What makes you proud to be a Singaporean?

What makes you proud to be a Singaporean?

I though this was pretty apt & cute in Singapore's case :)

Frankly, I and all other Singapore born Singaporeans certaintly did not have a choice list for us to choose which country we wanted to call home. Neither did our parents. But we have grown to love this tropical island as we go along.

It is no easy journey. At times we loathe at her boring-ness. Frequently we diss how it is scorching hot thru the year while other countries experience the wonderous 4 seasons. Ocassionally we marvel at the 'Firsts' we have achieved over other more developed countries. Humans are never a contented lot.

There are things in Singapore that I am certaintly not proud of. It has been a journey of discovery to how I could proudly and honestly declare that being Singaporean is a badge that I will wear loud and clear to others.

When I was born like 24 years ago ( to be exact) in the early 1980s, the lion city was still carving a name for herself amidst all the blue eyed and bloned hair counterparts. They spoke immaculate accented English while I spoke a different kind of English peppered with 'lahs', 'mehs', 'har' and the like. I have yellow skin, black hair and black eyes.

Magazines covets the blue eyed belles on their glossy covers and Asians were probably relegated to the cover of local telly mags. So, it was natural I crave to look 'ang-moh' and neither did I think I was a pretty girl not to mention a pretty Asian Singaporean lass.

I wasn't proud of my looks, I wasn't proud of heritage hence I did not pick up local dialects such as Hokkien or Teochew that my parenty speak so fluently. In fact, this was pretty much the case among many of the pupils and in schools where English was very much the yardstick of how well and smooth you can move up the academic ladder.

Then, kiasu-ism set in. It's a common syndrome that afflicts all, your truly too. We even had a

'kiasu burger' created by the golden arches and a comic character named 'Mr Kaisu'. And it is this 'branding' that propels us into the limelight. Take a look at young kids and others snatching seats like they were gold in the MRT trains, people forming 48 hours snaking queues in advance for stuffed toys, pilling plates sky high with food during all-you-can-eat buffet even though one can stomach even a quarter of the food piled.

Gone within 60 seconds~

Greed and selfish-ness were another downfall with many selling free/complimentary NDP tixs for a price on yahoo auctions/ebay, inconsiderate toilet users who do not flush and leave their toxic mess for the next unsuspecting user, litterbugs, litterkillers etc.

There are so many things we as a Singaporean living in clean and green Singapore do not feel proud of.

BUT.

cheap and yummi food!

As I slipped my feet into my to-market slippers and trod in my neighbourhood which I grew up in, I came to love being a Singaporean. I love being an Asian, I love black hair (trying to outgrow my dyed locks of yesteryear), I love my hawker food, the wet supermarkets and Singlish too.

Although many inconsiderate people still do exists (don't they everywhere) but the pure kind and genuine acts of fellow Singaporeans made feel so proud and that the lil red dot is still a passionate pulsating heart.

Just look at all the hoo-ha of the NKF saga and Singaporeans are still donating casacading amounts to various donations. One particular charity program without all the glitz and death defying acts and prizes even managed to garner millions of dollars of donations in an evening.

Please do donate?

Volunteers both young and old taking time off during weekends and off their busy work schedule to care for the less privilieged and poor helpless strays. Fellow Singaporeans who helped to shield you when you are stranded at a bus stop in the rain, hold the door for you, utter a simple 'thank you' when you lend a hand.

These are the Singaporean acts displayed by Singaporeans in Singapore that make me smile. The more simpler and ordinary they are, the more it touches the heart and makes me feel oh-so proud.

PCK's iconic yellow boots

Singapore's 2 best loved reel families

Heck I even adore local sitcoms like 'Phua Chu Kang' and 'Under One Roof' where the character speak singlish in a very familiar Asian background. I buy local mags too with my fave local celebs on the cover. In fact many Singaporean singers and actors have begun to make waves in faraway lands like USA, Taiwan etc. It is commendable and no mean feat. It is heartening to know that although some local celebs received flake from Singaporean, many on the other hand are much adored too.

*THUMP THUMP*

The lil red dot has a heart. And I wear it on my sleeve wherever I go, whatever I do. Always.