Home away from Home

3 1/2 years sounds like a long time away from home. That's enough to finish two rounds of NS or a undergraduate degree course. But unlike the many Singapore scholars who are sent overseas to study, I do not know when I am going back home. And uncertain of the "career path" that lies ahead should I head for the sunny shores. There seems to be many minor reasons why we are staying put in London, though I can't put a finger to a specific reason.

Someone did come up with a list though.


Four reasons Singaporeans stay put abroad (AsiaOne)

I REFER to last Saturday's article, 'Asia's brain gain'.

I thank The Straits Times for giving readers such an informative and positive article on Asian students heading back to their homeland on work and business.

One key thing I realised is that their respective governments are very supportive of them returning to their homeland, with some even providing funds to help them start viable businesses. This could be the main lure for Asian students to return home after graduation. Read more here...

Four simple reasons which seem to hit the point. Why from a work perspective, ignoring family and friends, it is simply better to work in Europe or U.S. Singapore Day, which was held two Sundays ago at Hampton Court, tugged at the heart strings; as we feasted on the char kuey teow, listened to the lame (but funny) jokes by Jack Neo and gang, spoke in Singlish, the work factor does take a back seat. However that is not reality, the truth is everyone spends a good 8-10 hours of our life each day at work. And it is important that the environment we work in, the stuff we do serve to make us happier (or make it less of a pain). And time away from work should be used in the most fruitful way. And not going into the office (again) over the weekends.

In Singapore, I can still imagine remember the late working hours and dumping myself onto the sofa after a long day (repeatedly). Going into the office over the weekends to finish work. Getting peeved over silly deadlines or ridiculous requests.

Now, I spent my weekends sailing, Xueyan has her sushi or interior design classes. Singaporeans (in Singapore) look to travelling holidays as a distraction from work and certainly with envy, yet I hear friends popping over to Europe continent for a weekend getaway or driving out to the vineyards or fruit farms most weekends.

Why then should we give up all these to be miserable in Singapore (though in time, I think we will definitely do so!)?