I placed the arrow on the bow. I pulled it back as much as I could. I imagined myself to be Katniss Everdeen or Oliver Green while taking the shot. The arrow flew high and mighty. Yes! Yes, it’s going. The arrow flew and went… to the ground. 

Writing at 2:30 in the morning is always a bad idea but to quote a friend of mine, “People are more prone to opening up others at night time,”, so, there’s that. Anyway, I finished my internship experience yesterday. To be honest, I had no expectations about it when I went for the interview and when I first started. I’ve always imagined myself in a computer room sitting behind the desk. Another scenario would be having small talk with colleagues and having small chuckles. Then, there were so many things happening around me that my mind started to be filled with a thousand things I can write about regarding work but I have actually written none during that period.

Before I go on further, let’s take a look to the past, shall we? I have always figured I wouldn’t have the same perspectives on life had I not grown up in Kuching, a nice little quiet town filled with the nicest people. Compared to Ipoh, my hometown, Kuching is a less busier city and the pace of life is much slower. I moved to Kuching when I was 10 so the time I spent in my hometown was relatively short. I would be so different that I don’t think I will write all these stuff on my blog had I grown in my hometown. Different places, different cultures, different life.

They say a person is made from nature and nurture. I studied that in that one psychology course, which I did pretty reasonably for, might I add. Nature coming from your genetic makeup and nurture coming from your environment. My genetics probably make up a large aspect for what I am but my parents nurtured me a lot too but I don’t see them for half a day when I have school. Hence, a lot of my nurturing then came from my city too.

If I grew up in my hometown, I know I will be a much different person. Firstly, I probably would have asked my childhood crush to be my girlfriend. Secondly, I would have been much more distant from the church. I would probably be much more fluent in Cantonese than I am at the moment.

So, I came back from Sydney to do my internship in Ipoh. This time is different than the usual holidays cause I now have to be in the mix and started to know plenty of different people from different races, cultures and backgrounds. I also have to speak more Malay and Cantonese, which I have barely used in the last decade compared to the English language. I was a fish out of water if you will. It was my second shot at seeing what life in Ipoh would have been like had I grown up there.

During the internship, that image of me sitting behind a desk evaporated quickly. In fact, I did very little of that as I was mostly on site doing hands on work. Although I went to work not having any pre-determined expectations but it’s impossible not to as you hear people complain about work all the time. As an intern, it was part of my role to ask as many questions as I can. With questions then, you start to have conversations.

There might be someone that started a family when he was really young. There might be people who’s trying to feed a family of six. There might be a guy that gave up his dreams to take care of his parents. In a workplace that’s filled with the Malaysian diverse culture and people coming from different education and financial backgrounds, you start to realised how fortunate we are to even be breathing in this world. We complained when the internet stops for 5 seconds and we are constantly feeling the need to look for social gratification through social media but I have seen people who does not care about the Internet and certainly don’t give a damn about social media as the breadwinner’s responsibility was their main priority.

The luxuries, as great an enhancement that is to our life, the truth is life was never about that. We have an image of how we want to live a good life when we start working but a good life is not about a beautiful house and fanciful cars but rather it’s about the relationships you have with people and be content with the blessings God has given you. We always work hard and diligently to advance in our careers but when put into context, no one cares if you are a rocket scientist or a C.E.O of the company, what matters is you striving hard to contribute to society. We should have great careers not because we want great money but rather we want to increase the value of life to yourself and people around you.

That second shot at living in Ipoh? I found out that no matter where I am, the people make the difference. The truth is I would never have any idea about who I would have become had I grown up in my hometown as there’s so many factors involved. It’s ridiculous to assume anything. Put in any situation and in any city, there’s always the good and the bad but what matters is how you perceive yourself in that environment and how open and freely you are to accept others in your life willingly. Then we will learn a thing or two along the way that we will carry with us forever.

I took my bow. I stand back. I relaxed myself. I took everything in. Years have passed since that first shot. I didn’t think of how I look. I let go. Where did it went? It was everything I wanted it to be and much more.