Experiencing A Disparity

I never thought coming back to Singapore would make me feel this way after only 9 months away. I remember getting out of the car and stepping into the warm tropical air; and noticing that it smelled different. It was more earthy and curiously thick. Was that how it smelled before?

Then I was in the lift and going to my sister’s place. I’ve been staying at her place for a long time. She came to the door and tears started running down her cheeks. That’s my sister. Always loving and sentimental, but piss her off and she’ll roar, only to forget about it the next day. She’s wonderful.

Home.

I watched the cats scamper back into the room and gave them their space. After all, I spent the past 36 hours in busy airports and crowded airplanes. I was a crazy mixture of smells.

I had a quick meal of instant noodles lovingly cooked by my sister, gave out the presents, and hung out with my family for a bit. I was expecting my parents to be mad at me for going away and not getting a job as soon as they wanted me too. They didn’t say anything. Then they left with my brother and his family and I took a nice long shower and hung out with my sister. She was absolutely happy to have me back. I knew how much she cares for me when her first question was “how long would you be back for?” To me, it’s an indication that she puts what I want above her desire for me to be around. I love her.

In my opinion, the best part about jet lags is the sleepiness that washes over you when it’s time for bed. It’s a sleepiness you cannot fight. For someone who usually takes a while to fall asleep, it is an absolute luxury. So I fell asleep with the blanket of warm air over me and my nose wondering what’s up with the air.

I spent the next day doing housework. I made breakfast and lunch, vacuumed the house, did the laundry and unpacked my luggage. As I stood over the stove and the sink, I was almost certain that I had gotten taller. Then I realized that the stove and the sink must be positioned lower here than in the States. Then a fighter plane thundered passed and blew the thoughts right out of my head.

That’s what happens when you live in northeastern Singapore. We’re under the air force’s flight path and they glide low over the little neighborhood regularly on their practice days, which seems to be everyday…

Then I looked out the window at the tiny homes stacked on top of each other and wondered.