1. this part of the world is known for being "socially-conscious." Brand names = status because you need money to buy branded goods. Food is a "more normal" favored activity because who doesn't like good food? The flipside, however, is that it can also be equated to wealth (and status) because being able to travel for good food or being able to eat out means you have the means to do so (being worldly is also equated with status). Note that even though people like food, not too many like being able to cook it. Brand names = status symbol. Restaurants = status symbol. Being well-traveled to eat = status symbol. You get the idea.russlan wrote: Can anyone, please, share your ideas about:
1) What is the way of thinking that forces people to only care about shopping and food? What are their thoughts? What is their life like? I just fail to imagine it.
2) Is there any way to connect with the other kind of people? Any forums/meetups etc.?
Regarding food, its so cheap to eat outside, so they dont prepare their own food and they visit food courts and hawker centers to have all their meals. Which means its a social thing and they do it with their friends and families and they meet a lot of people, so obviously food becomes a topic of conversation. I personally dont see anything so exciting about the food here. Basically they eat the same stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then go "Wah! Singapore has such awesome food"russlan wrote:Hey there. I've been to Singapore for almost six months now, and I like it so far, I enjoy my job and the city itself. However, I am struggling to adapt and understand the local culture.
The first thing my colleagues asked me was what are the best brands and good places for shopping in my home country. They seem entirely preoccupied with shopping, food and TV. We can hardly find anything to talk about except shopping, and it seems like they spend most of their weekends stuck in malls. I did some research on that ruthless consumerism and I still fail to understand why they don't think it is degrading and humiliating to live their whole life for shopping, talking about brands and stuff like that.
By now I am feeling completely alone and a total weirdo because I don't waste my time on shopping and food - I would rather write a useful blog post, read a business book, think about business ideas or new opportunities, or simply ride a bike in Ubin. I am so desperate it seems every single person around has absolutely no soul or passion for anything except consuming food and clothes.
Can anyone, please, share your ideas about:
1) What is the way of thinking that forces people to only care about shopping and food? What are their thoughts? What is their life like? I just fail to imagine it.
2) Is there any way to connect with the other kind of people? Any forums/meetups etc.?
Please do not take these questions as an offence. I am genuinely not acquainted with the shopping-oriented lifestyle and way of thinking and I want to understand (if not accept) it.
Thanks.
SO funny, because I have the same experience in India! "Wah, more bread-type fluffy(sometimes crunchy) stuff with curries/spicy liquids to dip it in!" The ones in the evening are thicker, that's about it. I see more variety in Singapore, but I do understand where you're coming from as it's still less variety than I'm used to (at least in regards to hawker center breakfast).Wd40 wrote: I personally dont see anything so exciting about the food here. Basically they eat the same stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then go "Wah! Singapore has such awesome food"I cant imagine having rice or noodles for breakfast, crazy!
zzm9980 wrote:SO funny, because I have the same experience in India! "Wah, more bread-type fluffy(sometimes crunchy) stuff with curries/spicy liquids to dip it in!" The ones in the evening are thicker, that's about it. I see more variety in Singapore, but I do understand where you're coming from as it's still less variety than I'm used to (at least in regards to hawker center breakfast).Wd40 wrote: I personally dont see anything so exciting about the food here. Basically they eat the same stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then go "Wah! Singapore has such awesome food"I cant imagine having rice or noodles for breakfast, crazy!
well this has rocked my world....Hannieroo wrote:I thought my eating habits were poor but even I know subway has no vitamins.
I found them by going to a British pub. It was a nice mixture of expats and locals. The regular locals had travelled and been influenced by their experiences and exposure to expats.russlan wrote:
2) Is there any way to connect with the other kind of people? Any forums/meetups etc.?
Thanks.
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