Ripples

I stared with utter disbelief at my miniature laptop screen as I read about the tsunami that had struck and destroyed a myriad of islands and lands in Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, India and Maldives. My first thought when I realised its catastrophic effects: what will happen to the families of my Sri Lankan and Indian national friends back in their hometowns? Are they safe at places that were not affected? Thankfully, I found out today that they were mostly on sacred grounds away from the areas of disasters. My friend's house back home was only 2.5km away from the nearest flood site, situated up on a hill, stoic and unbattered. Another friend's loved ones lived at the northwestern corner of India, furthest away from vulnerability. I rang up my family in Singaland to ensure that none had travelled beyond our secured boundaries.

It was just so surreal as I recalled relaxing by the Indian Ocean coastline at Fremantle Perth with my parents 2 weeks ago. It would have been beyond our utmost imagination if the dynamic waves had chosen to strike in the opposite direction instead. What a way to have ended Year 2004.

Certainly there have been ripples in my life pond since the second half of the year. It had been stagnant and predictable for a long time and I was not expecting a huge tsunami of any sort.

I remembered heralding the new eventful year doing my psychiatric term in the eastern shore, listening attentively to the upheavals and troughs of the mentally-ill poor souls whose lives had been rippled, some acutely while others for a long while. My first expedition ever to Tasmania all by myself did cause a ripple among my colleagues who had been holed up in their comfortable wells all their lives, though it would not have raised any eyebrow in my more adventurous friends abroad.

My family went through a short period of tumult and turbulence, as my dad battled depression. Fortunately it was overpowered, thanks to the wondrous effects of SSRIs.

The major decision to tender my resignation abruptly (not after a gastronomical payout of my cursed bond) and leave my comfort zone at home marked the turning point in my year, not before creating a small ripple in the Paediatric Emergency department as everyone frantically asked for my reason. It was imaginable considering the contentment we should have as we held on to our iron ricebowl in the profession, though assailed with waves of dissatisfaction and frustration during the course of our work.

The path taken to uproot myself to a new environment and country has been a mini-tsunami for me. I was like a vulnerable sampan (small wooden boat, in Malay) floating with uncertainty in the huge precarious ocean, encountering merciless storms along the journey, panged with fears and loneliness. The beacon of hope and faith eventually emerged from the lighthouse which offered stability and widened horizons.

The people responsible for the 'good' ripples in my life - I could never have expressed more gratitude and respect for them. From the offer of my current job, to their encouragement and assistance in making all these possible, and my recent stroke of luck after an acquaintance with a kind Aussie professor....I have my guardian angels to be thankful to.

And my newfound confidants in the new land who have positively rippled my social life....perhaps a future companion to ripple my love pond as well (I know I need to actively pitch a stone to make that happen).....

I look forward to the coming new year, hopefully accompanied by a dashing phenomenal wave this time, complete with fireworks and confetti. My prayers at this moment would be with the survivors of the tunami tragedy, that they may have the strength and determination to overcome further trials and difficulties, and that the perished may rest in peace.