Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me now.

As I sit here on a Sunday morning, going about my business of doing revision for my upcoming exams, slowly I analyze my surrounding and began to realize I'm the odd one out. Unbeknownst to most, they would assume that I'm one of theirs. My facial and skin features resembles them. This fact, I've come to accept since my high school days.

But today I'm feeling a little different. A feeling of belonging. A realization that I enjoy being around them and their laid back lifestyle. It's fresh and it's comfortable.. Is this because I'm now older and want to take things slow and not rush into them? The things that matter now are familial ties, the bonds, the greetings, the religious ways and teachings... I imagined the same setting but surrounded by my own ethnic group, and I see chaos and hear loud sounds. But then again, it will be lively. However, things will continue to be rushed as is the culture of the Chinese.

And so I feel at ease..in spite of smokers around me.. You see I chose to sit in the open space as I no longer tolerate indoor air-conditioning as much as I could during my years in the US. I get cold easily.. This is not recent, it started a couple of years ago when I was working for a multinational company. The air-conditioning blew straight onto my back and made me shiver each time I reported to work. And it would last throughout the day except when I was away from my workstation during lunch. Back then I wanted to get winter gloves and ear muffs just to stay warm at work. And now somehow back to another American company whose air-conditioning is always at top notch, I have to find another way to stay warm. Got a pair of thick socks for warming my feet while in the office. I find it easier to think and work. After all, my body has acclimatized to the tropical weather here.

I guess while trying to stay warm in the office encourages me to find the warmth that's missing.. A feeling I so crave from family, yet could only witness from a distance what others possess. The belonging that I felt a while ago during revision this morning.

Cheers.

Visual via own collection.