Back to work
Today i started work again. After two weeks of cleaning and clearing and then having the folks finally arrive, looking after the kids and enduring the 12th on the 13th and 14th, it doesn't really feel like a holiday. In previous years i used to think, why go away, after all you never feel as if you've been anywhere after about 24 hours; i was WRONG - you go away because you are away and when you are away you have been away and it feels great. Just taking that break from it all.
It is wonderful having Ma and Pa over here though. However, for the first time, i do feel as if i am more an adult. Mama having passed away seems to have shifted things a little. Her having gone means that my mom is now the eldest surviving member of her immediate family and somehow, that makes things different.
I'll tell you what's not different though - what's not different is them treating me as if i was still 10 years old. My father still gives me very basic advise, my mom is still concerned about me eating, they both worry about me... and you know what, it is good to feel someone caring for me. There are times when i think, that could be construed as slightly intrusive, but it comes from a place where they feel they love me. And so, the intrusion is alright. Plus all this lau jiat, this Asian noise and living on top of each other just makes it feel a bit more like home.
We went for a BBQ on Strangford Lough yesterday. It was a little windy, but really beautiful. The boys poked at beached jellyfish, chased crabs and threw stones into the Lough. I set up the fire with Ma and Pa and they wrapped their coats around themselves. Pa kept on talking about what a cultural shock it was having it wrap up warm at a beach. Ma watched wet suited swimmers getting into the Lough and shaked her head. Can you imagine, if they have never been to the East, they would never know what it was like?
The 'it' she refers to are the warm seas of the equator - except for perhaps the Galapagos which has penguins - is it warm in the Galapagos? - anyhow, in Singapore swimming is a relaxing and sensual activity, not some East German character test. When i first came here, people would ask me, are you not going to swim? No, i told them, it's really cold. Well, if you stay in the water for about five minutes, you'll get used to it. Yes, i said, that's because you become numb and can't feel anything anymore. No, swimming and me here - no thank you.
You're not supposed to swim here anyways. Most fishermen from this part of the world can't swim. And they should know all about the water. Swimming is not a skills set they deem useful. I can understand this. The idea of a wet suit only adds to the insanity. Putting on this rubber sheath which you must then struggle out of after that - and what about your face, hands and feet? I'm afraid that on this matter i am solidly not budging.
It is wonderful having Ma and Pa over here though. However, for the first time, i do feel as if i am more an adult. Mama having passed away seems to have shifted things a little. Her having gone means that my mom is now the eldest surviving member of her immediate family and somehow, that makes things different.
I'll tell you what's not different though - what's not different is them treating me as if i was still 10 years old. My father still gives me very basic advise, my mom is still concerned about me eating, they both worry about me... and you know what, it is good to feel someone caring for me. There are times when i think, that could be construed as slightly intrusive, but it comes from a place where they feel they love me. And so, the intrusion is alright. Plus all this lau jiat, this Asian noise and living on top of each other just makes it feel a bit more like home.
We went for a BBQ on Strangford Lough yesterday. It was a little windy, but really beautiful. The boys poked at beached jellyfish, chased crabs and threw stones into the Lough. I set up the fire with Ma and Pa and they wrapped their coats around themselves. Pa kept on talking about what a cultural shock it was having it wrap up warm at a beach. Ma watched wet suited swimmers getting into the Lough and shaked her head. Can you imagine, if they have never been to the East, they would never know what it was like?
The 'it' she refers to are the warm seas of the equator - except for perhaps the Galapagos which has penguins - is it warm in the Galapagos? - anyhow, in Singapore swimming is a relaxing and sensual activity, not some East German character test. When i first came here, people would ask me, are you not going to swim? No, i told them, it's really cold. Well, if you stay in the water for about five minutes, you'll get used to it. Yes, i said, that's because you become numb and can't feel anything anymore. No, swimming and me here - no thank you.
You're not supposed to swim here anyways. Most fishermen from this part of the world can't swim. And they should know all about the water. Swimming is not a skills set they deem useful. I can understand this. The idea of a wet suit only adds to the insanity. Putting on this rubber sheath which you must then struggle out of after that - and what about your face, hands and feet? I'm afraid that on this matter i am solidly not budging.
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