“We have known each other since our kampung days. We moved to Bedok together.”

Then the two ladies on the left started to ask me if I spoke Hokkien: “It is important to know how to speak Hokkien to connect with the older people. It will be beneficial for your job in the future.”

Meanwhile, the lady in dark pink shirt enthusiastically shared about her current interest in medicinal herbs. Pointing to the grass patch behind her, “You can find a lot of medicinal herbs there.”

I then asked: “Would they be safe to consume?”

She said: “Of course! They are naturally grown, and most importantly, there’s no use of pesticides!”