whats with the rudeness

[sundaymorningstaple]

So at 66, you are saying that they might mistake me for a old codger who's looking for either a nurse or a purse!

[movingtospore]

Or will it be us in 12 months when the next wide eyed couple roll into town. haha, hope not...

HHHHmmmm

Got it in one. When you're a really seasoned ol' expat the absolutely last thing you want to deal with is gushing newbie-strangers. 'OMG don't you know I'm so above that, I'm so in-country I positively despise you new arrivals...

Next thing you'll be taking sweaters and down jackets with you when you go to a shopping centre.... because you've gone SO native you have a problem with air-con, which of course is only for newbies...


p.s. Yes there are some real a-hole snobby ex-pats in SG; but it is simpler just to sit back and enjoy laughing at them...


...and so on!

OP one thing here...remember that the expat community is very transient. So, for those who stick around for a few years, after a while, the idea of making new friends again and again gets old. Exhausting even.

It is also kind of a hostile environment here all around. No excuse but unfortunately it rubs off sometimes.

If you join some sport groups, clubs, churches, whatever your interest is really - that can be a better way to meet people as you'll find others who actually want to make new friends.

[Brah]

It is also kind of a hostile environment here all around. No excuse but unfortunately it rubs off sometimes.

If you join some sport groups, clubs, churches, whatever your interest is really - that can be a better way to meet people as you'll find others who actually want to make new friends.

+1/2

I would agree that it may be becoming a hostile environment, but it's spotty as in some cases it's really not; it's not quite there yet and hopefully will never be.

Hostile is a strong word, and whichever the best word for it is, it seems to be increasing from the locals to the foreigners.

However there is a different, not hostile but passive-aggressive break between the foreigners, who tend to keep with their own kind, generally speaking.

It was only after coming here did I learn of a so-called* 'allergy' that Brits and Aussies have of Americans. In my experience it has been everything from non-existent to subtle to blatant.

Americans seem to be immune to having this allergy in the opposite directions, except perhaps for those living deep in the South against people from Mexico.....

Again - generally speaking, for example there are some on this forum who are completely not like that.
*that's the real so-called, not the over- and improperly used so-called locals pepper their sentences with.

Also agree that sports and churches and the like are good ways to meet those whom one is likely to gel with.

[JR8]

It was only after coming here did I learn of a so-called* 'allergy' that Brits and Aussies have of Americans. In my experience it has been everything from non-existent to subtle to blatant.

Americans seem to be immune to having this allergy in the opposite directions, except perhaps for those living deep in the South against people from Mexico.....

Hey every country has it's stereotypes, but in the case of the US it's a fact that they're fat, arrogant and ignorant.

[Mi Amigo]

You'll be telling me that all Indians walk in single file next...

[heliotropic365]

this is an interesting thing about singapore, but i wouldn't let it get you down. after living here several years now, i think this kind of ignoring those around you is a result of so many people living in such close proximity with each other. lots of people are over-stimulated by the number of people they come in contact with on a daily basis, and i think tuning out is sort of a natural response to that.. i just try to look on the bright side!

[msliz]

as many others have said, don't let this kind of rudeness or bad attitude get under your skin or even change you. I have lived in Singapore quite long enough that friendliness may not be a strong suit for either locals or expats, perhaps it's the fact that living in such a busy city tends to make people more suspicious of others, so that even a friendly smile can be assumed as an attempt to trickery or bad intention.
However, based on my experience, for some cases, once you get through that wall of rudeness and unfriendliness, there are a lot of nice and kind people (locals or expats).

[Brah]

my trolldar alert is going off again....

[Sooner8]

my trolldar alert is going off again....

Is it because the OP has not chimed in yet after so many replies/thoughts?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Troll or Journo.

[Max Headroom]

Oh dear, Singa just bailed. Good luck to us.

[nakatago]

Oh dear, Singa just bailed. Good luck to us.

His IP records show he visited at least DIAC, hipmunk and skyscanner websites. He also visited Seek and LinkedIn a lot lately.

His latest credit card statements also reveal he bought a Samsonite (40 kg) luggage, a new portable hard drive and a one-way ticket to Perth.

[BillyB]

my trolldar alert is going off again....

Is that the same as a trollopdar? Mine also goes off when I see girls wearing belts pretending to be skirts!

[sundaymorningstaple]

That's funny. Mine goes full on.

[BillyB]

That's funny. Mine goes full on.

Pocket billiards?!