In Someone Else’s Life
Have you noticed that Singaporeans really love to hate themselves? In a country that’s taken pains to ingrain ideals of national pride and ‘identity’ in her people, contrarily it’s somehow fashionable to hold Singaporean-ness with disdain.
I confess I’ve often been guilty of the same. I laugh at the way many Singaporeans speak—the inability to pronounce Ls, the random insertion of Ts and Rs—and the sort of inexplicable comedy in mainstream media (if it’s there, more than one person likes it, but why?).
However, amidst all that, the one thing that I don’t understand is this unwillingness to look local. I don’t mean people are walking around trying to look white, but I realise, when people say that someone looks Japanese or Korean, it’s a compliment.
(This discussion excludes those outside of the 85% Chinese-dominated population here, of course.)
I don’t get it. I have a feeling there aren’t too many Japanese or Koreans walking around thinking, “Man, if I could just look Singaporean…” and so the point is, why is that?
What is it about a foreign East Asian appearance that is so attractive to us? I see people blushing with pride, beaming with joy when people say they look like a ‘China beauty’. So you know it isn’t an anti-Chinese thing.
It’s an anti-Singaporean thing, isn’t it. I hate to point it out, but stripped down, we all really do look alike.
I often wonder if it’s admiration for another ethnicity’s culture, or general despair at the lack of our own.
I get people asking me if I’m Singaporean.. Which I’m annoyed.. And when I ask “what the HELL do you mean by that” The answers varies between:
1) You don’t speak like one
2) You are quite sarcastic, unlike usual Singaporeans who are too direct
3) You know how to laugh at yourself
WTF?
Some of us are delighted when people ask us if ” you’re a Hong Konger”. Hong Konger = Andy Lau, Gigi Leung, Superstar look alikes. When in fact, Hong Kongers are Singaporeans look alike.
Just curious, anyone here gotten a ” you look like a Malaysian”? and how did you feel?
& Vic, do you still have those Korean arms?! *raahahhahahha*
hmmm actually, majority of singaporeans look alike because they’ve got common ancestry rom teochew/hokkien. basically they look like their china counterpart (albeit a bit more fashionalbe). especially the boys.
and if you notice close enough, most hongkies have very very similar features. (mind u, hongkies and singaporeans do not look alike. different province. difference province!!!)
dude, i get asked if i’m Korean all the time here in the states
i’m just frikkin thrilled if someone even recognizes my chinese-ness.
let alone singaporeanness
Reene> Haha, let’s not go back to how Singaporeans speak…
Cy> Have you been asked if you were Malaysian? I don’t know what that means. And btw, I will have these ‘korean arms’ for as long as it takes for you to grow a real sense of humour.
v> Hmm…I hate that you said my province is in the mountains.
jody> You get that ‘cos you. are. so. brack. LOL.
i found this website for u
http://www.hakkaonline.com
hahahahahaha
…thanks, I guess. If only I could read it.
good topic, Vic. here in HK, a lot of media-stars have traditionally come from elsewhere, like Taiwan, and now the mainland. i once asked my pal Gordo why, and he said it was cuz phenotypes in HK itself were too narrow and ppl want some variety.
there’s some truth to that. a LOT of ppl in HK wear glasses cuz they’re nearsighted, why? because u don’t have the chance to train yr eyes because yr always looking at stuff close-up, like either yr homework, or the other side of yr flat which is like six feet away (that’s not MY excuse for being myopic, i’m a nerd from an early age, with my nose always in a book).
awhile back someone wrote a piece on why Japanese pop culture has made such an impact on Hong Kong, they concluded that Taiwan didn’t have much, China was too poor, etc. u cd argue that Japanese pop-cult has some power, look at how far it’s gone in America nowadays, for example. but if J-PopCult was big in HK a decade ago, it’s even bigger now (and u can add Korean PopCult as an adjunct). the kids nowadays walk around trying to look like some J-pop idol or TV star, especially the guys. they’ve cultivated that sort-of unkempt mop of hair look, the anywhere-but-HK look. that said, the cultural-identifier in HK is HK-style Cantonese, now more than ever. English standards are dropping and if yr gonna learn another dialect, Putonghua is it. although some Hongkies study Japanese because they’re obsessed with it. i lived in Tokyo a year, which cured me of any lingering obsession…
i dunno, i see more diverse phenotypes among Singaporeans relative to HK. but when u go over to China u really see some amazing variation, cuz ppl come from all over.
i consistently don’t-fit-in, so i don’t worry about it ;^)
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