Thought my second post would not come almost immediately after my first but I just have to post this...
One of my closest secondary school friends, Isaac (better known as YY), as of now, is currently on a plane to Argentina via South Africa. He will be embarking on a 4-year journey of knowledge by pursuing a Degree in Philosophy (conducted in Spanish) as well as to learn Tango in a country where one of the best footballers of all time, Diego Armando Maradona, was born some 46 years ago. Anyway YY, among our clique, has always been different - loud, adventurous, outgoing, everchanging, trendy, a bit of cockiness and confidence in himself. Oh, did I mention that he was also a ladies man? Most gals will find him charming and I can see why.
Despite all these years of shocking antics from YY that our clique has gradually come to grasp with, his journey to Argentina was still a shocker. With all due respect to Argentina, it really isn't a top choice for most Singaporeans to further their studies. Furthermore, he has to learn a new language. Perhaps the most shocking of all was a conversation that transpired during a recent farewell dinner for him and Long-ge..
Douglas: So what's your plans for the stay in Argentina?
YY: Actually... I only made concrete plans for the 1st week of my stay... After that, its a see-how approach...
All of us: ..........................................
For those who knows YY, "typical YY" might be an appropriate conclusion to his see-how approach. He did however explain later at the dinner that he is tired of being a normal Singaporean - going to school to get your qualifications, setting goals or objectives to achieve, working hard to earn money and finally retiring when you have earned enough. YY says he did not want such a predictable life. "Wouldn't it be challenging to wake up not knowing what the future holds for you?" was what he said to round off his explanation. My immediate thought was there is a limit to leading an unpredictable life and this was far too much. Going to Argentina for four years but having a concrete plan for only the first week?
I can safely say that if I were the one to go Argentina in a state like YY, I will never survive past one week. I am a typical Singaporean. But we are talking about YY now. In my opinion, he is just that bit different. YY is intelligent, determined and most important of all, he is receptive to change. His intelligence is never doubted, though intelligence almost always comes with a negative trait - laziness (I am lazy so does that makes me.....). YY's determination is somewhat refined in the Army where he had to use his determination to pull through so many stern tests in the Army. His receptiveness to change springs from the fact that he has a happy-go-lucky character and he is most likely to try anything new than all of us.
When he left Singapore on the airplane, I was not at the airport to bade him farewell. On hindsight, I should have skipped class as I did not really learn anything from that lesson. I will miss him. Our clique will miss him. Those who knows him personally will miss him. He did mentioned that he will return to Singapore in nine months time before going back to Argentina again, so till then take care my friend...
Adiós, amigo...
