Today, while driving home from work with my windows down, a whiff of fresh pine suddenly filled my senses.
Looking around, I saw the tall, magnificent pine trees that I have always taken for granted and drove past without a second look and decided to stop my car on the side of the street and take a stroll.
As I treaded myself carefully amongst the heap of pine needles, I noticed that in every step i took, not only did I smell pine, but a multitude of fragrances that seemed to emanate from the ground itself. The rich earth, the moist moss, the fungi, the Geranium bush nearby, the wild lavender and of course, the pine.
I thought of how my wife used to love putting those air fresheners in the car back in Singapore in a feeble attempt to deaden the lingering cigarette stench in the car and how poorly those fragrances imitated to what I was now enjoying for free. So natural, so rich...so wonderful.
A voice called out, "Whatcha doin, laddie?". I turned around and saw this elderly gentleman, who introduced himself as the grounds keeper from the institute nearby. "The smell of the air, it's just...glorious, I've never experienced this before, it's simply wonderful." I spoke in a quiet tone.
We had a short conversation, some idle banter, some introductions; he was from Liverpool, lived in South Africa for a time and moved here 20 years ago, I told him I was from Singapore and he gushed about how modern, how efficient and how friendly the place that I once called home was. I smiled, returned a complement about the UK and spent the rest of the time talking about what made us leave the place we called home to come to Perth.
Seeing that sunlight was fading fast, I said my goodbyes, but not before we shook hands and he cut some Geraniums for me to bring home for my wife; his hands were grubby and stained with the soil that he toiled on, mine were large but embarrassingly clean, but still a firm handshake we shared before we started walking our own way.
The simple, idle pleasures of life in Oz, best shared with people who have learned to appreciate it.
Looking around, I saw the tall, magnificent pine trees that I have always taken for granted and drove past without a second look and decided to stop my car on the side of the street and take a stroll.
As I treaded myself carefully amongst the heap of pine needles, I noticed that in every step i took, not only did I smell pine, but a multitude of fragrances that seemed to emanate from the ground itself. The rich earth, the moist moss, the fungi, the Geranium bush nearby, the wild lavender and of course, the pine.
I thought of how my wife used to love putting those air fresheners in the car back in Singapore in a feeble attempt to deaden the lingering cigarette stench in the car and how poorly those fragrances imitated to what I was now enjoying for free. So natural, so rich...so wonderful.
A voice called out, "Whatcha doin, laddie?". I turned around and saw this elderly gentleman, who introduced himself as the grounds keeper from the institute nearby. "The smell of the air, it's just...glorious, I've never experienced this before, it's simply wonderful." I spoke in a quiet tone.
We had a short conversation, some idle banter, some introductions; he was from Liverpool, lived in South Africa for a time and moved here 20 years ago, I told him I was from Singapore and he gushed about how modern, how efficient and how friendly the place that I once called home was. I smiled, returned a complement about the UK and spent the rest of the time talking about what made us leave the place we called home to come to Perth.
Seeing that sunlight was fading fast, I said my goodbyes, but not before we shook hands and he cut some Geraniums for me to bring home for my wife; his hands were grubby and stained with the soil that he toiled on, mine were large but embarrassingly clean, but still a firm handshake we shared before we started walking our own way.
The simple, idle pleasures of life in Oz, best shared with people who have learned to appreciate it.
Life would have been very different if you were not born in Sg but some third world shithole. But you were lucky enough to be born into Sg, one of the richest, most advanced country in the world. You speak English today, you are where you are today, all because of that. Life is not perfect in any country, but give thanks to your roots, because by any measures, you were lucky.
