The novelties that make me love Singapore are the same ones that confuse me as well. I sat down one day and decided to really understand the fondness for my motherland. The result was these 10 notions. Despite cringing at the thought of some which I came up with, I recognised that it isn’t so bad to be living the way we do. After all, you’ve got to live it to enjoy it.
Penny C waves her nation’s flag.
1. The Erratic Weather
Source: Commons
On bad days when it’s extremely hot, I want to stay indoors even if it means lingering a while longer in the lovely air conditioned supermarket while getting groceries. Good days invite themselves ever so sporadically into the lives of Singaporeans and it feels so good to experience times when it gets refreshingly cool and gusty. On exciting days, our city floods. In town you’ll see floating mannequins and chairs, broken stall window displays and homes becoming shallow wadding pools. It doesn’t even look like Singapore anymore.
Source: News Hopper
What’s funny is to lose a slipper to to the floods. Imagine standing with only one slipper on your foot along the roads of Singapore, shin deep in rainwater, pointing at the slipper that got away, thinking in panic mode, “Hey, my left slipper is floating away!” Then you realise it’s happening in Singapore. “Wait. HAHA MY LEFT SLIPPER IS FLOATING AWAY?!”
2. You and Me, We’re Linguists
Singlish isn’t bad English. It’s a variation of English that consists of many words from various languages spoken on our little island. It’s a way for people to bond over drinks at the coffee shop and effective for venting our frustrations without much hindrance. “Aiyo! You siao one la dey! Why you so late still don’t want to go home?” (read: My goodness, are you mad? It’s so late and you’re still not going home?)
The best thing about our cunning verbal abilities is that we are able to switch from speaking like a bumpkin to being fluent in the English language, albeit having a pretty weird accent. But the most important point of all, everyone local understands it and that’s what matters.
3. Our Attempts in Dressing for Winter
We have a knack for layering sweaters over cardigans when we travel overseas during winter. Apparently, our well known practicality trumps our fashion sense (or the lack of it) and we manage to shuffle around looking like penguins, bundled up to keep warm. We enjoy the cold but some of us aren’t adept enough to comprehend the spirit of looking good while doing so.
But don’t say that it’s our fault for not having proper winter wear. We’re Singaporeans, we don’t need winter wear.
4. Over Achieve
Like elite children, we strive to be the first in everything. We host the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the Singapore Grand Prix (first ever F1 Night Race) and we’re also the first to fashion luxurious in-flight accommodation and entertainment on the Airbus A380. Is there anything else on the “Things to Prove” list?
Source: The Big Picture
The world can see that we’re making a tremendous effort in rising above the achievements of larger nations as the underdog. When you stand on the sidelines, it does seem like we’re getting carried away with it. But what’s growth without a little push?
5. Our 80’s/90’s mascots
Before Lyo and Merly, the huggable YOG mascots, there were Singa the Courtesy Lion (oh so evergreen), the POSB Savings squirrel (not the cute one we have now, but the big headed on in a suit a decade ago), a bespectacled worm from the Bookworm Club (I liked him) and Sharity Elephant (the ginger haired pink elephant which even got cartoon of her own). Feels awesome to remember that these characters were part and parcel of the lives of the 80’s/90’s Singaporean kid.
6. Cleaning Up
It’s true, we’re pretty impressive when it comes to keeping it clean, and that includes the other aspects besides sweeping and washing.
I guess it makes things more interesting when we get to find out about many other facets of life and the world beyond on our own. Truth comes to those who seek it.
7. We Study and Study
Singaporeans can relate to this easily – academic progress is utterly vital and we take it seriously, to the point where tuition classes are available for 5 year olds. We learn a mountain of things and when kids in school come across something outside the classroom that’s hasn’t been taught, they sulk and go “We don’t know because we haven’t learnt this yet!” Suck it up kids, because now you know.
Source: Connorsurdi
Seasonal sightings also appear when examinations are near – libraries, food courts and coffee houses are filled with students mugging as though failure would mean the end of the world for them and their parents. In another world of fail, this is also a time when the rest of the public who probably did the same outdoor mugging when they were in school, can’t get seats at their favourite chill out places. It’s a vicious cycle.
8. A Green City
Props to our urban planning team for planting luscious greens all around the country, along the express ways and roads to the colourful HDB apartment blocks. There’s life at every turn.
Notable mentions also go out to diligent heartland dwellers who’ve created wonderful concrete gardens of their own just outside their front door, along the corridor of their flats. Say hello and wave to the pretty flower pots of all sizes and admire the myriad of horticultural families as you pass them by.
9. We Eat and Eat
We are fuelled by the many hawker stores that open beyond our bedtime and into the wee mornings. They’re stocked with local delicacies that delight our taste buds and lure us into a world of culinary orgasms, or so to speak. We don’t ask for much. Just a bowl of that flavourful S$3 Fishball Hor Fun will do.
10. What Labels?
Word of mouth is contagious. How many times have we heard from overseas friends about our clean streets, our flawless education system and our citizens behaving as ideal candidates who are all for political rest? We’ve a capable government body that provides the best they can to boost living standards, instrumental to building resistance among its people. What other nations can do, this tiny red dot can the same, if not better.
But zoom in on our micro environment and you’ll see that we’re shivering in our socks, thinking that we’re not making enough dough to sustain a comfortable living and often wondering if there’s more to life than studying and working our butts off. What do you mean we have no life? This is our life.
More Ways to Love You
So what can I say? Dearest Singapore, you’re dearly loved despite every bit of your vagaries. There’s no one else like us and there’s no other nation out there quite as uptight as you.
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