Let\’s Visit Asia

Culture Shock Asia: Focus On Singapore

by Ruth on October 24th, 2005

When I browse blogs and travel pages on the web, it strikes me that some of the most insightful stories about places come from expats. Sure, there are no better sources of information than the locals themselves. Fellow tourists’ stays are fleeting but may be helpful and provide more concrete ideas on the must-do’s and must-see’s in a particular destination. But the expat stories are what I love best. They see things and notice stuff that the locals don’t, or no longer do. And they’ve stayed in the place longer than most tourists, which make for more substantial, deeper stories.

Knowing at least a bit about the culture of the country where you’re headed to helps a lot. It paves the way for a more enjoyable trip, and could save a lot of confusing, and sometimes, embarassing, situations. That’s why I’ve decided to add another category in this blog, with the aim of reducing traveller’s culture shock when travelling in Asia.

As the premiere offering, I’d like to point to Jet’s commentary, a first in the series of posts in Blogkadahan, a multi-authored Filipino blog. This round’s theme tackles culture, and California-based Jet reminisces about her 4 year stay in Singapore:

I’ve learned to adopt the perennial verbal additive ‘lah’ as quickly as I learned to negotiate purchasing my weekly supplies from the market. ‘Yeah, lah. No, lah.’ Sometimes I’d even go so far as saying things like, ‘Finished already,’ or ‘Can. That one also can.’ It’s a bit tougher speaking to the Indians. You’d have to pay very close attention to what they’re saying as you’ll find them saying, ‘No.’ while nodding their head, or ‘Yes.’ while shaking it. The Bahasa Malay language has very close similarities with our very own Filipino language and generally, I found no difficulties speaking with them except once, when we were in Genting and a lady guard prevented us from entering the casino with a warning that went, ‘Your clothing cannot inside.’ Well, it sounded strange and strangely still, I pretty much understood what she didn’t want us to do.

Jet goes on to describe the food and clothing, how the three major cultural groups– Chinese, Indian and Malay — make Singapore a truly fascinating Asian cultural melting pot. Jet ends her commentary beautifully with this:

We don’t have to understand, much less embrace, these other people’s ways and beliefs. We only have to make room and let them be, allow them as much space as we need to uphold our ways and beliefs, and there would be harmony.

As long as you keep that in mind, your travel to Singapore (and the rest of Asia) will be the enriching experience you want it to be.

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POSTED IN: Culture Shock: Asia