It is easy to take things for granted when we live in a place where life is comfortable and convenient. Often, it is only when we take trips away from home for overseas studies or visits that we come to better appreciate what our own country has to offer.
Little things count
When I was enrolled in a university in London, I travelled widely during the holidays. On trips to the airports in different cities, I frequently found myself thinking fondly about the neatly-trimmed bougainvillea shrubs that line the roads leading to Changi Airport. However, on many occasions, I was greeted instead by welcoming sights such as messy electricity cables or inter-crossing railway tracks.
And then on a hot summer afternoon, while taking a stroll in Greece, I thought to myself how much I missed the natural shade that the canopy of leaves on Singapore’s roads provided from the sweltering heat. It was not a big issue; I could use an umbrella or wear a cap. But what struck me was the impressiveness of the long-term strategic thinking behind the initial plan to make Singapore a Garden City and the fruits it bore. By embarking on these efforts, Singapore has earned for itself an admirable international reputation. But more importantly, it has created a pleasant and condusive environment for people to live in.
Feels like Home
Another thing I missed while abroad was the familiar sight of blocks after blocks of Housing Development Board (HDB) flats dotting the various neighbourhoods, which house over 80 percent of Singaporeans. To me, HDB flats to Singapore is like the Big Ben to London, or the Eiffel Tower to Paris – they form a large part of the country’s identity, and is something that reminds me fondly of home.
I grew up in a flat in Serangoon, and although I have moved away, I hold on dearly to the memories of living in the neighbourhood. For instance, I still remember the sights and sounds of the bustle at the void deck when children meet up to play ‘catching’, when groups of housewives gather at the stone tables to chit-chat, and when the durian sellers try to peddle the king of fruits. I also remember the warm neighbourly ties among residents in the block, and while the concept of high-rise flats is not common in many other countries, especially those in the West, I am thankful for its role in bringing people together in a way like no other.