Refreshing 2022

2022 has been a year like no other.

It was not too long ago that the national borders were tightly shut and access to public places restricted. Now that we could (somewhat) freely move around, the sense of liberation is undeniable.

First and foremost, I am grateful for the good health, something we can never take for granted.

Secondly, I appreciated it when friends did make time to meet up. Having been cooped up for two years made us long for such in-person interactions all the more.

In February, I went for an early morning walk with my primary school form teacher, when she visited Singapore through the Vaccinated Travel Lane. It was truly exhilarating to see Madam Tan, who sowed the seeds for the love of the Chinese language in me during my formative years. As the Chinese saying goes, Remember the spring when you drink your water.

Over several other occasions, I sat down with my secondary school teacher, seniors and friends. We recounted the days we spent together within the confine of our school's compound. We so willingly patched each other's memory voids, which were often followed by a self-doubting ponder (did that happen?) or a hearty laughter (o ya... now I recall).

In July, I thanked two mates for showing up readily to an impromptu dinner gathering, knowing all too well how hard it is to get people's slots nowadays. They reminded me that people who care will make time.

On an especially blissful note, my dear sister has tied the knot in June. While trying hard to put up an equable front, it was deeply emotional within. No matter what, this big brother will continue checking in with her every now and then.

Career wise, I sent my second batch of students off to the all important Primary School Leaving Exams ("PSLE"). One of the parents texted me that her boy got an award from the school for showing promising progress in his Chinese. I, as his tutor, basked in the elation that his efforts paid off.

While I was preparing to bid the boys farewell, their parents have asked me to continue tutoring them for their secondary school. I mulled it over, and agreed to it. By November, my teaching slots for the next year have been substantially taken up, and that's another thing to be grateful for.

In December, a senior invited me to host the Chinese session of a PSLE preparatory camp at her learning centre. I gladly took up the opportunity. The one-day job let me exchange ideas with her teaching staff. More importantly, it allowed me to experience first hand the dynamics of teaching in a class environment, which is quite different from my usual small group setting.

Meanwhile, since the border reopened in the second quarter, I have made multiple trips across the causeway. It was a plan that I had had to put on the back burner, no thanks to the pandemic.

Notably, I visited Perlis, mainland Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sabah all for the first time.

During the trips, I bumped into a bunch of kind people. They showed me warm hospitality by offering a lift along the country roads and even helped to retrieve my lost phone (which I have left behind in a e-hailing car).

Looking back, 2022 has been a refreshing year. While the world has generally transitioned from lock down to opening up, I have also relished the regained freedom, physically and psychologically.

In the year ahead, I look forward to guiding my students and seeing them grow into sensible, young adults. I shall also make time for the people who matter, and the causes I care about.

May we all stay in the pink of health in 2023. Happy New Year!