I took this photo a few days before I moved out of the house. My first home in Singapore. The witness how little by little I adjustmed myself on living alone... far from home. When I was in college I had thought of going into a dorm so I could experience independent living but it was not practical then because of my family's financial standing. I had to choose the nearest university in our city which I never regret by now.
When I started working then, I had always thought as well of getting my own place so I can stand on my own but being the bread winner of my family I do not have the extra resources for that. So, it goes without saying that for the past 29 years of my life, I had been and always been with my family. I never experienced independent living though I grew up making decisions on my own.
I had never been on my own so people around me, when they heard the news that I am flying to Singapore for a job had constantly reminded me to always take care of myself because family and friends has been very accustomed in reminding me things that I should. Such a baby!
Going to Singapore, is more of an adventure for me. All of a sudden I just have myself to take care of me. For the longest time, I wasn't washing my clothes, not even my underware...I don't know to cook but pasta and some simple stuffs. These, among all other things that I ususally ask other people to do in behalf of me is now something I can say that I have ownership with.
I could say that I adjusted well on that aspect, but the most humbling experience I could say is living with people who are strangers to me and to share the space of the bedroom with two other folks. For the longest time I had not shared a room and I am used to have my bedroom as my personal space when I am at home. (That is until I got married ofcourse)
Since the home rental price in Singapore is very high, I had to look for the best option on how to minimize my cost. Even so, roomsharing had cost me also twice the starting salary I got from my first employer in Manila.
True enough, it has been a challenge since you don't have so much of the privacy when you are doing a room sharing. Sometimes at the middle of the night, you'll woke up since roomates are still talking and it will disturb the poor me who's bed is position in the middle of two other roomates. Eversince I started working, my room as well has been my saving grace from a very tiring day and I usually enjoy the peace of being alone in that place until I had released my stress. Not anymore...However this is something I learned to accept and deal with knowing that sooner I will moved out and find my own place, an own room for that matter.
The door of that house has welcomed numerous people. Infact, during my stay in that house I cannot count with my available fingers in my hand how many had move in and moved out of that unit. Each and everyone has his own story. But in the end can be summarized into one thing. That dream of working here in Singapore.
There is a interesting range of age. Some are in their early twenties, but one of my room mate is already a senior citizen who after being bored during his visit here in the country decided to take a part time job and later on landed a job. Some housemates had already obtained permanent residency and some had just been barely a week when I arrived. Some are already loosing hope as the social visa is already about to expire but had not found work yet. Some have stayed already here in like two to three years. Different profiles, different stories...I learned so much from this guys.
Now that I had decided to leave already and started to pack my things, I told myself that my bed had served its purpose to me. Now, it is going to wait for its new master. It will ever be ready for a new adventure. But first, the new "visitor" will have to pass through the same door I get into in...
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