It's tough being a Singaporean overseas sometimes

[idor]

Heh, good point - there are way more mainland Chinese and Taiwanese than Singaporeans. Though I think the ones who probably curse Singapore Chinese for giving them a bad name are the Malaysian Chinese :bsmilie:

idor, which part of Northern California are you in? I'm over in the East Bay.

LOL... i am in Peninsular.... IN Mountain View/Los Altos Area... :bsmilie:

 

[lennyl]

Then another time on a bus overseas, kana lecture by the ang moh about "human rights", "social equality", and "freedom of speech" once I mentioned I'm from. I've spent enough years overseas to see what they REALLY mean about the top 3 things and I think they can keep it where it belongs. It is nowhere near as rosy as what they preach. (and you should see, they don't even do what they preach anyway!!)

Well, just like we're all different people with different beliefs, values, priorities, the same goes for the ang mohs.

Many of them really believe in human rights, freedom of speech, social equality and such. Some of them are very naive about it, no doubt, and parrot such things without truly understanding it, because it is the cool thing to do. But there are also many who are not hypocrites. What I have to say about the Bush administration will probably get me a warning from the moderators, suffice to say that they are not representative of all, or even most (at least over in the left coast) U.S. citizens. Many people do speak up against their own government. Criticism about oppresive foreign governments has dropped a lot ever since Guantanamo Bay and their own version of the Internal Security Act. Hey, Singapore has another thing to be proud of - ahead of the curve yet again. Now, if only we haven't let that guy take a very long toilet break...

 

[lennyl]

i am in Peninsular.... IN Mountain View/Los Altos Area... :bsmilie:

Hey, practically neighbors! I work over your side of the Bay (San Mateo) and bridge toll really sucks.

 

[idor]

Hey, practically neighbors! I work over your side of the Bay (San Mateo) and bridge toll really sucks.

LOL... the gas price sucks more than the toll man.... I work in Palo Alto... now petrol so ex until i have to cycle to work..

 

[firestone]

>kana lecture by the ang moh about "human rights", "social equality", and "freedom of speech"

Sometimes, its what they get from the media.
Almost 10yrs ago, while in Aust, our 'popular' opposition CSJ was on Tv accepting an interview.

And I was so angry hearing him talk abt Spore, as if we are living in this backward, shackled military state and he is this mightly savior we all support, but we dare not speak out or do it openly...*puke..*

 

[Robert]

What I have to say about the Bush administration will probably get me a warning from the moderators, suffice to say that they are not representative of all, or even most (at least over in the left coast) U.S. citizens.

I'm not a big fan of Bush, but I'll give him, credit for having the guts for going at Iraq.

I personally prefer The Gipper (Ronald Reagan) - great orator.

 

[blive]

It seems like the participants of this thread are predominantly Chinese...yes?

I'm a Singaporean studying in Canada...
And last term a bunch of Singaporean exchange students came by, and during a residence welcome BBQ session they kept taking more servings of the food and "encouraged" other people to do so, giving the reason "We're from Singapore, so we're kiasu. We have to take as much as we can." -.-
Seriously... *shakes head*

Well, at least we Singaporeans admit we are kiasu. Elsewhere, they call it human right = the right to look after yourself first! I have seen many instances of other nationalities all being "kiasu", jumping queue, eating and other acts to know that we, as human beings are all similiar, no matter where we come from. Its just that Singaporeans have a term for it.

When we are overseas, we are ambassadors for Singapore, so what we do reflects what people see about Singapore. I certainly don't expect people to know where Singapore should be, as its my job to explain and speak up for Singapore, but at least ask if you are not sure, instead of jumping to conclusion.

 

[Triazolium]

Heh, good point - there are way more mainland Chinese and Taiwanese than Singaporeans. Though I think the ones who probably curse Singapore Chinese for giving them a bad name are the Malaysian Chinese :bsmilie:

idor, which part of Northern California are you in? I'm over in the East Bay.

Hey, I'm in Berkeley! :gbounce: Where are you?

 

[Sion]

Hey, I'm in Berkeley! :gbounce: Where are you?

Hey, which part of Singapore Berkeley is?

I'm in Ang Mo Kio.

 

[idor]

Hey, which part of Singapore Berkeley is?

I'm in Ang Mo Kio.

:bsmilie: I was about to say this thread becoming overseas singaporean thread and suddenly you appear :bsmilie:

 

[lennyl]

Hey, I'm in Berkeley! :gbounce: Where are you?

Boring Fremont.

And to answer Sion's question, just off Changi Point, keep heading northeast :bsmilie:

 

[huipiiing]

Just curious, do any of you bother to "code switch" at all or do you just speak in our glorious Singaporean accent?
I do put on an accent, just because it helps other people understand my speech better. As a result, I think I've developed a pretentious hybrid accent when I speak to my Singaporean friends sometimes. -.-

 

[Triazolium]

Just curious, do any of you bother to "code switch" at all or do you just speak in our glorious Singaporean accent?
I do put on an accent, just because it helps other people understand my speech better. As a result, I think I've developed a pretentious hybrid accent when I speak to my Singaporean friends sometimes. -.-

I speak with an American accent, but it comes pretty naturally because I've been living here since I was 7. It's automatic when I see a non-Singaporean face. (To my annoyance, sometimes people would ask me to speak Singlish to them and I can't because it feels so awkward!) However, when I'm with my Singaporean friends, Singlish comes out in full force. :sweat:

 

[Triazolium]

Boring Fremont.

And to answer Sion's question, just off Changi Point, keep heading northeast :bsmilie:

Fremont isn't the East Bay! You're considered South Bay!

 

[peapilot]

Why don't you codeswitch back then?

 

[huipiiing]

I can, but it's still got traces of that weird hybrid accent, eg. emphasis on "R"s in words like "pork" and "curve" when you really don't need to.

 

[haagen_dazs]

LOL... the gas price sucks more than the toll man.... I work in Palo Alto... now petrol so ex until i have to cycle to work..

do you still want your prima laksa boxes? still at my home.
dont complain. gas is expensive here too
planning to buy a roadbike within the next 2 weeks .

 

[lennyl]

Fremont isn't the East Bay! You're considered South Bay!

Depends on who you ask, and it's sort of in a no-man's land. The SJ Mercury doesn't cover Fremont news, and we're in Alameda County (stupid 1/2 percent more sales tax).

Parts of Berkeley isn't even really in this reality

 

[lennyl]

Just curious, do any of you bother to "code switch" at all or do you just speak in our glorious Singaporean accent?

When I hear my own recorded voice (e.g. voice mail recording - no, I do not carry a voice recorder and leave "note to self") I definitely still have a Singaporean accent. I think it's not as strong as it once was but I doubt if I'll ever lose it. As for Singlish, it does come out naturally when with a big group of Singaporeans.

I do tend to pick up a little bit of accent from people around me by osmosis - maybe part of unconscious desire to fit in? After working with almost 100% Taiwanese colleagues for a few years, my wife said my Mandarin sounds Taiwanese

 

[idor]

Hmmm at this rate... I think we better have a Northern California get together man... This thread let us hijack until dun know like what already... :bsmilie::bsmilie:

BTW, East coast dwellers are also invited to join us.... :bsmilie: