SG, You’ve Been Good to Me

As an expat, you wonder when this moment will come; saying goodbye.  It’s quite bittersweet, actually.  I am so excited to be back in the US, closer to friends and family.  But, at the same time I am so sad to have to say goodbye to the place I have called home for the past 2 years.  When my husband and I would fantasize about our grand departure from Singapore, it included a 2 week holiday in New Zealand, and weeks of goodbye festivities leading up to departure day.  Unfortunately, life doesn’t work out the way you think it should.  John Lennon said it best when he said, “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

My husband, Steve’s, job will be taking us back to the US at the end of May.  I wish it wasn’t happening so fast! I haven’t even had time to get excited about going back, nor have I had time to weep about having to say goodbye to friends and clients.  I did, however, want to take time to tell you all how much I am going to miss you, and how much you have helped make Singapore feel like home.

Over the past 2 years, I’ve seen clients get engaged, get married, work through injuries, have babies, have more babies, and I’ve seen some go through their own Pilates instructor training.  I’ve seen their their bodies change, and I’ve seen their whole self change.  Looking back, it is so incredibly rewarding to see not only how you all have grown, but how you have helped me to become a better teacher.

These past 2 years have also been so insanely crazy, when I think back.  Steve and I have been so fortunate to have been able to see so many parts of this part of the world.  Our travels started with a weekend trip to Bali, which turned into going back 4 other times.  It then turned into 2 trips to Phuket, 3 trips to Rawa Island, Tokyo, Cambodia, Laos, Saigon, Bintan, Melbourne, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Central Java and the Gili Islands.  Not only when I stop and take a moment to look back to where we have been, do I realize that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and really only one that you are only able to get while living out here.

There are so many things I’m going to miss about Singapore, it would be hard to list them all.  Most, though, are things that only the expats living here would truly understand.  I am excited for the first moment I meet a former Singapore expat in the US, when we can talk about how the things that annoyed us the most are the things we miss the most.

If you are in Singapore for the week of May 26, please come by my last few classes.  I am teaching a special last class on Thursday May 29 at 7PM. Pilates on the Patio will be held at Upside Motion, City Hall.  I really hope to see you all at some point next week.  And THANK YOU so much for all of your hard work, friendships and awesomeness.  Bye bye Singapore.  We will see you soon, lah. Can?