In My Country...

My country's version of winter is arrived, what I call the Singapore Monsoon. It rains interminably - if luck holds out. It's chilly and I wear socks as default. At night, I can snuggle deep into the suddenly inviting quilt and read books with the aid of a torch. Haha.

Speaking of beds and things, the other night Sister tapped on my arm as I was drifting in and out of sleep listening to the BBC on my favourite scandalous Walkman. "What?" I might have slurred. To which she replied plaintively, "Can I share your blanket?" I was gobsmacked in the middle of the night. It's not a good thing, neither is it convenient. It disturbs the rhythm your body has settled into for conducive rest. By some chance I had with me a rather short travel blanket - I have two blankets when it gets uncomfortably cold; the quilt for regular use and the other for my feet which get cold really fast. I swung it over to her in the darkness and had some resolute struggle getting back to a state of blissful grogginess.

A common sight in my country recently is the Chinese tourist. They travel in big groups and make quite a sight (and noise too I might add). Monday, I was travelling by train to a regular destination. I was waiting for the train, listening to music as usual. It was the inconvenient rush hour when the offices island-wide empty and the backbones of society head back home, etc. On a regular day the station is relatively crowded with to-ers and fro-ers in their business jackets, crisp white shirts and patent leathers.

I noticed that behind me there was a group of tourists from China, pamphlets in hands and eager looks on faces. I think I didn't bother to register into my mind that some of them have a bad reputation of uncouth behaviour on foreign soil. I was drugged into stupidity I think because Josh Groban was wondrously warbling away into my ears. (Well, in case you didn't know, I have a very soft spot for this particular singer.) I could have moved towards another entry way. I didn't. I could have predicted what happened next.

When the train arrived, I thought I might wait for the next - and I usually do, it's frustrating but what the heck right? I want a safe passage to wherever it is I'm going. But lo and behold! (yes, it was that astonishingly fantastic) I couldn't overcome the wave of incoming tourists. I was moving against my will. My arm got stuck somewhere. My file that I clutched was unceremoniously squashed. I was shoved in by the almighty tourist group and I was the only loser who had the nerve to voice her consternation with a shocked "Can you stop pushing?!" Unfortunately it occurred to me a second later that, probably, none of them knew English. Great.

The other passengers gave muffled sighs and tsked tsked their way further inside the already full train. It was maximum capacity and then some. It was nasty. It was the cliche, 'packed like sardines'. Nobody had to hold on to anything as the train continued on its disinterested journey. We just bumped into one another in quiet embarrassment when it came to a jerky stop at every other station. Not that it mattered to the tourists. They grinned and guffawed at the Singaporean's lack of survival instincts in the big, bad world.

I think they're mad! But then again, I should see this as a lesson learnt. Like any Good Singaporean, I will strive to accommodate the good, the bad and the fugly. It's my duty.

N.B to self: I promise never to let myself go whilst listening to Josh Groban when I'm travelling. Better yet, I should altogether skip listening to him when I travel. Then I wouldn't leave my wits when it matters.

Comments:

I don't think I've ever known what it's like to be packed into a subway like a sardine. Then again, I live in a hole in the ground in North America... and the fact that we don't even have a subway system is testament to how few people there are.

I'll probably get to know that squished feeling about four or five years from now when I (if it works out) move to Korea to teach English/French/whatever language I can speak for a year.

As for Josh Groban--I've never been a big fan of him, but I do understand what it's like to lose one's wits upon listening to someone. I do it all the time--it's unfortunate, but for the wonder of listening to said artist, I normally don't care. I'd rather completely lose my wits than not listen to the person...

Posted by Natalija at 10:20 PM, November 15, 2006  

Won't the torch set the pages of your book aflame?

Posted by Sabrina at 2:14 AM, November 16, 2006  

Wow your walkman is just very very retro ;)

The 'packed like sardines' incident sounds horrible. i guess i would really start sweating like crazy and freak out!

(I was listening to the new Robbie Williams album on the bus and laughing out loud because of the crazy lyrics..)

Posted by Ciel at 2:39 AM, November 18, 2006  

*laughs at Ciel* I've laughed by myself in a public sphere. But never was it because of Robbie Williams. He's very cool though *-~

Posted by Elle at 11:16 AM, November 18, 2006  

it rains in Manila nearly everyday, in random moments during summer.

but rain...is rain. :D

Posted by ellie at 1:08 PM, November 20, 2006