DadTalk

Singapore – funny old place

In a 20 minute walk from where I’m typing this (just behind Orchard Road) you could shop for just about any international brand you can image.  It is global consumerism on steroids.  There is a sense of disposable incomes being relentlessly disposed of.  Surrounded by this constant bombardment you can feel your mind being altered and before you know it you’ll be shelling out £2,000 on a bright orange handbag. Reading the local press’s Family section leaves you with a deep sense of unease if your pre-schooler is not already a concert pianist with a strong interest in international finance. The sense of the need to succeed and the need to show that you are succeeding appears intense, not just for the locals but the expats as well.

But perhaps this is the official Singapore.  The country has basically been run by one man for the last four decades and as well as this being etched on the city’s landscape it is reflected in the official psyche. This can be summed up as “Work Very Hard”.  However last Sunday we headed out to the suburbs to see traditional bird singing.  You’ll find a bunch of guys sitting around basically comparing notes on their finches’ performances; although actually it looks more an excuse to get out of the house and take it easy for a few hours on a Sunday morning.

Overall great as it, and interesting as it, is I’ll be happy to move on from this intense city.  One thing however I’m keen to take back home is the Confucian ideal of Filial Piety – but I’m not sure the children are having any of it.