Ever wonder how our life would change if we are not Singaporeans?

I have a Thai friend. At the age of 18, in order to attend University in BKK city, she left her hometown, her comfort zone to live in a foreign place alone. Since then, she has been away from her family, pursuing her studies as well as to embark on her career. Now, she's in Singapore doing her phD which is for 4 years! So come to think of it, she's been away from her family for almost 10+ years now, and how long more will this going to be? And if you think hard enough, this is actually what most people in big countries go through and its exactly what we, Singaporeans wouldn't have a chance or should I say, wouldn't need to go through (except if you count NS for the guys). How lucky and unlucky are we!

We really have been leading a sheltered life. I've never been away from my family for more than a month and they are always here whenever I need them. I have my friends around me all the time, friends who are so important to me. I'm not burdened with the responsibility to bring food for the family and I'm free to do whatever I want. How lucky am I compared to other people!

However, I do actually envy this friend because its exactly all that she went through, all these life experiences that has shaped her to what she is today. She is definitely very independent, she knows herself, what she likes, dislikes, want, do not want. She has a mind of her own, her own style which makes me look upon her so so much.

I do believe that being alone really helps understand ourselves better. It teaches us to be independent, something which can be taught by no one but ourselves. It helps us to find our self, discover things that we thought we couldn't do without others as well as learning that we can't survive on our own as well.

If given a chance, I would really want to experience living out alone overseas for a short period of time. I know that its a really big world we are living in and I do want to explore, and not wanting to be bounded by this little space I'm living in. I want to have a chance to get to know myself and discover my strengths and weaknesses.

As I've told some of my friends, do the things you want when we are still young, whereby we do not have heavy responsibilities and obligations on us. I am waiting for such an opportunity.