jetta's right... although the younger generation tend to go for
designer labels, here, there is no obsession with branded and
ostentatious goods, unlike in SG. I'm happy with the fact that in
general, people here let you be and they don't place a huuuuuge
emphasis on your physical appearance. So yeah... I have stopped
focusing on the shallower things in life.
I've seen Aussie men dating plump / fat girls here and it seems
as if most of them really do look at the lady's inner beauty,
unlike in SG where it's just empty words and promises nia, but
seldom put into actual practice. I can feel like shit walking
down the street in Singapore no matter how nicely I dress up
because you can almost tell what they are thinking, "Pity she's too
fat!". 
But here, I do get the occasional looks cast
my way and it does make me feel good! 
Back in SG, there's a HUGE discrimination
based on one's physical appearance - if you're not chio, if you're
not petite, it's almost a sin to be alive! 
I feel so unfettered and free here!
I've also stopped going to the movies because the movie tickets
are way too expensive. I now wait for DVD sales where the
prices can be lower than the price of one cinema tix!
I've become rather houseproud ... in a way. I love love
love my apartment! It's the first time I've really felt this
way about my abode! Because household goods and bedlinen
sales are genuinely fantastic here, I have, for the first time in
my life, started to coordinate bedspreads and cushions, etc.
I have a few lovely sets of bedlinen that I change according to the
season. In Singapore, I did have nice bedsheets but it's just
not the same as "dressing up" your bed with quilt covers and
stuff!
I thought I was independant back in SG cause I moved out when I
was 21, but coming here, I truly understand what it really means to
be 'independant'. I've become more resilient, learnt how to
communicate more in a more shallow manner (ie. pepper the
conversation with strangers with tons of niceties that don't really
mean a thing, which is something the Aussies seem to love ), and I've definitely become more practical.
I used to be really 'airy-fairy' back home but being all alone here
has hit home the fact that hey, I'd better plan for my future...
and plan it well! I've had to swallow a few bitter pills as I
learnt about myself and my approach to life, but it's all made me
stronger inside.
It's strange but where I used to be confident to the point of
being cocky, I experience a curious mix of confidence one day, and
then I crash the next and lose it all. But it's all good
cause I'm learning and I always spring back on my feet.
