The expat society

Expat society is quite something. Everyone wants to know everyone here in KL. Everyone introduce everyone. The biggest problem is to actually remember all the people's names and remember to follow up on the new friendships.
Here a friendships is knowing a person and being friendly to the person. Nothing more. So one can imagine that the conversations round the lounge sofa table with icy cocktails and decorative ashtrays is lite and enjoyable. Its relaxing and tensing in the same time.

It is as though the "past" life does not exist. The stories from home, the life, friends and companions are not a part of the discourse. Maybe its been ruled out because it is not relevant, maybe its been ruled out because we dont really want to think about reality outside KL. Here and there are two worlds that does not naturally interfere each others. What does it matter that she has no friends back home when she has 100 here? What does it matter that he has a girlfriend at home when he acts single here?

Bonding one world with the other is difficult and it is easy to get lost in all the "introduction chats". I found myself paying less attention to new people and focusing more on the ones I already know. The need for depth and strong relations for me grows as the numbers of times the introduction chat increase.
I also found my self paying more attention to people I know is going to be here more than three-six month. It is hard to uphold relations when people are going home one by one and replaced with new.