Sent Laurent off at the airport today! Feel sad that he's leaving for Belgium. He's only here for one semester you see. He's a really independent guy, having to live on his own in Singapore for 4 months, doing with the most minimal living. Perhaps it's because he lives on his own during the weekdays when he's studying back in Belgium. I could never do that. I need my Mummy around 24/7. He was all dressed up when we saw him, clad in a neatly ironed blazer and collared shirt, with jeans and leather shoes.

Athey: Oei! Why you wear like that? You really going to seat in business class mehz?

Laurent: No, it's 10 degrees in Belgium right now, it would be freezing when I reached there, so I need to wear like that.

Athey: Hui Hui! I feel so lok kok standing next to him.......(looks at luggage trolley) Wei what is this?? What is this?? Laurent!! Where did this dirty pillow come from?

Laurent: What dirty? It's not dirty, it's very clean!! It's my pillow I bought it in Singapore.

Athey: Wah lao, very pai seh you put in your trolley lei, so many people see....

Laurent: What? (Laurent doesn't understand Singlish but he can tell what you're saying by looking at your body language) It's not dirty okay!! I washed it every week!

Athey: Then you going to bring it up the plane and hug it? So pai seh!!

Laurent: Not hug, but lie my head against it!

Athey sighs and then giggles.

Why doesn't Laurent smile!! He seems more sad than us.

And he refused to do a funny face for the camera. HRUMPH!

Laurent never fails to amuse me. He got the details on his air ticket incorrect, and went to the wrong terminal instead. At Terminal 1, he found his luggage to be too heavy. He threw his precious pillow on the floor, and place a smaller hand luggage on the floor, spontaneoulsy opened his huge luggage, dragged out a huge grey bedsheet, a pair of kaki pants, some unwanted document, and threw all of these in a nearby rubbish bin. I didn't think those would save the lugage some weight.

Athey: (looks on in disbelief) Wah lao!! He just threw his pillow on the floor!

Hui Hui: (looks at me in shock as well) Ya lor!! So dirty, still say clean!

Laurent: Ah, never mind. I think the floor is pretty clean. Athey laughs.

Hui Hui: Even if you think the floor is clean, you shouldn't throw it on the floor! The floor is also not very clean wat....

Laurent ignores us and continues to unpack.

The cleaner came along to clear the rubbish bin, and found many 'treasures'! He took the bedsheet and folded it nicely, placed it on his trolley, and resumed exploring the bin. We were pretty sure he would take the kaki pants, but he didn't. He did not even do his job - to replace the garbage bag. He probably forgot about his task after digging Laurent's unwanted 'treasures'.

I was laughing non-stop the whole time. Laurent didn't think it was funny; instead he was delighted to have made someone happy whereas he was only too glad to have removed some weight off his luggage!















Athey and Laurent

Athey: So you really didn't get any souvenirs for your family and girlfriend?

Laurent shakes head nonchalantly.

Hui Hui: Then what about your girlfriend? Really nothing?

Laurent: No.

Athey: Hey at least get something la! She'll be so happy! Later you go the transit-transfer there shop shop. Get some perfume or make-up.

Laurent: Do you know it's more expensive to buy perfume and alcohol in the airport even though it's duty free? (shrugs) Never mind I'll get her something in Belgium.

Athey looks at Hui Hui.

Athey: HUH!! Do you know it makes a lot of difference whether you buy something in Singapore or something in Belgium! Then what's the point if you buy it in Belgium?

Hui Hui: Ya lor!!

Laurent shrugs and smiles it off.

HRUMPH!! Laurent very one kuan de lei.

Laurent will only reach Belgium at 4pm. He has to stop-over at London Heathrow Airport first. I hope he will have a safe journey. Ru and I made a 'black-book' for him, containing photos of our previous outing and some other stuff. I hope this serves as a good memory of his time in Singapore.

I'm sure his girlfriend will be so happy to see him after 4 months!! She's so lucky to have a guy like him. They have been dating for 3 years already! He'll make a good husband for being so independent, adaptable, sweet and funny.

Keep in touch my friend!