Merli's Untold Stories

I've lived here for quite some time now and I guess I have embraced the Merlion's way somehow in my every day life.

I truly have learned much from mingling with the locals. It was only here that I had the guts to eat anywhere. I can vividly remember my first months here when I had to go home every lunch break to. eat my meals. Our flat was 7mins away that's why.

However, when I shifted to a distant location, I had no choice but to eat out. This was the time when I started joining my colleagues wherever they go for "makan". I'm not a picky eater. I don't have a specific preference unlike some Pinoys here who dare not eat at the hawker centers and who would purposely go to Lucky Plaza so they can eat Filipino food. Well, that's there taste and I respect that.

I just don't like the sloppy tiles and the manner they handle/present the food at the hawker centers. No quality control nor strict adherence to good hygiene. But hey! That's where good food is, really! Hawkers are a norm here that you must live with.

Well, because of these, I have discovered the diff side of Singapore through our everyday conversations over lunch and the knowledge is something I'm thankful for.

Here are some interesting more-than-meets-the-eye facts about Singapore:

1 Teenagers, upon reaching 18, must sustain their own education and should not rely on their parents for the school fees

2 Owning a car isn't cheap; the COE (cert of entitlement) is the worst. COE's something that you need to pay annually and that depends on the brand of car you own. It could range from SGD 10K to 30K and above. It means, only a few can afford a car that's why their govt made it a point to make the transport system here super convenient which is way better.

3 Male citizens and PR's, upon reaching 18, must serve the NS (National Service) for 2 years. Wherever thay may be, they must come back to Singapore and go to camp. It's a rigorous army training for all men to prepare them for war. They are paid at the same time.

4 Because of this, their schooling is delayed for 2years. They leave the camp after to pursue their degree and by the time they graduate they're already like 24-25 y/o. Some study further. The same is true with the ladies.

5 After graduation, the concentration of Singaporeans is their career. Some get married very late and prefer not to have a kid; again because of their careers.

6 Hence, the govt implemented something like "baby bonus" or incentive to encourage couples to have a kid. The law about having 2 kids only had been ditched long ago.

7 Chewing gums were banned before because of the high incidence of people gumming the residue inside lifts, on the seats, tables and people accidentally stepping on them. However, now, gums are already available in the market.

8 Kids are not required to undergo circumcision. (well, this is according to a colleague, dunno how authentic)

9 Locals go where the long queue is. They're known for this. Some think that if the queue is long, it must be something good, like in the case of food, clothes, promotions etc..

10 School is very stressful for all. Their curriculum is tough a colleague told me even in the primary school. At any level, your grade would determine where you should go to study, whether your forte is on theories or practicals either you go to a polytechnic or an industrial/technical university.

11 Diploma holders can already work in any job and they get paid fairly and at times comparable to a foreigner holding a degree.

12 You cannot solely own a house if you are single. You must bundle yourself with either of your parents.

13 You can only own a flat for 100 years, after that the govt will take it back.
Hello? Will you still be alive by then? OR if a company wants to buy the entire block and would want to re-develop it, they will buy the unit from you at a higher price than the original value...say 3X the price. Of course, who wouldn't say no.

Hmmm....I guess that would be all for now. I couldn't remember the rest :) Perhaps, the next time around, there are still lots to share. And besides it is sooo boring to read such a long post. Nobody will be that interested anyway. *grin*

I'll be back! See you around!