When I was an undergrad at Nanyang Technological University, I spent a great deal of time studying at fast food restaurants and shopping malls. I received news that one of my favorite location--Jurong East Entertainment Center. will be demolished, replaced by a new mega mall. JE Entertainment Center is basically a cineplex, a small mall by Singapore's standard. Three storeys high, there was a bakery, a few restaurants, an arcade center, and an ice skating ring on top of a variety of movies to choose form. The new mega mall will be among the largest in Singapore, and will attract Singaporeans living in the west side of the island.
(left) JE Entertainment Center before (picture courtesy of wikimapia.org); (right) JE Entertainment Center currently (picture courtesy of straitstimes.com).
Somewhat sadden, JE Entertainment Center is a place that my good memories would visit. I had spent much of my exam period mugging on the same stone table and chair at the corner at the 2nd level of the mall. The 3rd level was the ice skating ring with few visitors. The 2nd level housed an arcade center. Movie trailers played over and over again from the mall's large TV and speakers. This was my study environment.
At every hour, I would spend 5-15 mins strolling around the mall, as well as the neighborhood. I would leave my bag unattended at the same stone table. I am aware that someone might take it. I doubted it. I am not worried. I would take the walk without knowing where I will go. The walk was my break, to take my mind off the study as well as the stress. The walk was blissful. I walk around, sniffing at the bakery and see if any of the bread would wake up my taste bud. Then, I would walk out of the cineplex. I can go to the regional library, or to the busier market place. At the regional library was more books, so I would normally head to the market place, where the crowd made me feel alive. I would drop by some of the shops. Being a student, I had not much to spend, but at times, you can pick up useful and unexpectedly cheap things. When I was contented, I would head back to my stone table, to find my things intact and untouched, and continue where I left off.
I missed the place. But on second thought, maybe it was not the place that I missed. It was the routine, and carefree-ness. During these exam period, everyone else was stressed out. But me alone at the JE Entertainment Center, was much entertained by the buzzed. The hourly walk was calming. Few things perturbed me.
The passing of JE Entertainment Center perhaps somewhat represented the passing of this way of life. It seems far behind when I can work through my daily life with the same peacefulness. Perhaps if I still had that carefree-ness, JE Entertainment Center would always be there, at the present moment.
Reflected upon this, it now appears clear what is wrong. JE Entertainment Center may be gone, but it is not gone. It represents a potential--my potential. I can bring it back to me.
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