Our Tampines Hub
- S. N. Linn
- May 17
- 2 min read
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After strolling around in Tampines Central Park, Alex and I headed over to Our Tampines Hub (OTH), which was located just across the road. From my quick internet research, it says OTH is an integrated community building with a variety of services available for residents, and currently the largest of its kind.
From our visit there, the description seems accurate. There’s a public swimming pool, a big sports stadium—which I understand also functions as a town square—a hawker center, indoor playgrounds, and many retail and F&B shops. There are also public services like the National Library and an HDB office there. I didn’t get a chance to explore thoroughly, but my googling says the building also has indoor jogging tracks and an herb garden. How cool is that?
I didn’t film every attraction in the place because I didn’t want to stay longer than Alex wanted to. If he said he was too tired and wanted to go home, I didn’t want to force him to walk around just for a YouTube video. So, my videos are incomplete and imperfect—to say the least—but I believe that’s kind of what the real parenting journey is like for everyone. You have expectations of what it would be like, but you often need to tone them down, go with the flow, and still try to enjoy the ride along the way—or at least learn something from the experience.
For me, the most fun thing about being a parent is being able to experience things from a fresh perspective all over again. I find myself wanting to see how my child would react to a particular place or experience, anticipating him being thrilled about it and rejoicing when he is, but becoming disappointed—and sometimes even annoyed—when he’s nonchalant about it, then feeling guilty for being annoyed. I also notice that I get excited when I spot an interesting bus—something I would never have found interesting in a million years before—because I’m now the mother of a child who loves buses. Everything becomes new and sparkly when seen through his eyes. If there’s a blessing about being a parent, it’s this—being able to experience things that I’ve already become numb and nonchalant about from the perspective of a much younger person.
Coming back to OTH, the most impressive thing about that place for me was the fact that residents could watch movies and live shows for free. There’s something about watching a show with people around you. You don’t have the pressure of having to socialize with those around you, but at the same time, you’re all sharing something in that moment—an emotional experience. When it’s a funny scene, people laugh together. When it’s a sad scene, people feel sad together. And when a protagonist is in trouble, people worry about them together or feel indignant on their behalf. The crowd watching the show acts, feels, and reacts mostly in unison.
A place like OTH feels perfect for that—a space where people can quietly share an experience together without needing to say much at all.
