Things I love about Singapore on our 53rd Birthday — and my National Day Gift (to be added as I remember and find more things to love)
When I finished graduate school at Harvard, we internationals have the option to stay 2 years to work in the US. I didn’t take that option despite loving my life there in Boston apart from the cold.
I remembered an American classmate said to me, “Don’t you like America? Don’t you think its a great country?” I said yes I love my American lifestyle however I said to her, “Don’t you know my country is a First World country (we just had that status that year and I was so proud) and I cannot feel I can contribute to change to US politics and societal change as much as I can with the knowledge I get from Harvard in my country. I feel I have the responsibility and potential for that in Singapore.
15 years later. I am still proudly Singapore and openly skeptical and concerned about many of our practices. That makes me even more loyal and committed to this country. And I question why each time I turn down a long term posting in another country or having to choose between contributing my time and talent here or somewhere else.
This is my love letter to Singapore and my country people. And also a letter calling for change so we can be the people and country I know we can and have to be in the times moving forward.
Things I love about Singapore
- We are pragmatic and also considerate.
Strangers to us, we are not smiley people. We are not the first to offer help. We are however responsible to our work mostly. Things get done, on time and to the best that we can. We complain. However we still do what we are supposed to.
Transport mostly on time and in recent times challenges yet we are one of the best transport systems in the world.
Toilets! Yes clean — because we take that as important — so we do it
Roads and streets mostly clean. Not only because a government staff is cleaning but because we keep it clean.
A lovely story about Singaporeans when we are in big group and in another country.
I was in Singapore with a bunch of teachers in India. And everyday when we get back to the hotel after a day of work and sightseeing, we go to the trash bins and take out rubbish from our pockets and bags. Even if Indians seemed comfortable to have trash on the road, we didn’t add to that. We simply were conditioned not to. I asked an Indian shop owner on a busy street — why there wasn’t any trash cans. He told me every 2 weeks the government put up trash cans and the next day, someone steals them.
I was with 3 other Singaporeans at a Red Sox game in Boston. And if you don’t already know, we throw peanut shells on the ground — baseball culture. But not for the Singaporeans. There we were with peanut shells in our hands surrounded by peanut shells on the ground in Fenway!
This goes to point 2
2. We are predictable. Not all of us but we have so many cultural norms that mark us as Singaporean. Which is comforting because you know what to expect and also we know what to get frustrated at because it’s SO SINGAPOREAN. What can you expect? A respect for authority — too much respect. A tendency to speak Singlish or local languages even when in a group that needs to use a common language, like Standard English. This is not because we are being rude, many times we don’t feel as proficient to use English and we are shy or embarrassed about our language.
I have so much pride about my Singaporean Accent and Singlish. I speak that way everywhere. I try to use Standard Language but I use it with my lovely accent.
3. Chicken Rice.
Google it
The first meal I have when I live away for a long period and get back — Chicken Rice.
4. Botanic Gardens
is a heritage sight
is beautiful and in the middle of the city
is calming, healing like most nature parks is
has all forms of plants and trees and some of the trees are really old and wise.
5. Gardens by the Bay
is the new gardens and I marvel at the architecture and engineering that created this wonderful sight.
I bring tourists here always.
The Gardens make me smile, always.
It makes me wonder about the world again when I get too much in my head or feel rushed.
Don’t rush the experience. Spend half a day. Bring a friend, bring a child. Bring your inner child.
6. Kaya Toast and Half-Boiled Eggs for breakfast or snacks
Hard to explain a taste to you. My American ex-boyfriend could not enjoy the texture.
7. Education System — good at some parts and lacking at times
In many ways our Mathematics rote learning is great and at times too much rote learning. I guess the most important thing is we try always to be better at making it better. I know this as I was a teacher and I am a Master Teacher at the Singapore Academy of Teachers and I can see the depth of commitment of teachers to self improvement and thinking of their students.
8. It is Safe. We look out for each other
I love our children can take a public bus home by themselves
My neighbours tell me if they see anything suspicious and watch my home when I was away
I can walk home at 2m to 5am and know I am safe.
9. Our soppy national day songs. Which are purely brainwashing and border on nationalism. But they work! I can sing some songs even until today
A true classic — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wnECl9KfWM&list=PLF47DC37125E3500F&index=2&t=0s
10. Multi-culturalism and we really are racially harmonious
I cannot explain to people from other countries apart from maybe Malaysia, how I sit with my Muslim brothers and sisters and share a meal and there is no second thoughts, it is almost as if growing up together we breathe the same air and eat the same food and its like I am more aware of what their practices are and mine are.
We have special Buddhist and Taoist ceremonies and death rites in the open void decks below our homes. It just is. We live with their cultures.
Yes we have prejudice and bias. That is human. However for the most part we really are harmonious. My experience of other countries is not the same, there is more segregation and misunderstanding and false assumptions.
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This is a lot of food for thought — Pun intended
I am reviewing what is Singapore to me and what being Singaporean means
—
My Stand Up for Singapore Gift
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Okie only when I go away — I can come back and get a little more gratitude for my country of origin
I am giving 53 coaching slots to Singaporeans and people based in Singapore for $53 dollars only — 1 hour coaching sessions
Past clients and current clients — sorry this doesn’t apply to you
No corporate clients either.
Only one $53 dollar session per person.
Email: marion@marionneubronner.com
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Name
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My strengths in coaching
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ask me and we will know if I am a good fit before I charge you
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Frequently asked questions: Can I buy this for someone else? — Only if THEY WANT TO BE COACHED. No wives buying for husbands pls …
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