Misconceptions about Singapore.

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I’ve noticed so many misconceptions people have been raising up about Singapore.  It is sometimes exasperating to see people exclaiming these not accurate facts and therefore I’ve decided to clear it once and for all :) Btw, this is not a patriotic post where by I post biased-shit of my country. It’s just about misconceptions, alright?

1. Location

Misinterpretation: Singapore is located in China.

I wonder where and how this myth originated from, but as far as I know, it seemed to me that countless people think that Singapore is in China. Note: I am no way saying these people are ignorant, etc, I am merely stating my views/what I observed. I don’t have perfect skills in locating countries on the World Map either. :P I think what made people assume that Singapore is located in China is that, Singapore is mainly made up of people of Chinese descent.

Actual: Singapore is NEVER in China.

Singapore located on the map, as represented by a red dot. As you can see, it is not lying on China's border, or IN China.

Singapore is an independent country located in Southeast Asia. A long time ago, Chinese from China traveled to Singapore for jobs, as Singapore then was widely known as a trading port. Majority of them settled in Singapore, in which they get married and have descendants, which are the nowadays modern Singaporeans.

2. Language

Misinterpretation: People don’t know our official/national language.


If by any chance, you have (unfortunately) seen this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e1pnuUIVR8

This are what we categorise and call them “Ah Beng (Male) or Ah Lian (Female)”. They consist of a small minority of our teenagers nowadays, in which they’re known as the “wannabe gangsters” This video went a quarter viral, and many foreigners have seen them, which made them hold misinterpret that all Singaporeans speak terrible English.

Now, click on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-zBmITQZEE

See what I mean? That’s the impression people have of us.

Actual: Anyway, yes, Singaporeans speak English. Our official languages are: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. However, the English has slowly been transformed into “Singlish”, a English based creole language. Singlish is a mix-up of English with Malay, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, etc, etc. Despite the fact that many of us, including me, speak Singlish, we are able to interact and speak accurate English with no problems. It is something that identifies us as Singaporeans :)

Examples, you want?

(i) Disagreeing or denying an accusation: (Taken from sofeaghani.blogspot.com)

In English: “No, that’s not true, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

In Singlish: “Where got?!”

(ii) Imploring the party that is talking to keep quiet:

In English: “Can you please lower down your volume.?

In Singlish: “Diam leh.”

Yes, that’s how simple and straightforward Singlish is. Although it is often associated with low prestige, it is commonly used throughout Singapore.

3. Third World Country?!

Streets lined up with beggars, poor hygiene, uncivilized country? Nooooo..

Singapore's skyline

Orchard Road

Actual: Singapore is a first world country. 

We are a urbanized country and have shopping malls, movie theaters and tourist attractions…

IF you want to know more about Singapore, you can go to Singapore’s wikipedia page here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Christmas!

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Christmas tree in Resort World Sentosa

Hi! Er yes, I do realize that there is probably nobody is going to read this… But whatever, I’m still going to blog nevertheless. Sooooo, today’s Christmas! My Dad is in China, so it’s going to be a lonely Christmas. Basically, I lazed around at home today, doing nothing.

Anyway, I’ve put up a tiny Christmas tree near my door with LED lights and candles. I hope someone sees it and it’ll make their day better :)

Yes, I'm aware it's really small.

Below is a Tintin themed display on Hergé I did for my school library. (Yes, I’m a librarian, no surprise right? Awkward+Nerd). There was a time limit for it to be completed within 45 minutes, it was rather sparse and empty.

Alright, guess I’ll stop here. I have tons of laundry to finish. I’ll try to post my book review of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother as quickly as possible!

Happy Christmas, everyone! :D

A new start.

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Bête Noire (Noun) : /beɪtˈnwɑː/
An anathema; someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one’s existence.

I wouldn’t say ‘bête noire’ is a phrase that completely fits me, though. Yes, I have friends. But why do I feel as though my existence doesn’t matter? It’s like, people know your existence, but they’re not willing to acknowledge the fact that you’re there. It just feels like.. As though you have been banished in a place, off a corner on Earth…

This introduction sounds a bit cliché, doesn’t it? Well, maybe this introduction gives you an idea that I’m a gloomy and “emo” person. Well, I assure you, thought I may be socially awkward and, really awkward, I’m generally a happy person. :) I’ve been contemplating on creating a new blog, on a new platform for a LONG time. I used to write on Blogspot, but wanted to move here because I always feel really uncomfortable knowing that my friends know my blog’s link, they can read it anytime. Yes, I’m weird. I have a irrational fear of my friends reading my thoughts and feeling. (Even though they probably won’t ) I’ve been putting it off because I’ve to commit time into writing, I’m worried that nobody is going to read them, my English sucks, yep, all those little insecure worries… But well, I decided to create a new one after all.

My blog’s domain is: reallyawkward.wp.com, because betenoire.wp.com was taken up. And guess what? The blog is empty and abandoned. So guys, please don’t ever abandoned your blog and leave it there to rot in the World Wide Web. Delete it if you decided you’re not going to return to it anyway, so that someone else can use it.

I shall update my “About Me” section now, ta!