Among several other aspects, the 3-day shopping trip to KL did the most to my confidence as a capable female. It was my first out-of-Singapore trip without my Mum or a school being accountable for me.
While it was my Mum who handled the buying of train tickets and Ee Ee (my 4th aunt) whose penthouse we put up at for 2 nights, little things like taking a cab in KL (where most cab drivers speak only Malay – a language neither one of us were conversant in), finding our way around the monorail and LRT system there and walking around unsafe shopping complexes (sex and abduction crimes are so common even locals don’t feel safe in their own country) on our own did a boost to my confidence level vis-à-vis as a young independent capable female.
Perhaps I’m overrating the experience.
The shopping wasn’t as eventful. I didn’t fall head over heels in love with any particular piece of clothing that I bought. The round of shopping didn’t give me that “kick”. However, it was a fairly pleasant and nice break, lazing around for half the day at home and interacting with Ee Ee’s family, followed by a packed walking session in the selected mall for the day.
Shanci, my female companion, definitely did not get her shopping’s worth in KL (boy is she one fussy shopper). Unexpectedly, for both of us, what turned out to be the enjoyable and memorable element of the trip was the company of my relatives.
My fantabulously tolerant (of my aunties – their wives) and warm uncles ferried us to shopping malls and brought us around town.
Shan was more awed by and appreciative of these generous gestures because she does not have such encounters with relatives at home and also because, as a guest, it was her first experience of their hospitality. Looking through her eyes, I realized how I had taken this for granted and was reminded to appreciate them too. It made me remember how much family ties mean to me.
Shanci spent a lot of time with my grandma too. Mama, proficient in English, captivated Shan with her liveliness, stories and gossip.
While it was my Mum who handled the buying of train tickets and Ee Ee (my 4th aunt) whose penthouse we put up at for 2 nights, little things like taking a cab in KL (where most cab drivers speak only Malay – a language neither one of us were conversant in), finding our way around the monorail and LRT system there and walking around unsafe shopping complexes (sex and abduction crimes are so common even locals don’t feel safe in their own country) on our own did a boost to my confidence level vis-à-vis as a young independent capable female.
Perhaps I’m overrating the experience.
The shopping wasn’t as eventful. I didn’t fall head over heels in love with any particular piece of clothing that I bought. The round of shopping didn’t give me that “kick”. However, it was a fairly pleasant and nice break, lazing around for half the day at home and interacting with Ee Ee’s family, followed by a packed walking session in the selected mall for the day.
Shanci, my female companion, definitely did not get her shopping’s worth in KL (boy is she one fussy shopper). Unexpectedly, for both of us, what turned out to be the enjoyable and memorable element of the trip was the company of my relatives.
My fantabulously tolerant (of my aunties – their wives) and warm uncles ferried us to shopping malls and brought us around town.
Shan was more awed by and appreciative of these generous gestures because she does not have such encounters with relatives at home and also because, as a guest, it was her first experience of their hospitality. Looking through her eyes, I realized how I had taken this for granted and was reminded to appreciate them too. It made me remember how much family ties mean to me.
Shanci spent a lot of time with my grandma too. Mama, proficient in English, captivated Shan with her liveliness, stories and gossip.
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