Great Singapore Sale! Final Consultation Slots.

Final Consultation! Hurry hurry hurry!
26 June 2009
Fri
5.30pm to 6.30pm (2 slots)

Make your appointment here, walk-ins are also welcomed on a first come first serve basis.

Do come with some work for us to talk about.

Blockbuster Thursday: AQ

This is the blockbuster everyone’s been waiting for (not). It is a blockbuster because a lot of money is spent on it. Time is money. Whether or not it rakes in the sales to truly make it blockbuster remains to be seen.

First, an absolutely nonsensical trailer:

http://absolutefacts.blogspot.com/2007/07/vr-man.html

And now, onto the show, AQ. Directed by Mr K. Actors: Mr K, and Xinyi, Nicole, Lina, Lalida & Huimin of 2208.

 

Being a small country which lacks natural resources, Singapore has to rely heavily on other countries to drive our economy. Influences and interactions will be inevitable due to our openness. In this situation, it is best we learn to accept and adapt those external influences that may benefit us and resist those that may be harmful to us. This will then allow us to survive in a gobalised world.

I agree with Nye that “vibrant cultures are constantly changing and borrowing from other cultures—and that borrowing is not always from the US” (Passage A l.25-6). From our colonial past we inherited the British legal system. This borrowing is a matter of convenience, but we have also once heavily curbed freedom of expression in particular that of public protests, very much authoritarian indeed. However, we have recently accepted that we need a good degree of freedom of speech following a more liberal Western ideology (particularly the US). The government has increased the number of feedback avenues for residents to air our views. We now have STOMP, an online portal that encourages active citizenry and is popular among the younger generation. We also have the Speaker’s Corner at Hong Lim Park, modelled after Hyde Park in London. Although we have these “borrowings”, we have not legalised demonstrations and strikes for the benefit of Singapore. This is because a small country like Singapore with multi-racial residents will suffer when strikes and riots instil fear and distrust in us, as was seen in the 60s. Without a harmonious society and in a state of unrest, Singapore’s economic growth would be hindered as foreign investors would not be attracted to Singapore. We borrowed and we adapted what is good for us for our survival, very much like how “local cultures modernize in their own ways.” (Passage A l.8-9) Hence to ensure we survive in a globalised world, Singapore should continue to ignore calls to grant residents full freedom of speech.

In the recent years, Singapore has accepted and adapted well to external influences. With globalisation, more people are heading to the West for higher levels of education. Nye mentions that the Japanese have sent “its young people to the West for education” (Passage A l.14-5). However, “it is possible to adapt while preserving a unique culture” (Passage A l.18-9) as the Japanese are still very much rooted and loyal to their country after a century or so. Perhaps not so similarly in the Singapore context, professionals or students we have abroad may have the urge to uproot, or ‘quit’ the country, which led to the discussion on “stayers” versus “quitters” many years ago. The Singaporean authorities, worried about the brain-drain, rolled out programmes, and nuanced pleas were also made over National Day Rallies to resist such an impact caused by globalisation. “Singapore Day” is held annually abroad (like in Melbourne and London) and the venue of celebration would be dressed up like a part of Singapore. Singaporean chefs are flown in to prepare local dishes for these Singaporeans, perhaps to ensure that their “cultural identities have not been submerged by McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken” (Passage B l.8-9) especially when the “market economy has modified and commodified” char kway teow (a type of stir-fried noodle in soy sauce and clams) such that it costs $25 a plate in the foreign lands (thus unauthentic and expensive) while the golden arc and KFC become staple food. Although some may just be homesick, this event would also help to bring pride to those potential quitters by trying to connect them again with cultural artefacts familiar to them. With this scheme in place, Singapore will be better poised to survive in the global village where citizens are free to drop the red Singaporean passport when they found the grass to be really greener on the other side.

Besides those who are abroad, the Singapore government should also carry on instilling in the citizens within the borders a sense of identity and national pride. In this way, people will not “diminish their own capacity to find significant cultural satisfactions in their own deeds and achievements” (Passage B l.28-9). Besides rewarding the people through meritocracy as we have been doing over the decades, emphasis can be placed on cultural diversity and racial harmony as something unique: within a small country, the harmony that we have is something to be proud of as people are tolerant of all the practices from different culture, race and religion. It is a model that should make other countries envious. Our local television has frequently been importing programmes from the USA; it is time local productions increase their prominence (and quality) and bank on their creativity to bring us captivating and meaningful television programmes or films, like Singapore Dreaming or 881. These are films about life in Singapore from historical, societal and cultural lenses. Why wait and let our kids (Passage B para.5) feed on foreign milk when we can nurture them with our own for them to grow up to be staunch goats of Singapore? Of course all this sounds propagandistic, but people in authority in the country would deem it necessary given the threat posed by globalisation. Thus to survive in the globalised world, Singapore should respond by continuing the production of more Made-in Singapore films or television programmes even though some may bomb (like Masters of the Sea): nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The need to discover our own unique identity amidst the normalcy of change is crucial to our survival in the global world, especially when we are at the same time encouraging a profusion of foreigners to stay. This uniqueness in our identity may well come from all parts of the world, making Singapore a hotpot of cultures that appeal to foreigners as well as locals. Singapore is an open economy and we embrace foreign talents when our population itself is not self-sustainable due to the low birth rate. Like the USA, immigrants “enriches and changes” (Passage A l.32) our culture. This could enrich the local culture here. There is an increase in the number of diverse ethnic communities in Singapore over the years; now, we have more Japanese and Germans who work and live in Singapore, just to name a few. Some have even felt encouraged to stay on and take up Permanent Residency. We now have specialist stores that tailor to the needs of these residents, like the Japanese-oriented Liang Court. Oktoberfest is also now a common annual fixture in the Singapore calendar and locals and Germans celebrate this as one. Such additions indeed add colour and vibrancy to cosmopolitan Singapore. Cultures change to survive (Passage A, l.25) and Singapore needs immigrants who can add value to the country in different economic sectors. We thus change to appeal to all. These frills might serve as attractions to make them want to come to Singapore and call it home. Conversely, Singaporeans might also feel attracted to stay on and enjoy such an international melting pot. Singapore thus needs to carry on progressively allowing avenues for such festivities and businesses to bloom in order to survive in a global world.

Some may see this as a commodification of cultures; however, in order to survive, a balance has to be struck between allowing for changes and restricting changes. It is not as if Chinese New Years and Hari Rayas have become a costly affair packaged for foreigners. It is probably extravagant in some years and “fortunes are indeed made” (Passage B l.38) by “outsiders”—as well as locals, but the significance of such celebrations is still present. The essence is unchanged. Even the roti prata (pancake bread) was changed when it came to Singapore from India and Pakistan. Likewise, Singapore will do well to not resist changes but adapt those we borrowed like what we have been doing in order to survive in a global world.

Of Cats & Dogs, Mice & Men & Women

Another dinner at the usual place, another interesting observation. Again it must be said that it probably isn’t the only institute in Singapore facing this problem; although I’m not entirely for the practice of clearing one’s own plates for various reasons, I am sure at an institute of higher learning, certain courtesy and manners are necessary.

And so we have some bones left behind today by some dogs and some messy tables rummaged by some rats, with a hungry cat prowling the tables for leftovers. Poor kitty darted away and licked its paws in one corner when I neared. (The imagery might have made it seem exaggerated, but this is literally what I saw, except for the fact that I didn’t really see who those rats and dogs were.)

Such comparisons may draw derision from animal lovers because dogs and rats are negatively associated here, yet another attempt by the elites of the animal kingdom to degrade others, perhaps a rite for self-preservation or lost esteem.

Animals are way too cute. Even the spider that rappelled down from the ceiling right in front of me days ago was cute. Take a look at this cat:

It recognises me! I just had my dinner and was walking back to the car when it meowed and followed me. This was the third time I played with this cat. I think I shall call it Tabby. It’s tabbing its head on my foot!

Some think Kaka is cute too; I think Kaka was cute when it cost us just S$0.30 a packet (thanks to Glenn Ong for the reminder on the Morning Show). Most of us would have owned a Kaka snack before, but Kaka now costs US$94,000,000.00. (O__O) Exclusively owned by Real Madrid.

He said he loves the club when Manchester City offered almost twice that amount in June. He loves God. After what he had gone through, there is no doubt about it and it is not a joke and I agree with Rob Hughes’ comments on 6 June 2009 in the Straits Times which I shall not replicate here (because I can’t find that article). Kaka said he needed to save AC Milan from its heavy debt. He must be in a difficult position where he tried to balance among religion, sport, life(style), financial stability of his beloved club, and his goal in life. Man City isn’t big enough. So I guess his going to Real is indeed justified. His father (aka his agent) would have justified his bank accounts with the deal. It’s business as usual: big gain, small gain, still gains in the millions.

Businesses are usually cut-throat. Early this morning I had to review the proposal of a potential Oral Presentation vendor. Although they promise to provide materials that I think will be good, among other essentials, one thing stuck in my mind: their constant emphasis on the fact that they provide native Caucasian trainers with lots of coaching experience. The message I am getting is that locals are not good enough, which is not true. Yet it is true that locals are not as highly sought after as native Caucasians when it comes to The Language. (There and then I couldn’t help myself but to correct a couple of grammar errors in the proposal.)

Still, it is business, and I, Kwokwok, have to make a difficult decision…