http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/s...ory_i_came_to_spore_to_study_because_ben.html
Love Story: I came to S'pore to study because Ben was enlisted for NS
STOMPer Dana decided to study in Singapore so that she could be with Ben, who had to return from California to serve the nation.
Dana shares her love story:
"We met in early January 2009. I was having a small reunion with two of my friends and we were quite bored when one of them suggested we prank call one of her good friends, Ben.
"What was supposed to be a prank call quickly turned into a conversation that lasted for almost an hour. My people instincts have always been good, and I wasn't sure why but I felt a need to get to know Ben better and that we could be friends. Soon we started talking constantly over AIM and text messages, because he went to a different high school across town.
"A week or so later we met for the first time at the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. And even before we dated, he did little things to show he cared, like when he came to watch a play I was in.
"When we first started dating on the 28th of February, I didn't know anything about Singapore, much less about National Service. Ben's family had moved to California five years previously, but he was supposed to be called back to serve after he graduated high school. The reality of this didn't hit me until I started university 2 hours away in August 2009 and he remained at home, waiting for his enlistment date.
"Seeing him while I was at university was hard enough, as I had to either hitch rides home or pay to take the train to and from school on weekends, but he was always there for me through the phone and computer. However, I wasn't sure that we would be able to keep up a healthy relationship for two years without seeing one another at all, and we began to fight more often as I started to push him away.
"There was one night I seriously began to contemplate breaking up with him, not because I didn't love him, but because I thought it would be best for both of us in the long run and couldn't see any other solution. Then the very next day I happened to walk past a study abroad table outside the school library. As it so happens, my school has an excellent study abroad program in Singapore (University of California--NUS).
"Whether you believe in those kind of things or not, I thought that it was a pretty clear sign. I made an appointment to see my counsellor the same day. The next thing I had to do was tell all my family and friends that I was going to study abroad in Singapore for a year. The most common response was, "You're going where?? Why?" I started to read up on Singapore and apply for some scholarships to make it easier for me to go.
"Ben ended up leaving to go back to Singapore in early February, missing what would have been our one year anniversary. I didn't see him again until April when he visited for one week, and then again until I arrived in Singapore late July, a total of almost 6 months.
"Every night he would make an effort to call me after BMT, even though he was exhausted, and I would get out of bed at 5-6AM to talk to him to avoid waking up my roommate. The only upside to this time was that I missed him so much so I just stayed home and studied, and ended up having a 4.0 GPA that semester.
"When I arrived in Singapore, I was scared and alone, but from the moment Ben picked me up from the airport he has gone above and beyond to look after me. Together we've explored all over Singapore. Maybe you've seen us together at the Zoo, Sentosa, Chinatown, Little India, on a bus or MRT, or even at a hawker center eating satay and drinking Milo.
"Ben lives with his grandparents, his aunt and uncle, and cousins, which at first was confusing to me because in the U.S. we generally start to leave home when we turn 18. In Singapore, it seems like dating and family is a package deal.
"Fortunately Ben's family has been incredibly gracious and kind to me, I can't thank them enough. They think it's funny that I now love the TV show Ai (from watching it with them so much), and that I wore Chinese dresses for my first Chinese New Year celebrations this year.
"Where we used to live, in the San Francisco-Bay Area, our relationship isn't as much of a big deal because Americans are of all different races, but here we get a lot of stares when we hold hands.
"Ben jokes that someone is going to crash one day because they'll be too busy staring at us walking by, or that someone will put a picture of us on STOMP just because we're an unusual couple. Well, I decided that before that happens I would surprise him and be the one to share our story.
"Not everyone understands why I went to all these lengths to be together with Ben. It's simply because he is the nicest, most caring person I have ever met and he deserves a girl who would follow him across the world.
"Even though it meant leaving everything I had behind, I didn't want to give up on our relationship because I didn't want to always wonder "what if" I passed up this great guy whom I love so much. Ben always thinks of other people before himself. The sweetest thing is how kind and thoughtful he around his younger sister and cousins.
"When he went back to the U.S. for a few days in January to take care of some important business, he stopped by my house to visit my mother and brought my 3 year old sister a birthday present. He is always considerate and says that I'm his first and last thought every day.
"Even when we were apart, he encouraged me to try new things and meet new people without being jealous or possessive. He gives good advice, has a sense of humour, and can put up with his sometimes moody girlfriend. He's my rock. What more could a girl ask for?
"I also know that no matter what happens, I made the right decision. Thanks to him, I've learned so much about Singapore, it's food, it's people, and it's culture, and I even changed my minor to Southeast Asia Studies. I'm also very shy, but I started learning Chinese so I could speak to his grandmother.
"Stepping out of my comfort zone has made me a stronger person, but it's not without challenges, and without Ben's support I wouldn't have grown to love him and Singapore as much as I do now. And even though we've both changed so much in two years, Ben and I are very happy enjoying life together and I can't wait to see what the next year will bring. Ben, I love you so much! Your girlfriend, Dana"
Love Story: I came to S'pore to study because Ben was enlisted for NS
STOMPer Dana decided to study in Singapore so that she could be with Ben, who had to return from California to serve the nation.
Dana shares her love story:
"We met in early January 2009. I was having a small reunion with two of my friends and we were quite bored when one of them suggested we prank call one of her good friends, Ben.
"What was supposed to be a prank call quickly turned into a conversation that lasted for almost an hour. My people instincts have always been good, and I wasn't sure why but I felt a need to get to know Ben better and that we could be friends. Soon we started talking constantly over AIM and text messages, because he went to a different high school across town.
"A week or so later we met for the first time at the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. And even before we dated, he did little things to show he cared, like when he came to watch a play I was in.
"When we first started dating on the 28th of February, I didn't know anything about Singapore, much less about National Service. Ben's family had moved to California five years previously, but he was supposed to be called back to serve after he graduated high school. The reality of this didn't hit me until I started university 2 hours away in August 2009 and he remained at home, waiting for his enlistment date.
"Seeing him while I was at university was hard enough, as I had to either hitch rides home or pay to take the train to and from school on weekends, but he was always there for me through the phone and computer. However, I wasn't sure that we would be able to keep up a healthy relationship for two years without seeing one another at all, and we began to fight more often as I started to push him away.
"There was one night I seriously began to contemplate breaking up with him, not because I didn't love him, but because I thought it would be best for both of us in the long run and couldn't see any other solution. Then the very next day I happened to walk past a study abroad table outside the school library. As it so happens, my school has an excellent study abroad program in Singapore (University of California--NUS).
"Whether you believe in those kind of things or not, I thought that it was a pretty clear sign. I made an appointment to see my counsellor the same day. The next thing I had to do was tell all my family and friends that I was going to study abroad in Singapore for a year. The most common response was, "You're going where?? Why?" I started to read up on Singapore and apply for some scholarships to make it easier for me to go.
"Ben ended up leaving to go back to Singapore in early February, missing what would have been our one year anniversary. I didn't see him again until April when he visited for one week, and then again until I arrived in Singapore late July, a total of almost 6 months.
"Every night he would make an effort to call me after BMT, even though he was exhausted, and I would get out of bed at 5-6AM to talk to him to avoid waking up my roommate. The only upside to this time was that I missed him so much so I just stayed home and studied, and ended up having a 4.0 GPA that semester.
"When I arrived in Singapore, I was scared and alone, but from the moment Ben picked me up from the airport he has gone above and beyond to look after me. Together we've explored all over Singapore. Maybe you've seen us together at the Zoo, Sentosa, Chinatown, Little India, on a bus or MRT, or even at a hawker center eating satay and drinking Milo.
"Ben lives with his grandparents, his aunt and uncle, and cousins, which at first was confusing to me because in the U.S. we generally start to leave home when we turn 18. In Singapore, it seems like dating and family is a package deal.
"Fortunately Ben's family has been incredibly gracious and kind to me, I can't thank them enough. They think it's funny that I now love the TV show Ai (from watching it with them so much), and that I wore Chinese dresses for my first Chinese New Year celebrations this year.
"Where we used to live, in the San Francisco-Bay Area, our relationship isn't as much of a big deal because Americans are of all different races, but here we get a lot of stares when we hold hands.
"Ben jokes that someone is going to crash one day because they'll be too busy staring at us walking by, or that someone will put a picture of us on STOMP just because we're an unusual couple. Well, I decided that before that happens I would surprise him and be the one to share our story.
"Not everyone understands why I went to all these lengths to be together with Ben. It's simply because he is the nicest, most caring person I have ever met and he deserves a girl who would follow him across the world.
"Even though it meant leaving everything I had behind, I didn't want to give up on our relationship because I didn't want to always wonder "what if" I passed up this great guy whom I love so much. Ben always thinks of other people before himself. The sweetest thing is how kind and thoughtful he around his younger sister and cousins.
"When he went back to the U.S. for a few days in January to take care of some important business, he stopped by my house to visit my mother and brought my 3 year old sister a birthday present. He is always considerate and says that I'm his first and last thought every day.
"Even when we were apart, he encouraged me to try new things and meet new people without being jealous or possessive. He gives good advice, has a sense of humour, and can put up with his sometimes moody girlfriend. He's my rock. What more could a girl ask for?
"I also know that no matter what happens, I made the right decision. Thanks to him, I've learned so much about Singapore, it's food, it's people, and it's culture, and I even changed my minor to Southeast Asia Studies. I'm also very shy, but I started learning Chinese so I could speak to his grandmother.
"Stepping out of my comfort zone has made me a stronger person, but it's not without challenges, and without Ben's support I wouldn't have grown to love him and Singapore as much as I do now. And even though we've both changed so much in two years, Ben and I are very happy enjoying life together and I can't wait to see what the next year will bring. Ben, I love you so much! Your girlfriend, Dana"
