Cambridge Diary V

There's a big Singaporean community in Cambridge. I'm not sure if its such a good thing though. Definitely it provides the feeling of home, and people to talk about topics I'd never be able to carry out with the locals. They are the best friends, to discuss homework, or rely upon when in need. On the contrast, do they in the process of making my life easier, have defeated the whole purpose of an overseas education?

On proposing this question, I am by no means alienating myself from them. This is just a discussion that has been going on in my mind for a long time. Firstly let's lay out the facts. CUMSA is a wonderful organization. Even before stepping foot on the foreign soil, it has made sure that we have made enough friends through meetings in Singapore. This has been especially helpful for a person like me who comes from a not so common school and college (cough cough). The broadened spectrum of friends enabled me to settle down very easily in the first few weeks. There's always a friendly person to approach with questions such as “where is the supermarket?” to “the cheapest Chinese restaurant in town”. The transition most Singaporean has, I believe, is smoother than lots of other international students, who face two obstacles: language and lack of friends.

Even after the initial period, they have never stopped being part my life. Formal swaps, cookout and endless other activities fill my calendar. All these seem wonderful, but don't they in the meantime alienate myself from the real college life? How many times have I taken the initiative to go to the JP to meet strangers? Not many that I can recall. Certainly it has lots to do with my personality, and there's always the cultural difference. But the common mentality is that if I already have a group of wonderful friends, why bother making more, especially other things such as work occupy a great deal of my time already. There's a Chinese saying that goes “if a person wants be extraordinary, he/she has to undergo extraordinary hardship”. (The translation is not great.) While it looks like I have had an easy life so far here, that I am not inclined to take the great leap forward.

I may be taking the argument in a screwed way, with the following analogy. A wartime general or president has led the country through the most difficult times in its history. He battled against all odds to ensure the country survived to see the end of war. His achievement is remarkable and undeniable. Does this necessarily guarantee that he should be the leader for the country after the war? Many historic evidence gives the answer no (or well, it depends).

If ever you think that the Singaporean community is a “shackle” now to my “pursuit of freedom”, you are definitely mistaken. Experience in an overseas life is precious. We shall explore and meet new friends while it is still possible.