''Days like this I wanna drive away, pack my bags and watch your shadows fade.'' - Katy Perry.
Except that I don't wanna drive away. Or watch your shadow fade.
My version would be :
''Days like this I wanna fly away, pack my bags and fly back home instead.''
We might be studying, working, or just wasting our life away from home, but, indeed, there isn't a place like home.
I sat on my desk, my laptop filled with way too many drafts of the incomplete articles I have typed, deadlines that are constantly haunting me, class tests that force me to burn the midnight oil- evil enough to drain my strength away.
And, all of a sudden, these memories of my 4 year old cousin, Jean, dancing the PSY- Oppa Gangnam Style dance lingered on my mind. Blame it on the mellow music that's playing on my Ipod. Blame it on the gloomy weather that's clouding this area. Blame it on the stress that's constantly draining the heck out of me, each and every second.
Don't get me wrong. This post isn't about complaining about how much work I have.
I am not doubting what I am doing.
Everyone on the editorial board are working hard - drafting articles, compiling them, putting everything into place. That explains why I am busy. Nevertheless, positions come with responsibilities -No complaints. No excuses. JUST PLAIN HARD WORK.
''No one said it's gonna be easy. But it's gonna be worth it.''
I have a hundred and one memories playing at the back of my head - whenever I think of home. And I believe, you do, too.
I go back annually, and sometimes, I wonder if I should go back more often. I should. Maybe. Just. Maybe.
The best part about flying back after a long, long time : I get to be back home, sleep on my bed, wrap myself around my childhood memories. The familiar smell of granny's/mom's cooking - who wouldn't love that? Obviously, I don't come back often. Thus, I am treated like a million-dollar treasure. I am like, the princess of the house. I get more say. My brother gives in, and I rightfully own the TV's remote. Because I come back home once a year. Period.
The worst part : WHEN REALITY SETS IN. When I finally see it on their faces, in their eyes. How much all my loved ones have been through in that one whole year.
The sunken eyes, the extra wrinkles, the drooping eyelids, the eye bags. And they don't stop there. You see your little cousins all way taller than what you remembered they were. They used to be shorter than me, but now, oh, wow, they might prolly be 6 feet the next time I see them. That's an exaggerated statement, but, boy, they are really growing up way too quickly!
The very fact that I have missed out so much in everyone's life - that's what that makes me cringe. Yes, I am so busy with my own life, 4000 km away from home, that I tend to forget how quick my parents are growing old, and how quick my little cuzzies are growing up.
Is that an indication that I should fly back more often? Definitely. Maybe.
While I am typing this post, I am thinking, if I should fly back home directly on February, or if I should go on a trip with my friends around India. It's my last year here, after all.
The best part about having your family is, you know you always have them. And they will stand by you, no matter what. It's even better when you finally get a chance to meet all of them after a long time, and all you see, all you experience, is complete JOY. Feelings that can neither be measured, nor expressed by words. :D
Before I sign off, here's 2 short quotes from my 9 years old cuzzie, Jian, (he's 11 years old now) :
(Jian, in a conversation with my brother) :
Jian : It's okay, I wanna play with chea chea Kim (a word used to address a girl/sister who is elder than yourself) first. I can play with you anytime, but she's already flying off. So I play with her first, ok?
My younger brother smirked at me. I told my younger brother, ''see, he may be younger than you, but he's way better than you. You should learn to be more like him. You should love me more.'' :D
Sometimes, kids teach us things that we don't learn in class. Kids are amazing teachers. They really are.
(Jian while asking his mum when I will be back home again)
Jian : Mom, when is chea chea Kim coming back?
Jian's Mom: Don't know. You should ask her.
Jian : She said one year. She's lying, right? *And he started tearing up*
I swear I saw his eyes water.
That made my day. It really did.
I am blessed to have so many amazing cousins.
Hope to see everyone again in Malaysia and Singapore. Miss all the good times, and all of you x
Except that I don't wanna drive away. Or watch your shadow fade.
My version would be :
''Days like this I wanna fly away, pack my bags and fly back home instead.''
We might be studying, working, or just wasting our life away from home, but, indeed, there isn't a place like home.
I sat on my desk, my laptop filled with way too many drafts of the incomplete articles I have typed, deadlines that are constantly haunting me, class tests that force me to burn the midnight oil- evil enough to drain my strength away.
And, all of a sudden, these memories of my 4 year old cousin, Jean, dancing the PSY- Oppa Gangnam Style dance lingered on my mind. Blame it on the mellow music that's playing on my Ipod. Blame it on the gloomy weather that's clouding this area. Blame it on the stress that's constantly draining the heck out of me, each and every second.
Don't get me wrong. This post isn't about complaining about how much work I have.
I am not doubting what I am doing.
Everyone on the editorial board are working hard - drafting articles, compiling them, putting everything into place. That explains why I am busy. Nevertheless, positions come with responsibilities -No complaints. No excuses. JUST PLAIN HARD WORK.
''No one said it's gonna be easy. But it's gonna be worth it.''
I have a hundred and one memories playing at the back of my head - whenever I think of home. And I believe, you do, too.
I go back annually, and sometimes, I wonder if I should go back more often. I should. Maybe. Just. Maybe.
The best part about flying back after a long, long time : I get to be back home, sleep on my bed, wrap myself around my childhood memories. The familiar smell of granny's/mom's cooking - who wouldn't love that? Obviously, I don't come back often. Thus, I am treated like a million-dollar treasure. I am like, the princess of the house. I get more say. My brother gives in, and I rightfully own the TV's remote. Because I come back home once a year. Period.
The worst part : WHEN REALITY SETS IN. When I finally see it on their faces, in their eyes. How much all my loved ones have been through in that one whole year.
The sunken eyes, the extra wrinkles, the drooping eyelids, the eye bags. And they don't stop there. You see your little cousins all way taller than what you remembered they were. They used to be shorter than me, but now, oh, wow, they might prolly be 6 feet the next time I see them. That's an exaggerated statement, but, boy, they are really growing up way too quickly!
The very fact that I have missed out so much in everyone's life - that's what that makes me cringe. Yes, I am so busy with my own life, 4000 km away from home, that I tend to forget how quick my parents are growing old, and how quick my little cuzzies are growing up.
Is that an indication that I should fly back more often? Definitely. Maybe.
While I am typing this post, I am thinking, if I should fly back home directly on February, or if I should go on a trip with my friends around India. It's my last year here, after all.
The best part about having your family is, you know you always have them. And they will stand by you, no matter what. It's even better when you finally get a chance to meet all of them after a long time, and all you see, all you experience, is complete JOY. Feelings that can neither be measured, nor expressed by words. :D
Before I sign off, here's 2 short quotes from my 9 years old cuzzie, Jian, (he's 11 years old now) :
(Jian, in a conversation with my brother) :
Jian : It's okay, I wanna play with chea chea Kim (a word used to address a girl/sister who is elder than yourself) first. I can play with you anytime, but she's already flying off. So I play with her first, ok?
My younger brother smirked at me. I told my younger brother, ''see, he may be younger than you, but he's way better than you. You should learn to be more like him. You should love me more.'' :D
Sometimes, kids teach us things that we don't learn in class. Kids are amazing teachers. They really are.
(Jian while asking his mum when I will be back home again)
Jian : Mom, when is chea chea Kim coming back?
Jian's Mom: Don't know. You should ask her.
Jian : She said one year. She's lying, right? *And he started tearing up*
I swear I saw his eyes water.
That made my day. It really did.
I am blessed to have so many amazing cousins.
Hope to see everyone again in Malaysia and Singapore. Miss all the good times, and all of you x
