Happy Independence Day! O wait, it's National Day...

Ok, it's been a crazy week. I feel so busy everyday partly because two of my students(siblings) just came back to Singapore and also because I just got new students. Strange how things just happen all at once. Anyway, cut the crap.

It was National Day not too long ago and though I did no celebrations of any sort (no, I don't watch parades), I still think that I am rather patriotic. To me, this very lavishly commemorated day amounts to nothing if the people who are waving the flags at Marina, are the very same ones who complaint daily about the inadequacies of our country or how inferior he or she feels compared to his or her Western/ Japanese/ Chinese/ ?? counterparts. As my mum would say on Mother's day, it's not how I shower her with gifts on that one special day that matters, it's what I do on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, you cannot always be joining foreign friends in bemoaning our inevitable flaws and capriciously convert them to cheers on 9th of August. I say inevitable because we all know that nothing in this world is perfect and expecting the impossible is just ridiculous. 

To show my appreciation to my motherland while the flags are still adorning our HDB flats, I am going to bring up some of the things that make me love this lion city more each day. 

I don't know whether I mentioned this before, but the numero uno thing I find most amazing about this country is how much our language skills differ. There are the people who excel in their mother tongue and there are those who are better at our lingua franca, English. This is bizarre because most countries have populations with fairly uniform proficiency in a single language. It's also strange that while most people here can speak English fluently (save for some people I recently learnt about, in certain schools that shall not be named here), many speak mother tongue or Singlish or some type of vernacular languages in informal settings.  I am proud to say that due to the very prescient bilingual policy of our government, many are able to communicate in more than one languages. It is a well-known fact that Singaporeans love their uniquely Singlish creation and abbreviations, but I would add code-switching and using two or more languages simultaneously to the list of favourite national pastimes of the old and young. 

Wait a minute, we all know this so called unique characteristic I just mentioned is a bane to our national image right? Well, yes and no. To put it blatantly, Singlish is broken English. Alas, foreigners do not comprehend the emblematic lingo. As pragmatic Singaporeans, we all know that if we want to have business dealings with the Western world, we need to brush up our English. Furthermore, Singlish is so invetebrately entrenched that some students who have a weak foundation of English (and that includes new Singaporeans who were born in non-English speaking countries), are unable to code-switch at all. Thus while it is postulated that more are speaking English, most of these people are probably conversing in Singlish. On the flip side of the coin, we all know that Singlish bonds us as a nation. A Singaporean is immediately recognised by his fellow countrymen overseas the moment he utters a word. Singaporeans love their lah, leh, loh etc. and there is no way Singaporeans are going to remove these from their vocabulary. How do we strike a balance between the two then? One word, education. I actually have a whole load of reforms for education in my mind that I would like to opine. Not in this post though. Generally, it's about improving the grammar practices in our English classes, and training teachers to use a more targeted approach towards students.

Heterogeneity is also seen in the attitudes and lifestyles of our people. Sure, there are people who dashes into malls the moment the Great Singapore Sales begin. Yet at the same time, there is another group of people who writes to the papers to lambast about this 'Kiasu' attitude. The big K word can be seen as both derogatory and complimentary depending on the context of which it was mentioned. In other words, some of the rampant behaviours of the common people are also deemed to be 'uncivilised'. I'm not sure whether this is the case in other countries but for me, it's peculiar yet comforting to know that the constant in our national identity is diversity. Perhaps this may lead to a lack of attachment to this little red dot among the youths, but hey, in this globalised age, who really is going to be stuck in the same place?

The last point I am going to mention is our beautiful HDB flats. Well, maybe not that beautiful but who is not going to be proud of a scheme that started off as a way to house squatters but flourished into the ubiquitous housing mode that allows residents to own instead of renting their houses and which in its nascent stage, was seen a model remedy to Britain's public housing woes? Now, this fully-fledged scheme in its 49th year, has not only had a near impeccable record of ensuring a national property ownership rate of over 90% but can also boast of receiving the United Nations Public Service Award, or UNPSA in June 2008. The best gauge of success is of course not based on past track records but how it has kept up with the challenges of the present time. This, the HDB has definitely not fared too badly as well. Schemes to continue building affordable 2-room houses for the lower-income groups while constructing designer luxury apartments to cater to the high-end market has shown how it has adapted with time. Besides, the relentless upgrading of HDB flats to increase amenities has been largely beneficial. While most countries changes their maps every few years, our pace of development and construction means we have to buy a new street directory every year. Singapore, with its colourful flats and lush (albeit artificial) greeneries, looks more captivating each year.  Besides being pleasant to our eyes, public flats also have the practical effect of bonding people of all races and religions together. This, coupled with vigorous education, has made racial and religious tolerance second nature to all and sundry. 

I also appreciate the fact that most of us live in tall buildings so we will either have to climb the stairs or take the lift. As far as I have observed, most exercise-averse Singaporeans will take the lift even if they stay on the second floor (which is a waste of electricity). Therefore, you will have plenty of chances to interact with your neighbours and initiate small talks with them. The people who live near you, are literally either upstairs, downstairs or beside you and as long as you are an amiable person, you will have no lack of people to seek help for in times of emergency. For many cases, these neighbourly relationships blossom into close friendships and continue even after one party moves. Of course, there are always the few black sheeps that smoke in or play with the lift. Yet, I suppose given my slective memory, I would rather remember the lift as the place for mingling and witnessing some of the warmest moments in life.

There's my honourable mention for the things I enjoy as a Singaporean. These things may seem trivial, frivolous even, for some who would see Singapore as the place where infant mortality is the lowest in the world, one of the richest countries by per capita, having one of the best airports in the world, so on and so forth. However, these statistics are mere numbers that will not create emotional attachment to its people. It just show how much we as a nation, are always trying to reach the top and be the best in everything, so much that we add unnecessary pressure to ourselves. I say, stop to smell the roses. Perhaps after that, you may start realising how amazing this world is. 

It's a rich, rich world

Ok, so I was randomly surfing the net for self-enrichment (that's an excuse), when I came across this page from Wikipedia. According to IMF, Singapore is the 4th  richest country PPP per capita in the world, 3rd, by World Bank's standards and 7th, if we go by CIA Factbook. This makes us the richest Asian country per capita! Saying I was stupefied is an understatement. Then, I went to check and realise that the average monthly income of Singapore's household is about 7 thousand. 

Wow. I thought to myself. I knew Singapore was rich but are we that rich? Why is my family perpetually stuck at the bottom rungs of our society. It's only going to get worse because very soon, my Dad is going to either lose his job or quit to help my mum as she struggles with the increasing workload and ailing health. 

Hopefully, after I graduate, I'll be able to pay my loans and support my family. Do you feel the heat of the recession?

The one who watched me grow up...

One of the many things common among all the Singaporeans is that, everyone, except perhaps those extremely opulent, has sat on a Mass Rapid Transit or what we like to call MRT. Since I (obviously) do not own a car, the MRT train is the default mode of transportation for my daily activities. 

What amazes me about the MRT is not the fact that there seem to be no end in sight for the relentless  expansion of the networks, or the fact that after 22 years in operation, this metro system is as trenchant as ever. It is that despite having journeyed on the train near daily for the past 12 years, I am still flabbergasted when I see very eccentric behaviours of fellow commuters. I'm not going to rant about the uncouth behaviours of our countrymen like I always do. Rather, I feel that all the bizarre happenings add a fillip to the usually soporific journey. I'm sure everyone can recount a tale where , pardon my crude language, a mentally-retarded person acts in a flambouyantly creepy way. Then, there're the young couples who make out on the train, to everyone's consternation. I can go on and on about the tales of all the babes, hunks, aunties, uncles and otherwise in our MRT community but I shall spare everyone the exasperation of listening to those un-epic tales. 

The MRT is also like a miniature version of Singapore. For one, this is a place where people, regardless of race, religion or status congregate. The interfusion of the different languages on a single carriage never fails to fascinate me. The multi-cultural, multilingual complexion of our nation is something that Singaporeans have taken to be part of our daily lives. That we are all Singaporeans, is enough to bond all and sundry together. 

It may be surprising to some, but this efficient railway system is also a great platform for making friends. My parents, for example, have shared with me an enticing tale of the hustle and bustle on the first train every weekday. At 5.15, they take the first train together and in the half hour trip, they observe, in my mum's words, 'a myriad of human behaviour. ' My mum even have a 'reserved seat' on that train which nobody else will sit at. In fact, my parents have befriended quite a few of the 'usuals.' Not surprising, knowing how gregarious my mum is. Bonded by this common misfortune(of waking up very early in the morning), they form the 'first train community'.

I believe every country have their own version of the MRT story. However, I'm just happy to say that in my story, the MRT train had been the one that accompanied me through the ups and downs of my life. With the automation of the the trains, I look forward to a faster, more efficient railway system in future. I can presciently forecast that in future, the metro network will be even more pertinent to our daily lives and I hope that with all the advancements, the MRT will remain, as its core, a service to the people.

P.S. If anyone who read this have any anecdotes to share, please write them in the comments section below. 

Second essay I wrote

This is the second installment of my 'essays that I did' column. This is one of the essays I wrote in my early days of JC. I only wrote the introduction for some reason which I can't recall. It's pretty boring so you can skip this post.

“It is more of a blessing than a bane to be born in Singapore.” Do you agree?

Work, eat and sleep. That is the conjecture of the banal and prosaic lifestyle in the minds of many foreigners who have never stepped into the lion city,. Yet, underneath this veil of austerity, we do have a vivacious nightlife. The Singapore society is the confluence of the western and eastern culture or more correctly, an outwardly western society with eastern fundamentals. Expatriates living in Singapore generally have fairly positive experience going by the surveys conducted. Security and the incorruptibility of our government have been cited as the top two reasons for settling in Singapore. However, many made-in-Singapore babies often bemoans about the strict regulations, the high stress level, the fast pace of life. It is always difficult to have your cake and eat it too. The stressful lifestyle notwithstanding, Singapore is still a great place to live work and play.

Yup, that's all folks!

Dedicated to Mr Brat

Every Tuesday and Thursday night, I have a chance encounter with Mr Brat. I am breathless everytime I see him. With his strong and big build, and dark appearance, my heart races with each step closer to him. He always seem to be alone and I constantly wonder whether he lives with his family. 

He's always running and there's just something about his strides that makes me turn red. Sometimes, I fantasize about him running to my house. That will definitely make me scream. I think about him a lot. Before I reach the flats, I will be looking around to see if he's hanging out at the void deck. When I leave, I would always peer ahead to the place where I always meet him. 

Mr Brat is special and he gives me an adrenalin rush everytime I see him. That's because I would be running away from him the moment I see him, as if for fear he will catch sight of me and give chase. 

If you haven't realise, Mr Brat is short for Black Rat, a rodent that lives in the rubbish chute on the first floor. He sometimes seem to be living alongside Mr Broc, (Brown Cockroach). When they show up, my first instinct is to run as fast as my legs could carry me. God I hate these vermins. 

I hope that one day, Mr Inext (Insect exterminator), will come and rid our country of the underground riffraff.

Tribalism

I feel the strong need to post some of my essays on my blog because I am trying to clear everything unnecessary from my PC. Thus, here they are.

Is the world becoming more tribal or global?

 

A few million years ago, our very first human ancestor walked on his two legs. As the world evolved, more of his kind gathered together—in tribes. Tribalism, a somewhat primitive concept, may not be yet extinct. In today’s modern world, there is definitely a trend of tribalism appearing in societies. Yet, the connotation of tribes is different in that tribalism refers more to an identity of being in a certain group rather than physically living together like our ancestors did. On the other hand, globalisation, contrary to the idea of being identified as belonging to a certain group, integrates everyone without discrimination, which seems to be an unstoppable wave embraced by most of the world. Opponents of globalisation may disagree but the world is indeed becoming more globalised in all aspects of life, yet the innate tribalism in us humans has never diminished and even manifests itself when a crisis looms.

 

In more ways than one, the world has shown its ability to create platforms for consensus. In fact, human beings as a specie, knows well enough that everyone can benefit through amiable cooperation, which is a bastion of globalisation as it unites everyone under a common agenda. The best embodiment of cooperation, will be the United Nations (UN) which includes nearly every country (except Vatican City who is an observer) and discusses pressing issues in conferences and multilateral agreements. Its many bodies like the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council takes charge of different international issues deserving attention, to promote global interests endorsed by its member countries. Furthermore, the UN is also widely recognised to be the platform for discussions and disputes resolution where many countries seek help when in need. The fact that nearly every country is in the UN shows that the world desires amalgamation. It may appear that the economic blocs that countries form, such as the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) may be attempts to countervail globalisation. Yet, on further analysis, these economic blocs in fact advocates globalisation by becoming more competitive and thus more conducive for globalisation to occur, in the form of trade and investments.

 

Environment is essential for the survival for all organisms especially us, Homo Sapiens, who are so dependent on the environment for everything from natural resources to basic necessities and therefore an issue that ranks high on the priority list in conferences. The famous Kyoto Protocol in 1997 under UN is one of the major ways some major polluters of the world commit themselves to assuage the harm done to Mother Nature. Though considered a failure, the Kyoto Protocol still signifies a measure of cooperation as 174 countries and other government entities have taken part and these countries have agreed to a set of “common but differentiated responsibilities”. This is then followed by other conferences like the Washington summit and the Bali protocol ending in 2009. This shows that notwithstanding the heterogeneous global population, people do have shared interests in issues that concerns all and sundry.

 

Technology, the modern epitome of globalisation, allows the world to communicate. This communication through special devices, without which we cannot convey messages across the borders, is a less than intimate but still tangible touch that unites people from all parts of the world. Technology can also capture precious moments that allow people to see the other side of the world, through the lenses. This expression is special because a picture speaks a thousand words and allows people to comprehend with a realistic image in mind. On a personal level, travelling made easy with technology meant that more people are mobile and able to see first hand the effects of globalisation. Technology also seeks relentless improvement visibly from the 30-ounce ‘brick’ phone of the 1970s to the second generation phone till the current third generation phone that allows video conferencing, with a remarkable pace of transformation. These improvements are making the world more connected, integrated and accessible which form the fundamentals of globalisation.

 

Then there is the powerful medium that can literally influence the global population. By setting trends that people follow in all parts of the world, shaping perceptions and setting moral standards, the mass media can be said to insidiously alter or even manipulate the thoughts of the general public. Yet, in a way, the world also influences the mass media. Globalisation is so prevalent that any changes to one side of the world will be swiftly reported in the other. The transformation to a more immediate reporting is due to demands of the public thirsty for more first-hand news, uncut, uncensored. This is especially so for controversial or politically sensitive issues such as the Burma bloody crackdown on the protests of the monks or matters of economic relevance such as the United States Sub-prime Mortgage crisis. The new media, the internet, further accentuates globalisation by providing anything, anytime, literally. People are made more cognisant of the other parts of the world and react better to domestic conditions and even make comparisons, favourable or otherwise. This then continues as a self perpetuating cycle.

 

On the other hand, the scintilla of tribalism embedded in the society cannot be overlooked.

 

Segregation still occurs in the world not only between race and ethnic groups, but also genders, religions and societal classes. The hostility between Shi’ite and Sunnis in the Middle East continues to jeopardise the political and social stability of the region. The caste system is still the status quo in India. On a global scale, the world is still dichotomised into the developed and developing world. All these forms of polarisation are indicators that people are still more comfortable with their own kind and it human nature to stay with their own group while fighting any other groups that seem to challenge their superiority just like how the tribes were in the past. Wars still occurs in place of the fights for survival and domination against other tribes in the past. In effect, bigotry still exists and certain labels attached to a group of people will linger no matter how hard government tries to indoctrinate people with equality concepts. Yet, comfort zones and battlefield aside, human beings are also much more civilised compared to the past. That progression is amplified by the setting up of courts and legal Supremes who serves to act as a peaceful remedy to resolve issues according to laws that are set by the now refined people who can agree on the general principles of the society. They abide by this concord for everyone’s benefits and not hurt each other through tribal fights

 

The xenophobia in many also tends to evince in the form of discontent with the government and the demands for immigration and foreign workers reforms in times of crisis. In many cases, when people feel let down such as in economic recessions where many are retrenched, the resent for foreigners build up. Many governments, due to political agenda, try to placate the people by shutting the doors on foreigners. However, in actual fact, these behaviours are really due to discriminatory perceptions of people and the ethnocentric senses which ultimately leads to the inclination to stay within one’s own familiar group without the intrusion of the ‘enemies’, a reincarnation of tribal values which sees fighting against tribes as essential to survival. As seen in the case of China and Vietnam which moved from a closed economy to a now open and vibrant economy, to the envy of many countries, the countries will eventually realise their loss from isolation thereby start to assimilate into the world once again.

 

On second thought though, globalisation and tribalism may in fact be converging. Globalisation, albeit with good intentions, can and does dichotomise the world.  Globalisation favours those that are affluent, educated and skilled. Although meant to help distribute global wealth by allowing the poor countries an avenue to develop based on export led production, globalisation has in fact ameliorated the developed countries by allowing them to open the markets of developing economies and not permitting any protectionist measures to aid their infant industries which eventually causes the poor countries to be exploited by the rich. Even in a wealthy country, certain skills or education level is instrumental to finding employment while unskilled jobs are either outsourced to poorer countries or done away altogether due to mechanisation. This is an emerging trend in recent years in countries from developed countries like America and Europe and even Singapore to developing countries like India. In a way, there is now a yawning chasm between the rich and the poor whether within or between countries. Yet, is the affluent insouciant to the sufferings of the poor? Widening income gap is a problem that all countries face and has now become a political hot potato in many countries which shows that people are still largely sympathetic to the poor. Yet, instead of becoming a melting pot, we continue to detest aliens in our country. It comes to light that globalisation may not be able produce the ostensibly united world but we incessantly continue to benefit from the economic aspects of globalisation.

 

As the world learns to change and improve itself, we are moving towards a more globalised world producing people with a global outlook, those who think of breaking into the overseas markets instead of pandering to just the domestic population. The enhanced features of the world do not relinquish our innate inclinations but they do make us a more outwardly looking person by learning to think and adapt globally. To the consternation of many, we may eventually realise that the utopic world of a completely integrated global village may just be that—a utopia never will and never meant to be achieved as deep in our hearts, we know that classes are inherent features of society that will stay as long as human beings remain differentiated.

Due to the sheer length of the essay, I'm only going to post one for the time being. The essay gets a little too preachy towards the end. Apologies for this. If you see another of my essays again, try to avoid them. 

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day everyone!!!

Anyway, sorry about the previous post being so random and incoherent because I was a little disoriented when I was typing the previous entry.

So I've no time to type another long post so we'll cut it short here. C ya soon:)