Why I Love Singapore

So I was born when Singapore barely turned 20. How young a country that was! And look how far she has come. As a Singaporean who grew up with her nation, I am so, so very proud. I've always been patriotic, even back before our founding father Mr Lee KY passed on. (I somehow have the impression that many people didn't appreciate this land until he left us and enough articles were written to tell of his and the country's achievements.) 

As a kid, I wondered about whether I might emigrate, whether I would want to be a citizen of any other country. And my answer, even as a primary schooler, was no. 

 I love this home, this piece of small land that is an island. I remember passengers asking me where my favourite place in the world is, after having travelled to so many cities, so many countries. My answer was Singapore. It still is. You see, yes, the Big Ben is lovely, and I really like the Portobello Market; the themed parks in the states are great fun, so is the shopping; I love the temperate overseas nice cool weather, and walking around the streets of old towns like Lucerne, and hiking through the Cinque Terre; I miss the cold and snow in Seoul. 

Yet, none of these places gives me that feeling of home. Where there are memories of each street and corner. I remember my first bus ride alone to my secondary school in Nanyang, I also remember climbing that tree in Hwa Chong beside the A11 bench, I spent nights romancing along the Lower Seletar Reservoir, I went for my first date in that cinema, and had chwee kueh and fried carrot cake for breakfast with the family in Chong Pang market. The beaches in Sentosa and East Coast Park left me with many fond memories too, in my school and adult life. That void deck at Bt Panjang was where my great grandmother held her wake. I remember the first year Causeway Point opened. I also remember when I could drive my car onto Palawan Beach and just sit in the car facing the waters, chatting the night away. These, all these, were fond memories no other place could give me. I grew up here, knowing I would be safe just playing with other kids, whether Malay, Indian, or any other race at the playground opposite. I was educated here, such that I was effectively bilingual, taught proper morals, and given what other nations call a 'world class education'. 

I think these are the very reasons why, even after so many years of new NDP songs, "Home" is still the one that resonates with most of us, especially those based overseas. 

Whenever I am feeling low

I look around me and I know

There's a place that will stay within me

Wherever I may choose to go

I will always recall the city

Know every street and shore

Sail down the river which brings us life

Winding through my Singapore

This is home truly, where I know I must be

Where my dreams wait for me

Where the river always flows

This is home surely, as my senses tell me

This is where I won't be alone

For this is where I know it's home

When there are troubles to go through

We'll find a way to start anew

There is comfort in the knowledge

That home's about its people too

So we'll build our dreams together

Just like we've done before

Just like the river which brings us life

There'll always be Singapore

This is home truly, where I know I must be

Where my dreams wait for me

Where the river always flows

This is home surely, as my senses tell me

This is where I won't be alone

For this is where I know it's home

This is home truly, where I know I must be

Where my dreams wait for me

Where the river always flows

This is home surely, as my senses tell me

This is where I won't be alone

For this is where I know it's home

For this is where I know it's home

For this is where I know it's home

I'll end off with the best cover I found so far of this special heartfelt song, by the peeps behind The Smart Local SG, where Singaporeans from all walks of life come together to sing this song. Beautifully done guys! Even though many everyday Singaporeans zao sngia in this video, it made me warm inside and cry. :,) Thank you for making this video. 

50 years of independence, Wow. Just wow.

Happy 50th birthday, my motherland.