I have a story to tell. Can’t resist sharing with you as I felt so happy for this man, and yet cannot imagine what this man and woman have to go through.
I just arrived at T2 today. Was so thirsty that I decided to have a bubble tea outside belt 35. After ordering my favourite Al isan Tea, without sugar, and enjoying the pearls, I realised that there was this 50+ man standing in front of me, carrying a bouquet of flowers. He was neatly dressed long sleeved and alone, pacing up and down the glass panels, peering at Belt 35 for someone he had been waiting for. A man carrying flowers, quite a rare site in Singapore? I guessed he was waiting for a lady.
10 mins later, he was joined by another men, slightly older and a lady, about 40 years old. They too joined the first man, looking out for the same person. After a while, I realised they were waiting for a lady, whom they likely know before, and probably it’s a first time for her, coming into Singapore. From the conversation, loud enough, they had been waiting for an hour. I could feel the second man was already annoyed and he said that she may have been stopped by immigration or customs, after all, it was her first time. The first man obviously was not listening to the second man and the lady. He persisted to look closer at the people around the belt.
Another 30 mins passed. The second man and the lady, whom I suspect is the wife of the second man decided to leave. But the first man stayed put. He walked away for a few seconds, and then he came back to look through the glass. If my counting is working, he must be repeating these steps for at least 30 times. There was this feeling of pity in me, if he walked away and she arrived, or he waited longer and she never turned up. Finally, I saw him waving to the person he had been waiting for. He tried to find the second man and lady. But they must have left.
Although I did not dare to walk closer to him because I didn’t want to behave like a busy body, I could see the big smile on his face. Now, this is when I couldn’t resist the urge in me. I quickly finished my bubble tea, as you can imagine how difficult it is to suck in these pearls. I followed him quickly to the exit to see him and peep at the lady from 2 metres away. She was young and pretty indeed, I think around 25 years old, and very likely from Vietnam, as I had heard this language quite frequently. She was dressed in a long colourful dress, with a slim fitting white floral blouse.
He gave her the bouquet of flowers, and hugged her many times, finally putting his hand around her shoulder, so intimately. She was like a treasure to have for the remainder of his life. And she too had a big smile on her, coming to Singapore for the first time and experiencing a new life in a foreign city. Suddenly it daunted on me that she was half his age, and I wondered how the future would be like for both of them. Right in my heart, I wish the best for both of them. But, right behind my heart, I can imagine how tough going a life both of them would face.
In our national newspapers, we have always talked about this issue of Singapore men marrying foreign ladies. My situation is no different. I am not sure about them getting married, but seeing the big bouquet of flowers, and the presence of his brother and sis-in-law, the big smiles and the closeness between them, they could be or must be heading to ROM.
At the time of writing this post, I was actually on the train from the airport, and at Tanah Merah, the train stopped and everybody got out except me. Few minutes later, I realised I was back at Changi airport. I had to go back all the way to Paya Lebar MRT.
How do you feel for the guy and the gal?
Terence Seah
