CultureShock! Singapore , livre ebook

MarshallCavendishM - Marion Bravo-Bhasin

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185 pages

English

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CultureShock! Singapore takes you inside the tiny island nation at the tip of the Malaysian archipelago and pulls back the veneer on a country that is both Asian and Western at the same time. Discover how this multi-racial society manages to work like clockwork despite its disparate backgrounds, and find out how to deal with the people's kiasu attitude. Through this book-filled with practical information and tips for everyday living-you will learn more about the different local and ethnic customs and beliefs, and be introduced to its diverse and mouth-watering cuisine. CultureShock! Singapore is the definitive read for anyone who wants to settle easily into Singaporean society and it will have you understanding Singlish in no time.

Sujets

Singapore

Singapour

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Publié par	MarshallCavendishM
Date de parution	01 août 2011
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9789814408974
Langue	English

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Introduction

To mark the nation's independence since 1965, a splendid display of fireworks lights up the skies during the annual Singapore Fireworks Celebrations held in the month of August

Contents First Impressions More Likely First Impressions Fast Facts Resource Guide Clubs Culture Quiz Further Reading More Cultureshock! Apps

From my first impression of Singapore back in 1991 when I spent only a few hours in transit but managed to leave the airport, have a meal in the East Coast, spend the night in an HDB (Housing Development Board) complex, and delight in Changi Airport’s efficiency I knew it was a pleasant place to live. Today, after moving to Singapore in August 1999, I realise my first impression was not misleading. I had experienced some of the best things the country has to offer: lush greenery, modern roads and architecture, excellent food and the world-class airport all only at surface level of course, but enough to leave a positive impression. That is what is so appealing about this country, the good is out there to see, to experience and to appreciate everyday. You do not have to spend too much time in Singapore to realise how smoothly everything functions and that there is an underlying efficiency behind it all. It’s ‘comfort zone living’ par excellence!
Maybe Singapore is going to be your home or perhaps you are simply curious to learn more about this culturally diverse island. Whatever your circumstances, this book aims to help take away the sting and shock of moving to and settling in Singapore. By reading this book, speaking to people who have or are living in Singapore and, most importantly, by willingly going along for the ride with open eyes and mind, you will be well prepared to enjoy and make the best of your stay.
Quite frankly, if I may generalise, I must say the ‘culture shock’ of arriving and living in Singapore is not really that shocking to many people. If you are from the East, there are enough elements of the East here to make you feel comfortable. The same if you are from the West. It’s this unique mix and identity that makes Singapore what it is. But culture shock comes in many waves and disguises. Living away from family and friends plus trying to set up a life in a different land is not without its difficulties. This should not be undermined. In fact, I find that the distance from your loved ones is the hardest part of adapting to a new country. It leaves one torn between the two with no easy solution but to make the best of where one has chosen to be and to surround oneself with new friends who, in the best case scenario, essentially become one’s family. It’s the best survival tip I can offer.
To better deal and be prepared with a move overseas, let’s look a little deeper into what culture shock is. If culture is defined as the ‘total of inherited ideas, beliefs, values and knowledge which constitute the shared bases of social action’ by Collins English Dictionary then ‘culture shock’ is best defined as the physical and emotional ‘discomfort’ of having to adapt to and learn a completely new set of ideas, beliefs, values and knowledge. In essence, one’s culture determines the way one acts, the manner in which we relate to others and the way we think and interpret events happening around us. So experiencing a new culture and a little culture shock gives one the rare opportunity to see everything in life in a new and different light, from the language, to using a telephone, to paying for groceries etc.
The fascinating aspect of culture shock is that it is inescapable when first arriving in a foreign country, no matter how long you have lived overseas. It may not be such a shock and it may not be prolonged, but adapting to new customs, beliefs and rules takes some time. The symptoms of culture shock (homesickness, withdrawal, anger, irritability, family and marital stress, physical ailments etc.) can appear at different times and at different levels for it’s a process with five stages. Each stage can be ongoing or even appear only at certain times. Of course, some people do not really suffer from culture shock but rather, breeze through the stages while others may seem to find great difficulty in getting over the language barrier, for instance. We all come equipped with different personalities, experiences and backgrounds that will help determine how well we cope; but coping and accepting, in the end, the new culture can be a life shaping experience.
Culture Shock
Here, in a nutshell, are the five stages of culture shock and some of the feelings you are likely to encounter. Stage One: The Honeymoon Everything is new and exciting. The best thing to do is learn to observe with curiosity and interest; learn to focus on the similarities and how we are really very much alike. Stage Two: Initial Confrontation Difficult times and crises in daily life begin to occur as the focus shifts from the similarities to the differences, which are suddenly everywhere! Communication may be a problem and feelings of dissatisfaction start to creep in. You may even feel discontent, impatient, angry, sad and generally a little incompetent as you try your best to cope. Stage Three: Gradual Adjustment You begin to gain some insight and understanding of the new culture, and a feeling of pleasure and sense of humour may be experienced. The environment is more familiar and a feeling of wanting-to-belong begins to take over. You start to evaluate and compare the old ways and the new ways, and may encounter some confusion over your own identity as a result. Stage Four: Adaptation A greater integration into the new culture occurs and you start to get solid feelings of belonging and ease. There is increased enjoyment in new customs and ways of doing and saying things. It becomes clear that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. You then start to realise that there will be things you will miss when you return home! Stage Five: Re-entry Shock Moving back to one’s country of origin has new consequences and you may find that things are no longer the same (because of course, you are no longer the same).
The above list is what you have to look forward to but like I said earlier, just reading this book and arriving with an open mind, wide-open eyes and a closely guarded mouth, you will be well on your way to adapting to your new country. And if there is one final thing to say, it is that I find expatriates and Singaporeans overall, content. It’s wonderful and contagious to be surrounded with happy people. Certainly, it’s not that life is perfect or ideal but rather, it’s that people really seem to appreciate and realise all the good Singapore has to offer. I wish you the best and I hope that you will be able to say the same after your stay.

First Impressions

Opened in late 2008, the Marina Barrage serves as a reservoir that converts seawater into drinking water, and as a flood control measure. Open to visitors, the Barrage also consists of exhibits, restaurants and an unobstructed view of Singapore's city skyline

Singapore

‘If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.’
James A Michener
Whether you are a tourist on a short visit or planning to make Singapore your new home, the opening quote is probably the best overall advice one could receive, surely. It aims directly at what a visitor in a foreign land should strive for openness, non-judgement and a big sense of discovery. For in the end, it’s through your own personal discovery that experiences will become real and treasured. So with your final goal in mind, probably the most important step in getting there is to gain some knowledge beforehand and to begin your journey with some understanding of the many layers that make up Singapore.
So, let’s talk about Singapore. If there is one point to begin with, it must be that this teeny, tiny country in the South China Sea can certainly conjure up a lot of talk, press and publicity! For some place so small, it could have easily been forgotten and overlooked. Not Singapore. This island state works relentlessly at promoting itself and conversely, the world cannot seem to ignore or to be impressed by this little Asian dynamo.
I believe it’s pretty accurate to say that few countries immediately conjure such divergent responses. There is definitely the group of people who have a lot of admiration for this small, unique island nation. Admiration for what it has achieved in such a short period of time, at such an astounding speed of constant change; admiration for its leaders with vision and action; and admiration for the comfortable, safe environment it has created for all its residents. On the other hand, there are those who will immediately go on about all the ridiculous laws, rules, regulations and controls the government has placed on its citizens, the human right laws it has violated, the exorbitant car prices, censorship, chewing gum laws, etc. In response to the second group, it’s all true; the government is strict and has implemented some unpopular policies but what is admirable is that it is also re-evaluating and changing many of these laws the ‘iron fist’ is loosening its grip.
A 2005 Time magazine article that featured an interview with the country’s first prime minister and elder statesman, Lee Kuan Yew, insightfully builds on the vast influence that Singapore’s success has had on Asia and other far-reaching countries to pinpoint the future challenge for Singapore can it ‘marry continued economic prosperity to a more open, tolerant, creative and yes, messy society and hence create a new miracle, from which other nations, bigger, more powerful and more potentially frightening than Singapore, could one day learn anew’? Only the future will tell.
Singapore is defini