February 05, 09:25 AM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 You know what – foreigners don’t always tell us what they dislike about us. At least, in a language we can understand anyway (rapid-fire tagalog and heavily-accented mandarin don’t count). When they do that, all we can do is to eye them suspiciously while standing right beside them on the MRT.
Perhaps that’s why a certain director called Josiah put together this video to help clear things up – face to face. It features Indian, Chinese and Filipino nationals having candid conversations with Singaporeans on a symbolic see-saw table (because it's all about balance, geddit?) about what they like/dislike about each other.
Watch it for yourself here:
Posted by Josiah Ng on Monday, 1 February 2016
We felt that while the video somewhat made sense – it didn’t exactly delve as deeply as we would like. That's why we're taking the liberty to examine them a bit more, case by case.
Sunny from India
Sunny feels that Singaporeans have a tendency to stereotype people, which in turn dehumanises people. He cited one occasion where he faced trouble looking for accommodation because the landlord did not want him simply because he was Indian.
What Sunny needs to know: Why are some Singaporeans reluctant to rent to Indian tenants? According to this BBC article, landlords are worried of them leaving residual smells (from cooking) after they vacate the apartment – because it might lead to a drop in value.
You kinda get it as a Singaporean because: Hey, houses are not cheap in Singapore. At all. You spend all your life working to get a tiny space you can call your own for 99 years, at least). Of course, you wouldn’t rent it to someone who potentially might cheapen its value, right?
On the other hand: It’s not really fair to dismiss all Indians as being smelly tenants because that isn’t true. After all, technically anyone can be a smelly tenant if they do a lot of cooking and the landlord doesn't like the smell.
Writing things like ‘No Indians Allowed’ is an easy way out, and almost as bad as the people who put ‘No Dogs and Chinese Allowed’ in Bruce Lee’s ‘Fist of Fury’.
Don't remember?
Bet you do now.
What you can do if you are serious about integration: If you die die cannot accept someone cooking curry in the house, at least check first if the person actually cooks curry? Actually a lot of people also cook curry, not just Indians. Fair deal?
Diana from China
Diana was treated rudely by someone whom she gave up her seat to on the MRT, simply because she was from Mainland China. We’re sorry that happened to you, Diana.
You kinda get it as a Singaporean because: We’ll say it as it is: Some Chinese Nationals have a reputation for being loud and impolite. It’s not just in Singapore – but all over the world. This has affected how Singaporeans interact with them, for the worse.
On the other hand: Boy, it must really suck to be treated rudely simply because of your accent/where you are from. #EnoughSaid. Plus, Diana wasn't even rude; she gave up her seat!
What you can do if you are serious about integration: How about we not assume anyone is rude and loud, unless they have proven so beforehand?
Flordeluna from Phillippines
Like Sunny, Flordeluna felt that Singaporeans were a judgemental people though she did not say why. Though earlier on in the video (1:44), Singaporean Vijay said that he felt that her countrymen were a little snobbish.
You kinda get it as a Singaporean because: People like Edz Ello have given Filippinos here a terrible reputation thanks to his “REMEMBER PINOY BETTER AND STRONGER THAN STINKAPOREANS” post.
And it doesn’t help that very few Singaporeans understand, Tagalog, a language that many Filipinos use among themselves. Naturally, this can lead to a lack of understanding.
On the other hand: If the Vietnamese hated Singaporeans for what Jover Chew did to their countryman, that would be pretty ridiculous.
What you can do if you are serious about integration: Singaporeans, don’t judge all Filipinos by the actions of one (or two) black sheep.
And to our Filipino friends, it would be great if you guys could speak English if a Singaporean is in the conversation.
After all, as the video shows (or more explicitly, the see-saw), integration is not only about open communication and tolerance from both Singaporeans and foreigners, it's also about finding the balance.
Top photo from video.
If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.