1. Waking up in the Middle of the Night to head home.
One of the biggest reasons why I dread to go back to Singapore is because of the draggy journey that we’ve to wake up at 3 AM – 4 AM to start the journey; otherwise we would have to get stuck in some horrible traffic. The two checkpoint isn’t very much helping either, and these two country would somehow have to investigate like you’re someone who’s going to bomb the country. I’m just here for the New Year, so please be considerate enough to not keep everyone on traffic at 3 AM.
2. The Relatives
Yes, I do have nice, friendly cousins, uncles, aunts; but for them they just couldn’t help but interrogate and probe deep into our lives on whether or not we’ve a boyfriend / girlfriend and/or if you do have that never-ending question of when are you getting married, when are you having kids, or just one more kid? Why can’t they just keep their lives back to themselves, we know when we’ll have a relationship, start a family and everything else.
3. The Need to be Nice
Yes, no matter how annoying relatives are, they are still family and there’s a need that we need to be nice to all of them. Its okay if it’s just a dinner or two, but it can be extremely tiring being nice to people whose company we do not particularly enjoy.
4. Comfort
Even though my relatives in Singapore does not belong to some tycoon family, we still have beds, home and place to stay, except there is just isn’t enough pillows, blanket or spot to squeeze in. I’m glad that I don’t have to squeeze in a dozen more relatives in a house.
5. Entertainment (or lack of)
Chinese New Year in Singapore is almost as close as Christmas in London; except we still have public transport running. But at times we are just stuck in our relative’s house doing almost nothing all day and watching lame Chinese New Year movies probably 10 years back. You either get entertained by your relatives’ never-ending question or those lame movies, either way you die of boredom.
6. No Friends
Even though I grew up with some of the cousins, but as we grow older we tend to only meet up once a year. And how is it possible to not feel awkward to get along with people you only meet once a year.
7. Disconnected
I know we should always drop that phone and get real connection with people over festive season; but it just feel so weird holding a phone yet having no notifications at all.
8. You Just Want to Rest
I find myself being sleepy all day and if we ever come across a close relative, I would just knock off by the couch and ignore the world. Ahh, Chinese New Year should be the best time to take a good break from work/life – when you have an (almost) empty city, free from traffic congestion and stress, to do whatever you want. If only you do not have to go back home!