Home is where the heart is

"Find an Ang Moh boyfriend, get married and don't comeback!". Something I get a lot from any aunties, uncles or even friends back home from Malaysia.

Living abroad always seem a better option than staying home.

Having lived in UK for 2 years, honestly, I have grew very fond of the country. 

First and foremost, the weather and the four seasons. I enjoy layering up on cold days and walking down the streets as colorful leaves fall off the trees in autumn, waking up spring day to find the field filled with blooming daisies and the best of all, to hop around the snow blanket as more tiny flakes fall from the skies. The changing of seasons never fail to marvel me every time though I have been through them twice.   

First snow experience at Precinct

Not to miss out, the people I have met along the way. Though the Brits weren't known as the friendliest people, but trust me, they are incredibly polite and helpful. I could not express my gratitude enough to many strangers who had offered me kindness when I was hapless and lost. Also, the countless smiles and assurance from people around me give me the courage to strive and stay for my goal despite being far from family and friends.

Graduation day with the Group Bs!

Being an over protected kid at home, having to live in a foreign land far from home, there was many "first" times. I had to live independently and learn to do my own chores. I had to deal with more "adult" issues and make a lot difficult choices - paying bills, finding my own accommodation, learning how to take the bus and train (and where to get off!), make my living budget, etc. Other the basics of living, I had a lot of new life experiences which I am restricted to at home - travelling with friends to another country, travelling alone, skiing on synthetic brush field (?), communicating with hand signs to non-English speaking locals, and much more. Overall, living out here, I would gladly cay I grew a lot as an individual and really finding myself, especially my voice to speak for myself and voice my thoughts and opinions.

 

 First Xmas Fair in Hyde Park, London

 First soccer match - Sunderland vs Newcastle

First trip with friends to the artistic city of Barcelona, Spain - In Sagrada Familia

Looks like there isn't any excuse to the wonderful suggestion by those at home!

But.... There's always a but. 

Nothing feels like the comfort of being in the living hall watching your favorite channel with mommy and daddy arguing about having the egg in the soup or not and little Winston jamming hard on his laptop as his LoL character barge senselessly into enemy grounds. 

Family :)

Nothing beats hitting the hawker centre when mom is sick of cooking (although I would really prefer her cooking) and maybe we just fancy a late night snack really and the mamak is open 24/7.

 Dinner at Fatty Crab, Taman Megah with the cousins and the best deep fried buffalo wings in town 

My favourite Fish Paste Pan Mee from a hawker in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia is truly a food paradise!

Nothing is like the joy of hanging out with my buddies in one of the many malls around and having a not too expensive meal in hipster places or tearing my friends' ears off  with my terrible voice in karaokes.

At the then trendy place - Setia Walk with da bffs xxx

Nothing can compete to having tough time choosing amongst the worldwide selection of movies screening in the cinema and the tickets cost no more than 4 pounds with caramelized popcorn for additional 2 pounds. 

Nothing beats heading out in my own time and zig zag-ing the highway in the jam in my OWN car and parking as near as possible to my destination (I hate buses).

Nothing is like...... it's an endless list really.

Being at home, in your natural habitat, is literally second to haven.

Like what a Greek guy said to me, No place is like home. :)