2) It reminds me of the stories my grandparents and parents used to share - where they'd run after school to get the best snacks, or look forward to weekends where the whole family would feast on a bowl of $1 Laksa from the corner shop; or even the simplest tea & biscuits which were seen as a treat.

3) She does not want the younger kids to forget the Singapore that once was - especially now where tech & city life has become normalised and the life to seek. There is value in our past and she brings it back through this book.

2) does not resonate with me because i have never lived in such a place.

3) Author wants to share her childhood experiences as a person growing up in the 60s with the children today. The children today would not have experienced Singapore the way the writer had.

2.2) It does not resonate with me as I did not grow up in such a landscape. I am more familiar with the densely populated housing estates with many HDB flats.

2.3) Perhaps Ovidia wants the younger generations or foreigners to know about Singapore's past and how any kind of place can turn into one's home with the right "ingredients/people".

2) Family outings to parks and beaches. Some were with extended family members. Such "excursions" do not happen now as everyone is just too busy. Evokes nice memories of picnic and games.

3) The children of today are cooped up at home playing online games. She wants her young readers to know that children back then were usually outdoors and playing and all.

The scene reminded me of childhood visits to coastal villages like Pulau Ubin, and of elders sharing with me about how Singapore was like in the past - stories of old fishing towns, or stories of generations past, where life moved at a slower pace.

I think Ovidia wanted to encourage children to remember Singapore’s history as a fishing village before it became a modern city. It also highlights the importance of nature especially the mangroves and the sea, which have played a vital role in Singapore’s environment and way of life.

2) I have never experienced Singapore during that period. Additionally, I am not a nature loving person. So this description is very distant for me.

3) She wants children to also know what Singapore looked like in the past.

3. Ovidia probably wants children to have a conversation with their (grand)parents about what life was like in the olden days.

2. While I may not have personal experiences tied to this setting, the image evokes a sense of nostalgia, simplicity, and connection to nature. It reminds me of stories I've heard about life in Singapore’s past. I believe such an image would not resonate with most of our students too.

3. She wants to relive her own memories of the time when she first arrived in Singapore. She also wants the younger generation to visualise life in early Singapore.

I live in this area! While making new memories, I sometimes reminisce about the times I spent here as a child, teenager, young adult and marvel at the similarities and differences that the passing of time has brought about!

I think Ovidia Yu wants the younger generation to know that Singapore isn't always how they know it to be - fast paced, crowded, concrete jungle. If we want to and "know where to look", we can always return to "that Singapore", if not physically then in our states of mind.

2b) Not really, but when I visited such a kelong in Penang, I was actually curious about the people's way of life in kelongs.

3) For someone who grew in 1960s Singapore, it is for the children today to know what life then was like.

The swamp provides a contrast to the modern, developed image of Singapore.

• I think Ovidia Yu likely wants children reading her book to know and remember about Singapore for several reasons:

  • Ensure that younger generations are aware of Singapore's history.

  • Cultivate an appreciation for Singapore's diverse environments.

  • Inspire children to experience these places (Nostalgia)

  • Maintaining a link to the country's history and slower-paced past.

  • See beyond the "modern city with skyscrapers" and understand the complexity and diversity of their country.

The landscapes symbolise the changes Singapore has undergone, while also representing the continuity of certain aspects of Singaporean life.

Odivia Yu's attachment to these landscapes shapes her identity as a Singaporean writer who values the country's heritage, appreciates its unique characteristics, and seeks to preserve and share these elements through her work.