I think.. I like Singapore

Jasudasen [Singapore High Commission to Malaysia]: ... If above all you think you have a passion for Singapore, do really consider applying for the scholarship in MFA.

If ever I forget what transpired at the MFA tea session, I would just remember the above statement. I'm not sure if I really love Singapore since I never really sang the National Anthem in my schooling days and had pon last year's National Day eve's celebration at VJ. But I think I have a heart for Singaporeans and I totally love our uniqueness. Many out there think that the slogan 'Uniquely Singapore' is cheesy, ok I concede it is a little, but it kinda does capture who we really are. Just go watch the 10-min film 'Cut' on Youtube by Roystan Tan, the kinda humour inside and lingo used can only be understood by locals, and then you know what i mean when i say i think Singapore is really unique.

I was in Hongkong at the beginning of January. And I learnt through my friend who brought us around that HongKong adopts extreme capitalism. As a result, even housing for most people is not directly provided by the government. What the HK gvt does is sell the land... to tycoons of course, who will build apartments and rent them at high prices. HongKong has a 70% rate of people living in rented flats while in Singapore it's 70% of us who live in our very own flats. My point is this, I love the way most things work around here. Yes, for us who think we know better, life can sometimes be too restrictive. But most of us still don't realise how sheltered and protected we are, therefore when the tiniest crises come up, we blame everyone but ourselves.

Coming back to my main point, I like Singapore. I'd go as far to say that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be the only ministry I'll be interested to work in. After all, foreign service is 'about the nation and never about you'. I'd say that working in the private sector would be a lot more glamorous and monetarily rewarding, but admit it, it would be hard to be people-centred when the way you're working it's all about making sure YOU get the promotion. Like what Janice said, there has to be a purpose to what you're doing everyday.