The Overseas Singaporean *

2007-07-14 4:24 p.m.

This entry is not a public policy for change. It is not even something that is being sent for petition, for wide viewing of any forum. Yes, it is a opinion placed on the World Wide Web, and perhaps could be circulated, but its firstly not political, and secondly, should be at the most viewed as a positive step for change.

So here we go. Today’s subject or person is the “Overseas Singaporean.” He (again I use the male pronoun for generalization, and mean no offence to the other sex) could be any Singaporean residing overseas. He could be studying there, working there temporarily and even residing there permanently (I have no qualms against that). He thus, in any circumstance, is originally from the young republic, born and breed in its lifestyle, yet finding himself in a new land. So what should the Overseas Singaporean be?

Firstly, he should have a strong command of the language of the country he is in. This, broadly speaking, is usually English, but it also should include Spanish, French, German, Russian and even Mandarin or any language that is central to the country. The Overseas Singaporean should remember this well enough, for back home he has been drilled with “Speak Good English Campaign” and even the “Speak Good Mandarin Campaign.” Mastering the local mother tongue would obviously erase any communication barriers with locals but will also improve your image with those that you interact with. I don’t necessarily mean that because the Overseas Singaporean is Singaporean and therefore mastering the local language improves his image as an Overseas Singaporean. Locals will not identify you as that. They may not even identify you as Chinese, Malay, Indian or Eurasian. They will see you as an outsider but by interacting with them in their own language, relationships are easier to develop. That might not always be the case, but by sticking to the “Singaporean style English” (and I don’t mean just the slangs), the Overseas Singaporean may not be seen in a strong light as others.

Leading on to this is that the Overseas Singaporean should understand local accents and culture. For example, greetings in the UK “you ok, mate” or “cheers”, or the Australian “G’day mate”, the German “Alles gut?” or the typical American “Hey, dude”. Learning these will again ease the social interaction between him and the local community. To live with only knowledge of Singaporean life is not a crime, but when you are overseas, not learning to adjust to local dialect would leave you as a fish out water. Yes, by all means, teach them some Singaporean words to liven up the conversations. I’m not suggesting to turn totally British, Russian, French or whatever. However, residing back in your own world won’t help you either.

Going deeper on culture, the Overseas Singaporean must bring himself to try things and events typical to that country. Go ahead and find out what is say St. Patrick Day, Guy Fawkes Night, Halloween, Veterans Day, October Fest [sic] or events like the Changing of the Guard in London. The Overseas Singaporean should not just fret over things he grew up with, such as the various ethnic festivals (some which he will still find abroad) or just waiting for Singapore’s National Day. Receding with this mentality to some is natural, but in the long term, the individual might as well be better off at home. Whether or not it was a personal choice to be in that country, living away from the surrounding environment alienates self and others.

On a closer point, let us look at the Overseas Singaporean and Overseas Food. Singapore, having been a colony and afterwards the attraction point for shipping and business. Thus it is almost a global food paradise and the average Singaporean has been exposed to a myriad of cuisines. Overseas food, unless its some country whose cuisine has not yet invaded the city state, should not be alien to the Overseas Singaporean. Yet, precisely since he is overseas, he should make a conscious effort to try the local food. It is true that not all are adventurous, but don’t stay with the food you’ve been brought up with. Try stuff like Roasts, French crepes, Italian polenta, Russian sturgeon, American grits or any delicacies. I’m not suggesting one to totally abstain from eating Singaporean/Asian food. Far from it. By all means eat it, and share it with the foreign friends—after all that’s one way of understanding each others culture. However, yet again, don’t “lock yourself up” and live on solely Singaporean cuisine. Firstly, while it may not be boring, it certainly defeats the purpose of living abroad; it’s like you just wanted to bring your own home over and not find a home over there. Secondly, it does indirectly place the Overseas Singaporean in the position of an “outsider”, definitely hindering assimilation with the locals and others, and worse could create distrust. The Overseas Singaporean, I say again, need to be adventurous but neither should he be narrow minded and unwilling to adapt to new surroundings.

As mentioned above, the Overseas Singaporean is mainly a student or a worker. Occasionally, the Overseas Studying Singaporean is there because he is funded by private or government organisations. This is so since he has scored well in his A levels, clinching awards in “Special Papers” on top of his normal subjects. Yet, when he enters the tide of University, he will find his foreign counterparts holding around only 3 A Levels with an absence Special Papers, or for the case of Americans, a simple High School certificate. I dare speculate that European students would hold something equivalent to those. So how should the Overseas Studying Singaporean react?

He definitely should not flaunt his achievements around. Of course, people will think he is one arrogant chap in doing so, but they will also be thinking “so what?” The British who entered Oxbridge or the top few universities entered it with only 3 A levels without the need for Special Papers. Similarly for Americans, there wasn’t the much brain wrecking as a Singaporean would put in to enter an Ivy League University. There’s nothing so wonderful to say that you have this much in your results and scored that high. Their western counterparts could have done the same, but at the same time, they have succeeded in a whole range of other areas. Yes, the Singaporean student has what they term CCAs to their name. An average British on the other hand, has represented his school in numerous sports competitions, at least one regional or international competition, tried out one drama play, gone on expeditions or even self initiated projects. I’m not saying that all foreign students have achieved this but the fact remains that they can perform more activities per time period than a Singaporean. So the Overseas Singaporean should not think his grades and well even his activities are crash hot. When he enters university, he will be surprised to see that while he is amongst his books, his counterparts are working on so many events at once and still scoring around the same grades as he does. There’s always someone better.

As mentioned, some Singaporean students studying overseas are on scholarships. That secures their fees and their job prospects for the next few years. Again, don’t ramble on as if you have acquired the gold of all golds. It is true that your foreign counterpart would feel jealous, but again the words “so what” run through your head. They (the foreign counterparts) also have grants and bursaries available, non binding help that is almost equivalent to a scholarship. Besides both of them are after all in the same boat. While the Overseas Singaporean will head home with his path planned for him, his counterpart will run the same race and will still eventually emerge to be a Minister, CEO, Director or any high post, similar to the Singaporean. They can then say, “I achieved it, by my own effort”.

For the working Singaporean overseas, he may find a different work ethic overseas and no doubt a different lifestyle ( part of what is see above). Again, the Overseas Singaporean must try to live with this lifestyle, and not wish and fret over for his old life.

Singapore has been regularly praised for being the top in everything such as their port facilities its airport, and being a clean and green city. It has been praised for being a corruption free state, with a strong base for businesses and to some degree culture. Overseas, he may not find a Singapore in terms of its physical environment. This is true, even in developed countries which had had a longer history of development. The worst the Overseas Singaporean can do is to whine constantly that “this area is so dirty” and “look at all the run down buildings” and comment on how beautiful Singapore is. He should acknowledge that he is in the wide world and there is a difference in building a city state versus cities spanning populations of millions. The Singaporean would argue that there was great advantage in his country’s laws on littering and vandalism. Then again, no one is to judge that one law can work for all. As the post-modernists and post structuralists ague, there is nothing unique or universal. This, I think, can be applied here. So the Overseas Singaporean should learn to accept overseas environments.

Touching on that, the Overseas Singaporean should not constantly brag about his country when overseas. I don’t mean that he should not be proud of Singapore and not defend the country. But amidst the conversations with his foreign counterparts, he may receive critical comments on Singapore’s political structure, approach on business, legal procedures, and other aspects. By all means, discuss such areas. However, the Overseas Singaporean should not blatantly drone out the typical responses to any criticism of his country without first examining the comments. What he should attempt is constructive discussion. In the course of it, criticisms will be made against other countries. That is fine, but to continue droning on using the typical Singaporean arguments is like a gun firing in one direction while the enemy is moving.

The Overseas Singaporean has been told back home to “go globally, stay local.” Staying local is no problem in many aspects. To be the global citizen, the Overseas Singaporean must move and change in other ways as he moving overseas.

Alright, I wrote something Singapore linked, a subject which I told myself to hardly touch.

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