It is an island country city of 5 million people consisting of 30% foreigners, 40% people above the age of 60, and 30% of everything else. Singapore does not have much in terms of population, which is probably a good thing in the age of over consumption and stressing the planet. It is a well-oiled run island that over compensates its 'islandhood' by coining the term 'kiasu' and 'kanchiong spider'. These terms basically mean that one needs to be faster, to get more, before everyone and anyone, even when you don't need to be; you just have to. On paper, these things are not that bad, but in practice they make people do stupid things, annoying things... and rude, impolite things. This place is comfortable, but at times can be unbearable.
People complain about the size of this country, about the lack of things to do; that most social activity always involves alcohol or sports. Comparisons were made to Indonesia (where I come from) an archipelago with tons of places of interests, richness of culture, variety of food.
Singapore is boring. Singapore is small. It's only logical.
A friend shared with me what his boss (who was also a foreigner) told him when he first arrived in Singapore, a little over two years ago. "Just think of Singapore as a city. Forget that it's a country. It's a city where you live and you work and everything will be okay." I frowned. How can you not remember that it is a country? A small, boring, country? My expression must have been really obvious to him. He then continued, "It's true. Think of your life in where you used to live. In a city that you live, you do the mundane. Life is a set of routine. Most of us shop in the same grocery shop. We buy our flowers at the corner florist. Our favourite Italian restaurant is 20 minutes away. You keep going back to the same bars over and over again, regardless of the new places. You work. You go home. Maybe you go to the gym. It's suposed to be boring. It's the city that you live in. That's how it's supposed to be."
It is interesting to see that on the quest of making life 'interesting' and in the spirit of 'experiencing' this new place, I did the opposite. Simply because, I felt I needed to 'live' here; totally unaware that I'm contradicting myself. I seek for that one supermarket where I can always buy my vegetables. I looked for the closest fruit stall that is on the way to work. I tried to buy my coffee in the same place every morning, where I can practice my "kopi-c-sui-dai" and the guy would understand my attempt at crappy Hokkien, and made it perfect the way I wanted it. I screamed out hungry for excitement, but did the exact opposite.
It is (not) just a city. It is a city, and like any other city I've lived in, it has its own charm, it's own craziness. There are always annoying people. Rudeness is a social disease we all need to work on; more of the word "please"needs to be heard, and less complaining, please. Singapore is far from being called home, but it is the city where I live now; where boredom and comfort goes hand in hand.
Here I am.
15 years ago
