It's actually quite common for me to get comments about how lucky I am to go to Paris with my wife.
Maybe if it was the same me 5 years back, I might have thought the same.
But now... I think differently.
Why?
Let's think about it...
When I talk about travel, or getting in a plane, what memories or experiences are triggered?
For many people, they think of their holidays, having fun, going to enjoy themselves, sightseeing.
Based on their past experience, most people get on a plane and travel to another country for leisure. So when I talk about my upcoming move to France, most people relate it to their own travelling experiences. Shopping, romance, croissants, spending money, enjoying themselves.
Some people have company trips, incentive trips, etc. Those are also for leisure. When I was working, I did have a couple of business trips.
However, not many people travel for business/work almost once a month. Not many people get posted overseas. I'm sure that there are many people who have worked overseas before. I'm sure you know a friend who has worked overseas before. But generally, most Singaporeans don't travel much for their work, or don't get posted overseas.
So, it's pretty understandable that they relate travel as leisure. Cos that's the only experience they have when they think about getting on a plane.
Now... Do you think staying in Singapore is leisure?
Cos that's what I'm going to be doing. I'm going to be staying in a country for 2 years. That's going to be my new "home".
I've been to Paris 4 times in 13 months.
The novelty of travelling there is gone.
I'll probably not be sight seeing when I'm there, or maybe minimally. It's not a holiday.
People say that I can travel the whole of Europe during my period there... Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, different provinces in France, etc...
Similarly... I would ask... Have you(they) travelled the whole of SEA region?
Philippines, the many islands of Indonesia, the many states of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam?
How often do you get to travel per year?
Cos it's the same... Just cos I'm in France, doesn't mean that I'll have the budget and time to travel all around the region.
As I said. It's not a holiday.
It's a business posting. And yes, I do have to try to make the most of it.
Anyway, today's rant isn't only about my trip and the comments I get.
It made me realize/understand that... People judge things based on their own past experience of the topic, although it may not be accurate. Cos they will try to find the closest personal experience that matches the topic to try to relate.
And I think this manifests in many ways.
Example, if we know a friend who's facing some troubles, we may just tell them to move on or forget it. Cos based on our own experience, that's how we handled our past issues. But not everyone's brain is wired similarly. It may not be so easy for someone else to let go of something and move on.
Or, some people study better than others. And maybe you think maths or financial topics are easy, but others have significant difficulty grasping the concepts. And we may wonder why it's so hard for them to understand...
Cos based on our past experience, we may think such topics are easy, but it may not be easy for someone else.
After realizing this... I tend to be a bit more understanding that people won't understand me in many ways... My early retirement/joblessness, my sian-ness of travel, my sian-ness of Paris, my freegan journey, etc....
I mean... I think I've lived a life really way different from the average Singaporean. So I think it's going to be tough for many people to understand my situation.
So... When I hear...
"You(I) should be grateful that I get to go to Paris to stay. Other people want also don't have"
As much as I feel... "Wahlaueh, other people want is their problem. Doesn't mean it's what I want lor..."
I just keep quiet and smile and nod at them... Cos... They'll probably never understand.
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Maybe if it was the same me 5 years back, I might have thought the same.
But now... I think differently.
Why?
Let's think about it...
When I talk about travel, or getting in a plane, what memories or experiences are triggered?
For many people, they think of their holidays, having fun, going to enjoy themselves, sightseeing.
Based on their past experience, most people get on a plane and travel to another country for leisure. So when I talk about my upcoming move to France, most people relate it to their own travelling experiences. Shopping, romance, croissants, spending money, enjoying themselves.
Some people have company trips, incentive trips, etc. Those are also for leisure. When I was working, I did have a couple of business trips.
However, not many people travel for business/work almost once a month. Not many people get posted overseas. I'm sure that there are many people who have worked overseas before. I'm sure you know a friend who has worked overseas before. But generally, most Singaporeans don't travel much for their work, or don't get posted overseas.
So, it's pretty understandable that they relate travel as leisure. Cos that's the only experience they have when they think about getting on a plane.
Now... Do you think staying in Singapore is leisure?
Cos that's what I'm going to be doing. I'm going to be staying in a country for 2 years. That's going to be my new "home".
I've been to Paris 4 times in 13 months.
The novelty of travelling there is gone.
I'll probably not be sight seeing when I'm there, or maybe minimally. It's not a holiday.
People say that I can travel the whole of Europe during my period there... Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, different provinces in France, etc...
Similarly... I would ask... Have you(they) travelled the whole of SEA region?
Philippines, the many islands of Indonesia, the many states of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam?
How often do you get to travel per year?
Cos it's the same... Just cos I'm in France, doesn't mean that I'll have the budget and time to travel all around the region.
As I said. It's not a holiday.
It's a business posting. And yes, I do have to try to make the most of it.
Anyway, today's rant isn't only about my trip and the comments I get.
It made me realize/understand that... People judge things based on their own past experience of the topic, although it may not be accurate. Cos they will try to find the closest personal experience that matches the topic to try to relate.
And I think this manifests in many ways.
Example, if we know a friend who's facing some troubles, we may just tell them to move on or forget it. Cos based on our own experience, that's how we handled our past issues. But not everyone's brain is wired similarly. It may not be so easy for someone else to let go of something and move on.
Or, some people study better than others. And maybe you think maths or financial topics are easy, but others have significant difficulty grasping the concepts. And we may wonder why it's so hard for them to understand...
Cos based on our past experience, we may think such topics are easy, but it may not be easy for someone else.
After realizing this... I tend to be a bit more understanding that people won't understand me in many ways... My early retirement/joblessness, my sian-ness of travel, my sian-ness of Paris, my freegan journey, etc....
I mean... I think I've lived a life really way different from the average Singaporean. So I think it's going to be tough for many people to understand my situation.
So... When I hear...
"You(I) should be grateful that I get to go to Paris to stay. Other people want also don't have"
As much as I feel... "Wahlaueh, other people want is their problem. Doesn't mean it's what I want lor..."
I just keep quiet and smile and nod at them... Cos... They'll probably never understand.
<<PREVIOUS POST // NEXT POST>>
Did you like this post? If so, could you "blanjah" me 1/4 cup of my morning coffee pls.
You may also consider subscribing to receive the articles in your email, link in the column on the right.
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