what are the difference's n difficulties expats face with singaporeans?

[rajah]

what are the difference's and difficulties expats face with locals. may this will shed some light. concerned singaporean

[i luv rave]

Rajah,

I have no problems with me British expat friends, even if they are from other European countries cos we have common interest. A good rave!! We have even gone on holidays to Amsterdam together and having been to Europe a lot by myself, i'm comfortable with them. I don't know many Americans or Aussies cos they don't look very friendly and prefer to mingle among themselves, that's the impression i got. Sorree if i offended anyone.  

[Ok]

Let's take a look percentage wise...most expats are Japanese or Brits and a small percentage are Australian. How many can you have possibly met? Aussies aren't friendly..I beg to differ. I find most Australians forthright, honest and down to earth..maybe that sort of frankness is not what a lot of people like. I rather my friends don't pussyfoot around and are direct and to the point. That makes a good friend to me. Give an Aussie a couple of VB's and they'll mellow out and possibly after a few more they'll dance badly... I think you haven't found the right Aussie friends yet....such generalistions.....really!! I think the hardest thing here is not offend someone when they ask you what you think of Singapore and you tell them what you like and what you dislike. The funny thing is we all dislike and like certain things about our own homes but personally if I ask the question I like to hear the pro's and con's from an outsider looking in...quite often there are huge similarities in our responses.I have found the biggest obstacle here is learning Mandarin from the street as this seems to be spoken as much as English...it seems virtually impossible whereas I have been elsewhere and managed to pick up local languge easily (possibly because English is only second or third language or not spoken at all) and have had very little luck in getting vendors to teach me a bit whereas where I've been it was totally different. Sharing language is such fun and a nice way to learn.  

[TassieBabesFiasco]

Sorry not addressing original post but

"....Give an Aussie a couple of VB's and they'll mellow out and possibly after a few more they'll dance badly..."

Ha Ha Ha - such a true generalisation concerning myself ~ bit embarrassed to admit but cannot deny it !! Oh well, live, learn and laugh.

[i luv rave]

I don't dislike Aussies but they are not as quick to warm up as the Brits I've met. What i'm saying is I get on better with Brits because I am a lot more familiar with their culture, having lived there for 12 years and I know little about Australia. But most of the time, those I've met keep much to themselves and maybe cos they are in their late 30s and i have little in common with them. Only Aussie i know i got on with was a 19 year old looking like 25 I snogged and he's Scottish actually who migrated to Down Under when he was young. It's not a generalisation, i'm speaking from experience.

[PaulN]

The biggest problem I faced in dealing with locals, I found, was my inability to accept that I was not in Idaho any longer.  When I finally drilled it through my thick skull that I was in another country and needed to adapt to its culture, life got immeasurably easier to deal with.

[Ok]

PaulN...accepting and adapting to a culture is fine but surely there was a reason for your employment...you must possess skills that are deemed valuable and your employer want passed on. This means sometimes things have to change. Also in some jobs there is only one way to do things- the safe way or the "you'll end up dead way"(you write don't you so this hardly applies to that), to not do something because you don't want to lose face and want to continue doing it your way is ridiculous just to save a minute(as in small) possibility of embarrassment.Of course one can learn from co-workers too.

[?????]

Aussies and Brits having a different culture .... this to me is hilarious - Aussies are descendants from the Brits.
It always amuses me how the Aussies like to label other people ... even their own kind ......the pommies .

[PaulN]

Ok,

I am a stay at home Dad.  I never held an EP while in Singapore, I was the DP holder...and boy, what a pain that was at times.  

My only challenge was getting myself adapted quickly in order to be able to explain the benefits to my boys...but your point does have merit.  

Imported talent is imported for a reason...learning how business is done elsewhere.

[We're what??]

Aussies are NOT all descendants of Brits. What makes an Australian? Hard to say really, take me I am a mut of sorts with no real known background, because I am third generation Australian does that make me more Australian or less Australian than someone else...no!! What you have forgotten is Australia is a very multicultural country and despite where we come from or how long we've been in Australia we are all equally Australian.(What a misinformed, pathetic statement!)

[Poppette]

Aussies and Brits having a different culture. Yes they do!! Some Aussies maybe descendants of Britain but it's like saying Singaporean Chinese are descendants of China but hoho ... we are very different.

Ask a fellow Aussie about 'The Bill' and he might ask the waiter for it. lol

Ask a fellow Aussie about Cat Deely and the comedians from Newcastle she hangs out with and she might ask if Deely's a pet? lol

U get the picture? It's not culture per say but the every day mundane stuff, gossip, TV, the chippie shop near the topless bar and things about Uk itself. Sorree, should have clarified that.  

[South Sea Pearl]

Back to the original question re difficulties expats face with local culture.

Great question and I would appreciate any helpful/constructive responses to my poorly written gripes.

Most of my difficulties aren't life-threatening, but they are irksome, especially when experienced on a daily basis. My husband laughs, but after one month I'm ready to explode.

Many people in shops, salespeople and owners, I have found to be extremely rude and irritating. They do not answer my questions, turn away, or think they are doing me a big favor. Or the other extreme-- They follow me within 2 feet  around the store, even after I have told them I am just looking, thank you.. Do they think I'm going to steal something? I used to enjoy shopping, especially for furniture. Now I dread it.

When I ask a question about where I can find something at another store, why do shop people consistently tell me they  don't know, when I know d..n well they do know-- especially after they smirk.

When I leave a store, I customarily say, "thank you." Rarely do I hear the response, "you are welcome."

 a whole other set of daily aggravations relate to apt/service people. When things are broken in my brand new apt----stove, oven, jacuzzi, air con, drapes, shower, phones nobody except my agent, feels any need to fix them.  Have found people to be untruthful and lacking in follow thru. Moreover, it shocks me that my landlord, after gouging us (actually company) for rent, feels no obligation to make sure our apartment is in working order.

Still looking forward to living in singapore, but my spirits are somewhat dampened

[This message has been edited by South Sea Pearl (edited 12-08-2001).]

[Idealistic]

We're What??? You live in a dream world or maybe dream time ...... how many average Australians would consider non anglo-saxon Australians to be equally Australian. I am 4th gen Aussie without the anglo saxon background and I am always getting ...... you speak good English or You're more Australian than me (when they find out how many generations I've been there).

[Gwen]

my grrlfriend is aussie but has none of the accent cos she's a 3rd generation Scot in Australia. She doesn't have a strong Scottish accent but her parents do. Rather special dun u think?  

[Barney]

To the original thread...

I am close to a few of my Singaporean workmates (after 4 years) and we swap impressions of different cultures. My biggest gripe is the same comment from South Sea Pearl. The customer service is terrible but it is not aimed at expats. It is to everyone. The Singaporeans know it is important to foreigners, therefore you find isolated examples fo good service in some tourist areas. Otherwise the Singaporeans simply don't have high customer service expectations.

If the expectations were higher ther would be change.

We also all know that most Asians are masters at concealing their feelings... it is quite a trait to be admired and also unappealing. We are on big salaries and we need to be mindful that they are not and we are seen as passing through where they are here forever. In many locals, not all, this breeds an envy, but this would be the case in any country that has the same demographics.

My challenge to you, is that you have to give more of yourself. Don't expect much in return, but if you are here long enough you will find a closeness that is so difficult to obtain.

Can I recommend a book... "The Asian Mind Game" by Chu Ning Chin (I think I remembered the author's anme correctly).

Hope this helps a little.