Annoying things experienced overseas that Singaporeans are guilty of themselves

Maybe it's karma?

He Ruiming | May 31, 2016, 04:44 PM

Singaporeans love to complain about our negative experiences overseas. And why shouldn't we? Anyone who's been called a “chink” or a “gook” would be able to empathise. Or having your command of English come under scrutiny. Or having people mistake you for another nationality whose people have a nasty reputation for poor toilet hygiene.

I for one, found out in Australia that racism stinks - a bunch of folks tried to pelt me with rotten eggs once, but all those shuttle runs in NS came in handy. I shook the “eggsault” off, and wondered why I was so unwelcomed for being a foreigner just minding my own business.

Then I came home and found out that discrimination was well and alive in my beloved country too. Turns out Singaporeans are just like everyone else - we hate what we don't understand.

But hey, here's a thought: if we want the world to change, maybe we can start with ourselves. At home. Where there's a lot of work to do.

Maybe we can start by not doing unto others what we don’t want others to do unto us - dropping these habits we have when dealing with our foreign friends:

1. On Language

What annoys us: “Wow your English is really good” – When it’s assumed we can’t speak English well simply because we are Asian.

Why we deserve it: “Do you speak English? – assuming foreign workers can’t speak English simply because they are Asian (too.)

Source Rush Hour by New Line Cinema via

2. On Service

What annoys us: When locals refuse to serve us, or serve us unequally because we look different.

Why we deserve it: We are less patient or helpful with some foreigners too depending on where they come from.

3. On Stereotypes

What annoys us: “Wow, you are Singaporean, you must be very law-abiding/rich.”

Why we deserve it: “Are you a maid?” / “Oh, you are a construction worker, right?” / “Wow, this Ang Moh. Sure rich one. / Wah so loud. Must be PRC.”

Source Source

4. On Ignorance

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What annoys us: “Singapore, that’s part of China, right?”

Why we deserve it: “Sri Lanka, that’s part of India, right?”

Also, how many of us here can confidently place Cambodia and/or Vietnam on a map? If we can't even point out where our neighbours are, then maybe we shouldn't get annoyed when foreigners can't figure out where Singapore is.

5. On it being a Small World

What annoys us: “Oh you are from Singapore, maybe you know my friend, XXXX?”

Why we deserve it: “Oh you are from Ireland, maybe you know my friend, XXXX too.”

Source Source

6. On Stealing Jobs

0806-Took-Jerbs

What annoys us: “You Asians are coming here to steal our jobs!”

Why we deserve it: “Why must hire so many FT? Singaporeans not good enough ah?”

7. On Describing Countries

What annoys us: “They ban chewing gum and fine people for littering."

Why we deserve it: “The country is full of crooks; you may not come back in one piece!”

 

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