It’s no secret that I long to (temporarily) live overseas. I had even browsed several immigration websites to see the sort of employment passes they issue. Most of the places I want to go to only need blue collar types- plumbers, electricians, miners (!), and construction workers- none of which I am capable of. And there are those looking for people in the financial sector. Damn, if only I had paid more attention in school back then.

I have friends who have relocated to different parts of the world.
- D. is an entrepreneur in Perth;
- Y. is yet another entrepreneur working in Shanghai;
- C. and I. are diplomats based in Beijing;
- E. does events in Dubai;
- M. runs a business with his brother in Bangkok;
- H. is an expat wife in Auckland; and others who have (permanently) settled down with their spouses in Taipei, Hong Kong, Manchester, Amsterdam, etc.

And it is with total envy as I see A. packing for the United States. (I mentioned this before- he works in one of the biggest companies in the world, and he’s aced a relocation there. And we’re really really happy for him.)

Before the actual move, he was there for a week for a handover, and he took the opportunity to look at some accommodation options. You know he’s a great guy when he said that he’s considering a two-storey house in the suburbs. Plenty of space for visiting friends and family, he gushed. To which, I wryly remarked, “Did you watch ‘Scream’?” Hahaha.

He saw a beautifully decorated loft in the city- perfect for a bachelor (and whoever he brings back to the apartment for the night) but rather inconvenient for guests, and was therefore contemplating against it. “Of course you should get that place! How often are people going to fly more than 20 hours to see you? And if they do, have them stay elsewhere! Your comfort should be the top priority!” That’s coming from a person who will book himself in a five star hotel when he visits.

Speaking of which, I had been very enthusiastic in planning a trip to the States in the next one to two years, “This is rather premature- you haven’t even left! But erm, I wanna check something. I just need you to check in with me, in order to utilise your corporate discount, right? I don’t “need you” for the entire duration, should I decide to stay in New York City for a month or so, right?” Moments after he replied in the affirmative, I thought I ought to explain that I wasn’t a nasty leech taking advantage of him (and his corporate discount). At least, I wasn’t one of those who wanted his residential address for the “free-delivery-within-US-only” online shopping!

We had a dinner with him last Friday, and he checked off the amazing facilities in his new office- including a gym with an awesome view. “People on the treadmill would see deer darting around. And once in a while, a clumsy one would tumble down the hill and hit itself against the glass window of the gym.” “OH DEER(dear)!” I exclaimed. HAHAHAHAHHA!

I think it’d be a wonderful experience to live in a foreign city and totally immerse oneself in a different culture. That’s why I like reading Story of Bing. I look forward to the day I can do a Woohoo! Elsewhere.