thoughts #5: East Asia Regional Conference 2014.

Awesome God,

E.P.I.C. Generation.

this is my first ever conference in my entire life, and i dedicated it to such a massive-sized one, complete with a myriad of East Asian nations and its diverse cultures. i've talked to people from such different backgrounds and circumstances, all ready with stories to tell. so it would perk up our ears and we would listen so attentively to all of the different stories. 

i found myself gravitating towards the Singapore delegation most of the times, perhaps already feeling the subtle and invisible connection (that i could have been possibly just imagining) with them, having had done my exchange there. my heart remains true to Malaysia, but Singapore now has a very special place in my heart, and after this conference, all of these countries have found a new sort of definition and face in my heart. i am able to see the world so differently now, so huge, even in God's eyes. everything is so interconnected and interlinked that we will not be able to function properly without one another. 

but like i said, unlike other nations, Singapore has gathered a rather special spot in my heart. perhaps i did not stay there long enough, and perhaps i had my scholarship cover my living costs very abundantly, so i did not feel the high-level stress described by most Singaporeans, but i continue to love this country dearly anyways. mostly because i feel awful that stereotypical Malaysians and Singaporeans cannot and refuses to get along with one another. when a Malaysian thinks of a Singaporean, and vice versa, we do not feel happy. we feel the need to defend our country from another country that was once part of ours. we become instantaneously very colonizing and power-crazed. the pride is strong in both nations, both wanting to defend their own resources and wealth, but both never really co-operating to do something of greater good, together.

the notion of even wanting to make Malaysia and Singapore collaborate on almost anything can be viewed as a ridiculous idea.

yet i've grown so much respect for both my home country and our little neighbouring country, constantly wanting to be nice to them, befriend them, and hope for the same as well. for how different are we, when even two ethnic groups of the starkest differences may unite more effectively than we do. 

it's been a very long while since i've written here, because i never knew what would be appropriate content to put up anymore. i've been writing rather frequently in my journal though, so it's still good.

anyways, i feel a lot closer to Singaporeans than ever before. strangely. even though they probably do not think the same at all. haha. and this could just be a phase, but as long as it is a phase, i will be praying for Singapore and Malaysia. to establish better relationships and wipe out the past. to achieve better results together. different results. to be able to connect with one another and realize, we're really not that different.

are we?

i think not.