So as these things happen, one fine day I was asked at work
if I wanted to consider moving to a new office location. Given my long term
love-hate relationship with Bombay,
I was quite happy to consider the idea. A few months later, we now find
ourselves in Singapore,
complete with bag and baggage.
It has been three weeks and finally I am beginning to absorb
my new city.
My expectations from Singapore were quite low. Earlier
business trips did not particularly mark this out as an exciting city. The
buildings looked nice, the roads looked nice, the neatly manicured trees looked
nice. Everything looked pleasing and safe. Nothing had a buzz to it.
Three weeks on, I cannot say I have discovered the buzz.
Partly because I have been too focussed on work, househunting and other
personal issues to go looking for it. But boy, have I underestimated the
virtues of ‘pleasing and safe’. It has been terrifically easy to get things
done – employment passes, opening a bank account, getting used to the MRT,
finding cheap, hygienic Indian food and so on and so forth. I must admit that
administratively it has been a lot easier arriving on this side, than winding
up in India.
The Bombay end
required endless follow-ups, lot of procedures, beaurecracy and I was quite
tired by the end of it all.
It also helps that we have friends here who had been through the rigmarole before and were happy to dole out advice. Plus who are happy to have us visit.
My only sore point so far is the real estate agent we have
been using to rent a house. Sulky, overly talkative, undiplomatic are a few words that can be used to
describe him. By the time, we realised that he was really not helping our case
at all, two weeks had flown by. We have switched to other agents and hope for a
better outcome in the househunt. I am trying to be wise and consoling myself
that there are bound to be teething issues in any relocation. However, I
secretly know that if I did get a chance, I would gladly give him a resounding
slap.
The big draw so far has been interacting with a number of
nationalities, mostly on work. I can see some major broadening-of-the-horizons
happening. It is quite exciting and I am sure one day I will be able to
comprehend the accents of everyone in my team and vice versa. The good news is
that most people speak a little slower at work to combat this exact issue. I
will have to learn to do so too.
The city itself dresses up far more chic than Mumbai (though
South Mumbai can still give these guys a run
for their money). Skirts and tiny shorts are all the rage. Designer bags are
not classified as ‘luxury’ but as ‘necessity’. Smooth footpaths and even
surfaces make it easy for everyone to strut around in heels. Even some of the
men, with their carefully groomed ‘dandy’ looks merit mention. I try not to
stare too hard. Infact, I am quite mastering the art of looking through the
corner of my eyes. And I do do a lot of gaping at shoes or clothes.
Safe or buzzing, it looks like it is going to be fun
discovering a whole new world.
Relocation though comes with a period of transition when you
still don’t know enough about the new
city to feel at home. Yesterday, we watched ‘Barfi’
and emerged from the theatre and I was a little disconcerted to find that I had
not stepped out onto the bylanes of Metro or the side staircases of Inox.
Suddenly, nothing seemed familiar and a sudden wave of homesickness hit me. I
had never been more thankful to have D by my side. It is nice to not have to do
this alone.
5 comments:
Just when I was beginning to wonder where you disappeared off to, you come back with such wonderful news to explain your absence. Good luck with the move. I know a lot of people who have "fled" India to go to Singapore, and have had mixed reactions up on settling there. It would be nice to hear your experiences :)
Good luck, anita! Moving to a new country/place is always fun :) Looking fwd to more travel discoveries in that corner of the world.
Looking forward to many more blog entries about your discoveries in Singapore. Good luck with the house hunting.
The last para says it all huh? I'm sure you will come up with interesting views about everything there. Looking forward to future blogs :)
hAAthi - I am definitely not 'fleeing' but yes, quite eager to have a new experience
Aparna - Am inspired by you to make most of the travel around this place!
Priyanthi - Thanks
Musings - Let us hope initial enthusiasm to write does not stop..
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