Singapore Swing

Five days in Singapore to catch up with family and old friends and long enough for Bob to present a paper at the National University of Singapore in late March. Although this was a very short stint, we noticed some major changes, namely that one in six persons in Singapore is a foreign worker. I’ve been telling people here in Hong Kong how everyone speaks English in Singapore – well, I’ll have to eat my words. Waitresses, shop assistants, maids, cooks, construction workers, gardeners, etc all seem to come from other parts of Asia and are crowding the locals for jobs and services. Some higher echelon jobs are also held by foreigners especially in the computer and technology-related areas.

It’s a more expensive city than I recall. No end of new buildings! Two latest additions are a waterfront casino (locals have to fork out $100 as an entrance fee! and must have a clean criminal record before they can step in); another tourist attraction is Universal Studios Singapore.

The never ending urban renewal efforts mean that old buildings are much scrutinized.  K.K. Hospital where many of my siblings and I was born, was torn down to make way for an impressive looking women’s and children hospital. Health care is also an issue here – many people expressed concerns about whether they would be able to afford health care after retirement. They may have insurance and health saving accounts but the latter will be used up by their parents. Once they retire that insurance will be gone. There were also complaints about a doctor shortage.

As thrilled as we were about eating Singapore hawker food again, we were somewhat disheartened by the fact that there are fewer of these places now. There are many newer food courts –they don’t come close to the good old fare that’s still around (luckily) but one has to know where to go to get the best stuff.

One very positive change we noticed was a flowering of the arts scene. There’s a rather grand looking theater complex called the Esplanade on the waterfront with impressive facilities -the building looks like a durian, a local fruit that you either love or despise. Still more astonishing, the phlethora of local writers and plays being staged there. What a big change from the past. Way to go!!!

One place that we most treasure in Singapore is the Botanic Gardens. We used to live just behind it and would go for evening strolls there.  We were newly-weds then! What a very long time ago! We celebrate our 28^th wedding anniversary this month!

 Naseem and Bob

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