So, a week breezed by me so quickly. One whole week of block leave got in a flash, going to be booking back into that misery camp again tomorrow night. Sigh, most of my friends there are going to be on course in a couple of days. Time to make new ones i guess!
Anyway, this week was kinda topsy turvy. Things didnt really turn out as i planned but i have got to say, it was fun anyway! i wish my break were longer =(
I came across a comment that got me thinking, suggesting that Singaporeans are second class citizens in Singapore and im sad to say, that im leaning in favour of that statement. Yes, im saying this because im bitter about being forced to serve 2 years of national service, but that is not the only reason. I cant remember where i read this statistic from, but 6 out of 10 new jobs created are taken up by foreigners (thank god this isnt a GP essay). Scholarships are reserved specifically for foreign students whereas local students with decent grades may not even make it into a local university. All these while the young men of the nation are forced to enlist into the army for 2 whole years, one of the longest service of NS in the world.
Day to day activities have also led me to my conclusion. I recall distinctly a particular incident at a shopping mall. There was this sales lady, extremely chao bin (black face) towards me when i seeked assistance from her. I thought maybe she was having a bad day.. or maybe she just didnt like me but i realised she was like that to her other clients as well. Then, a Caucasian stepped into the store and immedietly her face lit up. I pondered whether it could be because he found him attractive.. but i highly doubt it. He was old, and no Richard Gere.. fat, old and wrinkly so.. yea... Anyway, she greeted him as if he were knighted, her sentences littered with "sir"s and "thank you"s. it turned out that he was a "NATO" kinda person, no no not that international organisation but... in a "No Action Talk Only" kind of way. After wasting a huge amount of saliva and time, he didnt purchase anything at all. Still the sales person was very delighted with the opportunity to serve him, instead of other local clients.
Such an incident left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Of course this is only 1 incident that ive mentioned, but ive witnessed more. Maybe im unlucky to run into these kinda black sheep, but undoubtedly they have left a lasting impression on me.
Neither am i condemning NS in my post, of course its done its part for the nation, giving the men a common ground, and a reason to protect the country. All im saying is that, a foreigner, white skinned in particular, have been given more respect and favour in Singapore.
Still i like living in Singapore, more so than anywhere else in the world. Thats why i serve NS, but yes, im sore.
