Writer’s Workshop- Where I am from
SIngapore © by jjcb
I am from chocolate cake baking in the oven, from Disney Junior on the television and Thomas the train and friends invasions on the bedroom floors.
I am from the island city, bright lights, highrise apartments and multiple smells from the neighbors cooking.
I am from the bouganvillas hanging from the overhead bridge, the palm trees that line the road as you drive along the coast.
I am from Pranakan heritage and wearing of sarong kabaya and cheongsams , from the Chuas and Cheoks and Gohs .
I am from the middle class aspiring to be rich and excellent story weavers. From the children’s tales of Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
I am from Catholic roots, Sunday masses and being baptized as a baby.
I’m from Singapore , beef stew and ngoh hiang being the staple dishes at Chinese New Year gatherings .
From the twenty year old who was match made by his parents with his eighteen year old bride.The teacher who married a sailor and ancestors who come from neighbouring Malaysia and China.
I am from photo albums which have been recently scanned and circulated via Picasa online, facebook photos and stacks of albums of assorted sizes filled with photos in our photo chest at my parent’s house.
September 22, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
Okay, I loved this! What a great idea. I may just have to borrow the idea later down the line.
September 22, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
Now I want some chocolate cake. But seriously, what a great writing exercise! You’ve captured so many different parts of your family!
September 22, 2011 @ 3:23 pm
This is a super piece of writing. As Stef says, a great idea. We are all made up from such ‘bits’!
September 22, 2011 @ 5:36 pm
Did you love writing this? I so loved writing mine.
It’s fascinating what we choose to include. I loved the mix of bright lights, big city with the bouganvillas and palm trees.
I’ve never been to Singapore but I’ve always wanted to – even more so now.
Here via Mama Kat.
September 22, 2011 @ 6:06 pm
I liked this idea too! Thank you.
September 22, 2011 @ 7:32 pm
Visiting from Mama Kat’s. I love reading everyone’s posts about their upbringing.
Thanks for sharing. (I also chose this prompt.)
September 22, 2011 @ 10:56 pm
Stopping in from Mama Kat’s. I love everyone’s “Where I’m From” posts. I’m seeing so many similarities among the differences. My granny told me the same stories deep in the piney woods of East Texas.
September 22, 2011 @ 10:56 pm
I just loved this! It’s such a great glimpse into origins so very different, but yet the same as mine…
September 22, 2011 @ 11:10 pm
How wonderful to be from a family of story weavers!
September 22, 2011 @ 11:15 pm
@Jdaniel4smom,
You don’t know the perils of being among story weavers. Your story or information gets twisted and transformed to Version C or D ( like when you play broken telephone) with a lot of added ” spice” in it.
September 22, 2011 @ 11:54 pm
This is fascinating! I love all the different cultural references coming out in these. Great job!
Visiting via Mama Kat.
September 23, 2011 @ 3:56 am
Your story has such an amazing blend of the familiar and the new to me- love!
September 24, 2011 @ 1:56 am
I am glad I stopped for a little while longer to read this post. It is a very unique and moving post.
September 24, 2011 @ 5:18 am
What a totally delightful post!!! Bravo!!!
September 24, 2011 @ 1:34 pm
Wow! That’s very interesting!
September 25, 2011 @ 12:10 am
What a great idea for a post. Our heritage and experiences are such an important part of who we are!
I love your photo. Fantastic!
September 28, 2011 @ 7:29 pm
What a wonderfully clever answer to the ‘age old’ question!
I loved the creativity and unique perspective you used here.
Really, really a special read.
Thank you for sharing it.
A+