katbh wrote:And what I do not think has been touched upon much here, is how welcome do you feel and would this mean you are more likely to want citizenship.
I know when I came here I loved it, loved the people, it was the best country in the world, lectured my friends about how their countries could learn a lesson from Singapore etc. I went through the first 7 year expat experience - love, distain, love etc.
I wanted, after setting down strong social and business ties here, to become a citizen and become a Singaporean, but I also knew that as an Ang Moh, I could never be one. I am tired of being asked where I am from...I tell them Joo Chiat...that annoys the crap out of the asker. I am tired of being asked when am I going 'home'. Wow, and here I was thinking that Singapore was home. I am tired of people being surprised because I work, do not have a maid, have children in local schools, eat in food courts etc. These would never be 'surprises' if I was a new immigrant from China.
And conversely, in my country of origin, I would never ask this (where are you from or when are you going home) of someone of a different race ..... I am just as likely to find that the Chinese couple running the local takeaway have families who have lived in the country more generations than mine. And to ask a person of a different race 'when are you going home' sounds redneck / skinhead in the extreme.
Yeah, it is typical stereotyping. How often do you see Ang Mohs walking under HDB blocks or in food courts or in the HDB children's play area.
Also it is a Asian cultural thing to become curious and ask questions directly, some that could be very personal.
I wouldnt take the question about "Where you are from?" as such a bad thing, they are genuinely curious to know which country you are from and may be start a conversation.
Although, asking "When are you going home?" is definitely a rude thing and they really want you to know you are a foreigner.
People ask me the 1st question very often and when I say I am from India and I work in IT, the response is usually very good like "Indians are very good in IT" and "I have been to India, to visit the buddhist piligrim places" or "For business in Bangalore"
People also ask "Have you applied for PR?" usually when it comes to housing related and when you tell them that you are blowing up so much in rent, they usually get back "Apply PR, lah and you buy a house and you will save money" ofcourse deep inside they might be thinking something else.