I arrived in Toronto yesterday at around 6:50PM EDT or so. It was such a surreal feeling leaving Singapore. Eight months is a short period of time, but long enough such that you can begin to become attached to things and people. But I can't complain. My final weekend there was spent with my friends and family, and I don't think I would have wanted it any other way.

Perhaps the earliest feeling of oddity was stepping aboard the interconnecting flight from Beijing to Toronto. Serviced by Air Canada, it was a really strange feeling be surrounded by Canadians once again. The Canadian accent was prevalent, and French was everywhere.

So now I begin the arduous task of unpacking. My family moved half-way through my stay in Singapore, so I now have to not only unpack my suitcases from Singapore, but also boxes from the move. And since I didn't pack these boxes, I don't know where everything is

Anyway... 我回來了!!!

Actually, there are now less than 24 hours. Quite bitter sweet. So much to look forward to going back home, but I will really miss some of the people I had the chance to meet here.

I know life isn't so simple a lot of the time, but I really wish it could be.

不说再见 再见
只要永远想念 想念你的一切
不说再见 再见
只要永远想念 想念你的一切

I really hope there will be a day when I get to see some of these people again, but it's sometimes impossible to say. 未来不一定。

没想到我在新加坡认识怎么多中国人。 这些人不是新加坡人。 他们是真实的中国人。 那是说从PRC来的。 我工作有四个人在中国出生，长大。 所以你也许以为我的普通话有一点进步。 我很希望这句话是真的。 可是我其实觉得我普通话的进步不够了。 特别是因为我住在这边一共八个月。 有可能我的listening skills有一点进步。 But that's probably about it. My speaking really hasn't improved. And my listening is still morbid at best.

那怎么办？ 我马上回家。 那边我朋友们都说广东话。 Heh. 还有没有机会练习？

I'm approaching my final week in Singapore. With only six full days of work left, the end is really near. My mom and sister are in town to visit family and friends. Seeing them here in Singapore produces a rather nostalgic feeling - since for all my life that I can remember, I had always come to Singapore with them. However, the past 7 months of my time here has been devoid of their presence, and I had become quite accustomed to it. So to have them around again is quite reminiscent of an older time.

Apart from my mom and sister being around, things have continued as per normal. I go to work every day, and sleep every night. Occasionally I have the pleasure to hang out with friends.

My final week will probably pass by quite quickly, especially since I will likely try to catch up with a few new friends at least once more before I head back to the land of the 49th parallel.

There are now only two weeks left in my 8-month long Singapore adventure.

Things are moving quickly, and I've realized that there are still more people I'd like to see at least once more before leaving.

In reality though, I wish that I could have the ability to see these people an infinite amount of times. But I'll be needing to move on and return to Canada shortly.

I've handed the ever familiar University of Waterloo Co-operative Education Student Evaluation form to my supervisor, signifying that my work term is approaching an end.

As an added blessing, the manager came by to talk to me today indicating that they see the extra hours I've been working, and he is going to try to get me some additional compensation.

At any rate, mixed feelings abound. I want to go home, but I don't want to leave some of the friendships I've developed here.

Life sometimes feels like a Taiwanese drama.