acceptance

Time flies.
In another few days, my little brother will be making his back to the UK, before journeying off to Spain for the next course of his master’s degree. No, I should use younger instead of little, as he certain not little, towering over me at nearly 6feet tall. Or is it over? Doesn’t matter, I’m the shortest of among us siblings, and by that sheer virtue, I am of course the lightest.

His stay here will be slightly longer than 3 weeks, when he goes back. A short vacation back home, yes, but I think it’s good for the family, especially our parents. They are not very open to traveling or staying outside, lest staying away from home in another country. Singapore does not count as another country, another place, being
just a divided by a tiny strait or a big longkang, if you may call it. Furthermore, they themselves frequented our neighbouring country when they were younger and more carefree. Tales were that my mother even walked across to the causeway from she was staying then, which is somewhere near where the bus terminal is located now. Another sibling is working there now, but since he comes back almost once a month, you can understand when I say, Singapore is just like the extended Malaysian family, sharing the same time zone.

No, they are that kind of people who enjoy the comforts of home and entertain themselves with the offerings of the televisions. And no, we do not have cable tv. They support the local dramas, both malay and chinese, watch those soaps from Latin America, and at night, after the daily news feed, would wind down by watching the detective dramas or csi or whatever is interesting showing on the telly there after. Simple people, I would say.

They were of course, prepared to have us move out from home, when we had offers to further our studies for our degrees. But I guess, it never occurred to them that their kid will be going out of this country, and away from this continent to another, to continue studying. I believe, they never thought about that possibility. It takes about 20hours to fly there, mind you.

They are doing great, now. Accepting. They have learnt to use the internet for emailing, and a little of skype for chatting action. It might sound little, but for a couple who relied of us to do the computer related stuff, and goes to banks and offices for paying bill, this is a very good start, at least for me. I harbour the thoughts of a nomadic lifestyle, going through countries to teach and also be taught.

Someday, I wish this will all come true. And when that comes, I will thank my little brother, for necessitating, if I may use that word, the upgrade in my parents, and opening up their minds. In the mean time, lessons in basic email and chatting and internet will carry on since I’m still here.