A Singaporean In Australia

Dear Jen,

We have known each other for 10.5 years. Days just slipped by routinely and then the years. Our lives changed drastically since we gotten married 2 years ago, on this very day.

We moved in together after we got married and lived there harmoniously with my parents for a year. From the new living arrangement, you have to bear with a gruel commute to work everyday. Our HDB flat was still building-in-process but we got married anyway rendering the dumb impervious BTO scheme inconsequential. We conceived Albany a year after in spite of, again, not having our own HDB flat yet in which many of our peers regard as a pre-requisite to family planning.

We didn't want to pin all our hopes entirely on moving to Australia as we might not get the approval to. That was why we lumbered on, applying for a HDB flat and having child. Life had to go on.  A few months later, I received the Australian visa that we applied a long while ago. I had probably forgotten about it and had almost given up on it by then. So we had to decide to carry on the Singapore grind or risk everything we had got to make that audacious move to Perth.

This anniversary is a strange one. It coincides with the Lunar Chinese New Year. But we have no celebration here. Neither is there a feast. We even have to make another visit to the hospital. Today may represent the peak of my homesickness. I tried not to think about what my family and friends are doing in Singapore today. I usually meet my buddies for a great chat up after home visits these 2 days. It had always been great, with thin traffic and good parking everywhere.

Looking back, we came a long way through this frantic 2 years. Other than my 2.5 years in the army, this 2 years must be the most defining. I heard by somewhere everyone encounters a big change every decade or so of their lives. Whatever it is, I'm glad I do not walk this path alone. With you around, I have courage.

Happy anniversary my dear. May we have many good ones in the years to come.