Remarks on Singapore

Spirit of Kiasu

This is one of the features of Singaporeans, something, that on the one hand drives them forward, but on the other hand may prevent them from doing what they really want to do - or even asking themselves, if what they do is what they want to do.

This is what Wiki says about Kiasu:

Kiasu is a Hokkien (a Chinese spoken variant) word that literally means 'fear of losing'. This word is so widely used by Singaporeans and Malaysians that it is incorporated into their English vocabulary (in the form of Singlish). It is often used in describing the social attitudes of people, especially about South East Asian society and its values. Its widespread use is often because these attitudes are common—to not lose out in a highly competitive society, or to the extent of parents imposing heavy study labour on their children in their wish to make them at the very top of all other students.

Most popular professions in Singapore are lawyers, investment bankers and doctors. All those can bring one to the top of the society, in term of financial success and recognition. But does it really make them happy? What I personally have observed, is that even when going out and having fun, many locals have this certain tension inside, as if they can never truly relax, let it go and just be themselves... I don't make any value judgments here, but just reflect on some of my brief observations...

In the zoo: taking care of each other