Canadian Singaporean here, and I just moved back home to Singapore and I sound in between North American and Singaporean because of College and post-grad studies up north. Same as you. I think people do tolerate us hybrids and some times call out as "pretending" but its hard to just be one culture anymore. I feel like expats feel segregation helps to reinforce some boundary to feel safe and not get overwhelmed by the very grassroots culture of our grandparents. And vice versa. The constant state of confusion in identity doesn't seem to be going away personally, especially now that I have a Canadian partner. The divide is real because both groups want you to belong in their camp fully. I still find it hard to not make small talk with strangers, since its so common in Canadian culture. Just sharing my perspective since coming home. Great channel by the way, would love to see your channel expand, maybe even advice and tips for both exiting locals and incoming expats.Congrats on the 1k sub
TOTALLY relate to what you are saying... I don't know if you have seen it, but I wrote a book called The Local Immigrant - all about exactly what you are mentioning here. You can buy in on jontytan.com and you'll have it by Christmas! Thank you for sharing!
Essentially I’m an immigrant… I don’t see it as a derogatory term, just a term to describe someone who has moved from one place to another… living somewhere their passport is not from…
My ex-boss once described me as an "optimistic simplifier" - a bit like Pooh Bear, so I won't use the word "divide" to describe the different social sets between locals and expats. I prefer to think of both sets as "different circles" rather than "divide". The more we get those circles to intersect (like a Venn Diagram), the better it would be for the constituents in both sets and for Singapore as a whole. Remember that Singapore's raison d'être from time immemorial and our continuous economic comparative advantage stems from being a node in the global hub where everyone feels at home, feels comfortable investing in Singapore and therefore everyone has a stake in our survival.
Hiya Jonty. I think it is fine. It is just the way the world works. People identify with others something important to them that they have in common with and form a group. This happens everywhere and at all levels. Singaporeans and other nationalities do the same overseas; paeticularly for long term stays. As long as they don't disparage the locals and their culture or insist on their culture being dominant, everyone can mind their own business and live their own lives.
I think the last thing you said is key - providing there isn’t an insistence on culture dominating… I wonder whether the negative expat press from the covid days still hangs over? Specifically Brits saying they are “sovereign” etc.
Great thought-provoking video. I don't think the issue is narrowed down to locals vs expats. Societies and cities are like a Photoshop picture file. While we think we are looking at a beautiful and colorful photo, it is actually composed of a number of non-related layers: separate color channels, a sharpening layer, and many other different filter layers. None of these layers interact with each other beyond contributing to the beauty of the final composite photo. In truth, most people rarely venture out of their ethnic, class, religious, cultural etc. identities even though they live and interact with other people for decades. And that is fine and natural as long as there is a culture of mutual respect, tolerance and appreciation of differences, etc. We've all heard of IQ, and corporate types talk frequently of EQ (Emotional quotient) in an organization but I think a society's collective CQ (Cultural Quotient) is what makes a place a great place for all to live in. Singapore is not too bad on the CQ but certainly there is lots of room for improvement. But great suggestion for visitors: explore local places and have fun!
I love the analogy. Thanks for the thoughts. Yea, Singapore, while not perfect, is a great place of diversity and acceptance - love it. Thanks again for sharing!
I’m a British white guy in my mid-20s who has been living and working in Singapore for the last couple of years. By and large, most of what you've said is true. I’ve met other white foreigners (who mostly seem to be Americans?) who don’t have any interest at all in engaging with the locals or local culture. They’re here for work and will return to the US once their exchange programme is done or their American company moves them to another country. I’m not perfect, but I’ve made a very conscious effort to really immerse myself in Singapore’s local culture. Around 75% of my friends here are local Singaporeans, and I make an effort to do community work, charity work, and get involved in local projects to meet people. There’s definitely a bit of a stereotype that all white foreigners want to stick to themselves, but I’d say that’s only half true. I’ve befriended a couple of other white foreigners who, like me, are very much interested in embracing the local culture. Will I stay in Singapore forever? I’m not sure. However, I’m really enjoying my time here and meeting locals. I’ve never had any negative interactions with Singaporeans, and I think that’s mostly down to how I approach people-treat others how you want to be treated. I’ve never looked down on anyone, and unfortunately, I think the stereotype is that all white foreigners do. Are there some who behave that way? Most certainly. I remember during my first month here, I overheard an older, drunk South African guy speaking horribly about locals. Unfortunately, racists exist everywhere. My main point is: we’re not all like that. :)
Thank you SO MUCH for this comment, it’s honest and thoughtful. Thank you for making the effort to engage with local culture and it means a lot that the majority of your friends are local too 😊 I hope through this channel and our other ones, we will keep spreading the joy and wonder of this beautiful nation so more people will engage and enjoy it!
I worked in an American organisation for 7 years, and a British-owned one for nearly 3 years. Yes, there is a divide. It's sad. I wish there wasn't. Despite living in Singapore for so many years, they hardly wander around out of their comfort zone (yes, the Quays + Holland Village), and do not go to hawker centres. They don't have many local friends either, and many of them talk down to us locals. Some don't even want to learn more about our Muslim's friends religious practices and conveniently forget about ordering halal food for office parties. Conversely, I have a few non-local friends who are so easy to get along with, because they are open minded, and are willing to just simply be friends. Things got less fractious (after years of racist microagressions) when I decided to work with very localised companies in the last 5 years. Hopefully, things are better now with a younger, more open, more adventurous generation coming over to live and work here.
What interesting insights. May I ask, are you Muslim? What are some of the micro-aggressions you have experienced? The presence of racism in Singapore is something I am really interested in and have been processing over the last few years…
@@jontytan sorry for the late reply. things for busy and I was having some time out me time. No, I'm not Muslim. But I have had colleagues who are, and I've worked with them for a pretty long time. So, I was very miffed that their religious dietary requirements were always ignored. This happened in two different work places, by the way. In one work place, they had monthly town halls, and two Muslim colleagues used the session to share more about their religion, Ramadan and the celebration of Hari Raya Puasa. Yet, the same thing happened at another company event some months later. Personally, the micro-aggressions I get are that even though we have the same level of education, when I was working at the American organisation, there was a constant condescending insinuation that local staff were not as smart and capable. We get less pay increases, our attendance get monitored a lot compared to our American colleagues who can suddenly disappear from the office hours at a time, etc etc. The level of which our work performance was evaluated was certainly different, and the bias was palpable. The tone of voice they use on us was also clear. We bore with it because it was a stable job and we knew they would be leaving in one-two years time, and we'd still be there until we decide to resign.
@@jontytan No I left in 2019 when the last Executive Director was too toxic to bear with. She made a lot of people leave during her tenure there, and I didn't like the way she was trying to get to the pot of financial stash that organisation had through various "sus" means.
Hi Jonty, this is a really interesting topic. I am a local here in Singapore and honestly I don't mind that expats prefer to stay within their community and not learning about local culture. On the flip side, I also feel that the majority of locals have an established network of family and friends and don't really go out to befriend expats as well.
Hi Jonty, it's an interesting perspective from, as you say, someone who is sitting in the middle of this local-expat "divide". I don't think this "divide" is unusual in any society nor is it one which has been overcome by any society. There will always be a divide because of differences in culture, values and way of thinking, for one thing, in every society which has an expat community. But I think, generally, as a Singaporean who has travelled and sometimes even lived in other places apart from Singapore, people here (more so than in other countries) tend to be more accepting of foreigners as long as (and this is critical) they make an attempt to integrate, learn about and appreciate the local cultures and communities. Singaporeans generally are open-minded and embrace people who themselves readily embrace the people and way of life here. What many Singaporeans, myself included, dislike is when foreigners come here and they only want to mix with other expats like themselves while enjoying the lifestyle and benefits here -- safety, security and convenience -- but in an expat bubble, and there are many of these bubbles here. Or if they come here and continue to behave as if they were still in their homeland and judge/criticise how things are done here. There are many vlogs on RUclips of expats who have come here, loved the culture and actively assimilated into the society here. If you look at the comments on their vlogs, you will see many positive and supportive reactions from, dare I say, Singaporeans. Some examples include swizzyinsg (Swiss), amandine (French), krazy koala (Taiwanese-American) and glib ojisan (Japan).
You have made an excellent point. Integration and embracing of local culture is super important. I don’t know all of those RUclipsrs but will check them out! I know that Koala and Ghib are both Asian - do you think this contributes to their easy engagement in local culture?
@@jontytanAsian affinity? Maybe, though even for Ghib, I think he chronicled in his vlogs a lot of adaptation needed to fit in, as the Japanese culture is different from the local culture in so many ways. I believe it’s more about openness and willingness to accept and celebrate differences. You and Millie are good examples of that.
Hi Jonty, congratulations on over 1K ! There are lovely expats and nasty, limited minded ones, and Singaporeans too. We lived in Hong Kong for such a long time and coming home to Singapore was a bit of a shock to the system having to be “local” again LOL. What helps is, with all personal interactions, suspend judgement, listen, wait and decide. People are basically a sum of their upbringing and life experiences, everyone has an attitude and perspective to which they are entitled to have. So, once we’ve gotten the chance to know them better, the simple question is : do we like the person to trust them with friendship ? It doesn’t matter who they are. Expats anywhere in the world are generally a transient lot, with a goal to earn and save enough money before heading back home when kids need to go to school, or to another job and country after a promotion …. and living amongst expats gives them a quick entry into some social life without having to explain who they are, where they are from. Familiarity feels secure and saves time, especially for families with kids to settle into routines and school. As a Singaporean working in retail in the Joo Chiat belt, yes I do observe this divide, but when I engage expats in conversation, differences often disappear when we find a common topic (food or good coffee !!!). For the Expats who refuse to explore or find local spaces they might enjoy, who feel trying to understand or connect with locals is just too hard, hey, it’s their loss. Aida
Aida! How lovely to hear from you again - it has been some time. Thank you for your thoughtful sharing and insights. Love the advice for friendships too.
There is a divide. Although we are citizens, my kids grew up in the international school system in Shanghai….my 2 oldest have never been in the local schools here. In fact they have been in UK boarding schools since year 9 so that’s all they know….their friends are British, teachers are British etc….they stand out because when they, their accents give them away…they get puzzled looks because ppl assume that they should sound like them because we are ethnic chinese. Expats also assume this. Ironically, when we are in the uk, there is no divide and we are treated the same as everyone else…..does this make the Uk more multicultural than Singapore? My son has to do his National Service soon and I worry how he sounds will make him stand out and that he will be picked on….he isn’t even familiar”singlish” words! Anyway, your vlog certainly strikes a cord, please do more of this topic.
Thank you… I have heard from some recent international NS recruits that the international intake are all paired up with the international school kids. It may be just fine… your two oldest will probably sound like me!
hi jonty , great topic you bring up hear and i really appreciate you pushing tourist so visit the local area where is not the typical "MBS or best airport glamor" really interesting take on that. my take on the local and expat divide issues don't really lies on the stereotypical "oh they are expats and the earn higher than us" kind of problems but rather taking their bad habits from their motherland to introduced or trying to change the local lifestyles. be it you're from UK , US or even china there is always a limit to how much cultural influence you can carry to another country , yes we pledge ourselves as a multiracial country but some habits or behaviour isn't accepted here. also from my experience working with an expat (new to Singapore unlike PRs or have been here for more than 5 years) they like to look down on locals for whatever reasons be it like you mention they earn higher pay and can afford to rent a condo or the company giving them a vehicle for transportation , showing off is a frown upon behaviour in singapore. also the environmental behaviour also changes how the local look at them ( you being born in a certain way in your country and now going into another you genuinely carries that behavior with you) it's not easy to change your behaviour in another country yes but do not behave as you are back then and expect the locals to accept it. overall it's still okay to work in singapore as long as you are willing to learn and understand how locals work and what are their iks on foreigners. if i say there is no racism in singapore i'd be lying to you but in surface we're all okay with expats and we understand they come here to help the nation and to have a better rice bowls compare back but just an advice. do not ever think you're better than locals or do no behave in such the locals are not worth your time to understand.
Hi Jonty, your video came up on my feed. BBC here! Came to SG over 20 years ago but did not embrace the expat lifestyle back then, as we felt they were in their own bubble. My partner and I decided if we were going to experience SG, we would need to interact and be part of the community here. Fast forward to 2024, things are better, and we do feel that a lot more expats are making the effort to be part of the SG community, learn the various national languages (including Singlish) and culture etc. Some people do say, oh well, expats are only here for a couple of years, but I do know a few who have been here longer than me, so ......😆
Hello! Thanks for sharing! I love what you did when you came 20 years ago, integrating with the local vibe. I love that you have noticed expats being more embracing of the local community - I wonder whether the focus on DEI has helped and also social media, sharing more of what is real and local.
The divide is very subtle, almost like Japan where the differentiations are done at the back and not forwardly. It’s a plus point to learn the Singlish lingo but you will have to find a community of open minded people. This applies everywhere. I’m a Thai born in Singapore reporting here.
Hello Jonty, I always feel intrigued by your amazing videos, I hope you & your family have a magical & beautiful Christmas, would there be a Christmas event at your church? 😊
I used to work in a European bank when i was young 30 years ago. With the same degree and competence, the foreign bankers were earning more than the locals and got better treatment. I always thought that was unfair. Discrimination? Hopefully, it is no longer the case now .
@jontytan besides having a higher pay, the 'ang mo' got more friendly smiling face from our superiors. It's not only at work, but they did get better service at hawker centres, banks, shops .. simply everywhere they went. My European husband worked several years in Singapore and he did agree that the whites got better treatment than the Asian themselves, not only in Singapore but in any Asia countries. That being said, in the 80s 90s the white ' superiority ' was obvious and present. Maybe now with the declining Europe and the raising Dragon, situation has improved. But still.. even in Europe or US, we Asians still face the same problem ( but we are a lot luckier than the blacks) at work, in public social places.
I’m not sure if “divide” is the best word. I like to think of it more as demography. But I’m splitting hairs here. Essentially, like any where else, one will find all types of people locals, expats, foreign workers, etc. Within these demographic compositions, one will find the good, bad, ugly, incorrigible and special people. All are influenced by their own biased or unbiased perspective of things, informed or misinformed judgments, positive or traumatic experiences, etc. All these are typical characteristics of a metropolitan, multicultural, multi-religious and multiracial country, not least in Singapore, and in UK. Among Singaporeans, there are also different demographic groups or “divides”. All these in themselves are not necessarily problematic, negative, or positive. It’s all part of our individuality, personality, lifestyle preferences. However, when one begins to discriminate, or impose, or pass judgments on others, and indeed divide people, that it becomes a serious issue. Without being oversimplifying it, hopefully, with education, more interaction and opportunities for constructive interactions more can be done to help blur our differences, and highlight our similarities and commonalities as human beings in a community. All easier said than done requiring both a bottoms-up and top-down approaches. Just my opinion.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Yes, agreed. Demographics all have differences, and I hope that as people engage more and learn more about each other that there will be less of a divide 😊
You are different as you are bought up in the west, though born here. Our former minister George Yeo used to tell the newly converted citizens in his constiuency. Be yoursellf, but I hope you have a bigger heart to embrace the locals. Not easy! Over time, I guess it will happen naturally. Mohamed has to go to the mountain.
I really hope more people embrace the locals... I guess I have never had to pay attention to this divide or contrast before, but I think because I never knew it existed it is prominent in my mind. I think you're right - it happens naturally over time, BUT I do think that some people can intentionally embrace the local life too...
Canadian Singaporean here, and I just moved back home to Singapore and I sound in between North American and Singaporean because of College and post-grad studies up north. Same as you. I think people do tolerate us hybrids and some times call out as "pretending" but its hard to just be one culture anymore.
I feel like expats feel segregation helps to reinforce some boundary to feel safe and not get overwhelmed by the very grassroots culture of our grandparents. And vice versa. The constant state of confusion in identity doesn't seem to be going away personally, especially now that I have a Canadian partner. The divide is real because both groups want you to belong in their camp fully. I still find it hard to not make small talk with strangers, since its so common in Canadian culture. Just sharing my perspective since coming home.
Great channel by the way, would love to see your channel expand, maybe even advice and tips for both exiting locals and incoming expats.Congrats on the 1k sub
TOTALLY relate to what you are saying... I don't know if you have seen it, but I wrote a book called The Local Immigrant - all about exactly what you are mentioning here. You can buy in on jontytan.com and you'll have it by Christmas! Thank you for sharing!
Essentially I’m an immigrant… I don’t see it as a derogatory term, just a term to describe someone who has moved from one place to another… living somewhere their passport is not from…
@@jontytan immigrant dont sounds nice.
Congrats for hitting 1k
Thank you so much!
My ex-boss once described me as an "optimistic simplifier" - a bit like Pooh Bear, so I won't use the word "divide" to describe the different social sets between locals and expats. I prefer to think of both sets as "different circles" rather than "divide". The more we get those circles to intersect (like a Venn Diagram), the better it would be for the constituents in both sets and for Singapore as a whole. Remember that Singapore's raison d'être from time immemorial and our continuous economic comparative advantage stems from being a node in the global hub where everyone feels at home, feels comfortable investing in Singapore and therefore everyone has a stake in our survival.
I love the idea of the venn diagram… also, “everyone has a stake in our survival” is so true. Thanks for the comment!!
congrats on 1k subs!
Thank you! Onwards and upwards I hope!
No worries! You are always welcome back home here Singapore…
Thank you! We hope to remain for many years to come!
Hiya Jonty. I think it is fine. It is just the way the world works. People identify with others something important to them that they have in common with and form a group. This happens everywhere and at all levels. Singaporeans and other nationalities do the same overseas; paeticularly for long term stays. As long as they don't disparage the locals and their culture or insist on their culture being dominant, everyone can mind their own business and live their own lives.
I think the last thing you said is key - providing there isn’t an insistence on culture dominating… I wonder whether the negative expat press from the covid days still hangs over? Specifically Brits saying they are “sovereign” etc.
Great thought-provoking video. I don't think the issue is narrowed down to locals vs expats. Societies and cities are like a Photoshop picture file. While we think we are looking at a beautiful and colorful photo, it is actually composed of a number of non-related layers: separate color channels, a sharpening layer, and many other different filter layers. None of these layers interact with each other beyond contributing to the beauty of the final composite photo. In truth, most people rarely venture out of their ethnic, class, religious, cultural etc. identities even though they live and interact with other people for decades. And that is fine and natural as long as there is a culture of mutual respect, tolerance and appreciation of differences, etc. We've all heard of IQ, and corporate types talk frequently of EQ (Emotional quotient) in an organization but I think a society's collective CQ (Cultural Quotient) is what makes a place a great place for all to live in. Singapore is not too bad on the CQ but certainly there is lots of room for improvement. But great suggestion for visitors: explore local places and have fun!
I love the analogy. Thanks for the thoughts. Yea, Singapore, while not perfect, is a great place of diversity and acceptance - love it. Thanks again for sharing!
I’m a British white guy in my mid-20s who has been living and working in Singapore for the last couple of years. By and large, most of what you've said is true. I’ve met other white foreigners (who mostly seem to be Americans?) who don’t have any interest at all in engaging with the locals or local culture. They’re here for work and will return to the US once their exchange programme is done or their American company moves them to another country.
I’m not perfect, but I’ve made a very conscious effort to really immerse myself in Singapore’s local culture. Around 75% of my friends here are local Singaporeans, and I make an effort to do community work, charity work, and get involved in local projects to meet people. There’s definitely a bit of a stereotype that all white foreigners want to stick to themselves, but I’d say that’s only half true. I’ve befriended a couple of other white foreigners who, like me, are very much interested in embracing the local culture.
Will I stay in Singapore forever? I’m not sure. However, I’m really enjoying my time here and meeting locals. I’ve never had any negative interactions with Singaporeans, and I think that’s mostly down to how I approach people-treat others how you want to be treated. I’ve never looked down on anyone, and unfortunately, I think the stereotype is that all white foreigners do.
Are there some who behave that way? Most certainly. I remember during my first month here, I overheard an older, drunk South African guy speaking horribly about locals. Unfortunately, racists exist everywhere. My main point is: we’re not all like that. :)
Thank you SO MUCH for this comment, it’s honest and thoughtful. Thank you for making the effort to engage with local culture and it means a lot that the majority of your friends are local too 😊 I hope through this channel and our other ones, we will keep spreading the joy and wonder of this beautiful nation so more people will engage and enjoy it!
@@jontytan Yeah keep the videos coming man !!
Thank you!
Thank you. More expats like you are welcome anytime 😊
I worked in an American organisation for 7 years, and a British-owned one for nearly 3 years. Yes, there is a divide. It's sad. I wish there wasn't. Despite living in Singapore for so many years, they hardly wander around out of their comfort zone (yes, the Quays + Holland Village), and do not go to hawker centres. They don't have many local friends either, and many of them talk down to us locals. Some don't even want to learn more about our Muslim's friends religious practices and conveniently forget about ordering halal food for office parties. Conversely, I have a few non-local friends who are so easy to get along with, because they are open minded, and are willing to just simply be friends. Things got less fractious (after years of racist microagressions) when I decided to work with very localised companies in the last 5 years. Hopefully, things are better now with a younger, more open, more adventurous generation coming over to live and work here.
What interesting insights. May I ask, are you Muslim? What are some of the micro-aggressions you have experienced? The presence of racism in Singapore is something I am really interested in and have been processing over the last few years…
@@jontytan sorry for the late reply. things for busy and I was having some time out me time. No, I'm not Muslim. But I have had colleagues who are, and I've worked with them for a pretty long time. So, I was very miffed that their religious dietary requirements were always ignored. This happened in two different work places, by the way. In one work place, they had monthly town halls, and two Muslim colleagues used the session to share more about their religion, Ramadan and the celebration of Hari Raya Puasa. Yet, the same thing happened at another company event some months later. Personally, the micro-aggressions I get are that even though we have the same level of education, when I was working at the American organisation, there was a constant condescending insinuation that local staff were not as smart and capable. We get less pay increases, our attendance get monitored a lot compared to our American colleagues who can suddenly disappear from the office hours at a time, etc etc. The level of which our work performance was evaluated was certainly different, and the bias was palpable. The tone of voice they use on us was also clear. We bore with it because it was a stable job and we knew they would be leaving in one-two years time, and we'd still be there until we decide to resign.
I’m sorry to hear this. Do you still work in the American company now?
@@jontytan No I left in 2019 when the last Executive Director was too toxic to bear with. She made a lot of people leave during her tenure there, and I didn't like the way she was trying to get to the pot of financial stash that organisation had through various "sus" means.
Hi Jonty, this is a really interesting topic. I am a local here in Singapore and honestly I don't mind that expats prefer to stay within their community and not learning about local culture. On the flip side, I also feel that the majority of locals have an established network of family and friends and don't really go out to befriend expats as well.
Very good points! A divide, but not necessarily a bad thing…
Where would they begin if their work and social circles don't intersect with expats'?
Hi Jonty, it's an interesting perspective from, as you say, someone who is sitting in the middle of this local-expat "divide". I don't think this "divide" is unusual in any society nor is it one which has been overcome by any society. There will always be a divide because of differences in culture, values and way of thinking, for one thing, in every society which has an expat community. But I think, generally, as a Singaporean who has travelled and sometimes even lived in other places apart from Singapore, people here (more so than in other countries) tend to be more accepting of foreigners as long as (and this is critical) they make an attempt to integrate, learn about and appreciate the local cultures and communities. Singaporeans generally are open-minded and embrace people who themselves readily embrace the people and way of life here. What many Singaporeans, myself included, dislike is when foreigners come here and they only want to mix with other expats like themselves while enjoying the lifestyle and benefits here -- safety, security and convenience -- but in an expat bubble, and there are many of these bubbles here. Or if they come here and continue to behave as if they were still in their homeland and judge/criticise how things are done here. There are many vlogs on RUclips of expats who have come here, loved the culture and actively assimilated into the society here. If you look at the comments on their vlogs, you will see many positive and supportive reactions from, dare I say, Singaporeans. Some examples include swizzyinsg (Swiss), amandine (French), krazy koala (Taiwanese-American) and glib ojisan (Japan).
You have made an excellent point. Integration and embracing of local culture is super important. I don’t know all of those RUclipsrs but will check them out! I know that Koala and Ghib are both Asian - do you think this contributes to their easy engagement in local culture?
@@jontytanAsian affinity? Maybe, though even for Ghib, I think he chronicled in his vlogs a lot of adaptation needed to fit in, as the Japanese culture is different from the local culture in so many ways. I believe it’s more about openness and willingness to accept and celebrate differences. You and Millie are good examples of that.
Thanks. Hopefully more people will be open to embracing Singapore 😊
@kenzone Well said.👏👏
Hi Jonty, congratulations on over 1K !
There are lovely expats and nasty, limited minded ones, and Singaporeans too. We lived in Hong Kong for such a long time and coming home to Singapore was a bit of a shock to the system having to be “local” again LOL. What helps is, with all personal interactions, suspend judgement, listen, wait and decide. People are basically a sum of their upbringing and life experiences, everyone has an attitude and perspective to which they are entitled to have. So, once we’ve gotten the chance to know them better, the simple question is : do we like the person to trust them with friendship ? It doesn’t matter who they are.
Expats anywhere in the world are generally a transient lot, with a goal to earn and save enough money before heading back home when kids need to go to school, or to another job and country after a promotion …. and living amongst expats gives them a quick entry into some social life without having to explain who they are, where they are from. Familiarity feels secure and saves time, especially for families with kids to settle into routines and school. As a Singaporean working in retail in the Joo Chiat belt, yes I do observe this divide, but when I engage expats in conversation, differences often disappear when we find a common topic (food or good coffee !!!). For the Expats who refuse to explore or find local spaces they might enjoy, who feel trying to understand or connect with locals is just too hard, hey, it’s their loss.
Aida
Aida! How lovely to hear from you again - it has been some time. Thank you for your thoughtful sharing and insights. Love the advice for friendships too.
There is a divide. Although we are citizens, my kids grew up in the international school system in Shanghai….my 2 oldest have never been in the local schools here. In fact they have been in UK boarding schools since year 9 so that’s all they know….their friends are British, teachers are British etc….they stand out because when they, their accents give them away…they get puzzled looks because ppl assume that they should sound like them because we are ethnic chinese. Expats also assume this. Ironically, when we are in the uk, there is no divide and we are treated the same as everyone else…..does this make the Uk more multicultural than Singapore? My son has to do his National Service soon and I worry how he sounds will make him stand out and that he will be picked on….he isn’t even familiar”singlish” words! Anyway, your vlog certainly strikes a cord, please do more of this topic.
Thank you… I have heard from some recent international NS recruits that the international intake are all paired up with the international school kids. It may be just fine… your two oldest will probably sound like me!
@ that’s useful to know. Thanks!
All the best to your son! Let me know if I can help the transition at all 😊
There is actually another group 'the help' which is more of a worry as these people are treated as second class citizens in many facets of daily life.
VERY interesting. Yes, totally agree… this will be another hot topic soon for sure!
Do not be affected by other, stay happy .
I always stay happy! Just curious about the divide (or perceived divide) and want to understand it more 😊
hi jonty , great topic you bring up hear and i really appreciate you pushing tourist so visit the local area where is not the typical "MBS or best airport glamor" really interesting take on that.
my take on the local and expat divide issues don't really lies on the stereotypical "oh they are expats and the earn higher than us" kind of problems but rather taking their bad habits from their motherland to introduced or trying to change the local lifestyles. be it you're from UK , US or even china there is always a limit to how much cultural influence you can carry to another country , yes we pledge ourselves as a multiracial country but some habits or behaviour isn't accepted here.
also from my experience working with an expat (new to Singapore unlike PRs or have been here for more than 5 years) they like to look down on locals for whatever reasons be it like you mention they earn higher pay and can afford to rent a condo or the company giving them a vehicle for transportation , showing off is a frown upon behaviour in singapore.
also the environmental behaviour also changes how the local look at them ( you being born in a certain way in your country and now going into another you genuinely carries that behavior with you) it's not easy to change your behaviour in another country yes but do not behave as you are back then and expect the locals to accept it.
overall it's still okay to work in singapore as long as you are willing to learn and understand how locals work and what are their iks on foreigners.
if i say there is no racism in singapore i'd be lying to you but in surface we're all okay with expats and we understand they come here to help the nation and to have a better rice bowls compare back but just an advice. do not ever think you're better than locals or do no behave in such the locals are not worth your time to understand.
Thank you so much for your comments - I read them with great interest! Appreciate the thoughts and your sharing - thank you!
I look forward to seeing you guys in church. 😊
Yes! Always welcome!
@@jontytanI hope my husband & I can be good friends with you guys. 😊
Hi Jonty, your video came up on my feed. BBC here! Came to SG over 20 years ago but did not embrace the expat lifestyle back then, as we felt they were in their own bubble. My partner and I decided if we were going to experience SG, we would need to interact and be part of the community here. Fast forward to 2024, things are better, and we do feel that a lot more expats are making the effort to be part of the SG community, learn the various national languages (including Singlish) and culture etc. Some people do say, oh well, expats are only here for a couple of years, but I do know a few who have been here longer than me, so ......😆
Hello! Thanks for sharing! I love what you did when you came 20 years ago, integrating with the local vibe. I love that you have noticed expats being more embracing of the local community - I wonder whether the focus on DEI has helped and also social media, sharing more of what is real and local.
The divide is very subtle, almost like Japan where the differentiations are done at the back and not forwardly. It’s a plus point to learn the Singlish lingo but you will have to find a community of open minded people. This applies everywhere. I’m a Thai born in Singapore reporting here.
Interesting. Have you found it hard being Thai in Singapore? Or has it been straightforward?
Hello Jonty, I always feel intrigued by your amazing videos, I hope you & your family have a magical & beautiful Christmas, would there be a Christmas event at your church? 😊
Yes! It was yesterday! Merry Christmas to you too
@@jontytanSee you guys on next Sunday. 😊
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I used to work in a European bank when i was young 30 years ago. With the same degree and competence, the foreign bankers were earning more than the locals and got better treatment. I always thought that was unfair. Discrimination? Hopefully, it is no longer the case now .
This is interesting to hear. In what way did they receive better treatment?
@jontytan besides having a higher pay, the 'ang mo' got more friendly smiling face from our superiors. It's not only at work, but they did get better service at hawker centres, banks, shops .. simply everywhere they went. My European husband worked several years in Singapore and he did agree that the whites got better treatment than the Asian themselves, not only in Singapore but in any Asia countries. That being said, in the 80s 90s the white ' superiority ' was obvious and present. Maybe now with the declining Europe and the raising Dragon, situation has improved. But still.. even in Europe or US, we Asians still face the same problem ( but we are a lot luckier than the blacks) at work, in public social places.
As Singaporean as around Garden Street Kway Zhap.
Happy to eat that… but I’m not sure what you mean?
@jontytan
Typical Singaporean neighbourhood around the original one?
What do you mean?
I’m not sure if “divide” is the best word. I like to think of it more as demography. But I’m splitting hairs here.
Essentially, like any where else, one will find all types of people locals, expats, foreign workers, etc. Within these demographic compositions, one will find the good, bad, ugly, incorrigible and special people. All are influenced by their own biased or unbiased perspective of things, informed or misinformed judgments, positive or traumatic experiences, etc. All these are typical characteristics of a metropolitan, multicultural, multi-religious and multiracial country, not least in Singapore, and in UK.
Among Singaporeans, there are also different demographic groups or “divides”. All these in themselves are not necessarily problematic, negative, or positive. It’s all part of our individuality, personality, lifestyle preferences. However, when one begins to discriminate, or impose, or pass judgments on others, and indeed divide people, that it becomes a serious issue.
Without being oversimplifying it, hopefully, with education, more interaction and opportunities for constructive interactions more can be done to help blur our differences, and highlight our similarities and commonalities as human beings in a community. All easier said than done requiring both a bottoms-up and top-down approaches. Just my opinion.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Yes, agreed. Demographics all have differences, and I hope that as people engage more and learn more about each other that there will be less of a divide 😊
You are different as you are bought up in the west, though born here. Our former minister George Yeo used to tell the newly converted citizens in his constiuency. Be yoursellf, but I hope you have a bigger heart to embrace the locals. Not easy! Over time, I guess it will happen naturally. Mohamed has to go to the mountain.
I really hope more people embrace the locals... I guess I have never had to pay attention to this divide or contrast before, but I think because I never knew it existed it is prominent in my mind. I think you're right - it happens naturally over time, BUT I do think that some people can intentionally embrace the local life too...
Expat? Don't flatter yourself.
What do you mean?
how do you maintain the british accent despite living here for some time? is it to create some kind of branding?
😂 no branding - just the way I speak! I guess having lived in UK from age 2-35 it kinda stays with you!