The Birthday Party

The funeral debacle marked a turning point in my status at the HDB estate here at Serangoon Avenue 4. I think I've now made the transition from stranger (regarded with suspicion) to guest (which nets forgiveness for naive behavior and brings attention and hospitality). In small communities, news travels fast, and my antics Saturday night were certainly gossip worthy under any circumstances. Curiosity about me, already at a high (but distant) level, ratcheted up to the point that people took action.

Typically, as I've walked through the Boundary Ville (my HDB estate, or apartment complex) I've been aware of people looking at me in curiosity, noting that I'm "out of place" (not staring, at least not obviously) but no overtures, friendly or unfriendly, either. I smile and say hello, the most I ever got back was a nod, or maybe more accurately, a slight bow after I spoke. So I was surprised Sunday afternoon when a woman I'd seen and said hi to several times (but who never responded beyond that slight bow) spoke to me. If I still wanted to learn more about Chinese culture, she said, I could come to the birthday party under Building 224 on Sunday night.

"What time does it start?" I asked. "You'll know" she said "when you hear the noise." Hmmm. That sounded suspiciously like the trigger to my problems the day before. But lightening won't strike twice in the same place, I figured. So I waited for the noise Sunday evening.

Her invitation to the birthday party was the first spontaneous conversation (except with funeral guests) I've had in Boundary Ville. I did want to have an opportunity to demonstrate to my neighbors that I'm not a crazy ang moh (foreigner, applied to all Westerners; literal translation, red-haired), to try to repair my tattered reputation (if I had one to begin with). I happily accepted and waited for the noise.

This time, though, I was more cautious. I let the "event" proceed for more than an hour before I joined. I observed bits of it from several vantage points, to be absolutely sure this wasn't another funeral or solemn event, camera stowed safely in my purse. The music this time was not a Taoist priest and chanters. Even I knew it was karaoke--this time, professional, loud and lots of it. Several performers (a man in a strange wig and yellow sparkly see through shirt, a woman dressed in a hot pink go-go outfit, and another in a blue cocktail dress) were the featured performers, obviously hired as the entertainment for the party.


Individuals and families (this was an all age group event) in the audience sat around tables, there were coolers full of beer (lots being consumed), a scrumptious buffet meal, and a table on a stage with presents. Looked like a birthday party to me. Relieved of the risk of making another horrible social gaffe, I joined the partygoers.