Discuss about life in Singapore. Ask about cost of living, housing, travel, etiquette & lifestyle. Share experience & advice with Singaporeans & expat staying in Singapore.
-
Barnsley
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 2319
- Joined: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 5:22 pm
- Location: Pasir Ris
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Barnsley » Wed, 24 Apr 2013 3:19 pm
BedokAmerican wrote:I agree with Hannieroo about how people will start conversations with you if you have a young child with you. I've found that to be the case when I'm with my 1-year-old because everyone wants to smile and wave when they see a kid that age. Now that I think about it, that's really the only way I've had conversations with locals.
Otherwise, when I'm by myself I usually don't bother unless I'm asking for directions or something like that because people usually have their faces attached to their cell phone screens. But oftentimes if I need directions, I try and approach someone official looking (such as a store employee, although they can't always help) because it can sometimes be hard for me to tell the difference between a local and tourist. After all, not all Asians are locals.
But come to think of it, asking someone for directions might be a good way to start a conversation.
Especially if they want to point you the way to Changi Airport
Only conversation I have had with anyone around where I live was in the Coffee Shop when they had a TV which had football on.
Sadly they took that out when the "noise" got too much ....... very sad as watching the footy with the guys at the coffee shop was a good integration tool.
Life is short, paddle harder!!
-
taxico
- Director
![Director Director]()
- Posts: 3333
- Joined: Sat, 10 May 2008 6:05 pm
- Location: Existential dilemma!
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by taxico » Wed, 24 Apr 2013 3:34 pm
chrissg wrote:...Sometime I really want to have small talk with people that I usually met on train or bus station when go or back from office because i think people that we met almost everyday on station can be friends...
are you singaporean?
if you're not, would you do the above in your home city?
i know if i did this on the NY subway, i'll end up getting punched eventually.
-
Hannieroo
- Reporter
![Reporter Reporter]()
- Posts: 999
- Joined: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 6:04 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Hannieroo » Wed, 24 Apr 2013 6:23 pm
Yes, I thought so, Lynx
I dunno, maybe the locals are off putting at times, I was surprised when a Japanese couple stopped me on orchard fir directions. But on the other hand today an older Chinese gentleman very kindly and patiently explained what coupon parking was, took me to buy them then showed me how to do it
-
x9200
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 10075
- Joined: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 4:06 pm
- Location: Singapore
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by x9200 » Wed, 24 Apr 2013 8:42 pm
There are many kind and polite around. This is just the average that knocks the score down. For this average I am always surprised how often it happens the drivers move the cars out of my way so I can pass through in the traffic jam.
-
bgd
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 1684
- Joined: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 4:09 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by bgd » Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:10 am
x9200 wrote:There are many kind and polite around...
Indeed. In forums like this people are more likely to write about negative experiences which can result in a distorted picture.
My experiences interacting with the locals here is generally positive.
-
the lynx
- Governor
![Governor Governor]()
- Posts: 5281
- Joined: Thu, 09 Dec 2010 6:29 pm
- Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by the lynx » Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:43 am
I'd think that to every new people here, there is a honeymoon period where everything, good and bad, can be taken with open mind. Usually the good will be put under magnifying glass of optimism. Honeymoon period is for one year or two. After that, these little things will be the deal-breaker; you either choose to ignore it or to get annoyed incessantly.
Having said that, I've met my fair share of nice and mean locals, as well as nice and mean expats.
Last edited by
the lynx on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40533
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:45 am
'tis very true ^^^^ +1
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
nutnut
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 1858
- Joined: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:20 am
- Location: The Mainland....
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by nutnut » Thu, 25 Apr 2013 3:52 pm
Start conversation like this:
Aiyoh, so busy lah, how can make 6 million when 5 million too much already ah?
Then you will surely have a great conversation, I do it when I have read my emails and have nothing to do in a taxi, goes down a storm!
nutnut
-
JR8
- Immortal
![Immortal Immortal]()
- Posts: 16522
- Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
- Location: K. Puki Manis
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by JR8 » Thu, 25 Apr 2013 5:06 pm
^+1
I say, Nut2's jolly well gone native!

-
-
- 0 Replies
- 18184 Views
-
Last post by funsg
Fri, 23 Jun 2023 2:36 pm
-
-
- 1 Replies
- 8221 Views
-
Last post by Myasis Dragon
Mon, 07 Feb 2022 1:45 am
-
-
Volunteering and Social Work
hands-4344711_1280.jpg
Many expatriates who come to Singapore to accompany their spouses, often find themselves at a loss to fill their days in a...
- 0 Replies
- 4872 Views
-
Last post by Pal
Thu, 23 Nov 2023 5:28 pm
-
-
- 0 Replies
- 3302 Views
-
Last post by Pal
Thu, 21 May 2020 1:17 am
-
-
Use social visit pass or ltvp for jobs?
Replies: 1
First post
Evening everyone,
I will be graduating from uni soon and planning to work full time perm in SG. Previously i did my diploma in SG so i was under...
Last post
Spot on.
Oh, and good luck. ;-)
- 1 Replies
- 2356 Views
-
Last post by sundaymorningstaple
Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:12 pm
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests