Sun-Kissed Soccer Field and the GCs*

Dear Singapore,


I'm back. Yeah, I have to admit, I missed you a bit. To borrow Sidda Walker's line in The Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood (though she was referring to Manhattan, not you), I missed your "screeching urban comfort"(Wells, 1996). Okay, sorry. I'm starting to sound like I hate you and do not want to be with you, but the truth is, I appreciated the fact that you welcomed me here almost a year ago (354 days ago to be exact) and gave me a job that my dear Manila could not give me this time last year.

Last night, when I landed at Changi, I hailed a cab and while I was comfortably seated at the back of the driver staring at the midnight lights outside, Jimmy Harnen's Where Are You Now? started playing on the radio. It's as if I were in a movie and it is the part where the flashback happens and the musical scorer has done his/her job well. But I would rather have Billy Joel's Vienna in the background. Slow down, you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile.If you're so smart tell me why are you still so afraid...

I had a wonderful week in the Philippines, thank you for asking. I stayed home in Batangas, ate nilagang baboy, halayang ube, tapsilog and all other well-loved home-cooked meals. We watched the NBA Finals, Glee final episode, reruns of The Dark Knight at HBO and Up at Disney Channel. Played Crazy Taxi and Feeding Frenzy with Marga, my five-year-old niece, and watched HSM 3 and Lilo and Stitch. Played with EJ, my two-year-old niece, with her fave stuffed toys Minnie Mouse, Pongo and Perdita (from 101 Dalmatians). Had my much-needed chats with my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brother, my grandma, my first sister's kids. I missed home!

Last Tuesday, I made some pretty big statements while talking to my friends: I won't apply for PR status unless I would really want to be with you, Singapore, in the long-term. I still have plans of working in ad agencies in any big city in Europe or in the US, in Shanghai and Makati City and I cannot assure that I would be here for good. I like it here with you, but as any OFW would say, alam kong balang araw uuwi ako at doon ako tatanda sa Pilipinas. Unless! Unless I meet Prince Charming / Knight in Shining Armour (excuse me for the Disney Princess illusions) / True Murakami Guy here in the Lion City. That might change everything.

I'm back and I would stay here 'til my work contract ends in January 2011. Let's see what happens then.

Oh yes, regarding this letter's header, I was with Flau, Doreen, Reuben and Thedd last week at the soccer field behind the Bahay ng Alumni Building, we watched the sun set while talking about our supreme bibo kid moments in Geography class during our last semester in the university. I missed Geography lessons. And yes, I missed you Flau and the once *Grade Conscious (GC) gang. I hope I could have those sunset-watching-while-eating-chicharon-then-dinner-discussing-travel-plans-moments here with you.




Cheers,

Nelly
writing at the 5th floor of an HDB flat
hearing and feeling your 'screeching urban comfort'