Hejhej again!

Just realised it's been a few days since I last blogged, thank you for still checking in. I see you, and I appreciate it! When I spoke to a friend the other night, she said "you miss Sweden, don't you?". She was right, and this post is going to be about exactly that. It's been gradually creeping up on me for the past week or two and I've been hesitant to bring it up, because well... I don't want to seem ungrateful, and I don't want you to think that I'm not enjoying my time here in Singapore. I am, I really am, but it wouldn't be authentic not to adress this. So here I go, putting it down in words - the homesickness.

 

Although I've met some great people here, I do miss my family and friends. I speak to them almost every day, even though the 7-hour time difference is challenging. I stay up late almost every night, texting, face-timing or skypeing. They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, and that most certainly is true. I'd like to think that I have shown the people in my life appreciation before, but since coming here I just... think of them a lot more! I guess when they are not around and I can't talk to them whenever, I realise how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many brilliant people. 

 

 

There has been quite a few culture shocks for me lately. Since Singapore is modern in many ways, it's easy to forget that it is also a pretty conservative society. At least from my point-of-view... It's been a crude awakening for me, a reality check. It's one thing to know that not every culture is like the one I grew up in, and an entirely different thing to actually experience the differences. Like when a professor claimed that a man doing household chores was "completely unrealistic", or when a friend was told by her study group that her job for their presentation was to "dress to impress, because that's what the girls do". The norms regarding gender (and sexuality) are certainly different here than back home. This is not to say that it's not good for me to spend time in this environment. I realise that I have sought out spaces where I know people think like me and share my values... Which means that they are never really challenged, which means that I haven't had to think about them so much. And well, I think we can all benefit from self-reflection. At least I try to see it that way when it gets tough. There has been many confusing, and/or frustrating encounters and situations but I try to look at them as part of the experience, and I try to learn from them.

 

Let's wrap this post up in a more light-hearted manner. For all the Swedes that have been asking - Yes, it's warm! I have gotten used to the heat. Yes, I have learnt how to dress accordingly. I may still sweat a lot and shower twice a day but that wasn't the question, was it? 

 

I have a lot of fun things coming up, in just a few days we are off to Indonesia! I might not be able to update the blog for the 10 days we are away, but I'll probably be at least a little active on Instagram. My account there is @julia.sundqvist if you aren't already following!