On The Mend

It’s been a while since we caught up! What’s changed since the last time we met?
My job! I’ve always wanted to work the tech industry, but somehow it took me awhile to get there. I’m now doing sales at a Dutch Fintech company, and it’s been very fun so far because I get to travel a lot, especially to Amsterdam, for work.

The work I do is really interesting too! Payment touches so many industries; I get to work with companies like Spotify, Netflix, and Grab.

Apart from your career, what else is new in your life of late?
I recently adopted a five-year-old Golden Retriever, so I have two dogs now, although my nine-year-old Singapore Special doesn’t understand why he has a little sister all of a sudden, so they still they don’t get along very well (laughs).

How do you like to spend your free time?
I don’t have any kids, so my husband and I spend a lot of our time travelling. I’d say we travel at least once a month, either for work or leisure.

We hear that you underwent a knee surgery a few years back. Can you share with us a bit about your journey to recovery?
I had a double knee reconstructive surgery to fix a recurring injury I’d had since my days as a dancer. Recovery has been very exhausting, since both knees were operated on, and the whole of last year was spent in physiotherapy after I had the surgical screws removed.

That said, I’m working hard to rebuild my muscles so I can go snowboarding soon!

Do you miss dancing?
I do! I started doing Chinese Dance when I was 13 and spent a year in a dance school in New York doing Contemporary dance after university. I even spent some time in London dancing Hip Hop and Jazz—everything really. I guess my knees were the price to pay for those years (laughs).

Tell us about your tattoos. Any plans to get more?
I got my first tattoo as a reminder to not take life too seriously, which is something that my husband has taught me.

The next two are dance-related—one says ‘I hope you dance’, a tribute to the song by Lee Ann Womack, and the other is a heart-shaped disco ball. I got them both at the same time from @n.eatoburrito, and I think they’re a good commemoration of my knee surgery.

The most recent tattoo I got is a Peace Lily on my shoulder, done by Paul Stillen from Australia. He happened to be doing guest work in Singapore when he was recommended to me by a friend, so I decided to try my luck at booking a last-minute slot and managed to secure an appointment in the same week.

I doubt I’ll be getting any more for now. I think four tattoos in one year is enough and besides, my parents don’t know about any of them yet! My friends, on the other hand, say that I’m “ang kong siao” (tattoo crazy) (laughs).

Suwan was previously seen here and here.