What's culture shock to you for those who live(d) in Singapore?

[ksl]

Especially when you've have a pint or two or three?

[sundaymorningstaple]

snowqueen,

For the rude, obnoxious, and just plain uncouth here I generally refer to them as being "genetically challenged" or they would have learned years ago given that they have had 30 years of courtesy campaigns. They don't have a clue as to what it means but often I get a few grins from bystanders.

[stacey]

Oh Not So Brave & Not So New World...

[AmadeusCho]

Yes this bugs me too. They instantly lose my business if they start stalking me.

and mine

I wonder how much business is lost from morons standing outside their shops saying "...xxx for you?..." even before I know what they're selling

as if that would make me consider something I wasn't considering

not sure of the logic there, all I know is for those shops, where I might have done business, I don't because I don't like being harassed and I don't reward such idiocy with my patronage

My pet peeves so far have been:-

3) Being followed around stores even when I've asked them not to. They kind of take 2 steps back but still watch my every move. Shop assistants don't understand the art of shopping

[AngryAngMo]

the culture "shock" that i was suprised about most was...not missing my home I was kind of expecting home sickness soon but since now, 2 years after i arrived, i didnt even get close to it, whaaa..

besides that...burping in the office

[irvine]

1. People getting into my personal space. I mean, the little space at least 1 foot around me. A lot of people here like to walk really close to me - which I cringe everytime someone is really close to me, or I walk away really quickly. And some talk loudly around me - which I have the Ipod usually, but sometimes even the Ipod is not enough to drown out their conversations, especially youngsters.

2. Crowd. People everywhere, especially during the weekends! And they don't give way, expecting you to give you all the time. And the stopping at the top of the escalator taking ages to decide left or right. I once screamed "Helloooooooooo!!" at a middle-aged man for that. He turned around and glared at me. And of course, I glared back. Hahaha!

3. Everything is in the mall. There is no place I could just park and buy and go. The phone shop, the grocery store, the errands, the movies, the restaurants, the bakery, all are in the mall. I have to drive, park, go up a few floors, bash through hundreds of people, just to buy grocery. Gosh!

4. Food. The hawker food swims in oil. The restaurants expensive and usually in a mall. Refer to #3.

5. Constant frown in the forehead of locals. Do you notice that? Or is it just me? Is that what living in the ratrace do to the locals?

6. Singlish and the way Mandarin is spoken here. The accents and slangs are interesting.

5. The flow of walking traffic. It just makes me so claustrophobic and sometimes even give me panic attacks. My local friends can't empathize at all. And I wonder how they survive the crowd.

[sundaymorningstaple]

the culture "shock" that i was suprised about most was...not missing my home I was kind of expecting home sickness soon but since now, 2 years after i arrived, i didnt even get close to it, whaaa..

besides that...burping in the office

I got it bad after two!

Decades that is! Literally, never missed the farm until the last 5~7 years and the tugging gets stronger each year!

[pakjohn]

SMS... you'll have to retrain yourself for Maryland. Crab cakes, venison, turkey, cold weather, walking normal speed. lol! Have to admit a big tug in October, 2nd year in a row I missed the brown trout spawning run.

The favorite TV series thread got me looking at a series on HBO called "The Wire", set in Baltimore and around Baltimore City cops and Government officials. From what little I know of Baltimore I'd say it's pretty realistic!

[smayrhofer]

- the office being COMPLETELY empty at lunchtime for at least an hour, no-one in sight

I don't see how this is a bad thing! Rather a culture where everyone can enjoy their lunch breaks guilt-free than one where everyone eats at their desks as they work.

[AngryAngMo]

5. Constant frown in the forehead of locals. Do you notice that? Or is it just me? Is that what living in the ratrace do to the locals?

Well, i havent noticed that one, but what im sometimes wondering about is...why do a lot of people never really close their mouth?
Yeah, i know it sounds strange and please dont get me wrong, but i find myself very often standing in the elevator or lining up, looking at people and wondering why a lot of them always keep their mouth open, just a bit like 2 cm, but still open...my mum would give me a slap on the back.."Son, close your moth, you look like you saw a ghost"...

[ksl]

5. Constant frown in the forehead of locals. Do you notice that? Or is it just me? Is that what living in the ratrace do to the locals?

Well, i havent noticed that one, but what im sometimes wondering about is...why do a lot of people never really close their mouth?
Yeah, i know it sounds strange and please dont get me wrong, but i find myself very often standing in the elevator or lining up, looking at people and wondering why a lot of them always keep their mouth open, just a bit like 2 cm, but still open...my mum would give me a slap on the back.."Son, close your moth, you look like you saw a ghost"...

Maybe your mum had, had a muzzle on you since birth, and you was feeling a sense of freedom to open your mouth, when she slapped you so hard! May be it was ghost month!

[AngryAngMo]

buah!? im not really getting what you mean, "ghost month" !?
hehe, anyway, its really true, pay attention to it

[sundaymorningstaple]

buah!? im not really getting what you mean, "ghost month" !?
hehe, anyway, its really true, pay attention to it

He's referring to the Hungry Ghost Festival month.

[Cissiboy]

few things in random order as already pointed out by other fellows posts above..

- Racism. I may understand generally speaking singas are not intolerant, but i think "What race are you ?" is the most frequent question I've heard. May not be racist, ok, but then why not asking "Where d u come from ?". I was born in Europe and i never ever heard someone asking someone else "What race are u ?" even though, generally speaking, racism is frequent in europe.

- Gross noises. throat,nose snaring everywhere every time. Especially into public toilets. And then spit everything into sinks..wuaaah disgusting..spitting into public ashtrays also disgusting. Why can't you just blow your nose ???
Nail trimming on bus and mrt so gross as well..they don't care if they hit you with nail chunks..Shoe shuffling is something i cannot simply stand..Is it so difficult to walk properly ??

- Everywhere is freezing. Esp buses, malls and cinemas. Buses are often unbearable how cold they are. 24/25 C with dehumid options for aircon it is enough to live great. 16-17 C is simply insane

- Oscar winner actors on MRT. Do you really think I can believe you when after 30 seconds u seat onto a priority seat you already fell deeply asleep ?? C'mon..you are cheating !! One day there was this lady in her late 30s right beside me in mrt..she kept on leaning on me while sleeping..Then her phone rang and she answered..5 min call..perfectly awake, then call terminated..i said to myself "Let's see how long she takes to fall asleep..": sharply 40 seconds and she was already banging her head...UNBELIEVABLE ! I wish I could sleep so easily too !!!

- Every question deals with money.
Where u live ? How much you pay ?
Where u makan ? How much ?
How much your phone ? How much you pay ? How much..How much...
And they always spend less than you...even though... :if you spend 3$ for a chicken rice they spend 2.80$ in another stall...if you spend 1700$ for your rental in Pasir Ris...they spend 1500$ in Tiong Bahru..simply crazy !!

- Another crazy thing I notice every day is people queueing for going down on the escalator or, even worse, lift on mrt stations and stairs almost empty !!! For one storey !!!! Too lazy..

[Cissiboy]

another silly curiosity: why gals generally have heavy makeups for their faces, hands and feet nails (funny) worked out..but then legs (and also arms,back and feet) covered by stains, scars or other skin unaesthetisms (dunno how u spell it) ??

Do gals here think guys are not watching at their almost ever exposed legs ?? Do'nt they care of their body except for the face ??
And most of all, what are the causes of these things ????