Damien’s great-grandfather arrived by ship to Singapore from China. His father told him that he had to leave to have a
better life. The boat trip was terrible, there were little water and little space, and those who were dying were thrown into the sea.
In Singapore he worked for the English who lived in the center of the city, they, the migrants, must have lived in the suburbs.
For the Japanese occupation, they survived with the help of the Malaysians since the Chinese population was mistreated by
the Japanese.
Damien has grown up as a Singaporean.