Even as a Singaporeans, we have to change the way we speak English on occasion. It really depends on the socio/economic/educational category of your audience. For example in army reservist duties, one would usually speak with privates in a heavier Singlish speech patterns than say officers. It has nothing to do with being snobby, but simply adapting to be understood.
Yeah, me speaking at work, in school, with my parents, with my friends, with strangers are all different. Also foreigners as well becos singapore english are difficult for them to understand. Then there are terms, words or phrases that certain groups can understand and others doesnt. Same for for slangs, different language and even memes.
much like you would talk to your parents, colleagues, georgia when she just came to sg or a hooligan in different manners, everyone has got to adapt to drive in sg and so we end up with this deadlock. during my driving lessons, i noticed people would purposely get fun out of not allowing me to change lanes. as soon as i got my license, i never signal unless i know the person behind me has no choice but to slow down. motorcyclists are extremely rude IMO. i do signal to truck drivers though as they are polite and i wouldn't want a heavy vehicle to slow down suddenly.
Teoh Yi Chie dangerous driving =/= lack of graciousness in driving. as a matter of fact, u can report anyone who drives dangerously if u have proof. The society is the police now.
Singaporean drive graciously toward pedestrian, which I hoped more countries would adapt. But in the highway though... How do you drive at high speed and not letting anyone keep a safe distance? Every time a car pull back to have safe distance, someone always cut in.
Hi Georgia, as a Singaporean who lives and works in the UK now, I have to say I love hearing how you and Justin have changed since moving to Singapore. It makes me start thinking about how I have changed since moving to the UK. love the videos!
Having lived in the uk previously, 1) I guess you eat your sandwich cold as compared to asking 7-11 to heat it up. 2) you fill up your sink with water and dishwashing liquid, dip your plates in and voila, dishes are done without rinsing off the liquid as the British insist it’s biodegradable.
this is called integration not assimilation. singapore adopts the integration policy which gives immigrants the right to practice their culture and religion. unlike assimilation which happens to be adopted by france, where immigrants are not allowed to publicly practice their culture or religion.
1. Room temperature water. According to traditional chinese medicine, cold water is bad for the respiratory system. Having a "cold" respiratory system will cause you to develop cough, asthma or allergies easily. 2. If I am alone, chope is the way. If I am with someone, I will sit and wait for my friends to order first. 3. Chopsticks are amazing. With enough skills, you can eat a chicken with it. 4. I don't drive because there is no need to. 5. I don't carry umbrella if the sun is out. However I will keep an umbrella in my bag incase it rains. Singapore weather can change just like that. 6. I have huge breakfast because I usually skip lunch. 😢 7. I don't leave my items alone. Too much important work stuff in my laptop. Maybe because I am old and I have been through the not so honest phase of Singapore. 8. I don't eat at newton. It is a tourist trap. Last time, it is so competitive, newton hawkers practice touting, the government have to step in to regulate this. 9. I will only use Singlish during casual conversation with my friends. 10. As for email, I stop replying after 5pm. However I do receive email after working hours. I don't blame my customers because I am doing IT support. Once they encountered an error or problems, they will quickly type out the email to describe the error plus the error messages in case they forgot about it later. However they don't expect me to reply as soon as possible if it is after support hours.
Well said.. as a singaporean myself, the one I’m truly proud of my country is the security! No doubt you can never get this anywhere else in the world! 👍🏽
Helm Zulkifli I visited your beautiful country in May I want to thank you and your fellow singaporeans. We have never been to a country where we always felt 100% safe even walking around late at night. Singapore is a magnificent country.
It is rather safe to leave your precious belongings out in the open in Singapore. But to be extra safe, you should try not to do it ;-; because my sister's laptop, camera and phone got stolen before!
really?oh no!i usually leave my bag but i would take my valuables with me(hp and wallet).if i have my laptop,i would leave it only if i'm leaving to order something and i can monitor my table from the queue.but i wouldn't do that if i have to leave the place e.g to go to the toilet.
I left my bag in Toastbox for more than 30 mins, when I realised that, I rushed back to the Toastbox and found my bag still there. Thanks god! Nothing missing! I believe SG is too small and CCTV all over the area. No smart aleck would be interested in all these small thingy and get themselves into trouble.
I was Walking Down Beach Rd in Bugis and pulled my Phone Out And must have Dropped 10 Cents on the ground .... Lady saw it as she was Crossing road and Chased after me to Return it!…… True Story! .... Singaporean’s are Definitely the most Honest I have ever met! ✅
lol honestly i would never pay $8 for chicken rice either, maybe $4 would be the mAX. my school sells chicken rice for $2.... and neighbourhood coffee shops sell them for $3. $8 is a sCAM
these habits you guys have mentioned are definitely very normal for Singaporeans. however, for the driving, there are still some very gracious drivers (aka my mom)
Definitely need to chope seats before buying food (: It's tough walking ard the hawker with a tray of soup. And also, if ure in a group, it's alot more convenient. Evryone can go to different stalls to get their food, come back and meet at the table and eat tgt
i was born in america to a singaporean family, so when i came back to singapore i definitely received some culture shocks as a student too like,,, waking up at 6am every morning, (this was atrocious i hated it) singing anthem and taking pledge in parade square, wearing uniform (HATE), all the worksheets and i didn't understand ANY singlish at all but now i'm completely used to early mornings, wearing uni, i can also yell at my friends in singlish without blinking an eye and i can switch very efficiently between american english and singlish which is great for oral exams :D i really enjoyed the video by the way!
That's why I hate driving in Singapore too so I picked up motorcycle license and it has so much benefits than driving. It's cheaper, parking is a lot more cheaper than car and so easy to find a lot to park, you can lane split during jam, it save a lot of time, if you are traveling alone, it is fuel economical. To stay safer I wore motorcycle jacket with shoulder and arm guard and knee guard and gopro to record my journey.
@@LonesomeBossDaily Driving (and parking) in Singapore is less convenient and vastly more expensive than public transport. It is a showy boastful practice. I have relatives that will drive EVERYWHERE as taking public transport must be beneath them.
I agree with the comments about the email culture between east and west which is also a reflection of the difference in working culture. Rather than working on a first-come, first-serve basis answering emails arriving in the inbox, many emails can be answered as soon as they arrive because you already know the answer. The sender may require the answer in order to progress further with his work. It is unfair for the sender to be kept waiting while you finish the job you're doing which could take a while. Don't forget it works both ways. You may need a quick answer but your colleague decides you have to wait while he finishes the job he's doing first.
choping is a must during lunch hour! also Im pretty used to sharing tables with strangers. Hawker centres all have big tables for 4-6 people so theres often unused seats.
I will say, that sharing tables with strangers is one refreshing thing about Singapore. Do that in Australia without politely asking first and you will receive a nasty/horrified look.
Singaporean here, and I consider sunlight an invasive entity. Great for Vitamin D but with the humid level, you feel sticky almost instantly after leaving the shower/aircon room.
As a Singaporean Driver, I also don't like it when ever i turn on the indicators and the car just sped up and attempt to pass through. I always remind myself, to give way to people and don't be like them. As for the choping of seats... Well... Although it is irritating at times, I find it pretty useful especially when you are out eating alone and you see some empty tables and the food court is getting crowded. At least you know by choping, you will get a seat rather than standing with your food on your hands for the next 30 mins. Anyway, love your videos about Singapore! Keep them coming! Cheers! :)
Warm water is always better for our overall health. It's important to keep our stomach warm to have better digestion. SG is hot and humid but health is wealth.
This is so fun to watch! Everything is totally relatable lol. That put your bag and laptop and etc on the table and chair... Proud to say that I've seen these happening numerous times beside me and I always thought, oh well, just low-key help this guy keep a lookout for his belongings.. Which actually, I didn't have to cos usually nothing bad would happen.
U guys should go to the National Library at Bugis during lunch time, the tables are filled with laptops and iPads and portable chargers because people leave their stuff on their seats when they go to lunch.
Waaa - is definitely alot easier to say since you already open your mouth to compliment on something lol Chicken Rice - cheaper ones are usually alot more tastier than the expensive ones Chope - if im alone, I'll look around to share table and ask the person seated to "Chope" the seat for me & if im in a group, one person will help to buy my food then the rest will go buy their food. Its like taking turn & not being picky on what the other is buying for u or if u already know what you can get from the same stall. Basically see which is efficient to get the food faster and try to have the meal together since you went out in a group if not alone. My daily skincare routine as a singaporean that makes us look younger than our age (besides the point that we're asian) - to apply ice cubes on your face first before anything else (checkout the benefits of ice for facial skin) then the other products also drink lotsa water to stay hydrated. Driving - in most cases, its the Private Hire Cars (lookout for the blue decal) or Taxi that has this "kiasu" behaviour cause they often rush so that the could end their trip earlier and pick up more passenger (their source of income) there are also drivers who rushes for their passengers request (win-win situation). Safety - only towards the locals and non locals who understood the law and values of harmonious living environment or its just too leceh (lay-chay means hassle in malay) for some to return the items to the police station, drop a report 😂 and the common local sympathy towards the person who lost their important docs and the hassle they have to go through and all.
Love this! I’m an Australian expat in Singapore too and 100% agree with everything you said. Also a lovely respectful way of paying tribute to your adopted country!
Hi, let me explain why "Chope" is an efficient concept. Let's say I have a party of 4 which goes to a hawker centre during the peak lunch hour. When we arrive, we notice that there are very few tables available. The natural response is to grab a table before we order so that we won't be wondering around with our food trays later. So now you have two scenarios: A. One person stays at the table while the other 3 orders their food. B. You reserve the seat AKA "chope" with something instead (in proper self-serve restaurants they may give you placards but here you have to use your own belongings). Continuing with A, the other 3 people have gotten their food and returned to the table now it's time for the last guy to get his food. Now if we are being polite we wait for the last guy to return with his food. Oh oh our food is getting cold, let's forget about being too polite and start eating. Our friend is back 10-15mins later, we are close to finishing our own food. Now we wait for him to finish his food (what are we gonna do? leave him there to eat alone?) Now with scenario B, we have basically skipped the whole shebang as everyone went to get their food at the same time and saved everyone(including those waiting for a table) at least 10-15 mins.
I leave my bag (wallet is inside) and laptop in coffee shops, libraries every day....for years. I am too lazy to bring it to the toilet or to order food. So far nobody touched anything! I accidentally left my wallet and phone in toilet cubicles many times and they always gets returned to the Information Centre! I am so lucky!!
Unpopular opinion maybe but I actually think choping seats is an acceptable behaviour. When I go out with my friends we just leave our bags and go get our food, no one has to be left behind to guard the table. I can imagine it’s helpful for old people eating out alone who just want to be sure they can get a seat after buying their food. It can be quite a hassle trying to find a seat while carrying your food especially during peak hours at Hawker centres. I guess choping of seats is a logical way around this problem.
It is a hassle, trying to find a seat whilst carrying your food. Choping of seats is NOT a logical way around this problem, it exacerbates the problem. When finding a place to sit whilst carrying my meal, I will move your tissues/umbrella and sit in ANY VACANT seat. I will mirror your kiasu right back at you!
If people manage to chope seats before you, they were likely there before you. If you get your food before them, doesn't mean they're not about to get their food soon as well. The queues at stalls are all different. They might've gone to more popular / slower serving stalls. By the time they get their food, if they didn't chope, there wouldn't be tables available anymore. The principle is: If you come and cannot chope seats, perhaps consider take away instead.
Ben Haynes you’ve got to remember that choping of seats for the most part is a generally acceptable behaviour here (not saying its right or wrong, but it’s acceptable). I really suggest you chope a seat and see for yourself, you won’t ever need to carry your meal and find a seat again. Choping of seats is only a problem for you if you do not do so yourself. And there is little wrong to chope seats in Singapore. And also, taking a choped seat knowing that it’s choped is a rather blatant disregard for the local culture. It’s not very nice to do that as well haha. I can only wish you luck if the tissue you cleared belongs to an angsty old lady. Just save yourself the hassle and chope a seat before getting your food mate. When in Rome, do as the romans do.
Yesss I would agree w wenhao. Also, maybe there's so many chopped seats in ikea becoz they chopped it before they went to order, you both should have done so too!
Blatant regard of someone’s culture isn’t mirroring kiasu back, it mirrors back to me that you’re just being plain rude. This is the culture here. People arrived first, found a seat & are in the midst of buying food ... they didn’t arrive after u. Just because you operate on a different set of rules, doesn’t mean they cheated. It just means u didn’t adapt
I drive in sg and I have encountered the whole speeding up thing before BUT RARELY. and I drive like everyday. The thing that frustrates me the most is when people don’t signal when they want to change lane! It’s so frustrating because you have to suddenly slow down for that person LIKE JUST SIGNAL, MOST PEOPLE GIVE WAY!!!
Found your channel about two weeks ago Georgia and I'm so happy I did. I'm moving to Singapore in September with my husband and we have learned so much from your channel. 😎
Just found this. It is beautiful! Been living in Singapore for 15 years. Definitely, no reason to go to Newton for hawker. No way I'm spending $8 for chicken rice!
Enjoyed ur sharing. I must say u hv adapted well n accepted our idiosyncrasies. Thank u n i hope u have more good experiences as long as u stay here. God bless.
Agree with driving in Singapore! That's why I'm so scared of driving here. Food at Newton Circus hawker circle is overpriced and overrated (except for a select few). But it's room temperature water for me, unless I am dehydrated, then cold water it is!
You guys are hilarious! Love it! Welcome to Singapore! Personally I have a lot of respect for foreigners who is willing to assimilate into the local culture (there are a lot of others who cane with a huge ego and refuse to do what the Romans do when they are in Rome).
Juatin’s hair is sooooo red. Omg, the epitome of ang moh! (Btw, the colour is utterly beaut. Love, love love his hair). Against choping. AGAINST! Was worried I’d get arrested when I drove in the UK when I went back. Never saw people refusing to move for an ambulance until SNG. But SNG is a wonderful, fantastic country. Bahasa Singapura.
Very Interesting 🙂 In London UK, we recently had a heatwave, I saw a white lady walking through town using a ☀️ sun umbrella 🌂... people were staring at her like she was crazy
Totally agree about Singapore driving. It's just inconsiderate drivers! And I drive! My pet peeves are drivers that are so impolite and won't give way to you. And drivers who just won't use their turning lights till they make a turn.
Walaua! You angmos know so much 'bout S'pore! 2 yrs ago, would not have liked this, but now I really get where you're coming from. S'pore is its own place to adapt to. I've lived in tonnes of places around the world, and these are definitely v. S'porean traits. Nicely done.
Waaaa! I enjoyed this guys , you two are lovely people ! Funny about drinking warm and hot water I was only speaking about this with my Singaporean friend . Cold drinks are apparently not great for the body - better and longer explanation from my friend .
It is not good for females to drink too much cold beverages as they may cause bad menstrual cramps and hard to conceive due to "cold wombs", among other things.
You really do sound like an "inside-outsider"! As a Singaporean watching this, it is heartwarming to know that you like and / or have embraced some of our ways. Haha, hope it's not too difficult for Justin to unlearn some of the "broken English" habits from Singlish when you both go back to the UK. I am one of those Singaporeans who love Singlish though. Just wish I am as good as my husband at switching back to standard English when required.
I have been to Europe or basically another other country and I think it is so inefficient to see people with food, walking around waiting for seats, and by the time they get their seats, their food is cold. It is just a different mindset. In the end, it is whether you want to wait for a seat before you buy your food, or you want to wait for a seat, after you have bought your food.
Oh wow! Back home in India everyone called while singing happy birthday as well 😅. I just assumed that it is a universal gesture while singing the happy birthday song
I identify with most of the examples mentioned. gosh! I remember leaving my handphone on the table and walked away and my father looked at me horrified and told me never to do that. And then i realised i am not in singapore anymore. I had so much reverse culture shock living at home. I missed the efficient transportation the most.
Heading to Singapore from Vermont in February. Can’t wait. Feel free to post your favorite restaurants! Or must do’s while visiting. I will be there for 24 hours by myself. I plan to get a massage, shop and go hang out at the airport!
Agree! We definitely enjoy the Singaporean cultural changes. I quickly learned that there are no weekends here. Things get done and taken care of very promptly 👍.
"Choping" is helpful if you eat alone and need a seat quickly after you have gotten your food. But if you eat with others, you can do without as one of you can watch over the seats while the rest over the food and for the person at the seats. It's also helpful for some people who may have only one hour lunch and has little time for looking for seats and queuing for food.
I’m Singaporean and a novice driver. Absolutely don’t enjoy driving here because many are very impatient and unforgiving. Probably due to Singapore’s busy lifestyle and workaholic culture, we leave no time for others. It’d be great if everyone try to find in them some kindness and grace for strangers!
Every time I'm in Singapore and in a car, I feel that I age 50 years just being so tense at the way the people drive (the driver or the cars around them). I still can't get used to it and I don't know if I ever will lol.
Yes i agree with Justin.Every incidents that happen on that day we need to email our boss even on public holidays or weekends.And keep updated on every details that happened to our co workers or at work.So that we won't forget when we back at work and when there is meeting we be able to explain.Well we are used to it on the mobile phones to read on our email.Its like sense of responsibility when we hold that position.Keep doing it Justin.👍🏻
I totally agree with you about Singaporean drivers. The pet peeve of mine is the signal light which you highlighted, it is a signal for everyone behind you to speed up so that you can't change lanes. I drive so I understand not saying that I don't do the same. Hey when in Rome...
Suggestion: sometimes I just nicely ask if someone at the neighbouring table at the coffee shop would keep an eye on my stuff for me while I pop over to the toilet for 5 minutes. Usually they'd be happy to. Or at least, no one has refused me as yet, and I haven't refused anyone either. Just for peace of mind.
Newton hawker center is very expensive and not that that great you should try other hawker center. The Chicken Rice will be about $3-$5 and it’s very nice. Love your videos!
At home, I would drink boiled room temperature water. I would drink cold water only if I’m sweating. In office, I drink room or warm water due to the aircon. Warm or room temperature is easier to drink and better for the body.
i used to have road rage every other day, then i told myself, u cant avoid it. U can try not to interact with people u dont like in ur workplace, u can avoid going certain places knowing the people there will piss you off, but the moment u r behind the wheel, u will encounter such idiots on the road every now and then, whether u like it or not. So chill mate.
Depends on the crowd. CBD lunch time, choping is "acceptable" and efficient. But for hawker centres in heartland, if there are many tables to go around, and less busy, maybe get a friend to get a table instead? Drivers in Singapore are more aggressive, probably due to stressful, high-strung life. Used to live in Oz, people there are more laidback and more gracious on the road.
You are 100% singaporean. When you refuse to pay $8 for chicken rice, need to chope table and spoke broken english.. Hahahah. Please don't leave things behind especially crowded area.. Cheers!!
@Positive Energy SG Yup, totally agree! You can get one Aleck to seat there helping you to reserve the seat and no different from placing a tissue pack to "choke" ( our excuse) but it is what it is here! So, one fine day, Justin will choke table as well. LOL!
@Positive Energy SG With respect, I know it's your "system" and I experience the rudeness of people reserving seats every time I visit. I try to avoid hawker centres or times where this practice is prevalent. Just because it's your system and unwritten rule, does not make it morally or ethically right.
as a local i gotta agree with you that singaporean drivers aren't the most gracious on the roads! i have driven in japan, and such a huge difference! totally agree with the 'kiasu' part. usually i'd just inch a little when changing lane so that the driver knows that he's gotta let me go into that lane ELSE we both gonna get it. not the best way, but need to. :/ great video btw! really love how you guys share about how you have adapted to singapore!
