I LIVED in Singapore for five years while my husband was working with SMRT Corporation. During that time, I made friends with five Chinese women who always made me feel welcome when I revisited your country. They included me in their families' lives, cared for me as a guest and involved me in their celebrations. These acts of kindness are expected from old friends.

Full Story

repeat newscast?

I WILL count the ways...


1. bypassing pushy passengers on the mrt
2. visiting overpriced shopping malls on orchard (there's nothing else to do, btw).
3. perspiring in the humid weather
4. cowering a the sight of graceless mobs
5. wondering why i am in singapore

and not forgetting all the lovely TAXI DRIVERS!.......

Kudos to Forum Editor for publishing the same letter two times. You are simply great. Wow..what an achievement. I recommend you for president's medal..

jefftrent

{...............wondering why i am in singapore}

Then why don't you just leave, you ungrateful expat? The reason is that S'pore has given you a livelihood, & now you are biting the hand that feeds you.

Repeat, perhaps she sends again...and is also very nice to appreciate finer things that Singapore offers, that many in Singaporeans, local & foreign take for granted.

For one who travels and worked, lived in other cities, Singapore is really a great place to live & work, maybe not forever and everyone but is for me and now. The future will depend on how we further develop our country.

Wish all a happy, healthy and wealthy (hopefully) Ox year.

Ms Appleyard Hobbs.

Your letter probably says more about YOU than Singapore! I agree that there is much to appreciate here...but not everyone is able to bring out the best in people, or appreciate simple human goodness when they encounter it! Those who go about with a jaded, cynical or otherwise negative eye, will have people respond to them similarly. Unfortunately most of us are stressed most of the time, and our interactions sometimes reflects it. You were on holiday and therefore perhaps more relaxed.

Good for you for keeping an open mind and appreciating the small encounters so much......and I assure you you are not alone! Most people are as delightful as you make them feel !

Have I read this letter somewhere? ST receives tonnes of letters a day, so say they, why are they printing the same letter again, even if the writer has sent it twice?

Eagle2004:

"Then why don't you just leave, you ungrateful expat? The reason is that S'pore has given you a livelihood, & now you are biting the hand that feeds you."

Indeed. As if us Singaporeans pointed a gun to the the likes of Jeff Trent forcing them to come here. When it is the money that is too irresistible for them to say NO. And then, they go to expat websites to whinge and poke fun at us.

In fact, the expat spouses and partners are much worst. And as some ingrates have had aired their displeasure right here on ST , they truly believe in their own myths. As if we are so third world -- read: DUMB ARSE -- that our government literally begged for Western talent.

When it is our education system that is at fault. Was in HR before and I can safely tell you that our poly and uni courses DO NOT meet industrial demands.

Besides, these same whiny spouses and partners would like to believe we are too dumb to understand THEIR brand of English. Even those non-English speaking ones are not exactly happy that we can speak and write BETTER English than they do. To them, it is their birth-right and entitlement to be fluent in an ang moh language. Not us Little Asian People. They even ridicule us for "daring" to declare English as our First Language.

How come? Because we are Little Asian People, that is why. Little not as in size, but as in status no different from animals. And when I demanded proof of their source of misinformation, they instead resort to below the belt insults. Because they know they already lost in their argument. I encounter such kinds even on those business networking platforms.

They would rather that we know just enough English to understand their *commands*. Yes, they still like to believe the Sun still shines on the Empire. That explains why people like Jeff Trent are resentful towards us Singaporeans.

Because we do not meet their expectations of a compliant smiley Little Asian People. And also that we DARE to argue against them. They already felt threatened by our powderful English. And the only way they can hit back at us is to poke fun at Singlish.

Btw, thanks for your response to my comments at the eating/drinking in MRT thread. I cannot find it apparently.