Singapore 5Cs

Today marks the 90th day we are on this island.

We are still struggling, but it's getting better. Amirul loves his school (he rates it 8 out of 10, compared to his old school; 4). So I can safely cross him out of my worry list. Next on my worry list is Alyssa. She decided not to go to preschool (she used to love school very much). She spends her time home with our maid (yes...I have a maid now. Officially out of the 'SuperMom' club now). She is slowly open up to her and acceptin her as our family member (all her drawings included 'auntie Siti' as her family). In time, I can also cross Alyssa off my worry list.

Left on my worry list:

3. Hubby

4. Myself

There is this joke people make about Singaporeans being obsessed with 5 Cs namely; Car, Condo, Credit Card, Country Club...and I forgot what's the other C. Anyway, I have come up with my own 5 Cs to describe Singapore (no pun intended), after spending 90 days here:

1. Clean

I have done quite a bit of traveling to all continents; but rarely I found big cities as clean as Singapore. Even the trees seemed to be disciplined not to simply shed its leaves. Everywhere seem very neat and tidy..very pleasing to the eyes.

2. Convinient

Eventhough we can't afford a car, relying on public transportation is not a hassle at all (except when it rains heavily). They are prompt and dedicated lanes for busses which ensure you can plan your timing well.

3. Crowded

I have always regard myself as a 'people person'; the kind love to be surrounded by people. I stand corrected; people suffocate me! There is just simply too many people here. We stop going to malls all together since shopping on weekends is like shoving your way thru people in Mecca during Hajj. Seriously, it is really that crowded. Dining is also a chore since there's no way you can eat in peace while having people waiting next to your table, waiting for you to finish gobble up your food. And I heard they are aiming at adding another 2 million to the population...where on earth do they plan to put these people?

4. Cash Converter

It's money!money!money! here.... Our water bills come with 30% consumption tax plus some other kind of 'fee'. Monthly levy for the maid is $265 per month to the government, on top of her $350 salary. Goods & Service tax is 7%. They just announced to raise the electricity charge by 7%, and soon water will be raised too. Taxi fare just raised up last month.

5. Competitive a.k.a Ciasu/Kiasu

I never really know what Kiasu means, until I am here. Competitive is healthy as long as you keep it within context. We are strunggling to adapt to this 'me' first mentality when we are so used to Penang's 'we' mentality. Scarcity mentality (there is only so much for us) is very apparent here; hence people are generally insecured and skeptic. Even when I volunteer to help out with the school activities, my intention was received with very much skeptism as if I was trying to sell them things.