to keep me after 3 months in Lithuania because i know this experience cannot be bought with any amount of money.

By that, of course i am currently not earning as much as my peers. Perhaps one third or less of what my peers are earning now. I am not the least worried but i just dun like the feeling that i am unable to give my family money with my meagre allowance(at least in Singapore dollar terms), since all of us are expected to do so.

But i have gained many things as well. Like cooking my own meals, to really be on my feet. To buy my own daily neccessities. Yes, i just replenished my toiletries with a 12-rolls toilet rolls from the minimart. And to struggle with a complex trolley bus system to get from my place to a shopping mall all alone and to come back safely. And to iron my own clothes. Seriously, for the first time, i ironed like 6 pieces on my own. Though it is not done in the most professional way, i am very sure my skills will improve as the weeks go by.

All these being said and done, i know i still want to come back home. Being an Asian or traditional or whatever shit u call me, my roots still belong to Singapore. I will and must return to where my family and friends are. 落叶归根 is the word. No matter how wonderful other places are, no where can be compared to where u come from.

I went to a Chinese restaurant last evening for my weekly Chinese Dinner. The price was steep but i was so happy to see the boss and probably chef who is a Mainland Chinese. I could see he was equally as happy to see me. And he quickly came to my table to chat up with me. We chatted just about anything as i ate my dinner. The kind of bond where you can speak to a person in our native language just can't be explained in words. And i was told there are around 280 Mainland Chinese in Lithuania. How cool is that!? I am not being racist over here, but it is indeed heartwarming to know someone of my origins is also striving in a foreign land.

See, keetzai can be funny and can be emotional and with depth as well. I will blog again soon ok, if i feel the need to.