What is it to be a Singaporean? Strangely I have never given that question much thought before; as a matter of fact, that question has never popped into my head for the past 19 years.
But recently, after joining AIESEC in NTU, this question has struck me quite a few times. AIESEC is an international student organization present in 85 countries which promotes youth development through its overseas traineeship opportunities. Members work to bring in and send out youths for actual work experiences with established companies, and at the same time, take part in international conferences. It has a very vibrant culture and its members include people from all over the world. So far, I have met students from India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and I dare say it has been quite an experience. I have also met a couple of trainees who are here on their attachment. There are people from France, Slovakia, Romania, Japan, even Switzerland.
Anyway, it all started on National Day, when there was an AIESEC party and gathering. I had been assigned the task of manning the Singapore booth and naturally I had to do my research. As I sat in front of my computer trying to think of what Singapore had to offer, I couldn’t help but think that I wasn’t really very Singaporean after all. Hey I couldn’t even think up a lot of interesting stuff. Sure, sure, everyone knows the little facts about how Singaporeans are kiasu, that we are a “fine” country, that our government is a big nanny, that there are so many restrictions here, blah blah. But is that all that Singapore has to offer? Am I going to tell these “ugly” characteristics to a group of foreigners so eager to learn about their host country?
Speaking of the trainees, I must say I have a lot to learn from them. They had their own country’s booth too and as I went around listening to what they had to offer, I was struck by how well they knew their country, and how proud they were about their origins. I mean, I spent more than half an hour at the Switzerland booth looking at the photos and listening to the Swiss describe their way of life. Their attitude and zest really say a lot.
I’ve realized that the foreign students in AIESEC are really interesting too. Nowadays, I like to ask them what they think of Singapore. Strangely enough, their answers have helped me recognize what I have been taking for granted for so long.
“Singapore’s really clean.”
“The government takes good care of the people; back from where I was, that doesn’t happen at all.”
“It’s very accessible around here.”
“Almost everyone gets to go to school. I came from a village so imagine how different it is back home.”
Oh and I’ll never forget when this Indonesian guy asked me if I knew how the Singapore River was cleaned up in the 60s. He was so pleased and proud of himself as he described the process to me. To think I was complaining to him about the education system here not too long before that.
“A Singaporean is never more Singaporean than a Singaporean not in Singapore.” Perhaps we have really become complacent in this protected and comparatively care-free environment after so long. I don’t know. If I were studying overseas I might be able to comment on that. But then again, I don’t think I’ll fret too much about that. I’ve come to realize that I still can learn a lot about being Singaporean, especially through AIESEC.
On October 15, a trainee will be arriving from Romania. I think I’ll volunteer to join his welcome committee to bring him around and get him settled in. I may be a Singaporean in Singapore, but being with non-singaporeans might very well teach me a thing or too about being more Singaporean. =)
