‘QuGee’ as a moniker for our original household came about in an unoriginal fashion. We were living on Queen’s Gate… shorten that to QG, and read it out aloud. There. It was one of those things which you’d thought would be a temporary solution, but somehow, it stuck. We started using the term in conversations, in emails, and all matter of correspondence. And our friends also came to refer to us, the house, and themselves, the extended family, as QuGee. We acquired a domain. We have our own forums, our own Facebook group, Wiki and UnWiki. We have our own logo, and desktop wallpapers to match. QuGee has its own group on our MSN lists and mobile phonebooks. We had our own enterprise - when people attributed the success of ICMUN or LIMUN to Imperial, they could well have said QuGee. We were an epitome of efficiency, an ideal model of cohesiveness. Be it a project, an event or a game, we would ’stick together team!’
Throughout life, we meet with signposts along the way which forces us to part ways once more with the company we are with, and head along our own little paths. I may still be living with QuGee in London, but not three others - three friends I have grown to know and appreciate, and three whom I know I’ll dearly miss when they are not around. Vincent left last night, Terry this evening, and soon, in a few months, it’ll be Xiao’s turn.
This week would probably be the toughest week for many in QuGee. It marks the time when the first of us would leave this close-knit little family of friends. At least, when Kamil left last year, we knew that it would only be for a while, and that he’d be back. But not this time. It’s all sort of FRIENDSish. Guys and girls, under one roof, sharing rooms and such, finding jobs, dating even, then parting. Vincent asked me during our last night in Queen’s Gate if it looked like the last episode of FRIENDS. I must say it did… the emptiness that’s left in the flat, the feeling of the unknown beyond the last episode, what we could see. Well, we might not be physically living together anymore, but we’re still bonded by what we call QuGee. It doesn’t matter where we live; we’re QuGee by and by. QuGee’s not the household, it’s us - the individuals that make up this circle, the relationships we each have with other individuals and with the groups of individuals as a collective whole. It’s odd, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this strongly about any group of friends before. Maybe it’s just ‘cos it’s happening all right now. Or maybe it’s ‘cos it’s QuGee…
It’s tough to say which has been toughest. The goodbyes that came in primary or secondary school, the farewells I had to say when I left Sydney, the many last dinners or last reunions or last this and that with those who are close to me, the “take care”s I have said to my grandparents and relatives in my Hong Kong visits. The countless times I hugged my parents and my sis, when they send me off at the airport, or the conclusion to each round of housemateness. People (parents?) say that I’m unfeeling, that I’m stoic and all. I might appear to be so, for I can be rather reserved when it comes to outwardly signs of expression. But from time to time I do get this weird, apprehensive, unsettling feeling, and it’s during this when I’m actually at my weakest. I know it’s one of those times… when I can get into my bed and do nothing but stare up into the ceiling and think through things, just like I did when I was at Silwood last year. I just need some time… and after a while, it’ll be ok.
The Complete Essays (Penguin Classics) 
The Gormenghast Trilogy 
Making Globalization Work 
Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 
Not Quite the Diplomat: Home Truths About World Affairs 
Unaccustomed Earth
Dry Store Room No. 1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum
Consilience
Cat’s Cradle (Penguin Modern Classics)
Pistache
on Jun 25th, 2007 at 5:13 am
Don’t you get that familiarity in that feeling? Sure, you are lying in your bed by yourself tonight feeling that there is a bitterness of loosing someone you have come to know - but hey - everything will be the same in a couple of weeks time. YGG and YSS will be back. XY is there, Vincent and Terry will visit LG every week (in the beginning anyway, then by the time I get back to London, they will be so used to their home outside London that LG will be a convenient weekend get-away).
At least you got to experience the “last episode of Friends” as you and Vincent put it. I am here in Japan living my own episode of Joey long before the last episode of Friends.
There is not much lost at all, not until when XY goes to Switzerland. Embrace the change - and its not easy. At least you were in the last episode of QG - one which I can never look back to. My very last memory of QG was going on that bus 74 and before I know it, it seems like everything will never ever be the same ever again.
on Jun 25th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Actually, I haven’t been through many episodes of QG thinking about it. So it isn’t surprising that you find it so much more difficult that these 3 people are leaving because you have lived day in day out with them for the past year.
on Jun 25th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Ototo-chan… all this… it must be hard on you. I guess, like you said, we just gotta embrace it. Maybe turn to philosophy for consolation again. It could have been worse - if we hadn’t managed to find and secure the flat we might very likely have gone to find single flats for each of us, like what Xiao and I wanted to do. I was about to go hunt down a single studio in Sout Ken. But YGG was adamant that we continued staying together, and even made a little speech about how he thinks paying much more just so that we could have one another’s company.
Yup, we’ll all get used to the new lifestyle in due time.
You’ll be back soon - just a few short months left.
on Jun 25th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Yeah, we must look to the bright side of life. Telepathy? It must exist because if it doesn’t I shouldn’t feel much being all the way over here and having spent 1 year away from everyone.
Yeah, wished I was there for YGG’s speech - it must be a good one. I’m sure all of us would have made the same speech - or I believe all of us should have the ability to make the same speech.
I am not a very easy letting-go kindda person - so, in my little world of struggling I will see things through - a bright end to the Tunnel. I can’t wait until I graduate and return to the “real world” again. I need something closer to home, and a lot more challenging.
Thanks for the consolation. A friend’s consolation is always better than a philosopher’s. But hey, what the heck - will read some philosophy for past time.
Thanks for your nut and bolt. Have a great trip back home next week
on Jun 25th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
wow, so you are all leaving QG but some are living together elsewhere?
the forum haha
I wish I was there hehe.. but I can claim a little part of QG
*group hugs*
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 11:53 am
XY going to Switzerland? I didn’t know that I was going to be working for Evian. I thought I’d be in London working of Thames Water/Atkins/*insert other sutiable company here*.
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
You have been tagged in comments made by Husky and Ottoto-chan
on Jun 28th, 2007 at 1:31 am
a very touching story.
thought you would be over the emotion by now after how many times of departures and good byes. it doesn’t, does it. it’s like i have been thru few time making international friends and thought i am over that naive phase of keep in touch with people, nop it doesn’t, it hangs in there.
i guess we are human, animals with emotion, which is a good news.