I have been exposed to British things since I was born. I moved to Serangoon Gardens, a suburb whose street names are British. I remember having learnt to bake Queen Cakes, Butterfly Cakes, Sardine Sandwiches and Victoria Sandwich Cake during Home Economics class in secondary school. These are essentially British food. I remember seeing one of the Art teachers wearing a hat to school. It made her unique from the rest of the school teachers, and she did it with such finesse. She was not conscious of being the only one to do so. Somehow it seemed to fit her hairdo too :) Since Singapore was a British colony, my first language is English, whose written version follows that of British English.
My exposure escalated as I embarked on my English Literature degree. The works I studied had British texts and where more suitable to get the degree from than the University of London? My favourite authors were Alexander Pope, Richard Sheridan, William Blake, John Keats, Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Tennyson. I also got to study the history of England, which still fascinates me even till today.
Graduating was not the end of English Literature for me. The degree only served to boost my love for the English authors. I have a nostalgic feeling for the English poets and have developed a fanaticism for Jane Austen, especially her characters of the Darcys. Agatha Christie and her detectives is also a favourite of mine. I love even more British television programmes, both in quantity and quality. My favourite accent is definitely the British accent. It sounds very cultured to me.
I have gone to England four times now but it was the most recent trip that caused my passion to overflow. I got to finally go to Bath which is associated with Austen. As a result of this trip, I have cultivated a love for English country cottage decor, my latest craze. I have also relished in the delights of English fashion and food. In my journey of appreciation, I have discovered that my exposure to the latter is far greater than I thought. I remember having eaten Quality Sweets, Butterscotch sauce and Peach Melba with ecstasy as a young girl.My second trip was a catalyst for tennis as one of my favourite sport to watch. I had been a spectator at The Queen's Club for a Stella Artois Tennis tournament. Watching it 'live' had me blown away, as I soaked in the atmosphere.
