An attempt to convey a few of the thoughts & feelings of an expatriate teacher in sunny Singapore (and adjacent spots on occasion.)
Monday, May 9, 2016
Gratitude
At last Saturday's birthday bash I found myself the bemused recipient of a number of delightful gifts. It seemed odd that someone who owns far more than he needs should be given even more, and it was another reminder of how lucky my life has been. One of the gifts, from Karen as it happens, was an engaging little book entitled Gratitude, comprising the final essays of that wisest of all wise old doctors, Doc Oliver Sacks. They are very brief essays - I read them all before the day was out - but, as you might expect, their depth belies their brevity. The title alone came close to summarising my feelings about the day and, indeed, life itself in its wonderful, unlikely, generous variety.
I'm hoping I've got another good decade in front of me. But I'll have nothing to complain about if it doesn't turn out that way.
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.
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