Subjectif…

The Bizarre Behaviour of Singaporeans

Observations made by a German national who has lived in Singapore for 9 years.

44 years of economic and material success have spawned some very strange behaviours among Singaporeans.

They spent so much to buy a house or flat, furnished it up like a palace, but spent their time outside, most of the time at work.
And the maids are the ones enjoying the million-dollar or multi-million-dollar assets..

Then they pay so much, the highest in the world, for a car only to park at home.
Too expensive to drive, too many ERPs and car park charges to pay. And they are encouraged to park their cars at home and take public transport, being cheaper and more convenient.

And when Singaporeans travel, instead of seeing the places, they went shopping.
The best part is that they would head for the cheapest bargains, buying stuff that they could get in Chinatown or pasar malam, at even cheaper prices. But they are still happy that they got a bargain.
And while the heartlanders are busy trying to make a life here, being told to bust off if they are not happy, which they could not, the rich and presumably very happy and contented citizens are buying up properties overseas just in case they need to make that escape from this paradise.

While many Singaporeans are thinking of jumping ship, or preparing to jump ship, hoards of new immigrants are rushing in to take their place in this paradise.

And to top it all up, they keep complaining about the govt and all the policies that they found unpalatable, but come every election, they will vote and return the govt to power.

Strange Singaporean behaviours!

(credit: Email from OOCL company)

“I was thinking how a man could spend thirty years in prison, and come out and forgive the men who did it to him…”

– Francois Pienaar (Invictus)

For various reasons, this line said by Matt Damon really struck a chord in my heart.

Can you imagine…

Stuck in a tiny cell for 27 years! That’s practically my entire life. Not to mention the tiny space…I would have hyperventilated and died of claustrophobia in just under 2 hours…

Jailed for no good reasons, merely because you happen to hold very different (but noble) views from the Powers-that-be…

Estranged from family and friends for decades…

Hard labour under the hot sun every single day…

Classified as the lowest of the lowest, worse than the crap of society… devalued because of the colour of your skin…

Probably yelled at constantly by your jailers…

Complete loss of freedom…

Overwhelming feeling of injustice and even helplessness…

Extreme loneliness…

I don’t know about you, but I for one am completely amazed that he could simply forgive his enemies, work with them and treat them decently.

He brings to mind another person I admire a lot. Corrie Ten Boom – she and her family helped and even hid Jews from the Nazis during the Second World War but because of their involvement, the entire family was arrested. Her elderly father died in captivity, so did her beloved nephew and sister who died in the infamous camp, Auschwitz. She herself was sent to Auschwitz where she suffered terribly under the Nazis. After the war, she became a messenger of forgiveness and went around speaking to people about forgiveness, once even personally extending forgiveness to an ex-SS officer  who had treated her with brutality.

Call me petty, call me foolish but there are things that people said or did in the past that I can’t completely let go, no matter how hard I try, and there are some people whom I would give an arm and a leg not to see for the rest of my life… and to be very honest, when certain memories play back in my mind, I get rather agitated again…I’m definitely not the poster girl for forgiveness…It has always been a hard thing for me to do, especially when I perceived I have been unjustly treated.  I’m not proud of that… but the reason I am saying this is because it really brings to mind the “smallness” and “meanness” of my heart compared to giants like Nelson Mandela and Corrie Ten Boom.

What else can I say? I am totally blown away by their graciousness. Yep, Nelson Mandela…a new guy to add on to the list of people I admire and respect

An education at the most prestigious schools in the world, such as the Ivy League in US and Oxbridge in UK, is coveted by many students. However, is the exorbitant cost of attending such schools and trying various means to distinguish oneself during the application process causing good education to be available to only the affluent?

For instance, to get into US universities, students must take the SAT Reasoning Test and at least 3 SAT Subject Tests. From personal experience, this reporter has discovered that taking SAT 1 can cost more than $150 per sitting and no fee waivers are available for international students. While those from rich and influential families can easily afford to repeatedly re-take the test until they achieve their desired scores, the majority of students, who come from lower to middle class families, do not have such a privilege. Since College Board’s score choice allows students to choose which scores to send to universities, this undoubtedly grants students from affluent backgrounds a distinct advantage as they can re-take the test numerous times to ensure good results.

What about  certain American exams that tests students’ understanding of introductory level college work? This reporter has gathered from her inquiries to various sources, including College Board and Singapore American School, that the registration fee for 1 of such exams is a costly S$220. Of course, since no one takes only 1 such exam, the registration fees alone can cost more than S$1000. This is not including the fees for the preparatory courses and the costs of reference materials. Can a middle class family with average incomes of S$3000 to S$4000 really afford to pay such an expensive amount simply to give their child an advantage over his peers, considering their not insignificant household expenses?

Furthermore, it has been reported in the Times that a disproportionate amount of students accepted to Oxbridge come from affluent backgrounds, despite such students being the minority of the total British student population. In addition, many successful applicants to Ivy League colleges hail from exclusive New England boarding schools and elite New York college preparatory schools where tuition fees can easily cost up to S$50000 per annum.

This begets the conclusion that the educational system is structured in such a way that students from well-to-do families are unfairly advantaged. However, instead of becoming demoralized and dejected, students from less affluent families should use this to motivate themselves and work even harder to gain recognition so as to prove that success can be achieved by the less wealthy as well. This is certainly what this reporter will do.

There is nothing more to the cheers and calls of “Full Day!” than the very thought of lazing around at home early in the morning with no soporific lessons, castigating teachers and omnipresent assignments to complete. Haha, it’s full day today, we’d smugly tell our friends in other schools and our chagrined parents.

Half day? Sure, why not! From school, we load onto any incoming buses (much to the dismay of disgruntled passengers trying to nap) and head off to PP, where groups of smiley Victorians, grinning at their good fortune, take up seats in every eatery from PastaMania to Macs to the food court (everywhere else is taken!).

Full Day is definitely something to celebrate about, and it’s a Victorian tradition steeped in our legacy. Well, sort of.

Hang on. Has the school management created a compromise? What is this SWAT (Student Welfare something) concept of coming to school later on Mondays at 8.40am instead of the usual 7.40am? Could this be a little victory on the side of Mr Chan, the teachers and the canteen stall-holders whose food had been cooked when a spontaneous Full Day is declared? Might there be no more Full Days, only 1-Hour Days? You decide. (:

I have long suspected that the terms CIP hours and T3A were the focal points of any student-initiated activities. Phrases like ‘it’ll look good on my portfolio/testimonial/record’ are probably common when making any big decisions regarding a commitment of time and effort. 

But was volunteerism and passion really dead? Would anyone make sacrifices just to pursue something he or she felt strongly about, even if it meant that no one else would notice? I ventured to find out if this materialistic world as we know it is really a slightly more civilised Hobbesian ‘survival of the fittest’ anarchic society of ‘what’s in it for me’, rather than an ideal community of compassion, virtue and moral values we claim to know, but conscience denies.

vSparks is a project that is undertaken by IP3 students upon their ‘graduation’ from the safe, comforting nest of an IP cohort that aims to be the spark that ignites a flame in the community. Along with the VCSD portal of T3As and e-CIP entry, the surreptitious connotation of the importance of community involvement has ironically capitalised the very idea of volunteerism.

I have great respect for volunteers who made it into the history books with their selflessness and altruism - Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale – and those of our time as well. A friend of mine is so passionate about saving the environment that she speaks strongly about her cause to anyone who cared to listen, and acts upon her word too. In one of her testimonies, she spoke about a campaign on using reusable glass cups from the drinks stalls instead of the typical one-use plastic ones (they are available on request) and the measures she took to ensure that no electricity in the school was wasted through needless air-conditioning and lights when a room is uninhabited.

I have big dreams for my vSparks project (which I shall not unveil for now), and I aim to make it a successful not simply because I want to, but because it’s for the common good.

I like writing.  But when it comes down to matters-at-hand, I’d have to say that I have this interesting relationship with the pen and the paper. It’s rather sad, actually, when I compare my handwriting with my other classmates. They have the most brilliant, elegant and legible handwriting. Mine’s the complete opposite. I really detest like the sight of my own handwriting – it’s probably the typical teacher’s nightmare. Quoting them: ” too tiny”, “ant-like”, “hard to read!” Pathetic, I know. (But I’m sure some of you can identify with this!)

Don’t blame me for not trying to improve on my handwriting. I’ve done it all before. When I was 8, I had this terrifyingly embarassing experience. There was this old and rather picky teacher called Mrs. S. One day, she called me up to the front of the classroom. Being the little innocent and happy girl that I was, I presumed that she was going to award me for handing up my homework on time; for being attentive during lessons and more. I was so wrong. She announced to the class that my words were flying off the line. Can you believe it? She demanded that everyone wrote neatly, with each letter placed firmly on the lines we were supposed to write on. What was more incredulous was the fact that she made me extend my arms and do a flapping  motion, just like a bird. I had no choice but to comply, and I stood there flapping my wings, looking like a complete fool for half an hour before she let me return to my seat with a firm warning to write neatly for future assignments. From then on, I tried.

Primary school, Secondary school passed and my handwriting morphed to fit the style of the year. You know how people write their ‘n’s, and they end up looking like ‘h’s? Sad to say, it always fell into the messy category.

Today I write my essays on my trusty laptop. Which makes the situation worse. But I like doing things this way. Teachers, sorry for my terrible handwriting! I promise I’ll try my best, I really do!  But there are no guarantees… (especially when I’m churning out a 1000+ word essay in a short amount of time)

I was at the Singapore Flyer and to go with your free beer, there was free hand sanitizer and masked staff (I’ll deal with swine flu another day, promise) greeting dear tourists eager to spend a small fortune to fly up 100 metres to stare into nothing really nice in particular.

According to their website,

“Besides spectacular views of the entire Marina Bay, visitors will be treated to other points of interest around this landscape of water and gardens, such as:

Collyer Quay
Named after George Chancellor Collyer, the chief engineer of the Straits Settlements in the 1860s, Collyer Quay is a road that houses landmarks such as Clifford Pier, Change Alley and Ocean Towers. Until the late 1960s, the front of Clifford Pier was a car park where mobile food stalls arrived after office hours, and was a late-night haunt for musicians and an assortment of night birds.

In other words:
Please rest your eyes on what we consider hip and happening: carparks converted into wonderfully named Towers and Alleys, symbolising our love for the ocean and change (take that Student Council President)

Raffles Place
Singapore’s main Central Business District, is situated south of the mouth of the Singapore River. Originally known as Commercial Square, it was named after modern Singapore’s founding father, Sir Stamford Thomas Raffles, in 1858. Retailers in the district soon gave way to the rapid development of finance houses and major banks in the 1960s and 1970s.

In Other Words:
Money, money, money
Can’t be funny
We are Singapore
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the Singapore
Aha-ahaaa
All the things Lee could do
If He had a little money
Its His Singapore

The Fullerton Singapore
An internationally acclaimed five-star luxury hotel located near the mouth of the Singapore River, The Fullerton Singapore was converted from Singapore’s historic general post office building to one of Singapore’s most prestigious hotels.

In other words:
We forgot to mention that this wonderful hotel was the headquarters of the Japanese Military Administration in World War 2. Also, the Japanese made us pay $40 million dollars for “”crimes commited by the Chinese” and the cheque was handed out on the roof. Did we mention how it was used as a hospital to treat the wounded British? No don’t worry, no ghosts.

Esplanade Theatres on the Bay
Located at the picturesque waterfront overlooking Marina Bay, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is Singapore’s most exciting performance arts venue to date. Housing a 1,600-seat concert hall, a 2,000-seat theatre and several recital rooms, theatre and rehearsal studios as well as outdoor performing spaces, the dome-shaped complex also boasts a shopping mall, cosmopolitan food outlets and an arts library.

In other words:

Merlion Park
The Merlion, a half-fish half-lion hybrid, is a commanding presence standing 8.6 metres tall on the south bank of Singapore River. The Merlion originates from the legend of Sang Nila Utama, a prince who named this sunny island “Singapura” (Lion City) after sighting a lion upon his first arrival to Singapore’s shores. The majestic Merlion has since become a popular tourist attraction for visitors.

In other words:
Observe only from the safety of the Flyer car- lightning hazard.

Padang
The Padang, located at the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, was where Mr Yusof Ishak took his oath to become the Republic’s first president on 3 December 1959. Today, the Padang is a popular venue for sports, line-dancing and rock concerts.

In other words:
Green. Grass. Field. End of Story.

Floating Stadium

The colourful Floating Stadium, located next to the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, consists of a 27,000-person seating gallery and the world’s largest floating platform performance stage on water. Singapore’s annual National Day Parade was held at the Floating Stadium for the first time in 2007 due to the planned demolition of its former home, the Singapore National Stadium.

In other words:
We wanted to demolish Kallang in 2007, complete with a closing ceremony but we’re now preparing for Liverpool Football Club to come down in July 2009. Three cheers to bureaucracy!

“Future developments in the area include”

F1 Circuit
Singapore is proud to welcome F1 motor-racing to its streets in September 2008. A capsule on Singapore Flyer will provide the best seats in the house, with a clear view of the action from the observation wheel.

In other words:
Website outdated. Please check back next time.

New Bridge
Designed as a double helix structure, the new 280-metre bridge will link the Bayfront area to Marina Centre, completing a walking route that brings visitors to the major attractions around the bay including Singapore Flyer. The bridge, expected to be completed around 2009, will be spearheaded by award-winning architect Philip Cox.

In other words:
New York has the Brooklyn Bridge, we have the NEW Bridge which will join roads previously separated by NEWater.

Art Park
The Art Park, situated on the northern end of the new bridge at Marina Centre, will feature artworks by Singapore youths submitted during an Art Competition organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The competition was designed to commemorate the new bridge, which is set to become a spectacular landmark to view from the observation wheel of Singapore Flyer.

In other words:
Completely redundant, highly doubt you can even see the artwork from our record-breaking 165metre high wheel.

Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort
Singapore’s very first Integrated Resort will add a new dimension to the landscape of Marina Bay in 2010. Comprising a world-class hotel, casino, convention, leisure and entertainment facilities, and a museum, Marina Bay Sands will also offer luxury retail outlets and unique dining venues. Its hotel consists of three 50-storey towers linked by a two-acre sky garden, and will be clearly visible from the top of Singapore Flyer.

In other words:
Cranes, cranes, trucks, cement, trucks, wait did we mention cranes?

As kids, we used to play with these View-masters. We’d peer into the two holes and hold it up to the light, and press the button at the side. Remember how we used to look at a certain picture, then click, it’s gone? One moment there would be a butterfly..(click) flower… (click) lake…(click).

Come to think of it, our lives are just like that, Kindergarten…(click), Primary school…(click), Secondary school…(click), Junior College…

Life goes by in a series of clicks – before you know it, the scene will change; the people around you will be different.  One moment you’re in your comfy little home in Singapore, and the next, you’re in another country a million miles away from home, alone in your hostel room studying for your final term paper at a prestigious university. The things you worry about now will be nothing compared to what will be on your mind in the future.

Live for the now. The now is fleeting, so treasure it, before the scene changes. Make new plans and take chances, because before you know it: click, it’s gone.