
Personally, I dont like to use the word assimilation. Being a trekkie, I find the word too "Borgish". You know! "Resistance is Futile".

A slight deviation to compare integration in US for the Indian diaspora.
I have found that quite a lot of my peers working in US are not open to the concept of integration. And I take my own classmates and my cousins etc. as examples (No! I am labling every Indian diaspora in US in the same vein as I am describing henceforth).
The Indian diaspora in US is very unique. They form a formidable community with solid economic clout. But there is a flaw. When I first went there, I found that my friends did not have a single acquaintance or friend outside of the Indian community. It was as if they had erected this huge wall which had a signboard "Non Indians not welcome". I wondered for years because human nature is filled with the need to be curious. You tend to learn about your surroundings and adapt accordingly. But this did not seem to be the case. Now, I am not saying its a bad thing, but its not a good thing either. When you form your own community that has a certain pre-requisite of what nationality you are, you are actually creating a bridge which does not exist for outsiders to cross.
My living in Singapore has given me friends that can rival a UN convention. And it is an exhilarating feeling that not only do you have the opportunity to learn but to share. My only take on my peers in US was that, being so far away you crave for all things Indian and hence you tend to gravitate towards everything Indian. I had some of my colleagues in my former employment tell me that it is very difficult to speak to the Indian staff because they stick to themselves. Initially, I labeled them as being a**l but then I realised its not true. They were just afraid. Fear was misguided but yet in their minds very real. Not physical harm. It was more of the fear of saying something which may be taken wrongly. And hence the need to ensure you are within your comfort zone so that such fears do not arise. Sadly, this creates the impression that Indians are unapproachable. Which is not true. We are very hospitable and good curry heads.


Living in Singapore for all these years, I have seen people come and go. My best friend in Latin American who moved to Mexico. But we are still best friends and like family. My sister who came to visit was amazed at the assortment of people she met and she was thrilled to hang out for the 10 days she spent here. She had a changed perception on how life can be enhanced with such connections and the fact that in the end we are all the same. We are born and we die! In between is the rest of the stuff.
I am quite sure of one thing though. If I did indeed moved to US 12 years ago, I would have a very different person. Not for the worst but I would not have been a more knowledgeable, more open minded, and more confident.
Now coming back to original query on integration in Singapore. I break it down to a two things. People and Food. Basically, know the people to make adjustments to your attitude and behaviour. And then learn to breath normally when you walk through a hawker center. Why? When I first came here and walked into a hawker center, I nearly threw up because the smells were totally new and my senses were overpowered.


For those who have lived here for 10 years or more, I am sure you will understand when I say that today it is so much more easier to integrate than it was 10 years ago.
In the end it is upto the individual whether they are willing to integrate or not. I do know of people who refuse to integrate not because they are arrogant, but just because they do not find the need to do so as it would mean coming out of the comfort zone. I for one believe that you cannot force someone to integrate but you can share the joys of such integration which is only beneficial in the long run.