Do u like Singaporeans? Do u like Malaysians?
Really... smtimes, when 1 doesnt experience/see/hear certain ths for themselves, they didnt noe/don believe certain issues/problems exist.
Long time ago, Marpig heard and read pple saying and articles reporting tt foreigners find Singaporeans too proud. Didnt really feel tt we were then.
After Marpig went Aussie and came back, Marpig did realise Singaporeans arent frenly and generally, are unhappy. How did Marpig reach tt conclusion? Cos in Aussie, pple smile at one another when they meet each other, stangers or not. Wanted to try the happy gesture in Singapore but it didnt work at all. Pple either pretend they didnt see (even if u were as standing right in front) or they just have those stoney faces, expressioness.
Then, Marpig started working. There were alot of Malaysians working in the same company. Engineers, technicians, supervisors, operators etc. Being a curious and anxious-to-learn Marpig, she goes around the whole factory and look at ths and asked alot of questions.
Initially, not alot of technicians response when they see Marpig going around. They continued with their routines. When Marpig asked them questions, they answered with a few sentences or don noe and continued with wat they are doing, occasionally stealing glances at Marpig.
At tt time, Marpig didnt think tt they are unfrenly. Marpig understands tt they are under pressure and tot tt Marpig might be sm1 who was sent to spied at them. Nvm, Marpig tots, ths will get better as time goes by.
Indeed, as time goes by, Marpig keeps going to the same place, looking at the same ths and trying to figure ths out herself. Finally, the pple also got used to Marpigz presence and started to be more helpful. Also, Marpig am really frenly and keen and attentive ("P) and build a gd rapport with them all.
We became frens and every1 started toking to Marpig and sm even looked forward to seeing Marpig!! :)) How nice of them all!!
One day, one of them asked Marpig, "Are u a Malaysian?" And Marpig said no. She was abit surprised and whispered to Marpig tt MArpig was so frenly tt she tot Marpig is a Malaysian cos "all the Singaporeans engineers are very dao" and seldom so frenly with them.
It was then Marpig realised tt itz true. Reflecting upon her words, Marpig did started to observe tt alot of Singaporeans, are indeed too proud and do not like Malaysians... as if Malaysians are 2nd class.
With the emphasis on education and qualifications, Singapore are churning out more and more proud students rather than ah bengs and ah lians, unlike during Marpigz generation.
Coming to UK, Marpig met more Malaysians as well as other Singaporeans. Indeed, Singaporeans in UK are even more yaya papaya. Of cos, there are also Malaysians who are yaya papaya too.
However, Marpigz frenz gf also mistook Marpig as a Malaysian. Reason being, Marpig is frenly. Then she went on to say smth similar like the operator back in Marpigz 1st job.
Of cos, there are black sheep everywhere... but seriously... Singaporeans being proud... it is a problem getting worse. Part of the reason is too much emphasis is on education and qualifications. Now we got more students wearing specs, top students etc rather than ah lians and ah bengs. The lian-beng era has gone.
Also, Singaporeans are too sheltered. Most do not see beyond the tiny sunny island. There no wars, no earthquakes, no tornadoes, no starvation, no nth, no riots, no human rights, no chewing gums, etc. Most of the reports are on how gd the economy is, how high the employment rate is, etc. Itz all the gd and juicy news on how gd the economy is doing tt Singaporeans get on the TV and newspapers.
Itz all bout this Singapore company or tt Singapore company winning the bid for sm foreign projects etc. Everyth seems to be perpertually optimistic which made Singaporeans live in a sheltered perfect tiny world of their own.
Bcos Singaporeans are sheltered from everyth, we tend to see ths from where we stand. Either we feel pity for the starved or homeless victims of famine/earthquakes or we look down upon others whom we think are not as gd/"clever" than us. We tot the economy is so gd, we tot our academic stds are so superior etc. Yes, the economy is gd and our academic stds are high but these are no reasons for us to feel proud or look down on others.
Really... ask any1 who have travelled abroad and worked in any foreign country and they will have smth similar to tell.
Marpig feels proud of Singapore, not of herself. It is not right to act superior to any other. The world is not only Singapore. Pple must look beyond. We cant always take life and comfort for granted just bcos we have more than enough to eat, to wear to spend.
How many of us are willing to leave ths behind and venture into the unknown and seemingly dangerous fields beyond the fence? Sadly, most of us are like sheeps huddling together within the boundary of the fence, having our own imagination of the other side of the fence and seeing ths from where we are. Protected by the farmer and the fence. With food and shelter readily available. Day after day, week after week, month after month and yr after yr.
Reminds Marpig of The Animal Farm and Babe. Hmmm... occassionally, there are a few who question too much, who think too much and who are more than often, the odd 1s out.
... Having said so much... actually... any1 out there has the capacity and tendency to be yaya papaya... The main th is always this: We need to noe our own mistakes and always make it a point to corrrect it and not making the same mistake twice.
Once again, the camera lady is in action... wow... slender legs!!
River Avon, Pulteney Bridge and houses with chimmney pots up the hills... quite a famous picturesque portrait of Bath
The Bath Abbey is in the bckgrd while the foregrd is a big garden/park. Went in summer with FH and his fren and the garden/park is filled with flowers and requires an entrance fee. Didnt go in then but hey, itz winter and itz free!! :P
This is just one of the countless stained glasses in the Bath Abbey. 
Another stained glass on the walls of the Bath Abbey. Can see Jesus and ... hmm... think it the scene when a prostitute pour perfume on His feet? Not entirely sure... but there are many others scenes too.
The churches in the UK have sarcophagus and tombs and plaque such as these that tell the pple who were buried here as well as their names, their relatives, age and smtimes how they die.
Yup, for those who read the bible, (JM especially) this stained glass depicts Saint Peter; he is the 1st disciple of Jesus and who holds the key to Heaven... see tt key hez holding?
Xmas market in front of the Bath Abbey. Noticed the horrendous crowd... *squeeze squeeze squeeze*
Finally, last pic of the bloggie entry. Xmas market again. 