What I Miss

Good discussions. Even if there are no conclusions. More often than not, I learn a lot from discussions.

Sure, not those long-drawn discussions at meetings where time spent talking = productivity drop.

Those tutorial and lecture discussions in university - I miss them a lot.

These days, there are very few people whom I can meet up and strike a good conversation with. More often than not, we'll be discussing marriage, family and children. Or how everyone else is tired of their job.

And none of those topics I have much interest in, as you already know.

But yesterday I met with Jodie (just Jodie alone - Baby Lucas was at home with Daddy Bryan), and we were at dinner for only about one and a half hours, but conversation was great!

Sure, there's the usual, "How's work?" and "How's Lucas?"

But we talked on and on about what we used to in school!

The digital media/music industry, business and social factors contributing to the rise (or lack thereof) of digital media in Asia, the immigrant and uprooting trend, etc etc etc.

And these topics arose from our everyday life - the dismal digital growth in Singapore despite our country being affluent (my job), the unfair treatment of PRs in Singapore (Jodie's struggle to make ends meet living in Singapore), how we both do not want to live in our own countries despite the economic prosperity and development evident.

I truly miss having discussions like these. We made insights into our own research and I may even have a broader picture of my thesis to come - more options at the beginning is always a good thing.

With other people, I always get the vibe that they are trying to make some intellectual comment but they do not know anything much about the situation.

For example - the taxi fare hikes. One of my friends said that it is not the fault of the government, the private companies need to be berated instead. I think she needs to look up how the Public Transport Council and other such statutory boards are linked to the government, who sits on the boards, etc. Perhaps think a little deeper into the situation and make the right connections. The world is not as innocent as you would like it to be.

But that's another story altogether.

I had a great time with Jodie last night, and I hope she did too, even if it was for only two hours.

And congrats, Jodie, for being chosen to present your paper at the ICA Conference 2012 in Arizona. You've earned it! <3