Last Sunday was a little special. We did a little gathering, all thanks to Denise's help in organising it. It might probably never happen if she left it to me to do it.
So Denise and her husband Patrick, Patrick (the original), Grace, Jen, Albany and I were hosted by Alvin and his wife, Morley at his house in Harisdale. Hmm his house... maybe I won't talk about it lest Singaporeans think I am inciting unhappiness again. Let's just say Alvin's house is good.
So who is Denise and Alvin? I don't know where they came from but they appeared in my blog and then contacted me, the rest was history. Separately I met up for a short chat with Micky and his wife, Jacqueline (sp?) and both their young lovely daughters in their house in Southern River. Hopefully I can get them to join the next gathering at Alvin's. Suddenly I seemed to have a couple friends in Perth, it feels so much less discomforting to be honest.
Jen commented for the first time since she knew me, I am for once, for sociable than her. I wasn't. Nothing's change. Still the same introvert, still quiet when I meet people. What brings the difference is the blog I am writing. Since the day I started writing, astonishing things had happened to me, I'll share them little by little in future if anyone is interested. The gathering for instance, was almost totally fueled by the blog alone, not me.
I never enjoyed meeting new people, much less quite a few new people at the same time. But this one was somehow special. What made it intriguing was the mix. Alvin had a rather high flying career and is a retiree in Perth now. Both Patricks and Grace are professionals. We have a tai-tai in Denise and Morley, an unemployed Jen, baby Albany and his blue collared worker father. We were practically from all walks of life but we got along rather well. We chatted endlessly throughout, none of the topics bored me at all.
Needless to say, the gathering did all of us good. The retirees get some company, Denise found someone who loves her cake, Patrick found a golf kaki in Alvin, Jen enjoyed herself as a sociable creature in her natural setting. Grace found friends in the suburb where her future house would be at.
Me. I found some hope. When I came to Perth a few months back, I knew nobody. ZERO. I am not even talking about friends here, there wasn't a single soul I could even link a name to. Then one thing led to another. Jenny's friend Penny (who is joining us in Perth in March) introduced her Uncle Lai to us. Uncle Lai introduced Eugene to us who got me a casual job and eventually became my landlord. I got to know Patrick, then Denise, Alvin and Micky and all their spouses. Before I came to Singapore, I thought about this issue before. I could not picture how I am going to survive being me, a rather unsociable person, in a brand new environment. Being friendless will get me killed before anything else.
But when you keep throwing darts of beliefs, some of them are bound to land at the right places. There will be unexplainable forces backing you as long as you keep believing. I am still believing. Hopefully I will be proven right and somehow manage to settle down in future just like many earlier Singaporeans migrants did before me.
This blog will be the record. You readers will be the witnesses.
Glad to hear of your special gathering amongst friends over the weekend. Curious to know what astonishing things have happened since you started this blog! Do share, leh :)
ReplyDeleteone of them is this :)
DeleteI survived outside the little red dot all these years because my mother once taught me, " A good neighbour is better than a distant relative" :)
ReplyDeleteGood one
Deletemy mum told me the same thing too, Uncle Phil
DeleteHey Singapore Anson!
ReplyDeleteReading ur blog fuels me, mate! Am planning to be a quitter too (on dat, have posted a comment previously on ur 'Last day in SG').
Happy dat u & ur folks r sorta settling down @ Down Under, expanding ur social circle, etc. Though I dunno when, but I sure hope to see u soon! Take care! =)
We are family is a catchy tune we sing but sadly outside the little red dot. You are always welcome to join the family :)
Deletehi, if you go to Sydney, you can always look up Uncle Phil. If you choose to come to Perth, say hi to all of us.
DeleteI remember when I came to Australia more than a decade ago, I too had no friends. I told myself "Don't just rely on friends, instead rely on your ability to make friends"
ReplyDeletei dun have much ability to make friends. i must have made less than 10 friends over the last decade in Singapore. So what's happening now is a bit unusual for me.
DeleteMy son told me that he can count the number of Singaporean friends I have in one hand after all these years! Now that I have learnt to blog and have a FB account, he has to use his toes soon. :)
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteMy husband came across your blog last year and since then we have been following your blog.
My husband and I are moving to Perth this June and we have no friends there as well.
So, wondering whether can we know you....?
SB
Please contact me and I'll introduce you to everyone else
DeleteHi,
DeleteThat's great. Thanks a lot.
SB
SB
DeleteIn the mean time if you have any pre-move questions, feel free to ask. You can email me alvinong54@gmail.com
Alvin
Hi Alvin,
DeleteThanks a lot, so kind of you.
We are currently looking for a place to settle. Did some research and seems like most asians are located in the south side of swan river.
Will contact you if we have any questions.
My email address is flybeebee@gmail.com
SB
Hi SB,
DeleteWelcome to Perth. I am also a Singaporean woman who migrated to Perth 9 yrs ago. Came here with only 1 friend,but received a lot of help from new friends to help settle down. I will be most happy for you to contact me if you need anything in Perth. My email address: milkywaygal@hotmail.com.
Milkyway
milkyway, i also need help why never offer?
DeleteYou are an encouragement to me ;) Will persevere with my job search in the time being.
ReplyDeleteThere is always Perth as a backup. Good luck Eileen.
Deletegood for you to have new friends, dont forget me hor...:p
ReplyDeletewill nv forget anyone of you back in sg
DeleteWill like to join you guys for the gathering when I make the move to Perth.
ReplyDeleteI have no friends in Perth but I do have some in the south and east side of Aust.
Ray
you have one now.
Deletealready better off than me when i first came
To those who are coming over soon, we look forward to seeing you in Perth :)
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed the gathering and we almost forgot about the time.
It's quite natural for birds of a feather to flock together. We should be alright here as long as we also embrace our new home and new friends, Singaporeans or otherwise.
Hopefully, such gatherings will make the transition easier while making us a few more friends in the process.
See you later!
Me... me ... mee..... counting down to go over soon... hahhaa.... less than 1 week already..
ReplyDelete