New here and ya I am a pure singaporean here

[sundaymorningstaple]

LGM, interesting that we once again seem to be on the same page. I've said the same thing here numerous times over the past five years.

The normal expat does considerable research into the country "before" committing to spend a number of years there. Therefore, like myself, I generally know more about the history of this country than most of the locals. My wife is constantly amazed but as she says, we don't really bother to study history as there is no money in it. And, with their math & Science scores I can believe it.

Frankly, I'm much the same about US History (grew up there so who cares!) Wrong, but there you are.....

[SGBoyxxx]

Haha, one thing you have to know about us expats here is that we know the history of Singapore better than you locals because we are interested in it and you are not really. I am still shocked that 90% of Singaporeans can not differentiate between world war one and world war two, they don't know the years they took place or the parties involved. So you don't really need to tell us about Raffles founding Singapore but we literally want to know how you feel singing your national anthem in Malay? Don't you feel it should be in English so everybody can identify with it, or maybe Chinese as the majority of people is Chinese?

I will be back in Singapore in November actually for a meeting at MAS and EDB. Then again in February but yes, I will move back permanently next September.

cool ...welcome to Sg

Ya don;t feel surprise go round ask some singaporean

lol they don;t even know who is our Prime minister .

But some european folks think singapore is china lol.


Ok back to your Qs

about national anthem singing in Malay , how I feel ?isn;t it better sing in english ?so everybody can identify with it, or maybe Chinese as the majority of people is Chinese?


actually seriously I can tell you , most of us don;t care about whether the national anthem should be sing in malay ?chinese? english? or even tamil???

we just blindly sing it when ask to sing.
We don;t even know really well the meanings of it too.

lol , recently in F1 .This sg idol is a malay guy.

He sing the national anthem wrongly .

He even said is an honest mistake he made in newspaper.
I am not sure you have read this news.

[SGBoyxxx]

LGM, interesting that we once again seem to be on the same page. I've said the same thing here numerous times over the past five years.

The normal expat does considerable research into the country "before" committing to spend a number of years there. Therefore, like myself, I generally know more about the history of this country than most of the locals. My wife is constantly amazed but as she says, we don't really bother to study history as there is no money in it. And, with their math & Science scores I can believe it.
Frankly, I'm much the same about US History (grew up there so who cares!) Wrong, but there you are.....

you are amaze our school kids scored good in maths and science?

lol ya they do those smart ones.

actually I don;t like maths during my school times
But I like science.

seriously most of the singapore students only know theory well.
skills wise still need alot to improve .

[sundaymorningstaple]

No, I'm not amazed. My children both went through the local school system and while my eldest in now in the workplace my son is currently in NAFA.

Singapore's school system, in the past, was geared only toward that which was necessary to build Singapore's infrastructure. Now that the infrastructure is on par and actually better than most western cities, it is starting to teach a more rounded form of education that also touches on the arts & humanities, which originally weren't needed to build flats or sewage systems. Now, with the numbers of locals going overseas and getting advanced education that is much more rounded, Singapore realized it had to change in order to compete with the other countries other wise the brain drain would be even worse that it already is.

[nakatago]

Anyway, yes, I too, am curious about what the locals really think of their country. Like SMS, I did some research before moving here. However, I can only take on so much what the goverment permits and for the life of me, I couldn't understand anything in the local forums. So, SGBoyxxx, please do tell us.

[SGBoyxxx]

No, I'm not amazed. My children both went through the local school system and while my eldest in now in the workplace my son is currently in NAFA.

Singapore's school system, in the past, was geared only toward that which was necessary to build Singapore's infrastructure. Now that the infrastructure is on par and actually better than most western cities, it is starting to teach a more rounded form of education that also touches on the arts & humanities, which originally weren't needed to build flats or sewage systems. Now, with the numbers of locals going overseas and getting advanced education that is much more rounded, Singapore realized it had to change in order to compete with the other countries other wise the brain drain would be even worse that it already is.

I know the school how they work because I work in the school

a local poly ..but I am not a lecture lol just looks at my reply ..my english is craps..sucks..

[SGBoyxxx]

Anyway, yes, I too, am curious about what the locals really think of their country. Like SMS, I did some research before moving here. However, I can only take on so much what the goverment permits and for the life of me, I couldn't understand anything in the local forums. So, SGBoyxxx, please do tell us.

what you want to know?for me I am consider quite young
under the generation X in singapore thus maybe some stuffs I still haven;t experience or encounter yet.

I can said the local mostly "bo chap" hokkien words which means "don;t care" of their country.As I mention most of the singaporean just work and work .I can sense that the locals don;t seem have a quality life here .Ya work balance here I mean.
I feel is due to the society here.HDB flats is getting expensive .People have to keep working in order to pay the loan for the flat.
since most of the singaporean living in "pigeon" hole .

Even myself still haven;t own a flat for myself because I haven;t reach 35 yrs old.For singles in sg in order to buy a HDB flat the legal age is 35 if u are single.
I am staying with my parents and I am the only child and son here.
Both my parents is not working so depend alot from me so no choice I have to work even harder to provide comfort for my parents.

I happen to see one program on ch 8 .which is a chinese channel in local tv.

This local host will go around countries to see whats the lifestyle there compare to sg.

Once he was in holland interview the local there.How they feel life in holland .He also do share with them hows life in sg comparing with theirs.

LOL the holland locals feel sad for singaporean here when the host mention back in sg , people just work and work.
Doing OT don;t have time with the family .

The holland locals feel sad for us lol.
To them , work balance is important there.
They don;t do OT unncessary unless is really need to do .


sorry nakatgo what you mean ?
"I can only take on so much what the goverment permits and for the life of me"

maybe I haven;t answer your Qs

[nakatago]

Actually, you've already given a lot of insight of how locals think, which I really wanted to know.

About the government, I think SMS has been very vocal about it, that the PAP is practically THE government (opposition? what opposition?!? the leader is in exile!) and the same government has its control deeply entrenched into people's personal lives. It keeps reminding me of the Orson Welles novel 1984.

About the forums, I tried reading them to see the locals's insights on certain things. I thought I was reading English, but I couldn't understand anything--English words with some Malay and Chinese, with Mandarin syntax and grammar and sms spelling...

But now, I know.

Anyway, yes, I too, am curious about what the locals really think of their country. Like SMS, I did some research before moving here. However, I can only take on so much what the goverment permits and for the life of me, I couldn't understand anything in the local forums. So, SGBoyxxx, please do tell us.

what you want to know?for me I am consider quite young
under the generation X in singapore thus maybe some stuffs I still haven;t experience or encounter yet.

I can said the local mostly "bo chap" hokkien words which means "don;t care" of their country.As I mention most of the singaporean just work and work .I can sense that the locals don;t seem have a quality life here .Ya work balance here I mean.
I feel is due to the society here.HDB flats is getting expensive .People have to keep working in order to pay the loan for the flat.
since most of the singaporean living in "pigeon" hole .

Even myself still haven;t own a flat for myself because I haven;t reach 35 yrs old.For singles in sg in order to buy a HDB flat the legal age is 35 if u are single.
I am staying with my parents and I am the only child and son here.
Both my parents is not working so depend alot from me so no choice I have to work even harder to provide comfort for my parents.

I happen to see one program on ch 8 .which is a chinese channel in local tv.

This local host will go around countries to see whats the lifestyle there compare to sg.

Once he was in holland interview the local there.How they feel life in holland .He also do share with them hows life in sg comparing with theirs.

LOL the holland locals feel sad for singaporean here when the host mention back in sg , people just work and work.
Doing OT don;t have time with the family .

The holland locals feel sad for us lol.
To them , work balance is important there.
They don;t do OT unncessary unless is really need to do .


sorry nakatgo what you mean ?
"I can only take on so much what the goverment permits and for the life of me"

maybe I haven;t answer your Qs

[irvine]

Thanks for sharing, SgBoy... On history buffs, I read Harry Lee's biography and also the entire history of Singapore too before I moved here. :p It's like a way 'to make sure I know what and where I'm getting myself into'.

I'm also curious on:
Are you proud of your country? What makes you proud of your country? What makes you proud to be a Singaporean?

[x9200]

About the government, I think SMS has been very vocal about it, that the PAP is practically THE government (opposition? what opposition?!? the leader is in exile!) and the same government has its control deeply entrenched into people's personal lives.

Am I the only one here who thinks that to large extent this the right way for the society like this bearing all its cultural and historical burdens? Many "Westerners" think that their way of living should be imposed unconditionally over everybody. IMO the political system of Singapore, even with all its clear limitations serves better this society than any of Western, fully democratic systems would.

[SGBoyxxx]

Thanks for sharing, SgBoy... On history buffs, I read Harry Lee's biography and also the entire history of Singapore too before I moved here. :p It's like a way 'to make sure I know what and where I'm getting myself into'.

I'm also curious on:
Are you proud of your country? What makes you proud of your country? What makes you proud to be a Singaporean?

seriously I am also don;t know is it I am proud of my country?
on net if I am chatting with people oversea.
when I mention I from singapore.
some of them thought sg is part of china
some of them comment cool sg heard the technology here is good.

I was hmm

in fact if u are talking about asia countries
Japan technology is the best among asia countries.

I am only proud is sg is stable and don;t have natural disasters .
Your house will be safe no need to worry it will blow away or get destory .

[adibahhhhhh]

i'm sure the point about expats knowing the history of Singapore better than Singaporeans doesn't apply to all. some people just don't bother delving into their own country's history (and i'm certain this applies to all nationalities) which is sad. expats, i presume, would be more interested in learning Singapore's history due to obvious reasons- i would certainly want a crash course on a country's history if i intend to live there for a couple of years.

about the national anthem bit- we've been singing it since primary school, it's been rooted in our system for years. i have asked my chinese and indian friends about it and they have not had any complains so far. we learnt of it's meaning since day 1 of school, and we appreciate the usage of malay in little yet significant ways (our national anthem, the children's day song) as it's etched in our history.

hope this answers your queries!

[SGBoyxxx]

i'm sure the point about expats knowing the history of Singapore better than Singaporeans doesn't apply to all. some people just don't bother delving into their own country's history (and i'm certain this applies to all nationalities) which is sad. expats, i presume, would be more interested in learning Singapore's history due to obvious reasons- i would certainly want a crash course on a country's history if i intend to live there for a couple of years.

about the national anthem bit- we've been singing it since primary school, it's been rooted in our system for years. i have asked my chinese and indian friends about it and they have not had any complains so far. we learnt of it's meaning since day 1 of school, and we appreciate the usage of malay in little yet significant ways (our national anthem, the children's day song) as it's etched in our history.
hope this answers your queries!

seriously till now I forgot what it means whenever the national anthem played ...

yup if I remb in primary school in music class?the teacher got teach us to sing and explain the meanings ?

I am not sure since that is dam long time ago.

[econoMIC]

LGM, interesting that we once again seem to be on the same page. I've said the same thing here numerous times over the past five years.

The normal expat does considerable research into the country "before" committing to spend a number of years there. Therefore, like myself, I generally know more about the history of this country than most of the locals. My wife is constantly amazed but as she says, we don't really bother to study history as there is no money in it. And, with their math & Science scores I can believe it.

Frankly, I'm much the same about US History (grew up there so who cares!) Wrong, but there you are.....

Still I dare to say you know when the WWI and WWII took place, who the parties involved were, how it affected your country... But I agree apart from that basic knowledge I also don't know much about ... Germany? Not really. Canada? Yes a bit more, just enough to know that I want to get rid off the queen as our head of state. I do not see the need to be a dominion of the Brits any more although it is only on paper anyway.

[nakatago]

About the government, I think SMS has been very vocal about it, that the PAP is practically THE government (opposition? what opposition?!? the leader is in exile!) and the same government has its control deeply entrenched into people's personal lives.

Am I the only one here who thinks that to large extent this the right way for the society like this bearing all its cultural and historical burdens? Many "Westerners" think that their way of living should be imposed unconditionally over everybody. IMO the political system of Singapore, even with all its clear limitations serves better this society than any of Western, fully democratic systems would.

* I am not from the west, though I admit subscribing to some of their ideologies
* If political system => constitution, I agree. It's the Singaporeans that set it up, after all
* But why is voicing views opposite from those of the government so maligned?
* I'm not saying they do an 180, just suggesting that wouldn't it better to listen to the other side instead of "criminalizing" them (ditto for more freedom of speech)? Isn't multiple point of views better than just one so everyone would see what just one can't?
* However, I do agree that sometimes the SG government has to take a more active role in its people's lives (e.g. graciousness, speak english campaigns).
* On the bright side, technology is making the world smaller, making communications easier. Healthy exchange of ideas occur all the time (like what we're doing). The youth is hopefully, being made aware of different ideas. More rounded education for Singaporeans are opening to new ideas and different points of view. Singapore, as a sovereign country, is very young. Some countries have already gone through similar phases but made mistakes. Their histories, documented and easily accessible. Hopefully, the exposure will help Singaporeans define their society's future, make them realize if they're making the same mistakes and avoid them.