Culture Shock - Arriving in singapore

[the lynx]

Woah guys, eating with your mouth open is nothing about being Asian or European. It is still bad manners for both - period.

[nakatago]

I've seen bright people talking with food still in their mouths and I don't mean anything gummy. I'm surprised they didn't end up spitting all over the place.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Woah guys, eating with your mouth open is nothing about being Asian or European. It is still bad manners for both - period.

That's what I thought as well. Although, the spitting out of bones all over the table linen seems to be decidedly Asian.

[bgd]

Woah guys, eating with your mouth open is nothing about being Asian or European. It is still bad manners for both - period.

That's what I thought as well. Although, the spitting out of bones all over the table linen seems to be decidedly Asian.

I have it on good (Singaporean) authority that the one sure way to tell PRCs from Singaporeans is the fact that PRCs eat with their mouths open.

On hearing this I concluded that, apart from the ‘authority’ sitting across from me, I was eating in a hawker entirely populated by PRCs.

My authority is a little biased though

[Sergei82]

In Korea it is even worse: they chew, smile, salivate, talk and laugh - all at the same time to show that they are enjoying!

[JR8]

Well I don't mind having dinner or take a walk with a pretty, elegant, well dressed lady even if she's gulping her food. It just shows that she's a normal and relaxed person.

It's another matter if it's a man though.

It's ok for a lady, but not for a guy?

Ha!?

[Aragorn2000]

I'm a guy therefore the lady's sexiness can make up for her shortcomings.

[Mi Amigo]

Fighter jets overhead all pm. Why do they do this right over a city-centre? (is it about instilling fake fear?)

They've probably started practicing for the NDP. 'Only' 3 months to go, so they need to rehearse the damn thing a hundred times or more. Used to drive me nuts when we lived under the flight path.

[JR8]

Fighter jets overhead all pm. Why do they do this right over a city-centre? (is it about instilling fake fear?)

They've probably started practicing for the NDP. 'Only' 3 months to go, so they need to rehearse the damn thing a hundred times or more. Used to drive me nuts when we lived under the flight path.

Oh right, well maybe that's it. But heavens it seems a risk of notable magnitude; SG is so densely populated, one of those jets comes down and it could take out a whole apartment block...

[zzm9980]

On hearing this I concluded that, apart from the ‘authority’ sitting across from me, I was eating in a hawker entirely populated by PRCs.

If I believe everything Singaporeans tell me (or post online), 99% of the people I see in my daily life must all be FT.

[zzm9980]

Fighter jets overhead all pm. Why do they do this right over a city-centre? (is it about instilling fake fear?)

They've probably started practicing for the NDP. 'Only' 3 months to go, so they need to rehearse the damn thing a hundred times or more. Used to drive me nuts when we lived under the flight path.

Oh right, well maybe that's it. But heavens it seems a risk of notable magnitude; SG is so densely populated, one of those jets comes down and it could take out a whole apartment block...

Go eat lunch or drink coffee on the first or second floor (outdoors) at Singpost Center one day. It is directly inline with the runway at Paya Lebar air base. It was quite distracting (in a good way) to be there during meetings with F16s buzzing the place non stop.

[x9200]

On hearing this I concluded that, apart from the ‘authority’ sitting across from me, I was eating in a hawker entirely populated by PRCs.

If I believe everything Singaporeans tell me (or post online), 99% of the people I see in my daily life must all be FT.

I have noticed that Singaporeans complaining about PRCs are complaining about the same thing as the Westerners (and such) about Singaporeans.

[JR8]

Interesting Z, I'll file that one away for the future...

Here's another observation, and it's a plus...

6 pieces of take-away fresh seafood sushi (tuna, ebiko, salmon) from one of the Japanese supermarkets on Orchard Rd. Has the consistency of authentic hand-rolled, rather than machine pressed, a la European supermarkets' offerings.

With soy*2+chopsticks = $3.75.

An ideal, bargain of a healthy and light dinner.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I'm a guy therefore the lady's sexiness can make up for her shortcomings.

I've never seen a cow that is chewing it's cud that could ever be accused of being sexy. And I spent my childhood on a dairy farm! That goes for two-legged cows as well. And that's even if she's udderly beautiful!

[ARR1702]

You are welcome to join me for lunch to see if the way I'm eating is that gross to you.

I was eating with a lot of Asians, but since we're already explicitly talking about eating with mouth open (salivating and smacking gum aloud), I lost my appetite. Thank you. Yes, it is that bad!

This is another matter altogether. I think I'm defending just mere opening of the mouth.

Normally I just lurk around this site but I really got to comment about this issue.

I think it's pretty hard to eat quietly with your mouth open.

Every time I hear the chomping/smacking/chewing sound, I go crazy. Especially when the person is eating a banana, ew!!!