An attempt to convey a few of the thoughts & feelings of an expatriate teacher in sunny Singapore (and adjacent spots on occasion.)
Friday, July 15, 2011
Self Expression
There's always that moment, staring at the blank page, about to express your inner self when you realise there's no inner self to express. Awkward, eh?
The difference between hallowing and hollowing has always been part of my own reflections. There are mystical traditions for both, and good reasons justifying them. As we approach Ramadan, the two ideas intertwine in some ways.
My vision: retirement and a life of leisure.
My mission: to manage decline gracefully.
My goal: to get to the end of the day in one piece.
Born in Manchester, I am at present living and working, as a teacher of English, in Singapore, having done so since 1988. My wife, Noshayati – whom I call Noi, and others call Yati – is Malaysian, and we travel frequently to her homeland, where most of her family live (in Melaka.) We own a house in Kuala Lumpur. My sister and family still live back in Manchester and we try to visit occasionally.
I used to work for the Ministry of Education in Singapore, but since 2007 have been employed directly by an independent school here. It pays the bills.
I converted to Islam in 1997 and find myself even more interestingly placed in the world as a result. I like occupying intersections. They afford useful perspectives.
I’d like to think I have a sense of curiosity which keeps me young. But the jury is still out on this. A good day is one on which just about everything seems interesting. Some days are not so good, but I'm not so naive as to believe I have any right to expect otherwise.
1 comment:
The difference between hallowing and hollowing has always been part of my own reflections. There are mystical traditions for both, and good reasons justifying them. As we approach Ramadan, the two ideas intertwine in some ways.
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