A Singaporean Afro; Chapter 1

I have an Afro.

There. I said it. I have an Afro and I'm one of the rare breeds of South East Asian people to be blessed with hair like mine.

And I have to verify that over the last three years, I have not had a haircut, like, a proper haircut, meaning, short and neat haircut like the faces that you see out there everyday, and I'm proud of it.

Because for one, my hair stands out from the countless sea of black straight hair, or the wave of reddish, golden-ish highlighted hair that at least 68% of the population seem to possess.

And the first lesson that you learn and live by for the rest of your magnanimous hair days is the attention that you attract with that embodiment that screams out you.

If you referred to my other blog, you would have had my share of experience with my hair and I'll tell you what to expect from the general public and your peers. People will find you amusing just at the fact that you have such wonderfully curly hair growing at a rate of at least 5 cm a day. The old would be reminded of the days back in the 70's where they would remember Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley and the young would be reminded of the funny clown that would one day haunt their dreams as they realize the horror behind that painted face of joy and happiness.

You would be that experience where they would cry out and laugh because they cannot believe that you possess such a thing. Is it an anomaly? Is it a thing of beauty?

Your peers would be fascinated and fall into two categories where they would either get tired and/or jealous of your hair or they would very much appreciate your hair for what it is and ask you to keep it. Thing is, you don't have to give a fuck on what people think anymore because you are what you are and you have that decision on what you want to do. True, you have until your army days but what the heck, might as well just live with it while you still can.

The first lesson of A Singaporean Afro: Attention. Because this isn't America with African Americans roaming around with afroes to make it a norm. And people would stare because you are one of a kind and it'll get you far some day.