The Chinese couple sat on the "Picket & Rail" sofas with their 4 year old precocious boy. I needed to rest my legs and sat down on the love seat beside.
"Do you think it's comfortable?" the man said in an American accent.
"Uh...yeah. It's comfortable. Why?" Acting a bit Singaporean I was a bit shocked that a stranger spoke to me first. I think my face showed it.
"It reminds us of home. We like the stuff here." he chirped with a hint of homesickness in his eyes.
I sized them up and immediately empathized. They are new to Singapore and trying to make a life here.
"Where's home?" I asked.
Turns out they're from Orange County too (small, small world). The 4 year old doesn't like it here after 4 months (it's too hot). He's even expereinced teasing from the little Chinese Singaporean kids in a Sunday School class; because of his American accent.
They were raised in Singapore but have been in USA since college (15 years). They've recently moved back ("temporarily!") to be with dad after the death of mom late last year. They're having to learn the country as if they are foreigners and feel out of place. We could have just stayed for dinner and ordered pizza. Nice to be able to encourage them. Tell them I understand what they are going through and that if they stick it out, they'll be feeling at home here (just like us) within 3 years or so.
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