The courage to leave

[aster]

I have similar feelings about most malls on a Sunday.

[nakatago]

tru dat.

[the lynx]

I would be petrified of even venturing into public transport system on peak hours...

[Manthink]

I think the OP is local, truth be known. Having to leave their protected cocoon would be enough to scare most any of them, having to do without the support of mommy or the maid.

Ironic then that there is a dedicated government department (Contact Singapore) tasked with persuading those who have left to return.

When I read above both statements together, they oddly contradicts yet agreed with one another:

One typifies the local as cocooned-comfy who fears venturing out, while another exemplifies adaptive-ness.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yeah, but the second doesn't work that well. They've been trying for years. I don't know why they bother, almost all immigrated Singaporeans eventually return before 10 years are up. There are some, naturally who thrive away from the little red dot, but the larger bunch always cite the lack of Singapore tucker as the reason for returning.

[JR8]

I think the OP is local, truth be known. Having to leave their protected cocoon would be enough to scare most any of them, having to do without the support of mommy or the maid.

Ironic then that there is a dedicated government department (Contact Singapore) tasked with persuading those who have left to return.

When I read above both statements together, they oddly contradicts yet agreed with one another:

One typifies the local as cocooned-comfy who fears venturing out, while another exemplifies adaptive-ness.

My take on the latter is that SGns with the nous to leave in the first place often realise that they don't want to go back to the limitations of Disneypore. And, SGns with nous to leave and set up abroad are precisely the kind of people that the gahmen wish wouldn't leave in the first place.

p.s. edit to add.
I think the difference between SMS's and my take on this is maybe that he is including SGns posted abroad by SGn employers, whereas I am talking about people who make a personal decision to leave.

[beppi]

The secret, if there is one, is to never walk away from home, but towards an exciting adventure.
Every move I did (and there were many) enriched my life with new aspects and gave me a chance to discard old ones that weren't that good. The world is getting ever smaller and more interconnected, so there's rarely a need to forgo the better aspects of a place even after you move away. It might require some effort (thus is not for the lazy bums), but in my opinion that's well worth spending, since this way I can build my life from the best of many cultures, not just one.
I am a "glass half full"-person, so it works for me. Not sure about you, though.
In any case, there's nothing terrifying about a new place other than what you make out of it in your imagination!

[Mad Scientist]

When I read above both statements together, they oddly contradicts yet agreed with one another:

One typifies the local as cocooned-comfy who fears venturing out, while another exemplifies adaptive-ness.

Singaporean cocooned-comfy, I have to agree
Singaporean in overseas adaptive-ness? You have got to be joking !!

[bramblesteen]

Thanks for all the replies guys. They give me much insight.

And yes I am a local, no doubt about it. And going overseas is my decision because as others said, I am a cocooned and pampered local and I need to get out of this cycle of dependency that I have on my family. Leaving my family and friends isn't really what frightens me actually. I'm more concerned about leaving my beloved (and rather aged) dogs and wondering if they would be gone the next time I return...

But another main reason that I'm terrified is that when I'm overseas I'm going to have to talk to everyone. Being selectively mute when I was younger, this kind of freaks me out though I'm not as bad as I was ten years ago. This is more of a personal issue though.

I'm going to take the advice of people here and treat it as an adventure rather than displacement. It would be fun.

[sundaymorningstaple]

That's the spirit!

[sundaymorningstaple]

OH, one other thing. The selective muteness. I was an extreme introvert when I was young. Believe me, you will grow out of it.

[x9200]

And please do not try to talk to everyone

[poodlek]

And please do not try to talk to everyone

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being on the quiet side! You didn't say where you are headed...?

I can understand your hesitance to leave the doggies. I would be sad to do that too, but going away to school, chances are, you will be able to come home to visit at least once a year. And when you get there, you will probably be too busy to spend much time being homesick.

[nutnut]

Yah, too busy getting drunk, high and laid...

Isn't that what college students do?

I suppose it depends where you go to!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Looking at the Asian results in US Universities, it would appear that they give most of the stuff a miss.

Going to Uni doesn't quite have the same connotations as it does for us angmohs!