What I DON'T miss about home

*sigh*....it's been a while since I wrote here, and I miss it. Lots of thoughts went thru my mind, and I very much like to share them here, but work schedule has made it almost impossible. Today, being Monday, and being the one of 3 left in the office since the rests went on either mc or emergency leave, I don't feel guilty to taking 10 minutes off my lunch break to update my blog.

Today, I wanna share, about what I don't miss about home (Malaysia) now that I have spent 8 months, 6 days, 13 hours, 15 min here in Singapore.

1) Paranoia of walking down the street

A friend recently fwded a video clip from a CCTV in Sungai Petani's gas station. It shows of how a woman became a scary snatch thief victim. It was in the broad daylight, and she was surrounded by at least 2 workers of the gas station. Yet, the thing happened rather easily and it was a good thing she didn't get hurt. I often work late here, at times going home nearly midnite. I feel (almost) completely safe, never had to think twice about boarding a taxi home. Of course low crime doesn't mean no crime. But I have don't that paranoid feeling creeping up my neck everytime a motorbike passes by. I don't have to hold my breath to make sure the taxi driver don't take a short cut through some secluded area. This kind of peace of mind is a luxury to most Malaysian women.

2) Frustration with the (often awfully slow) system

Amazingly, the infrastructure here are equipped with top class system. The public transport is very reliable and efficient. In fact I enjoy taking the bus ride to work (that's when I get to catch up with my books). I can't imagine doing the same back home, waiting for bus who would come and go as the driver pleases, inhaling CO2 at the bus stop while holding tight to my handbag & laptop, eyeing every 'strange looking person' hoping he is not a snatch thief or a serial rapist, squeezing myself into the corner of the bus to stay away from opportunist perverts who would 'accidentally' rub his private parts under the excuse of a cramped bus....the list goes on and on....and to the ladies out there who have taken a public bus in KL before , you know I am not exaggerating.

3) "Wonderful" Bollywood tales of Malaysia politics

I am disgusted and insulted beyond belief of what's going on with Msia politics today. Do they really think we are THAT STUPID to believe all the nonsense stories? Don't they at least watch CSI to get some clues as to how to frame a guy? At least come up with a credible story & 'actor' to back the allegations. This whole thing only confirms my theory how 'brainless' these people are. I can only pray that soon, (like in next few week time frame kinda 'soon') the REAL truth will come out...a friend once told me "What we know is like the sand in our hand, and what God the almighty knows is like the water in the ocean". Indeed, only Allah knows all.

4) Hopelessness with Justice

My colleague (a Singaporean PR) shared a painful experience while in Kuantan last weekend for a vacation. Unfortunate for her, she was involved in an accident. So she had a first hand experience with the efficiencies of our police system. Right from the RM30 'tips' for the Sargeant, to the unexplained phenomena of how the story turn 180 degree for her (my guess is the other guy paid a whole lot more than RM30). I completely understand the feeling, since I was once involved in an accident too and the Sargeant extorted me for 'tips'. I bluntly told him "mati hidup balik pun, saya takkan bagi walau 5 sen!" (translate: even if I return from my death, I would not give you even 5 cent of bribery). Simply because it's against my principle and I am more afraid to answer to Him in the hearafter about getting myself involved in bribery, than to the sargeant's mock threat. And to be honest, after all the 'integrity' campaign launched in recent years, I am surprised they are still so daringly ask for bribe from my friend. I guess there was a typo in the motto of that campaign. "Saya anti rasuah (I am anti bribery)" is missing the letter 'N" as it should have said "Saya Nanti rasuah (I am waiting for bribery)".

Despite all these though, I am very much homesick, mainly for my family, my friends & the food. Dorothy is right, indeed there is no place like home.