I'm not the most patriotic Singaporean around, but having been in Perth for about 7 months now, there are some things about Singapore that I have come to realise I absolutely treasure.

1. Safety

If they did this in Perth, the police would run out of signs all the time.

My friend who got his mountain bicycle stolen in hall could do nothing about it, except buy another bicycle. So, contrary to popular belief, Singapore's police force aren't doing nothing. At least they bother putting up signs!

Also, I feel comfortable taking long walks in Singapore, but a simple 11km walk from hall to town's Maccas had us trying to shake off a creepy dude for quite a while. He only stopped following us when we entered Maccas. It wasn't fun having to watch our backs constantly, so I'm truly grateful that I feel safe in Singapore most of the time.

2. Public Transport

On a Tuesday evening, my friends and I took a 15 minutes bus ride to Subiaco to get some KFC. When we were done with dinner, it wasn't even 9pm yet. Alas, the last trains and buses back to hall were long gone. We had to take a 20 minutes walk in the rain to the nearest bus stop that still had running bus services, board a bus, alight at a bus stop, cross the road, board another bus, alight 10 minutes away from hall, and then walk back to hall.

Why is it so hard to return home after a simple dinner outside?!

Singapore's public transport may have its own problems, but at least you can find a simple route back home before midnight.

3. Efficiency

When the new buildings in our hall were slated to be done in half a year, what they really meant was one year. And the residents had to be kept waiting for 2 weeks 4 weeks 6 weeks before they could finally move into their new rooms. In Singapore, you could probably move into 6 weeks before the arranged date. (True story: My family planned to move into our new home in late June/ early July, but we moved in May instead!)

4. Singlish

It's a love-hate relationship with this one. Hate it when you let slip a Singlish phrase while speaking to Caucasian friends. But love it when the stranger next to you goes leh/ lah/ lor; I just have to go up to the person and befriend them because, hey siao eh only you know what I saying when I talk like that leh! Only Singlish has the power to let us immediately identify another Singaporean, and quickly forge a sense of familiarity and closeness.

5. Loved Ones

Ultimately, they are the ones who make me look forward to returning to Singapore.

/EDIT

6. I forgot about food.

How could I have forgotten to mention food?! All those nights of having indomee for supper just make me wish, more than ever, that I could be having wanton noodles or meepok or roti prata. It is also really annoying that Tim Ho Wan has been in Singapore for quite a while already, yet I haven't had the chance to try it. And this might sound crazy, but I've already planned my menu for the first day back home. So keen for my daddy's chilli crab for dinner!

Much love,

Labels: author: madeleine, lists, themed entries