A Tribute To My "Melbourne Family"

I was just having a heart-to-heart talk with Grace about friendship. We were discussing about how tightly knit we all are: Moo, Bambi, Rich, Jun and CE.

I told her that I believe that we will be friends forever; that even love doesn't last forever, hahaha! And besides our respective partners (or ex-partners), no one else understands us besides us. The world moves so quickly and people change ever so often and to have friends to see you through the change AND accept you for who you are, is truly a blessing. The friendship we share between us is one where no expectations are placed on one another, no pettiness, no one is calculative with one another and all we have is just genuine love, understanding and compassion.

During my teenage years, I never understood the true meaning of friendship. I constantly fell out with my secondary schoolmates, there was always an air of rivalry at school, and my "friends" were just "friends for fun". So I can never understand the meaning of "childhood friends".
The support that all of them have given me is worth more than anything in my life. Their kindness, generosity, sincerity and honesty has taught me so many things. I've become a better person because of them and I've learnt to be positive and less cynical. Every single time when I was down and out, there will be at least one of them around, guiding me and providing me with strength and supporting me all the way. I can't say the same thing about some of my relationships and even family members.

What's truly amazing is that despite the physical distance between all of us, we're still able to understand one another without having to converse every single day. And when all of us meet again, nothing would have changed - we'll still be sooo comfortable with one another.

When I look back at my life and all the people whom I've crossed paths with, I realised that I can't live without them...because they are one of the reasons who and how I am today. I'm so glad I didn't do well in my O levels, otherwise I would never have gone to Melbourne in the first place and I would never have gotten to know such amazing friends.

Thank you, guys! I love you with all my heart.